How can I allow a user to send private messages but prevent other users from sending that user a private message?

Question

I have a "system" user that sends "Welcome to the website" private messages as well as announcements to users. I am able to send these messages via rules; however, I don't want users to be able to reply to these messages.

I tried disabling private messages for the system user but that option disables both the receiving and sending of private messages (I checked-- if private messages are disabled for a user, no private message can be mailed from that user using rules).

I don't need a solution that is bulletproof; hiding the reply form on the private message view screen is sufficient. However, I dug through the private message module code and was unable to find any way to do that.

Answer 1

There are two ways to do this.

1. The pm_block_user module has settings that allow for role-based configurations for who is allowed to write whom. However, it is only possible to add positive rules. Meaning, you wold need to add all your users into a normal role that the system user is not part of and then allow users of that role to write users of that role.

2. Implement hook_privatemsg_block_message() and block the system user id.

You're welcome to provide option two as a patch in the main module (e.g. allow to choose a system user whom you can't write/reply and is maybe also themed differently). This is an often requested feature.