Private Message Notification

[rgf100]

The private message notifications (ie the red numbers on the header envelope icon) work in the same way as other notifications - ie, once you've seen the notification it is no longer 'new'. This, to me, is counter-intuitive -message notifications should be linked directly to whether or not I've opened the message. Gmail's new message tally on my inbox doesn't reset once I've opened my inbox, it goes down as and when I read the emails.

I can see why you might make a case this is how it should work - but it's not the way every other messaging system I've ever used works. I've just realized I've missed a few messages due to this, and I can't believe I'm the only one.

[.Ian]

I believe this is the way facebook works.

I know that I have some unread messages, so agree the number should be visible and reflect how many unread messages you have.

I look back a month later a realise that I never replied, I doubt I am the only one forgetting.

[rgf100]

Ah well, if Facebook works like that, everything else will have to. I think maybe that's only since they shifted to the new more chat-like arrangement for messaging though, and it will be default pop up a chat window with the message?

[bfarber]

In 3.1.x we did not reset the count until you read messages. Many users we found started to ignore the count when they did not read all of their PMs immediately. Say you login and it says 11 messages. You won't notice if it goes up to 12 - it's just a little red box in the top right to your mind. We changed it so when you review the list of messages it resets the notice count (the count is intended to tell you how many "new" PMs there are, and once you are aware of them, they're not new anymore), and now even if you don't read a PM right away you are still notified when there is a new PM.

This is one of those situations that will never be perfect for everyone.

[rgf100]

Many users we found started to ignore the count when they did not read all of their PMs immediately.

How many have you found to be missing messages since the change?

the count is intended to tell you how many "new" PMs there are, and once you are aware of them, they're not new anymore

And is thus different from every other messaging system I've ever used, with the possible exception of Facebook.

If people are ignoring the count - so what, let them. You've removed information for the people that *don't* ignore it. If the notifications are going to act like that, why not shift them into the notifications feed? At least there it makes more sense that you are 'reading' the notification. But you can't do that because private messages are generally going to be more important and users will want them flagged up separately - and that's why there should be a persistent marker that they've not been read. A 'mark all read' option on the drop-down would make sense, though.

Direct quote from a user this morning: "The new pm numbers aren't working any more."

[Rhett]

For those of you wanting to retain the "old" function, you can do this.

In...

/admin/applications/members/modules_public/ajax/messenger.php

Comment out this line


$this->messengerFunctions->resetMembersAlertCounts( $this->memberData );

[AtariAge]

Comment out this line

$this->messengerFunctions->resetMembersAlertCounts( $this->memberData );

Thanks, I just made this change. I also don't like how it resets when you view the menu, as it makes it easy to forget you have unread personal messages. In my opinion the counter should only decrement when you actually read the message (as most email clients work).

..Al

[Matt]

I made the change as this falls inline with Facebook and other websites that notify you of new activity. It's not designed as an unread count. When you click it, it shows the last 10 results. They are not always unread.

In 3.1 the notification count was an unread count. The problem with this is that I and probably others learned to ignore it as it was always there. The new red new activity alert is more eye catching and you can instantly see when you refresh the page if there is anything new to see.

[AtariAge]

My reasoning in changing it back to the way it was before is I will sometimes forget I have unread PMs, and that red reminder at the top will spur me into viewing them. It's just a personal preference, and more inline with the previous version of the software. For me it's, "Crap, I really need to respond to those PMs", I never really became complacent with it. Although it appears to not quite function as before--earlier today the number said '1" even though I had three unread PMs, so I'm not really sure what it's tracking.

And I also don't really give a rat's ass what Facebook does. While I have a Facebook account, I rarely use it, and just because Facebook does something is not justification for doing it elsewhere, nor does it mean they've done something in the best way.

..Al

[rgf100]

It's only always there if you're not reading all your private messages. As a staff member on the IPB forums, I daresay you get a lot of nonsense you don't want to read - fair enough. The average member, on the average forum, doesn't. Better 'mark as read' functionality would be good, maybe shift the 'alert' into the notifications stream and maintain the unread count, I don't know. But at the moment it looks like you've fixed something that for the vast majority of users wasn't broken.

[3DKiwi]

I'm a bit late in replying but I don't liek this new behaviour either. I often get several pm's when I first drop by my site. Often the pm requires that I spend some time responding. By the time I've responded a few times I have forgotten that I had other messages. The previous count of unread messages was much more desirable behaviour in my opinion. I've done the file edit above today.

3DKiwi

[Rhett]

For those of you wanting to retain the "old" function, you can do this.

In...

/admin/applications/members/modules_public/ajax/messenger.php

Comment out this line

[color=#000000]$this[/color][color=#666600]->[/color][color=#000000]messengerFunctions[/color][color=#666600]->[/color][color=#000000]resetMembersAlertCounts[/color][color=#666600]([/color][color=#000000] $this[/color][color=#666600]->[/color][color=#000000]memberData [/color][color=#666600]);[/color]

I'm a bit late in replying but I don't liek this new behaviour either. I often get several pm's when I first drop by my site. Often the pm requires that I spend some time responding. By the time I've responded a few times I have forgotten that I had other messages. The previous count of unread messages was much more desirable behaviour in my opinion. I've done the file edit above today.

3DKiwi

Make this change above to restore the old setting and retain marked as NEW until they are all read.. I do this on all my boards.

[sound]

am i right in saying this method no longer works in 3.3 ?
tried it but no real joy

[Rhett]

am i right in saying this method no longer works in 3.3 ?

tried it but no real joy

I haven't tried it... however I will take a look.

[Rhett]

For those of you wanting to retain the "old" function, you can do this.

In...

/admin/applications/members/modules_public/ajax/messenger.php

Comment out this line

[color=#000000]$this[/color][color=#666600]->[/color][color=#000000]messengerFunctions[/color][color=#666600]->[/color][color=#000000]resetMembersAlertCounts[/color][color=#666600]([/color][color=#000000] $this[/color][color=#666600]->[/color][color=#000000]memberData [/color][color=#666600]);[/color]

for confirmation, this still works in 3.3.0 The alert will go away when you open the menu, however on your next page that you load it will show again if there are still unread messages or notifications.

[Rheddy]

I've been satisfied with the PM system. Who cares about the notificatio0n as long as you can read the message. To me, that's the only difference. If you can read the message, nothing else matters. lols

[sound]

I haven't tried it... however I will take a look.

for confirmation, this still works in 3.3.0 The alert will go away when you open the menu, however on your next page that you load it will show again if there are still unread messages or notifications.

thanks for having a look, its appreciated

I think i maybe on a slightly different track

as am after trying to tweak it so that the messages unread figure at tthe top always reflects the amount of new pms at all times
which appears to get reset to 0 via the fetchConversation function in messengerfunctions.php as well

made some progress but quite tricky

[AleksandarCacak]

On 20.09.2011. at 5:07 PM, Rhett said:

For those of you wanting to retain the "old" function, you can do this.

In...

/admin/applications/members/modules_public/ajax/messenger.php

Comment out this line


$this->messengerFunctions->resetMembersAlertCounts( $this->memberData );

I know that this topic is too old, but if someone has a solution for this in version ipb 3.4.8 it would be great, because this won't work anymore (wont load messages in menu).

sry for bumping this topic but i can't find similar topic.

 

edit:

actually i find this hook, it do the job

https://community.invisionpower.com/files/file/6106-nb34-unread-new-pm39s-counter/