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!

[Peace]

Do this hack work with 2.2.6? I followed the directions correctly, I went over the steps 10 times or more, and it still won't Blink. I even tried FWC's modified version of the PM Blink hack. It still didn't Blink. What could be the problem?

[Massiel]

I installed this and I don't see anything either, has the original been updated with the background color that needs to be changed? Where do I need to include that?

[sung]

great hack man.

[Heineken77]

Ahh nice firefly!!

This is a beautiful hack!! I am currently running vBPortal v3.0b with my site. Is there any way to make the Private Message side box blink the same way that the Private Message bar does on the forum index page?

Cheers!
Heineken

[Ryan McBain]

this is what i have and when i get an private message the box changes color but it does not blink

<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>

[Boofo]

Ryan,

Try this EXACT code and let me know if it works. Also, if you have any pop-up killers running, shut them down to test this. They can cause problems too.

[disable]<!-- Begin
$pmblink pmBox.bgColor='#1D6AA0';
$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='#1D6AA0';
		x=0;
		set=0;
	}
}
// End -->
</script>
[/disable]

[RaZor Edge]

Note: Strange.... if you put { tableheadbgcolor } (without space) in this message... it will be change to #1D6AA0... gre:

[Boofo]

Can anyone please tell me how to have the blinking continue after moving the mouse off of mouseover? It blinks fine until you mouseover it and then it stops blinking and will not start back up until you refresh the page.

PHP Code:

<tr>
    <td id="pmBox" bgcolor="#13486D" colspan="5" 
onMouseOver="this.style.backgroundColor='#1C5780'; 
this.style.cursor='hand';" 
onMouseOut="this.style.backgroundColor='#13486D';" 
onClick="window.location.href='private.php?s=$session[sessionhash]'" title="Click Here to Open Your Private Messages $inboxname">
<center>
<b><normalfont>$bbuserinfo[username]'s Private Message Information</normalfont></b><br>
<smallfont>You have <b>$newpm[messages]</b> new private messages since your last visit.<br>
(You currently have <b>$unreadpm[messages]</b> unread messages and <b>$allpm[messages]</b> total messages, out of <b>$pmquota</b> allowed, in all of your folders.)
</center></smallfont>
    </td></tr>

<script language="JavaScript">
<!-- Begin
$pmblink pmBox.bgColor='#6699CC';
$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='#6699CC';
        x=0;
        set=0;
    }
}
// End -->
</script> 


[Thunderpuck]

I don't think I've ever seen so many people have so many problems with such a small hack. I just read the entire thread and am very disappointed to find that nobody else has the same problem as I do.

The hack works fine with my 2.2.6, but for some strange reason the off.gif next to the words "Personal Messages" does not show up. Instead I get that red X that I.E. puts when an image is missing. I right click to get the properties and it says the file is ".gif" no name in front of the period, just .gif - and of course there is no .gif so I'm getting the red X.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

[mauisun]

I would love to get this hack going but unfortunately, php is far from my forte. I started by looking in index.php for the code you said to look for, nothing remotely close to it is in there. I am using v2.2.6
======================================/ if ($newpm['messages']==0) { $lightbulb='off'; } else { $lightbulb='on'; } /======================================\ | After that, add this code: |

and the newpm, messages or even lightbulb is nowhere to be found anywhere in index.php. can you give me some kind of idea as to why none of these words are even in that file? is this based on some other hack that was supposed to be already added or something? excuse my ignorance, my learning curve is pretty huge right now
.....mauisun