exclude private messages from notifications total

[Dr.CustUmz]

im only unseting it in the notifications_list, what potential issues could there be? i tried the difference but couldnt get that to work.

the end goal is: (not implemented in these codes)

NOTIFICATIONS LIST (no pm)

<if condition="$notification['total'] > 0">
<li><a href="$notification[link]"><span>$notification[total]</span> $notification[phrase]</a></li>
</if>

notification total (no pm)

<if condition="$notifications_total">
  <span>$notifications_total</span>
</if>

pm total

$bbuserinfo[pmunread]

--------------- Added [DATE]1459917142[/DATE] at [TIME]1459917142[/TIME] ---------------

btw

<if condition="$notifications_total - $bbuserinfo['pmunread']">
<span>$notifications_total</span>
</if>

is the way i thought it would work =/ no luck