Allow mass email by users

[Sjroep]

I run a invite only forum for some 30 specialized physiotherapists. We meet quarter-yearly. Because not everybody visits the forum frequently I want to allow its users to send out mass emails to other users to inform each other about the meeting. I want to use the board mail seeing as it has to most up to date user list. Is there a MOD or code out there that will allow users to fill in a quick form?

[stevemaury]

The ability to send PMs to entire groups is built-in. Would that work for you? Otherwise, you can create a group with the single Admin permission "Can send mass emails" and put the desired users in that group.

[Sjroep]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for replying to my post. I'm sorry for responding so late; I forgot to tick the notification box.

Your tip about adding a group with the mass email option is a good one. But there's a catch in that most of the members really are not very proficient in using the forum (or a computer for that matter). I've spend some time teaching them to use the forum. Logging into an admin panel to use a mass email form would not work I'm afraid.
The best solution - I think - would be a form placed in a forum (most probably named "Send mass email"). This form could be filled in to send all users an email. Is this possible?

[stevemaury]

Make a forum and in it put a single locked topic consisting of the emails of all members in comma delimited text. You can create this by running the following SQL and saving its output as CSV.

Code: Select all

SELECT user_email from phpbb_users WHERE user_type <> 2

If your table prefix is not phpbb_, change accordingly.

Then, at the top of that topic, explain they can use those emails to either make a group in their email client, or cut and paste them into an email message.

Otherwise, what you want would require a MOD, and MOD Requests are closed for version 3.0.x.

[Sjroep]

Thanks Steve for your solution.
I've decided to upgrade to 3.1 and ask for a mod or extension.