Additional Control over Messaging

[skippybosco]

I'd like to see a bit more control over the permissions of the internal messaging system.

For example:

• Disable Messaging altogether
• Allow a user to only send/receive from Administrator
• Allow a user to only send/receive from Professors for Courses they are enrolled (ie. not other users)
• Allow a user to only send/receive from users they have an approved "friend" relationship with

[papagel]

I guess you refer to user options for incoming messages.

I will put this on todo list for next version...

[skippybosco]

Thank You.

Today we run a self study course where the interaction is between the Professor and the Student. Students do not interact with each other and our terms or service prevent us from allowing such a communication without updating. While we are absolutely going to change this in the future, is there a short term recommendation for disabling messaging functionality? My current path was to just remove the link to the functionality from the template.

[papagel]

Thank You.

Today we run a self study course where the interaction is between the Professor and the Student. Student's do not interact with each other and our terms or service prevent us from allowing such a communication without updating. While we are absolutely going to change this in the future, is there a short term recommendation for disabling messaging functionality? My current path was to just remove the link to the functionality from the template.

With v3.5.1 you will be able to create a new user type based on student with restricted messaging functionality.

I include here the full functionality of user types we have implemented for your records:
Custom user type explanation:

A. STUDENT:
1. content (tests,project,content)
1.1 content -> change (default): Views content normally, may add comments, progresses normally etc
1.2 content -> view: Views content normally but cannot add comments, progress is not recorded (corresponding to SCORM's browse mode) no tests, no projects
1.3 content -> hide: Does not view content, start/resume handles are hidden

2. calendar
2.1 calendar -> change (default): He can view calendar events normally
2.2 calendar -> view: Same as above
2.3 calendar -> hide: User cannot see calendar (DONE)

3. statistics
3.1 statistics -> change (default): He can view statistics normally
3.2 statistics -> view: Same as above
3.3 statistics -> hide: User cannot access statistics (DONE)

4. forum
4.1 forum -> change (default): He can view and post to forum normally
4.2 forum -> view: He can only view forum messages, but not post any
4.3 forum -> hide: Forum is not available for the user

5. personal_messages
5.1 personal_messages -> change (default): He can send and view personal_messages
5.2 personal_messages -> view: Same as above
5.3 personal_messages -> hide: Personal messages are not available for the user

6. surveys
6.1 surveys -> change (default): He can view and participate to surveys
6.2 surveys -> view: Same as above
6.3 surveys -> hide: Surveys are not available for the user

7. chat
7.1 chat -> change (default): He participates to chat unconditionally
7.2 chat -> view: Same as above
7.3 chat -> hide: Chat is not available

8. control panel
8.1 control panel -> change (default): He can see the control panel normally
8.2 control panel -> view: Same as above
8.3 control panel -> hide: Control panel is hidden

9. news
9.1 news -> change (default): He can see news list and page normally
9.2 news -> view: Same as above
9.3 news -> hide: News list is hidden

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. PROFESSOR
1. content
1.1 content -> change (default): User has full access to content
1.2 content -> view: User can only view content but he cannot add or edit units/tests/projects, as well as copy, delete, deactivate content, edit lesson information. He cannot post comments nor he can import or export any lessons or content
1.3 content -> hide: Any content-related functionality is hidden from the user

4. calendar
4.1 calendar -> change (default): User can add calendar events normally
4.2 calendar -> view: User can see calendar events but cannot add or edit them
4.3 calendar -> hide: User cannot see calendar

5. statistics
5.1 statistics -> change (default): User can view statistics normally
5.2 statistics -> view: Same as above
5.3 statistics -> hide: User cannot access statistics

6. glossary
6.1 glossary -> change (default): User can add glossary terms
6.2 glossary -> view: User can only view glossary terms
6.3 glossary -> hide: Glossary option is hidden from this user (however, glossary terms will still be highlighted when he views content)

7. progress
7.1 progress -> change (default): User can see and interact with users' progress
7.2 progress -> view: User can see users' progress, but cannot set any lessons as completed, add score etc
7.3 progress -> hide: Users' progress is hidden from this user

8. files
8.1 files -> change (default): User can freely manipulate files
8.2 files -> view: User can see files, but he cannot upload new, edit them, etc
8.3 files -> hide: User does not have any access to the file manager. However, when he adds/edits content, he will be able to see the files list

9. users
9.1 users -> change (default): User can add/remove users from the lesson
9.2 users -> view: User can only see which users have this lesson
9.3 users -> hide: User cannot see which users have this lesson

10. announcements
10.1 announcements -> change (default): User can add/edit/remove announcements
10.2 announcements -> view: User can only see announcements
10.3 announcements -> hide: Announcements are hidden for this user

11. settings
11.1 settings -> change (default): User has access to lesson settings and scheduling
11.2 settings -> view: User can see lesson settings, but cannot change them
11.3 settings -> hide: User does not see lesson settings

12. forum
12.1 forum -> change (default): He can view and post to forum normally
12.2 forum -> view: He can only view forum messages, but not post any
12.3 forum -> hide: Forum is not available for the user

13. personal_messages
13.1 personal_messages -> change (default): He can send and view personal_messages
13.2 personal_messages -> view: Same as above
13.3 personal_messages -> hide: Personal messages are not available for the user

14. surveys
14.1 surveys -> change (default): He can view, create and participate to surveys
14.2 surveys -> view: He can only view and participate to surveys
14.3 surveys -> hide: Surveys are not available for the user

15. chat
15.1 chat -> change (default): He participates to chat unconditionally
15.2 chat -> view: He participates to chat, but cannot add/remove rooms
15.3 chat -> hide: Chat is not available

16. control panel
16.1 control panel -> change (default): He can see the control panel normally
16.2 control panel -> view: Same as above
16.3 control panel -> hide: Control panel is hidden


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. ADMNISTRATOR
1. users
1.1 users -> change (default): User has full access over users and user-related functions
1.2 users -> view: User can only see users
1.3 users -> hide: Users, user groups and import/export users functions are hidden. However, when editing lessons/courses, or in statistics, users list is visible

2. lessons
2.1 lessons -> change (default): User has full access over lessons, courses, and categories
2.2 lessons -> view: User can only see lessons and lesson-related sections
2.3 lessons -> hide: Lessons, courses and categories are hidden. However, in statistics and when editing users, these lists are visible

3. configuration
3.1 configuration -> change (default): User has unrestricted access to any configuration option
3.2 configuration -> view: User can only see current configuration settings, but cannot alter them
3.3 configuration -> hide: System configuration, theme, user logout, user profile, user types, set logo, cms, languages, version key and maintenance options are unavailable for this user

4. statistics
4.1 statistics -> change (default): User can unconditionally access statistics
4.2 statistics -> view: Same as above
4.3 statistics -> hide: User cannot access any statistics

5. backup
5.1 backup -> change (default): User can backup/restore
5.2 backup -> view: User can only backup but not restore
5.3 backup -> hide: This option is not available

6. modules
6.1 modules -> change (default): User can freely access modules
6.2 modules -> view: User can only see available modules
6.3 modules -> hide: Modules section is unavailable for this user

8. announcements
8.1 announcements -> change (default): User can add/edit/remove announcements
8.2 announcements -> view: User can only see announcements
8.3 announcements -> hide: Announcements are hidden for this user

9. calendar
9.1 calendar -> change (default): User can add calendar events normally
9.2 calendar -> view: User can see calendar events but cannot add or edit them
9.3 calendar -> hide: User cannot see calendar

10. forum
10.1 forum -> change (default): He can view and post to forum normally, as well as configure it
10.2 forum -> view: He can only view forum messages, but not post any
10.3 forum -> hide: Forum is not available for the user

11. personal_messages
11.1 personal_messages -> change (default): He can send and view personal_messages
11.2 personal_messages -> view: Same as above
11.3 personal_messages -> hide: Personal messages are not available for the user

12. chat
12.1 chat -> change (default): He participates to chat unconditionally
12.2 chat -> view: He participates to chat, but cannot add/remove rooms
12.3 chat -> hide: Chat is not available

13. Paypal
13.1 paypal -> change (default): He has complete control over paypal
13.2 paypal -> view: Same as above
13.3 paypal -> hide: Paypal options is hidden

14. control panel
14.1 control panel -> change (default): He can see the control panel normally
14.2 control panel -> view: Same as above
14.3 control panel -> hide: Control panel is hidden

Note: A restricted admin can never change his/her user type, nor has access to his/her type's options