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!

[Boofo]

You are wrong. On line 27 of an unhacked index.php from version 2.2.6 is the following:

PHP Code:

 if ($newpm['messages']==0) {
    $lightbulb='off';
  } else {
    $lightbulb='on';
  }
  eval("\$pminfo = \"".gettemplate('forumhome_pmloggedin')."\";"); 


Originally posted by 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

[mauisun]

could just smack myself in the head because I searched that whole friggin document and did not see any of those words. sorry to waste your time, haven't a cluse as to why I missed it, will be more cautious int he future. will let you know once it is working good, thank you for the help
....mauisun

[mauisun]

/======================================\ | By Chen 'FireFly' Avinadav | | chen.avinadav@vbulletin.com | \======================================/ /======================================\ | Open index.php, and find this: | \======================================/ if ($newpm['messages']==0) { $lightbulb='off'; } else { $lightbulb='on'; } /======================================\ | After that, add this code: | \======================================/ if ($unreadpm['messages']==0) { $pmblink='//'; } else { $pmblink=''; } /======================================\ | Save index.php and upload. | \======================================/ /======================================\ | In the template forumhome_pmloggedin | | find this: | \======================================/ bgcolor="{categorybackcolor}" /======================================\ | Before that, add this code: | \======================================/ id="pmBox" /======================================\ | In the same template find this: | \======================================/ /======================================\ | And after that, add this script: | \======================================/ /======================================\ | By Chen 'FireFly' Avinadav | | chen.avinadav@vbulletin.com | \======================================/


this is an exact copy and paste of the readme text file. after you add the id="pmBox" part of the code it says to add this next and there is nothing there to add, it says after that to add this script, nothing there to add, does anyone else know what the missing code is here?
....mauisun

[Boofo]

After this:

PHP Code:

</smallfont></td>
</tr> 


add this:

PHP Code:

<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='#ff0000';
        x=1;
        set=0;
    }
    if(x==1 && set==1) {
        pmBox.bgColor='{tableheadbgcolor}';
        x=0;
        set=0;
    }
}
// End -->
</script> 


is the rest of it.

[mauisun]

worked like a charm, my thanks Boofo I appreciate it, wonder why that string of java is not in the original text file at the beginning of this thread? well, anyways, thanks I appreciate it
.....mauisun

[Boofo]

Wrong again. It is in the file in the first post of this thread. Right at the bottom. You might want to re-download it.

Originally posted by mauisun
worked like a charm, my thanks Boofo I appreciate it, wonder why that string of java is not in the original text file at the beginning of this thread? well, anyways, thanks I appreciate it
.....mauisun

[Baptizer]

I upgraded from 2.0.3 to 2.2.7 and i am having a problem. I double checked the hack and it is still intact, but the flashing wont stop! even when i dont have any messages in my box! i even deleted them all! does anyone know how to get it to stop blinking when there are no messages??? ACCCK!!! heh

[Baptizer]

I got it fixed me thinks...call off the search dogs!! I just reinstalled it again and left out the wheel over stuff....and then re-added wheel over! thanks!

[Gohan]

i've install on 2.2.7 and work prefect

[DarkyB]

That hax rox0rs