Making new messages more obvious (SMF patch)

[PowerGlove]

I've noticed that I check my PMs right after logging in, but then only haphazardly after that. The message counter in square brackets is pretty easy to miss (unless you remember to cast your eyes up there once in a while), so I sometimes leave messages sitting around for longer than I'd like.



I played around with a few ways to make it more obvious that your inbox needs attending. It's quite easy to mess up that area of the HTML, so what ended up working best was a carefully-rasterized image of a little white dot:



I think it catches the eye nicely without being too opinionated (stylistically), so it fits in with the rest of the SMF aesthetic.

Here's the patch for @theymos, if he approves of this change:

Code:

--- /var/www/baseline/Themes/default/index.template.php	2008-04-30 18:30:34.000000000 +0000
+++ /var/www/modified/Themes/default/index.template.php	2023-04-10 14:59:46.000000000 +0000
@@ -545,25 +545,26 @@
 
 	// Edit Profile... [profile]
 	if ($context['allow_edit_profile'])
 		echo ($current_action == 'profile' || $context['browser']['is_ie4']) ? '<td class="maintab_active_' . $first . '">&nbsp;</td>' : '' , '
 				<td valign="top" class="maintab_' , $current_action == 'profile' ? 'active_back' : 'back' , '">
 					<a href="', $scripturl, '?action=profile">' , $txt[79] , '</a>
 				</td>' , $current_action == 'profile' ? '<td class="maintab_active_' . $last . '">&nbsp;</td>' : '';
 
 	// Go to PM center... [pm]
 	if ($context['user']['is_logged'] && $context['allow_pm'])
 		echo ($current_action == 'pm' || $context['browser']['is_ie4']) ? '<td class="maintab_active_' . $first . '">&nbsp;</td>' : '' , '
 				<td valign="top" class="maintab_' , $current_action == 'pm' ? 'active_back' : 'back' , '">
-					<a href="', $scripturl, '?action=pm">' , $txt['pm_short'] , ' ', $context['user']['unread_messages'] > 0 ? '[<strong>'. $context['user']['unread_messages'] . '</strong>]' : '' , '</a>
+					' , $context['user']['unread_messages'] > 0 ? '<img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAcAAAAHCAQAAABuW59YAAAAJUlEQVR42mP4z4AMIZTL/2oghnLL/kNAGYT7Fsp9i5WLphjJKACA0kRWsKH5MQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==" />&nbsp;' : '' ,
+					'<a href="', $scripturl, '?action=pm">' , $txt['pm_short'] , ' ', $context['user']['unread_messages'] > 0 ? '[<strong>'. $context['user']['unread_messages'] . '</strong>]' : '' , '</a>
 				</td>' , $current_action == 'pm' ? '<td class="maintab_active_' . $last . '">&nbsp;</td>' : '';
 
 	// The [calendar]!
 	if ($context['allow_calendar'])
 		echo ($current_action == 'calendar' || $context['browser']['is_ie4']) ? '<td class="maintab_active_' . $first . '">&nbsp;</td>' : '' , '
 				<td valign="top" class="maintab_' , $current_action == 'calendar' ? 'active_back' : 'back' , '">
 					<a href="', $scripturl, '?action=calendar">' , $txt['calendar24'] , '</a>
 				</td>' , $current_action == 'calendar' ? '<td class="maintab_active_' . $last . '">&nbsp;</td>' : '';
 
 	// the [member] list button
 	if ($context['allow_memberlist'])
 		echo ($current_action == 'mlist' || $context['browser']['is_ie4']) ? '<td class="maintab_active_' . $first . '">&nbsp;</td>' : '' , '

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[Lucius]

I also check if I have a new personal message when I log in, and after that I rely on the option "Show a popup when you receive new messages?" which, when turned on, notifies you every time you receive a new personal message in a way that is difficult (or impossible) to ignore.

It's not that your option wouldn't be an additional improvement, but it's not a problem for me personally as it is now.

[KingsDen]

It's not that your option wouldn't be an additional improvement, but it's not a problem for me personally as it is now.

Neither is it also a problem to me. Maybe this could be of a help to campaign managers and those offering services who might be receiving an average of 5messages everyday.
I hardly recieve messages and I rarely send. Still his option can be an additional improvement which is much more needed in post notification rather than messages.

[dzungmobile]

I played around with a few ways to make it more obvious that your inbox needs attending. It's quite easy to mess up that area of the HTML, so what ended up working best was a carefully-rasterized image of a little white dot:

Why did you decide to choose the White color for a Notification dot?

I think of two better colors: Red and Orange.

Red is eye-catching and good for notification.
Orange is cool and more eye-catching than Red because orange is more related to a color for Bitcoin logo.

Example is the Forum Help: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=help. Red color is great!

Is it possible to customize your code and give us three color options?

[UserU]

Looks nice, although I have no issues seeing the current bracketed number if there happens to be a PM.

[Mpamaegbu]

Why did you decide to choose the White color for a Notification dot?

I think of two better colors: Red and Orange.

Yeah, I think so too but I would rather choose red than orange. For me, it stands out and flashes the eyes better. It isn't for nothing that it's used to indicate "danger"

About new messages, I do believe that it's better to have the forum alert users by default through notification whenever they log in telling them they have new messages and if they would like to open it then or later. With that no one misses any message.

However, I want to admit that those who don't have the habit of reading messages will still not read. So, it's not even about choosing to boldface or sparkle the notification with bright colour that should matter.

[BenCodie]

While I agree with Lucius and KingsDen in that I personally don't miss PM's due to lack of ability to see them with the current layout...I will say that the goal to make the title more noticeable is definitely achieve with this simple addition. It doesn't clutter, it make the title stand out and it makes sense (the notification "dot" or "badge" is globally used this way, so it feels right). I support the addition!

[Husires]

Sounds like a nice addition, is there to make that "white dot" Blinking like this?

In the sense that the color changes from white to red and white, and this will be easier to attract the attention of the eye.


off-topic question? Is it possible to send private messages using third-party applications without the need to do it manually by accessing the forum?
I know you can post with Python code, but does it apply to messages?

[tranthidung]

Sounds like a nice addition, is there to make that "white dot" Blinking like this?

It won't be deployed because theymos is a classic man who don't like animated.

AFAIK, animated avatars were disabled years ago by theymos since 2019. Your proposed animated icon is less annoying than animated avatars, I understand, but chance to see its deployment is slim.

[_BlackStar]

I played around with a few ways to make it more obvious that your inbox needs attending. It's quite easy to mess up that area of the HTML, so what ended up working best was a carefully-rasterized image of a little white dot:



I think it catches the eye nicely without being too opinionated (stylistically), so it fits in with the rest of the SMF aesthetic.

Although so far I haven't had much trouble with the display of inbox, but I think your idea is very good. Usually any user will be aware of an inbox because they'll get a notification to the email, but personalizing the look or a bit of style to the inbox is fine too.

OP, I like your idea - hope it can be implemented.

Why did you decide to choose the White color for a Notification dot?

Neutral white for everyone - IMO, it's also great for those with dark theme.

[ibminer]

I tried styling this area once in the CSS I did a while back to accent new messages, but I couldn't select it because the only change seemed to happen within the content of the element. I'd prefer the patch to just add a simple class="new_message" (or something) to be added to the section when a new message comes in, then the styling or adding of icons could be handled through custom CSS options by users themselves.

Even if the styling ends up acceptable as a change to the forum overall, I'd still add a class tag to the code so it can be adjusted through CSS.

[Asuspawer09]

Sounds like a nice addition, is there to make that "white dot" Blinking like this?

In the sense that the color changes from white to red and white, and this will be easier to attract the attention of the eye.

The update was great I think, it was simple and fit the theme of the forum, but it doesn't do a lot if you want to notice messages. So far messages weren't really an issue, the [1] wasn't that bad.

This red one for sure will be a lot more noticeable compared to the new one, but maybe red is a bit too much on the forum's theme, the blinking will be perfect if added. I guess a blinking white dot is great.

[LoyceV]

I've noticed that I check my PMs right after logging in, but then only haphazardly after that.

I'm always logged in, and the [1] is quite noticeable whenever I get to the top of the page (usually to click my Watchlist). There's also an email so I really can't miss it. Nevertheless: great effort!

If there are going to be improvements for PMs, I'd like it to be much faster. With 200 pages, it takes about 7 seconds to show when I click MY MESSAGES. And I think it always links to the last page, which means if you have many new PMs, it's easy to overlook the ones on the second last page.

What really grinds my gears, is that the [1] doesn't update (it neither appears not disappears) when I have a tab in Preview. I often keep those open for days, and the [1] stays the way it was when I opened it. But I'm nitpicking here

[Synchronice]

While I have only received some PMs, I would say that [1] is a very visible for me to notice. By the way, what do you guys think about one-time popup? No one can miss a popup. Or, another great solution may be to receive text notification above the address bar, like, when you receive text notification in place of New Tab (Chrome) text when you receive a message on Facebook.
Since don't bring me problems, bring me solutions is a more appreciate way to behave, if anyone likes a popup idea, I will work to design and release that solution.

[Mate2237]

The correct message sign seeing when message entered the inbox is okay, I am not saying you should not changed it but there are lot to do. PG there are many things to add in the forum standard tool bar which includes, showing the total post, activities and the Merits at the right side on profile Avatar then merit and reply notification on the tool bar instead instead of recreating the already existing ones, create the news things to have more beautification on the forum software.

Though things like this everyone will have their own opinion to the subject matter because here we are talking about the development of the forum and not making the forum to be stagnant. This is a very good progressive development but what is necessary right which I know is to create the new ones to the already existing ones.

[Zlantann]

I've noticed that I check my PMs right after logging in, but then only haphazardly after that. The message counter in square brackets is pretty easy to miss (unless you remember to cast your eyes up there once in a while), so I sometimes leave messages sitting around for longer than I'd like.

I also have the same problem of not identifying when I have a message. I though it was because of maybe bad eyesight or ignorance, but I am elated that some members also experience the same issue. Your innovation @powerGlove will be helpful indeed and I support that this change be implemented.

Sounds like a nice addition, is there to make that "white dot" Blinking like this?

In the sense that the color changes from white to red and white, and this will be easier to attract the attention of the eye.

This would have been my perfect choice because you can't miss any message with this light blinking. Nevertheless, the ball is in the court of the administrator to decide how far this idea will go.

[Upgrade00]

I do not send or receive messages frequently, but I happen to miss a few due to this reason of the [1] not being too visible. This is a feature that would make messages a little bit easier to not miss and really help those that frequently private message other users on the forum.

I think of two better colors: Red and Orange.

Those colours would not fit with the blue and white layout of the forum landing page.

[dkbit98]

Here we go... PowerGlove strikes again with one more patch of hope 
I have to be honest and say that at first I didn't notice big white dot, and that reminded me on those magazine puzzles that are asking people to notice and mark all differences between images ;
It's true that new messages can be seen harder, but there is popup option available, and I think you need to think up something better than white dot.
Just a quick suggestions, maybe number (of messages) can be bold and larger instead of adding new element.

[Dr.Bitcoin_Strange]

PG there are many things to add in the forum standard tool bar which includes, showing the total post, activities and the Merits at the right side on profile Avatar then merit and reply notification on the tool bar

I don't have a better understanding of all that, but based on the reply and merit notification you talked about, the Bitcointalk superNotifire  bot designed by TryNinja is really a good help in reply notification and new merit received. Also, from your profile, active is already showing and the total post count is just showing, which is not really so necessary. You can just go to your profile and see your post count.

I think this is a good development, but the color being white is not too eye-catching; I think yellow or green would be a better fit (just a suggestion), and also @Powerglove, the dot should blink, just as Husires have suggested.

[karmamiu]

The older patch won't let you see immediately if you have newly received message. Your suggestion will help lots of members here to see easily the messages. One more thing I have problems regarding this message thing, if possible, I would also like if the messages you received would be sorted out by date and time since I have problems looking to almost all the messages and scrolling everything just to look for that new message like when I messaged @Joeperry regarding the raffle coz it takes some time to see it, also sometimes it is not automatically sorted out, and if possible there should be spam or junk folders for those message and notifications for example when a post or thread got deleted.