Export Private Messages
Scenario
Most SMF forums have a set number of PM's that members are allowed to have and once the inbox is full, disables PM's until the inbox is culled back so it's no longer full. At the same time, we all do get PM's we want to keep indefinitely.
Suggestion
I suggest a mod for SMF 2.1 (and if possible, for 2.0.x as well)
I envisage as follows:
1. In the Private message inbox the user would select, using the check boxes, the PMs they wish to export.
2. At the bottom of the page, next to the 'remove selected' button, there would be an other 'Export messages' button.
3. When checked, this would prompt with preferred file type (XML, PDF, CSV) and destination.
4. When that info selected/completed export is made.
Filename could be default PM_DDMMYY_HHMM
XML and PDF would permit retention of images, csv would obviously be for text only.
If CSV not practical then perhaps just a conventional text or rtf file.
I'd imagine this would be a VERY popular modification and indeed worthy of consideration as a core feature for 2.1.x in due course.
There's already a mod for SMF 2.0 that allows users to Export Personal Messages to XML (https://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=845) - have you tried that?
Also found a mod that was originally for SMF 1.x that was updated for SMF 2.0.11 - see Save Personal Message as HTML (V1.0.7) (https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=155525.msg3840449#msg3840449).
(Note: I haven't used either of these mods)
Thanks for the heads up - I thought it was only 1.x and am not sure that actually works for later 2.0.x forums than listed.
I know another SMF forum I was on dropped the mod due to that issue.
I get errors when trying to install it on my forum, though have not tried emulating an earlier version...
All that said, it's really a 2.1 compatible one I'm looking for, not so much a legacy 2.0 mod.
I was just about to post the same thing Landy :).
Yes, this exact feature was available in V1.0.7 and a few after that, but as soon as V2.0.1 appeared it killed that mod and it will not install again, well, it will, but with way too many errors for me limited php coding to manually modify. I have manually installed quite a few mods that just refuse to go in with Package manager, but this is is way beyond me :/.
Export to html was an awesome option, I have several folders on my local drive with many many PM's. As the admin, I now have well over 350 pages of PM's and its getting more and more difficult to search for individual messages.
As the mod for exporting to XML clearly states, its like tits on a bull, or an ashtray on a motorbike, apologies to whomever wrote it, but the html version was great and I come on here every few months searching. I can't believe that its not a more common request.
Sure, you get email notifications, but for long running forums, ours has been running well over 20 years, anyone want to try and guess how many PM emails I have? :D.
Anyhoo, thanks for reading guys :).
Quote from: landyvlad on February 16, 2021, 12:02:04 AM
Thanks for the heads up - I thought it was only 1.x and am not sure that actually works for later 2.0.x forums than listed.
I know another SMF forum I was on dropped the mod due to that issue.
I get errors when trying to install it on my forum, though have not tried emulating an earlier version...
All that said, it's really a 2.1 compatible one I'm looking for, not so much a legacy 2.0 mod.
I know the other forum you are talking about hehe, and stop trying to install the old one mate, it will not work and will cause you days of hassles if you try to manually install it, trust me on that one :-\. Surely it can't be a hard mod to write?, is there just not enough interest guys?
It's going to be hard to find a lot of mod-writing interest for a version that hasn't been released yet. You may get lucky, one never knows for sure. :)
Note that today, in 2.1, you can export all PMs in a few formats, including Styled XML, HTML & XML.
You cannot choose which PMs, it's all or nothing.
You can find that under Forum Profile | Actions.
That was implemented as part of the GDPR effort.
Cool thanks !
So that's a permanent 2.1 feature?
Quote from: MadMick on April 02, 2021, 06:31:35 PM
I know the other forum you are talking about
Yes, yes you do. :D
Quote from: MadMick on April 02, 2021, 06:28:20 PM
ours has been running well over 20 years, anyone want to try and guess how many PM emails I have?
Is it more than 4 ? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Yes.
Thanks Shawn