User's Forum status
 

This mod allows you to add a profile field where users can state whether or not they are on the board and available. This is then added to the postbit(_legacy) so people can see when posting whether or not they will be getting a reply from the person soon etc.

Instructions
1. Go to your ACP > User Profile Field > Add New Profile Field
2. Use either Single Selection Menu/Radio Buttons
3. Then enter the following information into the fields (Feel free to change them to your own - This is just what i have put in)

Title: Forum Status
Description: Are you available at the moment?
Options: -
Available
On Holiday
Prolonged Absence
Message me, ill get back to you when i can.

4. Click Submit.
5. Add another profile field with the following information (Again feel free to change)

Title - Absence Message
Description - If you are on holiday or Absent for prolonged period, and would like to leave a message (Maybe when you are returning etc, please leave it here)
Max Length of allowed user input - 500 (Make it more if you so wish, i think this should be sufficient though.)
And the rest should be fine as they are.

6. Take a note of the 2 fields numbers you have just created. Your going to need this for the template edit.

Now for the template edits...

1. Go to Style & Templates > Style Manager > Select the Style(s) you want to edit > Find "edit templates" in the drop down list > Postbit(_Legacy)

Find:
After add:
Field xx is the number of the custom field which relates to the forum status.

That should be that, and it should be fixed up. Any problems let me know and ill see what i can do to help. But it would be nice for others to help each other if there are any problems :)

In its small, this can be a good idea.
Installed. :)

Would be more interesting if users are able to set their status in ajax at a location that's more accessible than going into control panel. thanks.

Ahmm I have a little problem with this. In the User Profile Field: Absence Message that I created I am unable to leave the Option blank. I have to enter something because it's telling me that I have to put something in it. And I tried to just put "Leave a message" but than I dont get any box to write in for my long absence ... I am not sure what I am doing wrong, I followed all of the instructions... other than that looks great.
Thank you!

Never mind I found the problem :) Duh!!

Good mod, but how does it get around the cookie timeout problem? For instance, if the timeout is set to 15 minutes, it's quite possible the member is not actually in the forums anymore, even though his status says he is, due to the timeout period.

Thanks for this! Installed.