Introduction to Visitor Messages in Profile Pages

Visitor Messages in Profile Pages is a new feature in vBulletin.

First off, if you don't want to be bothered by Visitor Messages, you CAN turn the feature OFF. Just go to your User Control Panel (http://elsmar.com/Forums/usercp.php) (aka UserCP). On the left are various options. Look at the links in the "Settings and Options" category. This is the direct link to changing your User Options (http://elsmar.com/Forums/profile.php?do=editoptions).

http://elsmar.com/gif/Visitor Messaging Options 600.gif

Visitors may post a 'Message' in a Registered Visitor's Profile page.

http://elsmar.com/gif/Marc to Test 080704-318p 600.gif

The person they post a Message for in that person's Profile page will receive a 'Notification' that there is a New Visitor Message in their Profile:

http://elsmar.com/gif/Notifications 600.gif

At this time there is no 'switch' for email notifications of New Visitor messages, however email notifications are in as a 'future request' for a vBulletin feature. Currently you will only know if someone has left a Visitor message for you when you are logged in the forum and check your Profile page or see a 'Notification'.

Conversations - Part I

Visitor Messaging is a bit more complex than it appears. Part of this is the 'Conversation' part of the software. There is no significant documentation of this feature, so I'm trying to figure it out.... This is what I *think* is happening:

1. When you want to start a 'Conversation' with another Registered Visitor, go to that person's Profile Page.

2. Post your Message.

3. If that person wants to 'Reply', they should click the 'View Conversation' link in the Visitor Message on their Profile page, and then using the Reply text box which is near the top of the page.

Remember, by using the 'View Conversation' link to Reply to a Visitor Message someone leaves, that person will get a Notification of your Reply.

And, Using the 'View Conversation' link to Reply to a Visitor Message someone has left will Notify that person of the Reply AND will put the conversation on that person's Profile page as a Visitor Message there.

http://elsmar.com/gif/Visitor Messages Test Message Reply 600.gif


This is part of what you see in a Registered Visitor's profile:

http://elsmar.com/gif/Visitor Messages Profile Main Screen_600.gif

NOTE: The colours may be a bit different than in these examples. Each Registered Visitor has the option to customize several aspects of their Profile page.

When you enter text in the Visitor's Message box you are Starting a NEW 'Conversation' with the person whose profile you are entering the message in. In a way, this is like starting a New Discussion Thread in a forum.

http://elsmar.com/gif/Visitor Messages Profile Message Conversation Link 600.gif

Conversations - Part II - Viewing Other People's Conversations

If you want to see that specific 'Conversation' (the exchanges filtered to only show posts between those two Registered Visitors), click on the 'View Conversation' link. You will see a screen like this appear with the Conversation posts listed:

http://elsmar.com/gif/Visitor Messages Show Conversation Screen 600.gif

Notice that there is no 'Reply' box near the top of the page in the example above. This is because it is a Conversation between two Registered Visitors and in this screen shot I am logged in as test050618.

As far as I can tell, unless you started the Conversation, or are the person whose Profile a Visitor Message was posted on in response, you are technically not part of that specific conversation. It's a one-on-one conversation.


NOTE: I'm still figuring this out a bit. If you see something I don't, or any of the above, your feedback is appreciated!

Marc

Post 2 (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=257909&postcount=2) updated. I was way off base.

I think the above is correct now.

:cool: Speaking about profile customization: I have been fiddling around with colours and pictures a bit. You can add a background picture to your profile page by opening an album (one of the three options is meant to hold picures for your profile) and uploading some picture to it.

You will then be able to access that picture from your profile page customization menu.

/Claes