I'm planning to rewrite the entire PM system to make it a lot more user friendly and to introduce some great new features not seen elsewhere. I'm not going to mention all of my planned features here though - you'll have to wait a little while for that.

But I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on what would make a really good private messaging system. This includes any changes to existing pages (view pm, list pms, send pm) as well as extra PM orientated pages you'd like to see. Examples might be if you would like the ability to label PMs or view entire PM conversations?

As this is going to be a complete rewrite, any previously rejected suggestions may be applicable! If your suggestion has already been made and is still in the suggestions board then can you please include a link to the original topic.
Thanks.

---

This is not a list a confirmed features but a list of requested features:

• Private Conversations between multiple members
  
• View related messages as a single topic
  
• Modify sent messages
  
• Quick Reply to messages
  
• AJAX based username checking
  
• More advanced PM Notification System
  
• Label PMs / PM Folders
  
• PM Tooltip / Preview
  
• Search PMs
  
• Download/Backup PMs
  

Were there any other ones suggested which I missed?

Pm Folders

Also, a better pop-up. Perhaps a 'div' popup that will show who the PM is from, and perhaps even let you read it there and then without navigating from the page.

Quick Reply also would be a simply awesome thing, so you don't have to click 'reply'.

Just a couple of mine so far.

ok i haven't use the buddy list code yet so i don't know if this is already added in, but if not could you add a side panel to the compose area of the PM system that holds a list of all the people on you buddy list, sorry if this is already added in.

Edit: nvm i should of check it out before i posted here

A "storage" facility would be good. I've seen it work really well on YaBB - you can move any PMs you want to save there, if you wanted to clear your inbox etc. Not a great suggestion but it's a nice feature anyhoo.

Option to 'delete sent PM'

Obviously, only if it hasn't been read!

Posted By Michael on 9th Mar 08 at 10:22pm

 

Option to 'delete sent PM'

Obviously, only if it hasn't been read!

It could cause confusion if they have email notification of PMs enabled

I think the ability to modify a sent PM before it is read is good enough.

Posted By Jason on 9th Mar 08 at 10:38pm

 

Posted By Michael on 9th Mar 08 at 10:22pm

 

Option to 'delete sent PM'

Obviously, only if it hasn't been read!

It could cause confusion if they have email notification of PMs enabled

I think the ability to modify a sent PM before it is read is good enough.

Ye, good point.

I change my suggestion to what he said

Threaded PMs is my only suggestion.

PM preview like the thread preview.

Threaded PM's

Posted By Graham on 9th Mar 08 at 9:32pm

 

A "storage" facility would be good. I've seen it work really well on YaBB - you can move any PMs you want to save there, if you wanted to clear your inbox etc. Not a great suggestion but it's a nice feature anyhoo.

I'll 2nd this, because its what i would suggest .

I like the threaded part easier to keep track on what you are saying.

Ohh, and multi-person PM's to tie into the "Threaded PM" idea.

So say I send a PM to you, Wrighty, Graham, and Blanka; it would display the PM as a thread, as well as all the replies from everyone it had been sent to.

Optional by checkbox on send page, of course.

Posted By Marc on 10th Mar 08 at 7:12am

 

Ohh, and multi-person PM's to tie into the "Threaded PM" idea.

So say I send a PM to you, Wrighty, Graham, and Blanka; it would display the PM as a thread, as well as all the replies from everyone it had been sent to.

Optional by checkbox on send page, of course.

That's a good idea

How about a conference type thing? You can create a conference, and add many people in and have a compact discussion type thing so you distinctly know you sent what, who replied what, etc. On normal forums sending PM's to multiple users to stem a discussion is unnecessarily difficult.

So am I understanding right that you'd like PMs to be able to work more like private threads which all participants can see and add to?

Posted By Ross on 10th Mar 08 at 1:55pm

 

So am I understanding right that you'd like PMs to be able to work more like private threads which all participants can see and add to?

Precisely. Have you worked with the FirstClass system before? They have a nice conferencing system.

Posted By Cryhavoc_ on 10th Mar 08 at 2:01pm

 

Posted By Ross on 10th Mar 08 at 1:55pm

 

So am I understanding right that you'd like PMs to be able to work more like private threads which all participants can see and add to?

Precisely. Have you worked with the FirstClass system before? They have a nice conferencing system.

FirstClass? I think using third party software to achieve things is a big downfall. The suggestion I posted works the exact same and needs no third-party software.

Posted By Marc on 10th Mar 08 at 4:20pm

 

Posted By Cryhavoc_ on 10th Mar 08 at 2:01pm

 

Posted By Ross on 10th Mar 08 at 1:55pm

 

So am I understanding right that you'd like PMs to be able to work more like private threads which all participants can see and add to?

Precisely. Have you worked with the FirstClass system before? They have a nice conferencing system.

FirstClass? I think using third party software to achieve things is a big downfall. The suggestion I posted works the exact same and needs no third-party software.

I didn't mean use it, I was just referencing it. But your suggestion seems pretty intertwined with mine.

Search PMs by Sender/Subject/Message should definatelty be encorperated

Posted By Michael on 9th Mar 08 at 10:22pm

 

Option to 'delete sent PM'

Obviously, only if it hasn't been read!

You have no idea at how many times I'v sent a pm and wish I ould delete it before it's read.

Posted By Tim on 17th Mar 08 at 12:01am

 

Posted By Michael on 9th Mar 08 at 10:22pm

 

Option to 'delete sent PM'

Obviously, only if it hasn't been read!

You have no idea at how many times I'v sent a pm and wish I ould delete it before it's read.

As pointed out, this could cause issues for those who have email notification enabled. I'm willing to consider the possibility of modifying PMs though.

How about away messages?

So if you have to leave or something u can set your status to away and not receive pms.

(this is optional, but make it so staff can send pms even if the away message is on)

Posted By Tim on 17th Mar 08 at 1:19am

 

How about away messages?

So if you have to leave or something u can set your status to away and not receive pms.

(this is optional, but make it so staff can send pms even if the away message is on)

If you're away what does it matter if you receive PM's or not?

Posted By Marc on 17th Mar 08 at 1:51am

 

Posted By Tim on 17th Mar 08 at 1:19am

 

How about away messages?

So if you have to leave or something u can set your status to away and not receive pms.

(this is optional, but make it so staff can send pms even if the away message is on)

If you're away what does it matter if you receive PM's or not?

that way you won't come bwck to so so many pms.

Posted By Tim on 17th Mar 08 at 1:56am

 

Posted By Marc on 17th Mar 08 at 1:51am

 

Posted By Tim on 17th Mar 08 at 1:19am

 

How about away messages?

So if you have to leave or something u can set your status to away and not receive pms.

(this is optional, but make it so staff can send pms even if the away message is on)

If you're away what does it matter if you receive PM's or not?

that way you won't come bwck to so so many pms.

Personally I can't see much use to this.

Posted By Marc on 17th Mar 08 at 1:59am

 

Posted By Tim on 17th Mar 08 at 1:56am

 

Posted By Marc on 17th Mar 08 at 1:51am

 

If you're away what does it matter if you receive PM's or not?

that way you won't come bwck to so so many pms.

Personally I can't see much use to this.

Agreed. If you want to let members know you're not there, just do as many others do and add "away" in your DN somewhere

Like wrighty said, maybe some folders that we can save PM's into, what do you mean by make it more user friendly ??

Ross, serious, is there anything you can't code

Ajax.
Like when sending to a user... maybe having a list of users whose usernames match what you're typing.

Like if the user field says maxi
A little thing to the right will say,
"Did you mean maxikins, maximillian, or perhaps maximus?"

Or just... other forms of Ajax. So it has the feels of a "Web 2.0" e-mail service - without the bells, whistles, and annoyances.

I like the idea of username checking. Not sure how easy it'll be to implement, but I like the principal

i'm not sure if this is still open to adding more ideas on what to add or not and sorry if it isn't but could you possibly add in a mass delete message feature?

Edit: I mean like a box that allows you to check all

Posted By dog199200 on 31st Mar 08 at 11:49pm

 

i'm not sure if this is still open to adding more ideas on what to add or not and sorry if it isn't but could you possibly add in a mass delete message feature?

Edit: I mean like a box that allows you to check all

I see that and/or a "delete all" button, so say I have 200 messages thats a few pages and I want to delete them all I just hit the delete all button.

I think a delete all button would be best. Instead of having the 'select' feature. Simply for the reason Dwight pointed out!

Just 2 more suggestions:

'Expand' when sending PMs
'Next & Previous' links to the next or previous PM!

Posted By Michael on 4th Apr 08 at 7:31pm

 

Just 2 more suggestions:

'Expand' when sending PMs
'Next & Previous' links to the next or previous PM!

I agree; I always look for the "Expand" button when sending a PM and am disappointed to not find it.

I think Next & Previous would be good, but also a "Next New" link as well to go to the next unread PM.

Ooo and also 'View New PMs' ... so you can view all of your new PMs alone?

Posted By Michael on 4th Apr 08 at 7:52pm

 

Ooo and also 'View New PMs' ... so you can view all of your new PMs alone?

*Is in the middle of writing a code that does that*

But fiiiine, make it implemented and ruin my code!

Posted By Michael on 4th Apr 08 at 7:52pm

 

Ooo and also 'View New PMs' ... so you can view all of your new PMs alone?

I actually coded that in as a feature earlier tonight as it was telling me I had an unread PM which I couldn't find

Posted By Ross on 4th Apr 08 at 8:59pm

 

Posted By Michael on 4th Apr 08 at 7:52pm

 

Ooo and also 'View New PMs' ... so you can view all of your new PMs alone?

I actually coded that in as a feature earlier tonight as it was telling me I had an unread PM which I couldn't find

Told me that... could be a problem with the convert script!

Posted By Michael on 4th Apr 08 at 9:10pm

 

Posted By Ross on 4th Apr 08 at 8:59pm

 

Posted By Michael on 4th Apr 08 at 7:52pm

 

Ooo and also 'View New PMs' ... so you can view all of your new PMs alone?

I actually coded that in as a feature earlier tonight as it was telling me I had an unread PM which I couldn't find

Told me that... could be a problem with the convert script!

I'll test the conversion again a bit later tonight and see if I can find the cause.