Add a synopsis of each PM in the Message List Version 2.0

I got the idea for this hack, while trying to prune my Inbox from old (and useless) PMs. As it usually happens, I didn't remember from the title, what each PM was about, so I kept going back and forth between the Message List and the messages themselves.

I thought that if I could have a small part of the PM shown in the list, it would help my work enormously. So, I took some time to do it. I call that initial part of the PM which is shown in the Messages List, a "synopsis".

Easy hack, one or two file edits and anything from one template edit.

Please remember to click Install, if you like this.

Version 1.01 : Following another member's suggestion, I removed the possible bbcode from the synopsis of the messages, shown in the Message List.

Version 2.0 : In this version, I added the option of allowing the forum users to select if they want to see a synopsis of their PMs in the Messages List or not, and to define how long their synopsis should be. A new column is added in your user table for this functionality.

PLEASE NOTE: There are several alternative ways to show your synopsis, after mentionning two or three of them, I decided to remove them from the installation instructions and mention only the simpler one, which requires only one template modification, in the simplest form. This was done in order to avoid confusion between the users who decide to install this hack. The way the synopsis is presented is a template issue, so it should be easy to come up with any alternatives you want.

Rgds

[mpadc]

Sweet stuff!

just curious is is possible maybe to have an option like mouse roll over the title to give a PM synopsis?

[mpadc]

Originally Posted by mpadc

Sweet stuff!

just curious is is possible maybe to have an option like mouse roll over the title to give a PM synopsis?

Sorry one more questrion where exactly is the option where u can turn of synopsis viewing?

[sv1cec]

Originally Posted by mpadc

Sorry one more questrion where exactly is the option where u can turn of synopsis viewing?

It's in UserCP/ Edit Options.

[sv1cec]

Originally Posted by mpadc

Sweet stuff!

just curious is is possible maybe to have an option like mouse roll over the title to give a PM synopsis?

I have tried that in the past, but the "title" section of the A HREF tag does not show as many characters and it's interpretation of carriage returns etc leaves a lot to be desired.

One could do it possibly, with Javascript, but this is not my field of expertise.

Rgds

[mpadc]

Ok Thanks

hmm thats weird i dont see it in usercp! > edit options

[sv1cec]

Which version have you installed? If you installed the initial version (1.xx) there is no such parameter, you have to read the installation .txt file and see if you want to upgrade to version 2.

Rgds

[mpadc]

I installed this version the one attached to this post the txt file....which ever that is!

thanks

[sv1cec]

If you check the header of this thread, you'll notice that there are a few versions out already. The latest text file describes two installation methods, one with and one without any user control over the synopsis. If you have install the first one described, then there are no user-selectable options.

Rgds

[Delphy]

The install file doesn't say how to change the modifyoptions template so even when following method 2, you don't get the user selectable option for the synopsis.

[sv1cec]

OK, edit memberinfo template and find:

       <tr>
		<td colspan=2><label for="cb_pmpopup"><input type="checkbox" name="pmpopup" value="1" id="cb_pmpopup" $checked[pmpopup] />$vbphrase[show_pm_popup]</label></td>
	</tr>

Right below that, add:

<tr>
<td>
Our Private Messaging System can show you the initial part of every message in your folders, as a synopsis, when looking at the Messages List. This is very useful, when purging the message folders, from old or useless messages. In the drop down menu below, select if you want to see a synopsis of each message, or if you do not want to see one.
<P>
<select name="synopsis" id="cb_synopsis">
$synopsis_phrase
</select>
<P>
You may also select the length of the synopsis shown, in other words how many characters from the start of each message, will be shown. Allowed values are between 100 and 300 chars, default is 200 and this value will be used if the entered length is outside these limits.
<P>
<span style="float:$stylevar[right]">
<input type="text" name="synopsis_length" value="$synopsis_length" size='5' class='smallfont'>
</span>
<label for="cb_synopsis_length">Enter the length of the synopsis here :</label>
</td>
</tr>

I'll update the txt file as soon as this is posted.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Also, for those who installed the second version (with the UserCP Option, which ... was not there, LoL) I came up with a different template, for the message list, which I think is more easy to read. So, if you want to use it, here is the code for pm_messagelistbit template.

<tr>
	<td class="alt1" width='2%'><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_statusicon]/pm_$pm[statusicon].gif" alt="" border="0" /></td>
	<if condition="$show['pmicons']"><td class="alt2" width='2%'><if condition="$show['pmicon']"><img src="$pm[iconpath]" alt="$pm[icontitle]" /><else />&nbsp;</if></td></if>
	
	<td class="alt1Active" id="m$pm[pmid]">
		<div>
			<a href="private.php?$session[sessionurl]do=showpm&amp;pmid=$pm[pmid]"><if condition="$show['unread']"><strong>$pm[title]</strong><else />$pm[title]</if></a>
                </div>
<if condition="$bbuserinfo[synopsis]>0">
       <table width='100%' border='0'>
         <tr>
            <td width='10%' class="smallfont" align='left'>
                <u>User:</u> 
            </td>
            <td class="smallfont" align='left'>             
	        <if condition="$show['unread']"><strong>$userbit</strong><else />$userbit</if>
	    </td>
	 </tr>
         <tr>
            <td width='10%' class="smallfont" valign='top' align='left'>
                <u>Synopsis:</u> 
            </td>
            <td class="smallfont" align='left'>
                $synopsis
            </td>
         </tr>
       </table>
<else />
       <div class="smallfont"><if condition="$show['unread']"><strong>$userbit</strong><else />$userbit</if></div>
</if>
	</td>
	<td class="alt1Active" id="m$pm[pmid]" nowrap width='15%'>
            <div class="smallfont">
		<span style="float:$stylevar[right]" class="smallfont">$pm[senddate]</span><br/>
		<span style="float:$stylevar[right]" class="time">$pm[sendtime]</span>
	     </div>
	</td>
	<if condition="$show['pmcheckbox']"><td class="alt2" align="center" style="padding:0px" width='3%'><input type="checkbox" name="pm[$pmid]" value="$groupid" /></td></if>
</tr>

and here is a screen shot.