[gloriajameson]

Hi,

I’m interested in having a user-to-user Private Message function on my site. Simplest possible / no frills.

My site is .org / wordpress v5.7.2

Site (not yet in full use) http://forum.thehiddenpeople.ie/

Currently activated plugins:
Akismet antispam
Avada Builder
Avada Core
Basic use avatars
BBPress
Disable Gutenberg

I’ve come across a few plugins that sound like possibilities but none that have been tested with Avada. Any recommendations anyone?

[Robin W]

bbPress Messages

still works as far as I know

[gloriajameson]

Thanks Robin, I had found that but was worried when I found the list of themes it had been tested on didn’t include Avada.

Also, it sounded like it really would prefer to sit on Buddypress rather than directly onto WP?

[Robin W]

There are tens of thousands of themes, and tens of thousands of plugins. It would be impossible to test every combination. I can’t say that bbpress has been tested with Avada !!

As long as both theme and plugin adhere to basic standards, then it is likely that they will work together.

The plugin is a subset of code from within buddypress, so if you have buddypress you don’t need the plugin.

[gloriajameson]

That sounds very promising indeed. Thank you!

[gloriajameson]

Robin, I’m sure you’ve realised I’m the one you helped on another thread. I was the one who needed to contact my developer to see plugins again. You were right and it all worked out fine but I guess I should admit I’m trying to take seriously my developer’s parting words:

Just be careful with plugins – no such thing as a free lunch and it is especially true of software. Security and performance can suffer when freebies are added to the infrastructure.

[Robin W]

Wordpress is free software, as is bbpress 🙂

Some lunches are free, but yes you should add plugins with some thought.

[gloriajameson]

Hi Robin,

The BBpress Messages plugin you mentioned isn’t appearing when I search for the plug-in in WP control panel. Alternatively, clicking through on the link you gave I found this, perhaps this is why it’s not appearing:

This plugin hasn’t been tested with the latest 3 major releases of WordPress. It may no longer be maintained or supported and may have compatibility issues when used with more recent versions of WordPress.

How about this one, perhaps it’s a newer version? It pops up right away on the control panel:

BP Better Messages

[Robin W]

I hadn’t seen that one – looks interesting! – let us know if it works for you, and I’ll add it to my list of useful plugins

[gloriajameson]

Actually I didn’t install it in the end. Information about it was too thin on the ground for my liking.

I installed Front End PM instead and so far it seems to be working fine

[Robin W]

thanks, recommendations always welcome

[gloriajameson]

Robin, sorry to bother you again but you’re so helpful I can’t resist!

I’ve got Front End PM working fine but it doesn’t seem to install a link to itself in the forum header. I was expecting it to advertise its own presence to users but so far nobody can see it except when they have been sent a PM. If they want to initiate a private conversation I have to give them the link to the Front End PM page http://forum.thehiddenpeople.ie/front-end-pm/ and then they are able to start from there.

I’ve got a query into the plugin support but I haven’t heard back yet. If I had to, could I put a button on the forum header linking to the PM page? Or is that asking for trouble?

[Robin W]

I can’t say for sure as I’ve not used that plugin.

But bbpress and worpdress have lots of capabilities to put code where you wish, so

1. exactly where do you want it to go?
2. Do you know how to do a button linking to the page?

[gloriajameson]

Right now, what I’ve got is a page url that I give to users. They go in and the plugin functions are all there. It knows their name, what messages they’ve sent etc. If I didn’t give them the url, there’s no clue on the forum pages that a PM system even exists.

The only time something shows in the wider forum is when somebody replies to a PM you have sent. Then you get a simple banner across the top saying “you have 1 message unread”, then you can click through to read it. I’m very surprised the plugin doesn’t install a link in the site header, just so users know it exists!

I’ve got a screen grab, can I attach it here or do I have to upload it somewhere and then link to it?

[Robin W]

attach it and link

but yes I need to understand what you mean by ‘header’

[gloriajameson]

I can’t find the attach function but I’ve just made a wix account to share it
https://gloriajameson.imgbb.com/?list=images&sort=views_desc&page=1&params_hidden%5Buserid%5D=xSFHXH&params_hidden%5Bfrom%5D=user

I was calling the pink strip across the top the header (with the Sí logo on the left)

[gloriajameson]

Hi Robin,

I think I have sorted it, thanks. Googling a bit more seems to suggest the plugin is designed to be a separate page with no fancy link into the forum system. So I just added a link to the page on the main menu.

Thanks again

[Robin W]

great – thanks again for posting back – glad you have a solution

[gloriajameson]

Thanks Robin

Actually I have some further questions if you wouldn’t mind me tapping your knowledge again. There is a feature in Front End PM that allows attachments to the private messages. The size (default 4MB) and number (default 1) of attachments can be set in the FEPM control panel. I’m guessing the 4MB may come from a typical cellphone photo size (actually possibly a bit out of date these days) but my instinct is not to let big files in as I’ve only 5GB of space left on the account.

Question 1: If I used a plugin like say compressor.io, would it intercept FEPM attachments and do the job? If so, do I need to set the max file size to the before or after compression figure?

Question 2: I understand WordPress and Avada between them make multiple copies of any upload (18?) That means I could run out of space very quickly. Should I even be contemplating attachments to PMs given my site capacity? (reference https://theme-fusion.com/documentation/avada/media/how-avada-controls-responsive-images/ )

Question 3: As administrator I can go in and delete old attachments. Would that instantly free up disk space?

[gloriajameson]

Somebody recommended compressor.io to me but I’m not seeing it when I go looking. Open to alternative suggestions…

[Robin W]

@gloriajameson you are now well beyond any support for bbpress!!!

And into wordpress and the plugin you are using.

I have no idea if that plugin stores uploads as WordPress media images, or in a separate folder, and indeed whether it makes multiple copies. I have no knowledge either of compressor, there are other compression plugins, but as I say not in my area to recommend or indeed say whether they would work.

My personal general view would be that letting users exchange images privately, whilst leaving copies on your website sounds dangerous as without looking as each image you have no idea what images are being sent, thus leaving you open to possible action such as copyright, reputation damage though say pornography or indeed criminal action against you – eg in the UK holding bomb making instructions makes you liable to be sent to prison. Depends on how much you want to trust your users 🙂

[gloriajameson]

That’s a very good point! Thank you.

[neon67]

If you want a link for private message box, U must to make 2 types of menus – for the logged in and for anonymous. Use “create a new menu”.

Place links to various services for logged in users, including the PM, in the logged in menu

[gloriajameson]

Thanks for taking the time, neon67. In fact in my case there are no anonymous users. The forum is unavailable to anybody except users manually added by me after they apply via a separate system.

[wordplus]

Hi there, @gloriajameson!

What exactly info was missing about BP Better Messages plugin?

Btw BP Better Messages plugin insert send PM link to the bbpress automatically.

Thanks!

[gloriajameson]

See the Front End Pm video I linked to earlier in this thread, giving a preview and showing how simple it is. I didn’t find an equivalent video for BP better messages. Perhaps it is equally simple but I wasn’t reassured about that. Also, in material I found, BP Better Messages sounded like it was designed for Buddypress and perhaps was only considered for use without Buddypress as an afterthought.

Anyway I have now installed Front End PM and am happy with it.