This archived community thread from the APG vNext support forum discusses: Hide some content.
About This Topic
Here is a custom PGDCode you can put into the control panel that allows you to hide some content in a message for whatever purpose you want.The PGDCodePatter...
Getting Help with APG vNext
APG vNext is a powerful ASP.NET forum and community platform. For questions related to this topic:
- Browse the Knowledge Base for documented solutions
- Search the community forum for similar threads
- Check the FAQ for common questions and answers
- Review the Installation and Upgrade guides
If you need direct assistance, the support team is active in the community forum.
All Content Hiding Methods in APG vNext
Beyond spoiler tags: group-restricted BBCode, post-count gating, collapsible sections, and forum-level permissions.
Group-Restricted
[hide group="Premium Members"]Members-only content[/hide]Post-Count Gated
[hide posts="10"]Visible to 10+ post members[/hide]Check Guest Permissions
SELECT f.ForumName, fp.CanRead FROM apg_ForumPermissions fp JOIN apg_Forums f ON f.ForumID=fp.ForumID WHERE fp.GroupID=1;Related Resources
Content Visibility and Access Control in APG vNext
APG vNext provides several mechanisms for showing different content to different audience segments. Forum-level permissions control which member groups can read and post in each forum — configuring a forum as members-only hides its content from guests while keeping it visible to registered members. Post-level access control (available in certain forum configurations) allows moderators to mark specific posts as visible only to specific member groups, enabling a single thread to contain both public and private content in separate posts. The teaser content feature shows a preview of post content to guests (and guest-level searchers) before requiring them to log in to read the full thread — effective for converting search traffic visitors to registered members.
Premium Content Gating
APG vNext supports premium content gating through its member group permission system. Designate a Premium Members group with access to specific forums or content sections, and restrict those sections to the Premium Members group in the forum permissions. New members start in the standard Members group and are promoted to Premium Members after subscribing or completing a defined action. APG vNext integrates with payment gateways to automate the promotion from standard to premium upon successful payment, enabling community monetisation through paid membership tiers without custom development. The premium content sections appear in the forum navigation for all members, but non-premium members see a prompt to upgrade when they attempt to access a locked post.
Temporary Content Hiding for Moderation
Moderators in APG vNext can temporarily hide individual posts or entire threads without deleting them, using the soft-delete feature. A soft-deleted post is hidden from public view but preserved in the database, visible to moderators and administrators in the moderation panel. This allows moderators to quickly remove problematic content from public view while retaining it for review and potential restoration if the moderation decision is later revised. Configure the moderation policy for soft-deleted content in Admin Panel → Moderation → Soft Delete. Members who post content that is soft-deleted receive a notification explaining that their content has been hidden for review, which reduces the number of support tickets from confused members wondering why their post disappeared.
Members-Only Content Preview Strategy
APG vNext's teaser content feature shows a preview of restricted content to guests and unregistered users, encouraging them to register in order to read the full thread. The teaser content length is configurable — typically 20-30% of the full post is shown, enough to demonstrate the value of the content and create curiosity without giving away the complete answer. For knowledge base articles and tutorial posts that rank well in organic search, the teaser content strategy converts search visitors to registered members at significantly higher rates than a hard paywall that shows no content to guests. The conversion rate from teaser view to registration varies by content quality: technical tutorials with clear value propositions convert at 5-15%, while general discussion threads may convert at 1-5%.
Using Content Restrictions for Community Building
Strategically restricting access to certain high-value content creates a compelling reason for guests to register. The most effective restricted content types for member acquisition are: detailed technical tutorials that answer specific high-intent search queries, downloadable templates or configuration files that save members significant time, exclusive community discussions with recognized industry experts, and early access to product information or announcements. Place the registration call-to-action immediately after the teaser content ends, with a clear value proposition: register to read the complete guide, download the template, or join the expert discussion. APG vNext's registration prompt after teaser content can include a social proof element showing the number of members who have already read the full content, which increases conversion rates by demonstrating the article's popularity.
Content Access Tiers for Community Monetisation
APG vNext's content restriction system can be configured to create multiple content access tiers for community monetisation. A basic tier available to all registered members provides access to general forums and knowledge base articles. A premium tier, available to members who subscribe or complete a required action, provides access to advanced technical content, premium-only forums, direct access to expert moderators, and downloadable resources. Configure the premium tier using a dedicated member role group with elevated forum permissions. The premium content sections are visible in the forum navigation for all members to create awareness of what is available, but non-premium members see a clear upgrade prompt when they attempt to access premium-restricted content.
Looking for more help? Browse the support forum or check the Knowledge Base.