[UserScript] Buttons for hidden BBCode tags and smileys

[TypoTonic]

I was designing a signature yesterday, and I found it really annoying to type or copy/paste the [nbsp] tag whenever I need to use it. So I tried to make a simple userscript that adds a button for it, then I ended up including some hidden BBCode tags from this list.

Buttons Preview:

I just made this for my personal use, but might as well share it here in case other users find it useful. I drew the icons myself and tried to make it look/feel native as much as possible. If you want to try it out, download and install the Tampermonkey extension, create a new script, and copy/paste the source code from below.

Link: https://pastebin.com/dNurCBVA

Included tags:

Name   Button   Code   Output   Description Acronym [acronym=Simple Machines Forum]SMF[/acronym] SMF Displays the full expression for the acronym on mouseover* Anchor [anchor=point1]Point 1[/anchor] Point 1 Reference point for iurl tag Inline URL [iurl=#point1]Go to Point 1[/iurl] Go to Point 1 Behaves like normal url tag, but also redirect to anchor points No BBCode [nobbc][nobbc][/nobbc][/nobbc] [nobbc][/nobbc] Prevents BBCode tags inside it from being parsed Abbreviation [abbr=exemlpi gratia]eg[/abbr] eg Displays the full expression for the abbreviation on mouseover* Time [time]1769007600[/time] January 21, 2026, 03:00:00 PM Converts Unix timestamp and displays the Date & Time based on user setting Left-to-Right [ltr]left to right![/ltr] left to right! Typical usage would be to post English in an Arabic or Hebrew document* Right-to-Left [rtl]right to left![/rtl] right to left! Typical usage would be to post Arabic or Hebrew in an English document* Non-Breaking Space [nbsp]   Prevents text from breaking to a new line Square [#] Square bullets Disc [*] Dot bullets Circle [o] Circle bullets

*comments from SMF Bulletin Board Code

List Drop-down Menu:

Reference: Shorthand List Formatting

_____List Type_____   Code   _____Output_____ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Decimal   Code: [list type=decimal] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Lower-Roman   Code: [list type=lower-roman] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Upper-Roman   Code: [list type=upper-roman] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Lower-Latin   Code: [list type=lower-latin] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3

_____List Type_____   Code   _____Output_____ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Upper-Latin   Code: [list type=upper-latin] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Circle   Code: [list type=circle] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Disc   Code: [list type=disc] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Square   Code: [list type=square] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3

Bonus Smileys:

Smiley   Evil   Azn   Afro   Police   Angel Code >:D ^-^ O0 C:-) 0:) Output

[alani123]

Ok this seems interesting.

Could you add some info on what each tag does?
I'm also interested how you found these. Lurking over SMF code? I had no idea.most of these even existed 

[satscraper]

~

It seems to be useful. I just can’t understand the purpose of "No BBCode" button. I looked at your script and in my understanding the following part

Code:

{
            title: 'No BBCode',
            openingTag: '[nobbc]',
            closingTag: '[/nobbc]',
            icon: 'https://talkimg.com/images/2026/01/17/UNuAEw.gif'
        },

can be removed to prevent this button from appearing. Another concern I have is that the new icons rely heavily on the talkimg service. What happens if that service stops working?

[TypoTonic]

Could you add some info on what each tag does?

Oh yeah, sorry about that! I'll add an 'Output' and 'Description' column in the table.

I'm also interested how you found these. Lurking over SMF code? I had no idea.most of these even existed  

I'm actually working on a detailed BBCode documentation for a while now (something that is different from the existing guides of course), since some of these codes aren't included in the SMF Bulletin Board Code. But I'm still not ready to publish it yet, I'd say it's around 80% complete.

It seems to be useful. I just can’t understand the purpose of "No BBCode" button.

No BBCode prevents the tags from being parsed, that's why I was able to write [nbsp] in the OP.

Another concern I have is that the new icons rely heavily on the talkimg service. What happens if that service stops working?

The buttons should still work but will show the alternative text instead. Unfortunately, that's one limitation of the script, unless the icons get added to the forum's official resources.

[Mia Chloe]

I was designing a signature yesterday, and I found it really annoying to type or copy/paste the [nbsp] tag whenever I need to use it. So I tried to make a simple userscript that adds a button for it, then I ended up including some hidden BBCode tags from this list.

I was pretty much convinced a long time ago that the SMF codes are just HTML 5 syntaxes but with square brackets instead. Anyone with solid understanding and familiarity with HTML syntaxes will not be surprised about these syntaxes. Some I can't find here still though like the php syntax although it's not popular based off usage.

Anyways thumbs up for making this but it would be more interesting if we had these on the Go without having to install an extension. I think admins picked only the fundamental ones.

[TypoTonic]

I was pretty much convinced a long time ago that the SMF codes are just HTML 5 syntaxes but with square brackets instead. Anyone with solid understanding and familiarity with HTML syntaxes will not be surprised about these syntaxes. Some I can't find here still though like the php syntax although it's not popular based off usage.

Yup, there are only a few differences but it's pretty much almost the same. I only chose some tags from the list that I think would be useful, like the anchor & iurl, nbsp, nobbc, and some bullet styles. There are also 4 tags in the SMF table that didn't have buttons, so I included those as well. I could try to include more tags if people ask for it.

Anyways thumbs up for making this but it would be more interesting if we had these on the Go without having to install an extension. I think admins picked only the fundamental ones.

That would indeed be great. The [nbsp] tag for example was proposed by PowerGlove in 2023, and added by theymos. It would've been nice if they made a button for it officially.

[PX-Z]

[iurl] tag really just work like normal url tag, those description/feature will work on [url] tag as well. What is new to me is [acronym], although it seems like not really useful. The "[abbr]" tag. And the list style type tags too.

Also, you can use  "[a]" tag for "Anchor" instead of using the whole word.

Thanks for this.

[TypoTonic]

[iurl] tag really just work like normal url tag, those description/feature will work on [url] tag as well.

Interesting. This got me curious so I tried it in the OP. It seems like whenever you use fragments with the [url] tag (e.g., [url=#point1]Go to Point 1[/url]), it immediately turns into [iurl] tags after posting.

What is new to me is [acronym], although it seems like not really useful. The "[abbr]" tag. And the list style type tags too.

I think these tags have always been in the SMF table, but since they don't have buttons, not a lot of users know about it.

Also, you can use  "[a]" tag for "Anchor" instead of using the whole word.

I tried this, but it doesn't seem to work. [a=point1]Point 1[/a]

[joker_josue]

Congratulations on the script; it could be useful for whoever uses it.

In turn, whether or not the script is used, the tags you just listed will help everyone interested to have more resources to make their posts, in case they were not familiar with these tags.

[PX-Z]

Also, you can use  "[a]" tag for "Anchor" instead of using the whole word.

I tried this, but it doesn't seem to work. [a=point1]Point 1[/a]

I doubled check and seems you're right, after a quick research it does usually on any smf forums (which is i remembered that's why i suggested) but i guess theymos have configured and disabled this kind of tags, well, idk. lol. I'm using the script btw. Thanks for this.

[TypoTonic]

I doubled check and seems you're right, after a quick research it does usually on any smf forums (which is i remembered that's why i suggested) but i guess theymos have configured and disabled this kind of tags, well, idk. lol. I'm using the script btw. Thanks for this.

No worries, I hope you like it!


By the way, I made a small update. The [time] tag seems to be useful, so I decided to add it.

Showing date based on timestamp
Actually useful for showing localized time for auctions/contests/etc. (!)

Example, this auction finishes at: October 03, 2015, 12:00:00 PM (everyone will see time based on their user setting)

Code:

[time]1443873600[/time]

Name   Button   Code   Output   Description Time [time]1769007600[/time] January 21, 2026, 03:00:00 PM Converts Unix timestamp and displays the Date & Time based on user setting

I also added buttons for the bonus smileys.

Smiley   Evil   Azn   Afro   Police   Angel Code >:D ^-^ O0 C:-) 0:) Output

Preview:

[SamReomo]

A very useful script for the members of the forum. Those are some good emojis one can use now by installing your userscript. Most users are unaware of such hidden features of SMF but with your userscript they’ll be able to use those emojis in their posts. Some members might prefer extension over the script but most are okay in using of the scripts. Good one!

[rat03gopoh]

If you'd like to add to your button tool, there are several sorting formats for the [list] tag by defining "type"; consisting of:

• decimal
• upper-roman
• lower-roman
• upper-latin
• lower-latin

Implementation:

Code:

[b]Example output of "upper-latin" list type[/b][list type=upper-latin]
[*]Lorem
[*]ipsum
[*]dolor
[/list]

Output:
Example output of "upper-latin" list type

• Lorem
• ipsum
• dolor

[TypoTonic]

If you'd like to add to your button tool, there are several sorting formats for the [list] tag by defining "type" -snip-

This is a great idea! I'll try to work on it later

[TypoTonic]

As suggested by @rat03gopoh, I also included a drop-down menu for shorthand list formatting. To add more items in the list, simply insert another disc tag.

Preview:

Reference: Shorthand List Formatting

_____List Type_____   Code   _____Output_____ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Decimal   Code: [list type=decimal] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Lower-Roman   Code: [list type=lower-roman] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Upper-Roman   Code: [list type=upper-roman] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Lower-Latin   Code: [list type=lower-latin] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3

_____List Type_____   Code   _____Output_____ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ Upper-Latin   Code: [list type=upper-latin] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Circle   Code: [list type=circle] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Disc   Code: [list type=disc] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Square   Code: [list type=square] [*]Item 1 [*]Item 2 [*]Item 3 [/list]   Item 1 Item 2 Item 3