Reference Blocked Users (Drupal Module)

Introduction: The Reference Blocked Users module is a game-changer for streamlining user entity referencing, particularly enhancing editorial workflows. This compact yet powerful tool addresses two critical tasks that content editors frequently encounter, providing a more efficient and user-friendly experience.

Mission: My mission with the Reference Blocked Users module is to make Drupal accessible to everyone, especially small businesses. By simplifying user entity referencing and enhancing editorial workflows, I aim to empower content editors to manage and create content more effectively and efficiently.

Key Features:

• Simplified Access to "Authored By" Field: Traditionally, accessing this field required the "administer content" permission. This module simplifies the process, making it accessible within the authoring information section of any content type.
• Custom Fields for User Entity Referencing: Add custom fields to content types for user entity referencing, specifying a "reference method" and setting criteria for "filter by" and "sort by" options.
• Custom Permission for User Referencing: Introduces a custom permission, assignable to any role, allowing for the referencing of all user statuses (blocked or active) across critical fields.

Installation: Installing the Reference Blocked Users module is straightforward:

1. Installation: Install the module via Composer by running the following command:

   composer require drupal/reference_blocked_users

2. Enable the Module: Once installed, enable the module through the Drupal admin interface or by using Drush:

   drush en reference_blocked_users -y

3. Clear Caches: After enabling the module, clear your Drupal caches to ensure the new plugin is available:

   drush cr

4. Using Drupal Admin Interface: Navigate to Extend, find the module, enable it, and save the configuration.

Configuration: Configuring the module is intuitive:

1. Navigate to Module Settings:
   • Access the module settings via the Drupal admin menu.
2. Set Custom Permissions:
   • Assign the custom permission to the appropriate roles, enabling the referencing of all user statuses in the "authored by" field and custom user entity reference fields.

Usage: Using the Reference Blocked Users module is simple:

1. Access the "Authored By" Field:
   • Easily access and manage the "authored by" field within the authoring information section of any content type.
2. Add Custom User Entity Reference Fields:
   • Specify the "reference method" and set criteria for "filter by" and "sort by" options when adding custom user entity reference fields to content types.

Conclusion: Implementing the Reference Blocked Users module can significantly enhance the editorial workflows of your Drupal site. Developed by Alaa Haddad, a seasoned Drupal expert, this module leverages years of experience to provide reliable and effective solutions for content management. By integrating this module, you can achieve greater control over user referencing, ensuring a more efficient and streamlined editorial process.