Blink PM bar on new PM!

This is a very simple hack, yet I kinda like it.
Don't you just hate it when you write a long PM to someone, send it, and he doesn't even notice it?!

NO MORE!

Install this very easy hack and no one will be able to ignore the PM again.

This is almost just a template hack, but since it does involve editing a file and adding 4 lines of PHP code, it qualifies as a hack.
Sue me.

Anyway, what does this hack do?
Whenever you come to the forum main page, and you have any unread messages (even if they aren't new), the category strip that says "Private Messages" will blink.
Simple, but effective.

To see a demo of this, just send yourself a PM and see what happens. I'm sure you'll like it.

Installing this will take you 2 minutes if not less, it's very very simple.
I also don't expect too many support requests.

Anyway, have fun!

[Ryan McBain]

Heres my entire forumhome mp logged template. i cant get the hack to work for me...

<tr id="cat">
<td id="pmBox" bgcolor="{categorybackcolor}" colspan="6"><a href="private.php?s=$session[sessionhash]" title="Click Here to Open Your Private Messages $inboxname"><normalfont color="{categoryfontcolor}"><b>Private Messages</normalfont></b></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="{secondaltcolor}" align="center" valign="top"><img src="{imagesfolder}/$lightbulb.gif" alt=""></td>
<td bgcolor="{firstaltcolor}" colspan="5"><smallfont>
<b>$bbuserinfo[username]</b> - You have $newpm[messages] new message(s) since your last visit.<br>
(You have $unreadpm[messages] unread messages and $allpm[messages] total messages in all your folders.)</smallfont></td>
</tr>
<script language="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
$pmblink pmBox.bgColor='{tableheadbgcolor}';
$pmblink setInterval("Timer()", 500);
$pmblink x=1;
function Timer() {
set=1;
if(x==0 && set==1) {
pmBox.bgColor='#778899';
x=1;
set=0;
}
if(x==1 && set==1) {
pmBox.bgColor='#2D3851';
x=0;
set=0;
}
}
// End -->
</script>

[FWC]

Originally posted by Ryan McBain

$pmblink pmBox.bgColor='#006633';
$pmblink setInterval("Timer()", 500);
$pmblink x=1;
 function Timer() {
	set=1;
	if(x==0 && set==1) {
		pmBox.bgColor='#778899';
		x=1;
		set=0;
	}
	if(x==1 && set==1) {
		pmBox.bgColor='#2D3851';
		x=0;
		set=0;

I'm not certain because all your replacement variables got parsed, but you have three colors there. The first color should be your alternating flashing color. The second one should be your category background color and the third color should be the alternating flashing color again. You may have it right already. It just looks wrong here.

[Ryan McBain]

well im sure its wrong cause its not working.... what code should i have??

[FWC]

Originally posted by Ryan McBain
well im sure its wrong cause its not working.... what code should i have??

This is what you should add to the end of template. Substitute the colors you want:

<script language="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
$pmblink pmBox.bgColor='Alternate Flashing Color';
$pmblink setInterval("Timer()", 500);
$pmblink x=1;
 function Timer() {
	set=1;
	if(x==0 && set==1) {
		pmBox.bgColor='Normal Category Background Color';
		x=1;
		set=0;
	}
	if(x==1 && set==1) {
		pmBox.bgColor='Alternate Flashing Color';
		x=0;
		set=0;
	}
}
// End -->
</script>

[Ryan McBain]

still doesnt work, and i have this code....

<script language="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
$pmblink pmBox.bgColor='#880000';
$pmblink setInterval("Timer()", 500);
$pmblink x=1;
function Timer() {
set=1;
if(x==0 && set==1) {
pmBox.bgColor='#778899';
x=1;
set=0;
}
if(x==1 && set==1) {
pmBox.bgColor='#880000';
x=0;
set=0;
}
}
// End -->
</script>

[deano1]

i still want to know
how you move the PM bar to the top of the page

[TLfuRy]

Originally posted by deano1
i still want to know
how you move the PM bar to the top of the page

Edit your forumhome template, and find the "$pminfo" variable towards the bottom:
</tr>
$forumbits
$pminfo
$loggedinusers
$birthdaybits

And move it just above the </tr> tag two lines above it. That will move it to just above your first Forum in the index, like this:

[deano1]

i thank you very much sir

[Jared Press]

I tried to install this hack and have my bar flashing but I haven't been able to edit the index.php files success fully.

Every time I try adding the code for blink I get a serever parse error and the site wont load up.

Any ideas what is wrong?

I inserted the code after the light bulp on code by entering a new line and pasting it after the light bulb code.

[Jared Press]

Never mind. I screwed up the code. I noticed what appeared to be a bracket out of place and rechecked the original code.

Great Hack!!!!!!

Thanks. Oh and I even picked up on the quick tip about moving the position of the PM bar...cool!