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Administration => WXForum Bugs/Suggestions => Topic started by: galfert on November 01, 2018, 06:35:22 PM

Title: Hidden User
Post by: galfert on November 01, 2018, 06:35:22 PM

On this forum what does it mean when it shows that their is (+ 1 Hidden) user browsing the topic?

Normally you can see regular users, administrators, guest users with no account, and Google search spiders. So what is Hidden? Is that like an administrator that is hiding themselves? If so what is the purpose of this function?

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: saratogaWX on November 01, 2018, 07:08:44 PM

AFAIK, there's nothing nefarious going on -- the Profile for a user allows them to 'hide' their online/offline status from the general public (and anonymous/search engine) users. Admins can 'hide' too, but AFAIK, none of us do.

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: galfert on November 01, 2018, 07:17:47 PM

Hmm....Well I think I found the answer:

https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=265224.0

According to that post there should be an option to, "Show others your online status?" and for me a regular user it is not there. Therefore this tells me that it must be an Administrator that has decided to hide their online status.

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: saratogaWX on November 01, 2018, 07:32:09 PM

Hmmmm.  You may be correct.  The forum currently has the option "Allow non-administrators to hide their online status" set to OFF. which means only folks with moderation permission can use it.  The help description of the option reads:

Quote

With this option enabled all members will be able to hide their online status from other users (except administrators). If disabled only users who can moderate the forum can hide their presence. Note that disabling this option will not change any existing member's status - it just stops them from hiding themselves in the future.

  So it appears that folks with admin or moderator status can hide their online status as you surmise.

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: Old Tele man on November 02, 2018, 07:22:41 PM

It's the KLINGON "Cloaking" button!

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: CW2274 on November 02, 2018, 07:44:53 PM

Quote from: Old Tele man on November 02, 2018, 07:22:41 PM

It's the KLINGON "Cloaking" button!

Give credit where credit is due, the ROMULANS invented the cloaking device.  :-P

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: Old Tele man on November 02, 2018, 07:50:04 PM

Obviously, I'm not that great of a STAR-TREK watcher  :oops:

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: the beteljuice on November 02, 2018, 09:51:02 PM

Does 'Users active in past 15 minutes:" also come into play ?

ie. After 15 minutes inactivity are you 'hidden' ?

It used to be a trick the beteljuice used to 'lurk' on various forums where they auto refreshed main page ever 5m or whatever.

 :oops: naughty beteljuice !

Title: Re: Hidden User
Post by: saratogaWX on November 02, 2018, 11:06:13 PM

After 15 minutes, you're dropped from the list (not hidden).

I've found the 'hidden' user.. yes, it's an admin (only 4 of us admins, 3 have the 'show online' set, one does not).

Case closed