Discussion Mark all threads read on exit

[VasMan]

I've given up on "learning to love" this new feature (I hate having to click around for basic functionality), so I've decided to create a workaround. This will only work for Windows users who use their beloved Internet Explorer , however I'm sure it can be ported over to other platforms, such as Firefox, Safari (OS X) or whatever.

So if you're using Internet Explorer in Windows (tested with IE7 on XP), create a new "Text Document" on your desktop (right-click on your desktop, select "New", followed by "Text Document"), rename it to "RCG - Mark All Read.vbs" (or any other name you like, as long it has a .vbs for file extension), right click on the newly created document, select "Edit", and your newly created VB script should open in Notepad. Proceed by copying the following code into the newly created script file:

Dim aForums, I
' Fill in your own forum ID tags
aForums = Array(16, 226, 259)

Set oIE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
oIE.Visible = False
oIE.FullScreen = False

For I = 0 To UBound(aForums)
  oIE.Navigate "http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?do=markread&f=" & aForums(I)
  WScript.Sleep(100)
Next

oIE.Quit
Set oIE = Nothing

To customize it for your needs, you will need to fill in your own forum tags (for example, this forum, "Site Chat" is 16, taken from the URL "site-chat-16").

The 100 millisecond sleep function should work in most cases, although slower Internet connections may require larger value. Keep in mind that if you make the value too big, your browser could download the complete sub-forum list (up to 100kB per hit), or if you make it too small, the request will not have sufficient time to register, therefore this method will not work.

One could drop the array and create a for..loop, however please don't do it. It will generate unnecessary hits to rcgroups.com and goes against Internet etiquette.

Enjoy,

Vas

[David Hogue]

Originally Posted by Mike Kolesnikov

Yes, I'm afraid so.
But I can guarantee you'll learn to love the new system. Previously if your browsing session was interrupted and you haven't read an interesting thread, the unread status would be gone after exiting the forums (and even after a long enough pause in the forum activity).

Now the system remembers the threads you have read, and most importantly, you have not read, so you always have a choice of catching up with the unread threads later.

I'll move this discussion to the Site Chat.

I actually love this, I would miss stuff before if I just came in to check a pm, for instance, and didnt look at new posts...


Thanks Mike

[Mike Kolesnikov]

Originally Posted by VasMan

I've given up on "learning to love" this new feature (I hate having to click around for basic functionality), so I've decided to create a workaround. This will only work for Windows users who use their beloved Internet Explorer , however I'm sure it can be ported over to other platforms, such as Firefox, Safari (OS X) or whatever.

You have some impressive VB scripting skills! Do you know you can double-click the Terry icon () next to a forum title to mark that forum read?

Originally Posted by Harry D

Some will, some won't. That's what Options are for. Mike, are you saying it's technically not possible to have an option feature in this case, or is it just that you have chosen not to have it?

Our forum software doesn't have a per-user option for that feature, if that is what you mean.

Originally Posted by CyberJay

Mike, PLEASE... little button up top, little button down the bottom.. "Mark forum read" The dropdown at the top is really annoying.

Most people will come around if it's easy to use.

-Jay

We're working on it.


David: you are welcome!

[CyberJay]

Originally Posted by Mike Kolesnikov

You have some impressive VB scripting skills! Do you know you can double-click the Terry icon () next to a forum title to mark that forum read?

I didn't know that! I like it. That will fit into my "work"-flow nicely.

-Jay

[Azarr]

Originally Posted by Mike Kolesnikov

Yes, I'm afraid so.
But I can guarantee you'll learn to love the new system.
I'll move this discussion to the Site Chat.

I still hate it and find myself spending less time here because it's frustrating. I'd really like to see the option of mark all threads read on exit. I have my page limit set to 100 posts. If I don't mark the forum read, when I exit and come back to it I have to check the dates of the posts to see if it's new or just something I wasn't interested in at the time.

Azarr

[Mark Wood]

I'm getting to like it due to the way that if I DON'T mark forums read it doesn't do it for me. The times Ive had to walk away, the system goes to sleep and I wind up checking dates for the latest posts makes it worth it. A user-selective option would be nice though.

mw

[VasMan]

Originally Posted by Mike Kolesnikov

You have some impressive VB scripting skills! Do you know you can double-click the Terry icon () next to a forum title to mark that forum read?

Thank you, and yes I do, however I never enter the forums from the main forum index, unless I'm looking for something. That's a habbit I've been taught because the for sale forums aren't sorter appropriately (in last post sorting order) by default.

Either way, I understand the site needs to upgrade due to security reasons, features, world moving on, etc., and that you (as site admins) are stuck with what you get. My workaround works for me and I'm fine with that. So I wouldn't be completely selfish , I'm sharing it with others in case someone else finds a use for it.

Vas

[slipstick]

Originally Posted by Mark Wood

I'm getting to like it due to the way that if I DON'T mark forums read it doesn't do it for me. The times Ive had to walk away, the system goes to sleep and I wind up checking dates for the latest posts makes it worth it. A user-selective option would be nice though.

And I'm really hating it cus I'm so absent minded that I nearly always forget to dig down into the Search menu to find the "Mark forums read" even when I have read everything I'm interested in. So the next time I come back I wind up having to check dates and times to work out which posts I haven't yet read .

Options are good because we really aren't all the same (which I'd guess is a relief to both of us ).

Steve

[Giz]

I have bookmarked the "mark forums read" link at the bottom of the Home page. When I have finished browsing, I just hit the link from my favorites/bookmarks menu.

As long as I remember to do it, I get the best of both worlds. If I can't browse everything all at one time, I can come back later. Then, when I'm done, hit the link.

[Mark Wood]

Originally Posted by slipstick

And I'm really hating it cus I'm so absent minded that I nearly always forget to dig down into the Search menu to find the "Mark forums read"...

Front page right under the Vendors forum. Easy.

Options are good because we really aren't all the same (which I'd guess is a relief to both of us ).

True, but we're still a couple of MOGs.

mw

[VasMan]

Originally Posted by Mark Wood

Front page right under the Vendors forum.

Thanks Mark. Would it be possible to have this at the bottom of every forum page?

Vas

[Mark Wood]

It would be handy I would think. I can't help there though.

mw (with no key to the Executive Washroom)

[poulsbobill]

"mark forums read"

Thanks guys!!!!

Bill

[Griffin]

Love the new system.

I used to check a few forums, have to leave, and then when I come back find forums I didn't even visit show as "read". It was the single biggest cause of missing a post, sometimes on my own threads.

Some of the more obscure forums I only visit once a month or so. Now, I will see what I have not read yet without even thinking about it.

thumbs up,

-Steve

[GBR2]

I think the new system of it not automatically marking the old stuff as read sucks. I find it a pain in the butt to constantly have to click the Mark Forum as read button. This isn't a better feature as it now exists. I've been using it now as others have and just don't like it. Flying Giants uses the same crappy feature and I don't like it their either.