[Robert]

I have removed the ability for regular members to use message tracking. Message tracking was provided as a way for members to receive confirmation that a private message was received. This was causing confusion because the popup window that asks if you want to receive confirmation provides an OK and Cancel button. Many members click OK because they think the Cancel button will cancel the sending of the private message. The Cancel button only cancels the message tracking option, but the message is still sent.

TOE Club members still have this option available to them. Also, all members can still deny sending the message receipt confirmation back to the sender.

Regards,
--Robert

[Guille]

that's a good thing, because I was getting a bit pist off by the pop-up: I don't deal with them very well and don't generally like pop-ups. So I ussually click ok or accept inmedeately without reading whatever it sais. so thanks, good.

[Robert]

The problem with read receipts is that they can be a nuisance and are not always useful, since anyone can deny returning the read receipt. They would only be useful if the read receipt is returned automatically whenever a user reads a message. I think that, due to privacy concerns, users would feel uncomfortable if this were the case.

IMO, requesting a read receipt to know if someone has read your PM, besides being unreliable since the receiver can deny the read receipt, is not sufficient reason to keep it. A valid reason for requesting a read receipt, for example, is when someone may not want to mention something publically until they know someone has the information in a private message. There are probably other valid uses as well.

For now, I've implement the following policy:

1. Non-admin users can not request a read receipt, so no popup request is made when sending a PM.
2. Administrators can request a read receipt.
3. Non-admin users will automatically send a read receipt, so no popup request is made when receiving a PM.

What this means is that only I will know if you receive the PMs I send you and I'll only request a receipt if I need one. Other users will not know whether you actually received a PM or not.

There is a modification available that adds a checkbox, rather than a popup, where the user can request a read receipt. The user receiving the PM can select via control panel whether to receive a popup or to automatically return read receipt. I will probably implement this. It has received a positive response by other forum administrators. It's about a 2 hour investment in time, but probably worth it as it adds more flexibility without the nuisance. I'll target this mod for this coming Friday since I'm taking the day off from my day job to work ToeQuest all day.

Regards,
--Robert

[Robert]

I have modified the code so that when you send a private message to someone, instead of seeing a popup asking if you want to receive a read receipt, you have a checkbox in the Additional Options area of the send PM screen. Your selection is not memorized. I only recommend that you select this option only when necessary since some members may consider this a form of snooping, or a small invasion of privacy.

If, however, you do wish to make this the default behavior, you can go to your control panel and select "Always Request Read PM Receipts by Default". Then that checkbox is selected by default, and you must unselect if you do not wish to receive a read receipt.

It might also be nice if the receiver could choose to automatically send a read receipt when reading a private message from a user who has requested to receive a read receipt. I could configure the forums with this behavior but I figure users would want the choose. That requires another code modification. Another day perhaps.

Regards,
--Robert

[Robert]

Ok, I couldn't resist. When the sender has asked for a read confirmation, I have now made it possible for the receiver of a private message to select to either receive the popup window (previous default behavior) or to automate a response. If you go to your Control Panel and Edit Options, look at the lower area of Messaging & Notification. You will see an area titled "Read Receipt Behavior" where you have the following options:

1. Ask you what to do
2. Always send a receipt
3. Never send a receipt

This can be used to avoid that popup window that asks you to send a read receipt to the sender. If you choose the first selection, that is equavalent to the past behavior and you will continue to receive the popup. Enjoy!

Regards,
--Robert

[Guille]

I don't ussually like having to start a new message each time I want to send a PM to someone. This is why I ussually like to make re: or forward messeges continously, whiles talking about several subjects on TOE within these PM with another member.

The problem is that we can't keep on too much, because sopmetimes each PM is very big and has many info explaning things about our theories and other subjects, and there is a maximum of 5 thousand and something caracters.

I would like this to be increased, and I think other members also, so, if you are planing to make changes in this, I recomend you to increase the maximum number of caracters in one PM. tell me what oyu think, and when and until how much you have change, when you change it, if you change it. thanks.

[Robert]

I've increased the limit to 50,000 characters. Is that verbose enough for ya?

Regards,
--Robert

[Guille]

I'm going to automatically accept the question above as rethorical and symbolical. But I'm giving my answer: yes, of course, it is way much more than what I needed. I think the whole understanding in physics could be reduced and spacelly sumarized in 50000 words. Thats probably ten times more than all my posts writen together.

[Robert]

The default was 5000 and I could have disabled it completely where there was no limit, but that could also be a problem, so I choose a number that was much higher than would ever realistically be needed. Of course, rarely, if ever, would anyone reach that limit, so it should not really be a problem as far as resources required.

I am considering implementing a scheme where system resources, privileges, features, etc. are increased on a graduated basis based on a user's belt rank. That's the idea behind the TOE Club. Joining the TOE Club is a way of measuring a users dedication to the web site, and makes me feel better about granting additional resources to those users, since they are less likely to be abused. A member's belt rank is another way of measuring a user's dedication and benefit to the community. I'll be making some changes in this regard in the near future.

However, the PM size limit is a global feature, not based on belt rank or user group affiliation. I'll probably leave it at 50k unless it becomes a resource hog.

Regards,
--Robert