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!

[dotagious]

Bah... I noticed now my mouse pointer arrow "hour glasses" every time it blinks. I know it's kind of running a script, but (a) being on a cable modem, and (b) being on a site with VERY low traffic... should this be happening?

[Deimos]

Nice hack
Is there anyway to MOVE the whole PM bit to the top of the main page? If so....can someone tell me how?
I don't wanna bugger up my forums.

[waddy]

Has anyone got this working properly with background images?

[BeatDown]

Originally posted by waddy
Has anyone got this working properly with background images?

Kinda depends on what you mean "properly". I use background images for all of my tables, and I do have this hack installed. The background image blinks with a "color" (red on my site). The only thing I don't care for is that for every blink, the image reloads from the server. I believe it's because vB is not allowing the client to cache anything (which makes sense).

I did have to increase the timing factor, though. It was way too fast for me otherwise.

[Littlebit]

I have it working great with 2.2.8 on IE, but I'm getting a javascript error (pmBox is not defined) on Netscape. Any quick fixes for this?

[Fiyah]

OK, I'm gonna show you how fresh I really am.......My mind is going blank and I don't know where to start to add this hack. I found "the template forumhome_pmloggedin" and can change taht but where do I start to find the "index.php"? to add the changes there.

Don't laugh too loudly......

[Jesus Chio]

it rocks! took me 3 minutes, thanks

[!!!cyr0n_k0r]

I installed this hack and even when I dont have any unread PM's it still blinks.

<tr id="cat">
<td id="pmBox" bgcolor="#B2B0A3" colspan="3"><a href="private.php?s=$session[sessionhash]" title="Click Here to Open Your Private Messages $inboxname"><normalfont color="{categoryfontcolor}"><b>Private Messages</normalfont></b></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="{firstaltcolor}" align="center" valign="top">
<a href="private.php?s=$session[sessionhash]"><img src="{imagesfolder}/sendpm.gif" alt="" border="0">
</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='#B2B0A3';
$pmblink setInterval("Timer()", 500);
$pmblink x=1;
function Timer() {
set=1;
if(x==0 && set==1) {
pmBox.bgColor='#FF0000';
x=1;
set=0;
}
if(x==1 && set==1) {
pmBox.bgColor='B2B0A3';
x=0;
set=0;
}
}
// End -->
</script>

[Cyberhouse]

Works great on 2.2.7
thanks

[TheEDIGuy]

Just installed on 2.2.8, works great, took about 3 minutes total.

Excellent hack, as usual, FireFly!