General Chat Discussion

[synkr0nized]

Our chat can be customized somewhat, just as the forum itself can. This means nothing phenomenal is likely, but we can definitely explore tweaks. Please feel free to offer suggestions here for consideration!

This may include in-chat commands, like /nick, or the addition of new smilies or BBCode if reasonable. Though slash commands were my focus this morning, I'm curious if there are other features relevant to the chat any of you would like to see implemented. If so, let's talk about what they would be / what they might offer, and I'll see what is and is not feasible.


I was playing around with the Ajax Chat code to see what was and was not possible in terms of custom modifications. In some ways, the code is set up very nicely to allow for this kind of thing. In other ways, it's a loving simple-minded and basic thing that doesn't allow for much of anything.

I originally started exploring in order to find out how to modify commands to add a /whois for general users.

In any case, I now know how to add additional, custom commands to the chat and thought maybe we could have other ideas and such discussed here.

Fire away.

[Sithdarth]

It might be worth while to set up a command that easily lets people return to their original login ID if possible. It's not a problem for users with names that fit into the character limit but anyone with a really long username can't switch back without logging out and back in. While this isn't terribly inconvenient it would be less inconvenient to just type in a command. That is assuming it isn't terribly hard for you to implement. I wouldn't know without digging through the code myself.

[synkr0nized]

Now that I can do, sure. I'll work on that right now, test it, and update the OP with a section on "available custom commands" or something for that and future additions.

edit: Added as "/revert".

[A Zarkin' Frood]

The old AJAX chat over on GPD had some nice smileys, like the Smugface and Yodadog, unfortunately the chat appears to be down now or something, so you'd have to get in touch with Liz to salvage them.

The only feature I really want is to be able to know who all the people who try to be funny by changing their names are. (e: Ideally I'd be able to just mouseover their names to find out, but I have no idea if that can be pulled off easily.)

Another thing: I don't have anyone on ignore, but those who do seem to be complaining that when the ignored one changes their name their messages can be seen again. Ignored users should also be unable to see messages of those who ignored them, or at least there should be a feature that allows one to make their own messages invisible to some. It gets kind of annoying when that one guy ignored by everyone but me and maybe another person keeps trying to weigh in on a conversation of people who can't see him and I have to remind him that he's in fact ignored by everyone.

Alternatively: Get rid of the ignore command. It gets annoying when someone tries to play up drama by saying "I'll put you on ignore till tomorrow because I disagree with your valid opinion"

[synkr0nized]

POST EDITED 'CAUSE I DONE OUT-THUNK MYSELF TO VICTORY

/whois implemented, proper ignore may be as well after I explore how Ajax Chat actually handles ignores.

[rpgdemon]

Is there anything linking IDs with forum names, anywhere? Because it seems like if the IDs exist, there's got to be a link up, or else why have them?

For example, are they the bits in the view profile url, where it's all, "u=xxxx", where xxxx are numbers? If so, that might be a place to start. I honestly have no idea how phpBB works, so I'm just throwing guesses out there.

[shiney]

I'm pretty sure that AJAX chat stores your session based on your username and privileges and disassociates your user ID once you have entered the chat. If synk can have AJAX query the database and associate your user ID with your session data, it is possible to link them together?

[Ecks]

requesting ^_^ as a smilie

pretty please

[synkr0nized]

I'm pretty sure that AJAX chat stores your session based on your username and privileges and disassociates your user ID once you have entered the chat. If synk can have AJAX query the database and associate your user ID with your session data, it is possible to link them together?

Yes, it was much simpler than I originally thought. Since we have the vBulletin-specific Ajax Chat install, we actually have access to a few globals. At first I thought this only meant we had access to show who the current user -- i.e. you reading this right now -- was and the associated information, but then I stopped being a moron. I.e. I stopped lamenting how tied to session info it was, which wasn't really helpful to me, and made use of more direct access to the database.

[Loyal]

Alternatively: Get rid of the ignore command. It gets annoying when someone tries to play up drama by saying "I'll put you on ignore till tomorrow because I disagree with your valid opinion" Okay, this is ridiculous.

Nobody ever says "I'm ignoring you" till the drama has already climbed to a peak, and it's misleading to imply that the main reason people use the ignore feature is to spite someone else for added drama. The ignore list adds nothing whatsoever to any drama in place, and often reduces it because one of the parties involved is making a point of not contributing further to the drama.

Removing the ignore feature would only result in people continuing to interact with people they have no desire to interact with, leading to more drama, ragequits, and bad feels all around.

But yes, I would very much like it if the ignore feature were tied to the actual user. Also if maybe there were a visible ignore list?

[akaSM]

Hey Synk, have ypu found why the chat hates Chrome (and other Chromium browsers)? Also, it doesn't seem to like the Android default browser and Dolphin Browser.

[synkr0nized]

"/ignore <username>" now works per-account.

A few notes:
- if you had anyone ignore previously, this was probably with a string for whatever username alias they had at the time and will not work now
- you may need to refresh the chat to make sure your browser isn't using a cached script
- if you are having difficulty, clearing ajax-chat cookies from nuklearforums will reset your chat settings


Edit:
Hey Synk, have ypu found why the chat hates Chrome (and other Chromium browsers)? Also, it doesn't seem to like the Android default browser and Dolphin Browser.

No, I haven't even heard of this. Can you describe what it does (or, rather, fails to do)?

[akaSM]

No, I haven't even heard of this. Can you describe what it does (or, rather, fails to do)?

This is what happens in my phone, I think I get the same or a similar error in my PC. I have to use IE or Opera Mobile to get into the chat since those work fine.

[Ecks]

:whatisthematrix: should work in chat too

also forget butts i'll just img tag that, if there were an actual emote for that it would get old really fucking fast.

[Krylo]

also forget butts i'll just img tag that, if there were an actual emote for that it would get old really fucking fast.

You say that as though it hasn't already.

[Fifthfiend]

Chat works fine in Chrome for me.

[akaSM]

It seems the error Cool Novo (previously Chrome Plus, I hate the new name), a Chromium based browser, is similar to the error Dolphn throws at me:

This page contains the following errors:

error on line 118 at column 175: Encoding error
Below is a rendering of the page up to the first error.

It's just like the Dolphin error (red rectangle) BUT, nothing appears on the screen other than the red rectangle error, just some white space.

[rpgdemon]

I have just verified it works on my android phone, using the default browser. It has some weird issues with the layout, but everything loads fine.

[Flarecobra]

Nice Red vs. Blue referance in the chat by the way. "Gary the Chatbox"...

[A Zarkin' Frood]

(15:38:26) Gary the Chatbot: K-Resh enters the channel.
(15:38:29) K-Resh: I can't
(15:38:39) K-Resh: Yeah I still can't see anything being said in here
(15:38:41) K-Resh: not even what I say
(15:38:52) K-Resh: I don't even know if anyone sees what I say
(15:39:05) Gary the Chatbot: K-Resh has been logged out (Timeout).
That apparently is a problem for some Karesh.

Also, would be nice if we could copy chatlogs without having to insert the linebreaks ourselves.

[pochercoaster]

That apparently is a problem for some Karesh.

Also, would be nice if we could copy chatlogs without having to insert the linebreaks ourselves.

This happened to me as well. Clearing my cache fixed it.

[Krylo]

This happened to me as well. Clearing my cache fixed it.

Has now happened to me. Clearing my cache failed to fix it.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

Did you try logging into the chat using a secondary browser already? Or maybe logging out properly instead of just closing the window/tab?

[Krylo]

It works in I.E., but man fuck that.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

I have overthrown Krylo to become the new chat king.

[Krylo]

I have overthrown Krylo to become the new chat king.

Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the chat. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Krylo, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away".

[synkr0nized]

I just got back in town, and it's disconcerting to see that it's not just one person not seeing any chat. Thanks for the details you have already provided. If it continues to happen / happens again / happens to any additional people, could you make sure to:

-- log completely out of NPF
-- clear all ajax-chat cookies (or all NPF cookies if you are not sure)
-- let me know if you did anything "not normal" with cookies/script settings in your browser or for NPF

It doesn't sound like there's anything there that's not typical shit, and I see that y'all logged out and in and refreshed and all that. I am just grasping for straws at the moment until I have a better idea of what may be happening.


Additional thought:
When this happened to you all, how long did it last and was it constant until some explicit action (i.e. it didn't just go away on its own)?

[Krylo]

I just got back in town, and it's disconcerting to see that it's not just one person not seeing any chat. Thanks for the details you have already provided. If it continues to happen / happens again / happens to any additional people, could you make sure to:

-- log completely out of NPF
-- clear all ajax-chat cookies (or all NPF cookies if you are not sure)
-- let me know if you did anything "not normal" with cookies/script settings in your browser or for NPF

It doesn't sound like there's anything there that's not typical shit, and I see that y'all logged out and in and refreshed and all that. I am just grasping for straws at the moment until I have a better idea of what may be happening.


Additional thought:
When this happened to you all, how long did it last and was it constant until some explicit action (i.e. it didn't just go away on its own)?

Done all the clearing of cookies and logging out and what not. Changed nothing. It's still not working for me so I can't quite answer that additional thought yet.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the chat. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Krylo, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away".


Man look at all this prime real estate. Let's build a carpark.

[pochercoaster]

It just happened seemingly randomly for me, that is it was working fine earlier in the day and just went blank when I logged on later. It didn't seem to resolve on its own, but I only waited a couple minutes before clearing my cache and it worked after that. I use firefox and I don't have noscript installed. This only happened to me once.

[Krylo]

Okay, so, I remembered that I had put robin on ignore during my last session. So I went into the invisi-chat, clicked robin's name, chose to accept him, and then re-deleted all the cookies for ajax chat.

It now works.

It makes no sense as deleting cookies the first time should have taken care of that anyway. I have no idea. But whatever it worked.

[pochercoaster]

That actually made me remember that I ignored someone in chat before it happened, but I just went ahead and cleared my cache and it worked. So maybe the ignore feature has to do with it?

[Osterbaum]

Every time I log onto chat get an error message: TypeError: Object #<HTMLObjectElement> has no method 'create'

e: I'm not sure if it's chat or my browser or both. I'm using Chrome.

[synkr0nized]

That looks like it could be a browser issue in how it is parsing scripts. I haven't seen it yet, but I don't have Chrome to test (have FF, Opera, MSIE, and Safari).

[pochercoaster]

Happened again as soon as I ignored someone. Fixed it again by clearing cache.

This is quite frustrating. :<

[rpgdemon]

I'm guessing there's a bug in the changes to the ignore that you made, Synk, that's somehow messing up and ignoring everyone. Check that you didn't accidentally cause something to always return true?

[Krylo]

Happened again as soon as I ignored someone. Fixed it again by clearing cache.

This is quite frustrating. :<

Guess you'll just have to learn to love Robin.

[synkr0nized]

Thanks for posting about it more / again. It gave me a place to start -- though of course in general assuming I had done something when I changed /ignore was a starting place as well -- and easily reproduce what you all noticed.

I'm guessing there's a bug in the changes to the ignore that you made, Synk, that's somehow messing up and ignoring everyone. Check that you didn't accidentally cause something to always return true?

Nope.
Actually, it was an issue with how the setting for ignore is stored in the cookie. Why this didn't come up when it was based on usernames but did now? *shrug* I don't feel like reverting the code to do tests and see if it does or does not have the same problem and just didn't get noticed.

[pochercoaster]

Okay, so, I cleared my cache and deleted my cookies, logged in to chat and ignored someone. Chat went invisible instantly. I accepted that person again and all the backlog appeared again. I didn't even have to log in or out of chat.

Oddly, earlier today I ignored robin and chat was fine (it didn't disappear or anything) until I logged in later.

:|

[synkr0nized]

I can't reproduce that, so...

I just tried to on both my account and a regular-user test account. I was able to ignore and un-ignore, ignore and leave chat and come back, etc. without it all being blank.

Anyone else?

[pochercoaster]

I tried again now and it seems fine. It's probably me :/

[shiney]

I think knowing the browsers and versions of said browsers would be influential, as well as any add-ons activated.

Also does anyone try a hard refresh? (ctrl-f5). This could be of assistance?

[synkr0nized]

There's a YouTube embed button now.
It shouldn't auto-play, but if it does let me know.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

Who would think embedding youtube videos into the chat is a good idea (especially since it's usually constantly scrolling and half of all youtube videos are blocked half of the countries of the earth)? Is there at least an option to turn off that particular tag to display a plain text link to the vid instead? Because I don't want to bother with youtube vids taking up a lot of space or put up with people who post video after video. It's sometimes hard to take people who image spam already.

[synkr0nized]

*shrug*
OK
I can take it back out. I don't really care either way. I was poking around with YT code and figured I'd leave it in there.

e: I originally had it open a small window and play in that, but in my opinion you may as well just have a link and open it in a new tab (i.e. doing it that way provided no additional functionality or convenience).

[A Zarkin' Frood]

I don't mean to rob people who would enjoy it of a feature I just personally don't think it's a good idea. Hence why I asked whether it's possible to disable the bbcode for the youtube tags. It's possible to turn off images and font colors after all.

[synkr0nized]

oh


Yeah, OK. That's implemented, too, now. If you turn off YT bbcode, it'll just paste the URL (which should be clickable) to the video instead of embedding.

[A Zarkin' Frood]

Cool thanks. I know quite a few people will probably like the youtube code, but I really can do without it myself.