Hiding Information from Selected User Groups

Written by ColinM. Posted in Modules & Plugins

Introduction

Sometimes situations arrive where one needs to show content to some users but not to others. Perhaps say Public users might see different text to that shown to logged in users. Maybe different User Groups need to see different information.

To achieve these possibilities you can use the 'hide' functionality plugins supported by jDownloads. When this is activated it is possible to show information on a selective basis.

This use is not restricted to just jDownloads content (Descriptions, Titles, Layouts and so on) but may also be used in Joomla! Article and Module content. The functionality is much, much wider. To repeat, it can be used in all jDownloads output elements (Descriptions, Titles, Layouts and so on) and also in standard Joomla! Modules and Article content. That is the hide functionality is not limited to jD items but is universal. They are a set of regular plugins supported by the jDownloads System plugin.

Hide Functionality

Example

First let us give a simple example.

If we use the Downloads layout "Alternate Files Layout v3.9" then it shows layouts with some information and a

button as illustrated opposite.

Clicking on the Read More button takes one to the Download Details view. Hide01

But suppose we only want to show the Download Details to users who are logged in. There is no jD configuration parameter available to control that situation!

Enable Hide functionality

The answer is to enable the Hide Functionality in the jD System plugin. So in this example we modify the layout so that ony logged on users are able to see the

button. Apart from Administrator and Manager and the special case Super Adminiser Group, all other Logged on users belong to the Registered User Group either directly or through inheritance.

In this example we will be editing a layout. If you are unsure of how to do this then you may find the following article useful: Introduction to Layouts (opens in separate tab/window).

The files layout "Alternate Files Layout v3.9" has the line which generates the readmore button is Hide08

Change this to Hide09

For a non logged in 'public' user the

button is now not shown as indicated opposite.

Hide07

But a logged in user sees the

button as previously.

You can see it is a logged in user as the edit pencil,

, is present!

This simple example shows some of the potential functionality of the hide feature.
Hide03

The full list of 'hide' plugins are shown in the image below. See the jD System Plugin for syntax. Hide10

You can use it in ALL jDownloads output elements (Descriptions, Titles, Layouts etc.) and also in Modules and Article content. When you use a placeholder specifying a User Group, then members of that group and members of the parent Group, the grandfather Group, and so on will be able to see it.

Important: If you have used this option and deactivate it at a later date, all previously hidden elements will become visible for ALL users but the inserted placeholders are removed automatically whilst this plugin remains installed.

NB Note that Joomla! User Groups support inheritance so those who can see includes the parent User Group, the grand parent User Group and so on.

You can use it in ALL jDownloads output elements (Descriptions, Titles, Layouts etc.) and also in Modules and Article content.

Activating the Hide Functionality

tab -

find the plugin

. After entering the plugin, select the

tab.

At the bottom of the page ensure you set 'Activate the hide functionality' to Yes. Then

as normal.
The Hide capability is now functional. Hide04

If you have used this option and deactivate it at a later date by setting it to No, all previously hidden elements will become visible for ALL users.

ColinM, October 2019 modified May 2022, June 2023

Print Email