number of unread posts next to unread post links at top ie. (2)

[symon]

It would be neat to have a little code that showed the number of unread posts next to unread post links at top like this:

Show unread posts since last visit. (5) | Show new replies to your posts. (2)

Does anyone know of this or does anyone else think it could be useful?

I'd find it useful but is it difficult to implement?

[symon]

Maybe too difficult?

[Pure.]

It would be useful yes. I'll have a look into this myself. The code should already be in the scripts. It's just a case of calling it.

Those of you who would know how to do this, don't read this and think "oh he's going to do it" because I'm not sure I can. So symon could use a little more help if you could

Peace, Lance

[karlbenson]

I think it would be very possible.

However I think the reason it hasnt been done before or by default is that it would be 2 extra mysql queries per page (minimum).  IMO on the balance of cost (in performance) vs feature (in usefulness) it fails.

But nonetheless, someone should be able to do it

[symon]

That's a good point worth making

But would that make a massive difference as this would let people know before they clicked the link so may choose not to

[karlbenson]

but its loaded on EVERY page

Even if you had a small forum with 20 or so people viewing at any one time
Thats an extra 40 queries which the server has to be handle if each user visits 1 page only.

Whereas the query atm is restricted to 2 pages. And i can't see all those people clicking the same link at once.

Actually having said all that. I kinda see it would be useful.