Marking Topic Creator

[Tanax]

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but isn't it kind of convenient to mark the topic owner's posts within a thread? Perhaps a symbol in the postbit, or something to make it easier to know that "he/she created this topic". Instead of having to go back to the first post to see it(or topiclist in worst case).

I know it can be done via modification, but I think it's a handy feature that should be built in :)

[Wolfie]

Ooooooh, I like that. Would prefer it be optional per forum though because then it'd be very helpful for boards that offer support areas. In those areas, know who the original poster was. In other areas, just per-usual topics.

[Tanax]

Ooooooh, I like that. Would prefer it be optional per forum though because then it'd be very helpful for boards that offer support areas. In those areas, know who the original poster was. In other areas, just per-usual topics.

Of course, the optional things I left out because I just wanted to see if there were any interest for something like this.
Per forum sounds fair enough. Does that mean it's a admin option, or should users also be allowed to tick/untick the forums(that the admins have allowed topic creator to be marked) that the user wants to see. So it's a combined admin / user option?

[Luke]

Why in the world would you want to turn this on or off per forum?

[Tanax]

Why in the world would you want to turn this on or off per forum?

Because options are awesome! :D
Some admins might not want this feature at all, then they can turn it off on all forums. Some admins might only want to enable it - like wolfie said - in some helpboards to easier see who the topic creator was while in the other boards it's turned off. Just like quick reply can be turned on and off on a per board basis. You can ask the same question there, why would you want to turn that off per forum basis? I mean, that feature is just helping to reduce server load, but again - options are awesome.

[Luke]

Because options are awesome! :D

Some admins might not want this feature at all, then they can turn it off on all forums. Some admins might only want to enable it - like wolfie said - in some helpboards to easier see who the topic creator was while in the other boards it's turned off. Just like quick reply can be turned on and off on a per board basis. You can ask the same question there, why would you want to turn that off per forum basis? I mean, that feature is just helping to reduce server load, but again - options are awesome.

Where I can understand the fast reply because of all the javascript, for this the author id is already loaded per page (topic data), and would be a simple if/else check to add some sort of icon. Adding an option to turn it on/off would actually cause more overhead than the option itself.

[Wolfie]

Where I can understand the fast reply because of all the javascript, for this the author id is already loaded per page (topic data), and would be a simple if/else check to add some sort of icon. Adding an option to turn it on/off would actually cause more overhead than the option itself.

It'd only have to check during the page load, not after. It'd basically be another color to consider or some other way of making if noticeable that the poster is also the topic starter. Nothing more, nothing less. Wouldn't be changing it on/off while looking at the topic.

[Luke]

It'd only have to check during the page load, not after. It'd basically be another color to consider or some other way of making if noticeable that the poster is also the topic starter. Nothing more, nothing less. Wouldn't be changing it on/off while looking at the topic.

...

The point I'm making is it's a simple if/else. Adding an on/off would have no impact on load.

[Wolfie]

You said the option itself creates more overhead. To get technical, anything added creates more overhead. But as far as page content, it'd be either a normal display or a display where certain posts are highlighted in some fashion. Just like the blogs on here, where the blog author has a highlighted post in the comments.

[Josh]

I kinda like the idea myself. Not sure about the 'Per Forum' option though, I think it makes more sense as a 'Per Group' option, so that it can easily be carried over to other apps as well.

[Wolfie]

I kinda like the idea myself. Not sure about the 'Per Forum' option though, I think it makes more sense as a 'Per Group' option, so that it can easily be carried over to other apps as well.

The problem with that is if an admin wants to have a section dedicated to support/troubleshooting (as a common example), they could have it enabled in there to have posts show up different when it's the topic starter making the post. But then in other forums on the same board, it would all look the same/normal. I don't see how 'per group' would help accomplish that goal, as it wouldn't be to only mark certain posters with special highlights, only the topic starter within certain forums.

[shought]

I kinda like the idea myself. Not sure about the 'Per Forum' option though, I think it makes more sense as a 'Per Group' option, so that it can easily be carried over to other apps as well.

I do like the 'Per Forum' idea.

The obvious example is support, it's useful for members replying to a topic that has been around for longer to read the posts made by the member who requested support only. But might also be useful in a Guides & Tutorials section.

At the same time there could also be some forums in which you'd not like to allow this, for instance a forum for jokes and stuff like that, the initial poster's posts don't have to be highlighted in there, do they?

If you have a discussion forum (for instance about software) then you might want to give each post equal 'emphasization', because everyone's opinion matters, not just the topic starter's.

Probably more stuff, but just some examples.

[Matt]

If it was to be added then it must be a global thing otherwise it's useless.

With interface devices, they need to be consistent or you lose your user's trust. For example, if this forum showed the topic starters posts as a different colour but another forum did not, you would soon stop trusting it as a device to highlight the original poster.

[Wolfie]

If it was to be added then it must be a global thing otherwise it's useless.

With interface devices, they need to be consistent or you lose your user's trust. For example, if this forum showed the topic starters posts as a different colour but another forum did not, you would soon stop trusting it as a device to highlight the original poster.

I can see your point but I think it would depend on its usage. If there were specific areas where you would want the OP's posts highlighted, then it would make sense for it to not be highlighted elsewhere. However if it was just randomly done, where there's no rhyme nor reason for why some forums have it enabled but others don't, then I could see it as causing confusion to the visitor.

Although, the same could be said about other features, such as the fast reply. Having it available in some of the forums but not all can cause confusion as well. I personally enable it for all forums (and if I overlook one, I'll enable it as soon as I'm aware of it). If it's on a professionally run site, I would imagine that it would get used appropriately. Not so sure about a site run by someone just playing with the features though.

[bfarber]

Although, the same could be said about other features, such as the fast reply. Having it available in some of the forums but not all can cause confusion as well. I personally enable it for all forums (and if I overlook one, I'll enable it as soon as I'm aware of it). If it's on a professionally run site, I would imagine that it would get used appropriately. Not so sure about a site run by someone just playing with the features though.

This illustrates exactly what Matt was talking about. When things aren't consistent (i.e. work one way in one forum, and differently in another forum) they cause confusion for the user.

For what it's worth, we've been considering removing settings like the "fast reply enabled" option, at least at the per-forum level. It doesn't make much sense these days to have that sort of setting at the per-forum level. Either you want it or your don't (and frankly, nearly everyone wants it enabled).

[Nityananda]

Agree there ..... Switchin it off would be insane LOL

[Tanax]

If it was to be added then it must be a global thing otherwise it's useless.

With interface devices, they need to be consistent or you lose your user's trust. For example, if this forum showed the topic starters posts as a different colour but another forum did not, you would soon stop trusting it as a device to highlight the original poster.

Alright, you got me there. I agree.
At least for a first release of the feature.

[Tanax]

Bump. I still feel this would be a valuable feature!

[Tanax]

Bump, any updates on this?? 3.2? :D *crosses fingers*

[Graeme S.]

This can be done using a skin edit. I did it on my forum for a while.

In topicviewtemplate I had

<if test="$topic['starter_id'] == $post['author']['author_id'] AND $topic['topic_firstpost'] != $post['post']['pid']">

<span class='ip'><img src='{style_images_url}/star.png' alt=''/> Topic Starter</span>

</if>