Simple:Press Documentation

Private Messages

Introduction

The Private Messages component of SPMM allows your users to message each other. The admin can designate or restrict this feature by role.

Features

  • Users can send private messages to each other using the Messages button on users profile pages
  • Messages are automatically refreshed so that there can be semi-realtime communication
  • Supports emoticons
  • Users can block users
  • Users can download messages
  • Users are notified by email of new messages if they haven’t logged in recently
  • Admins can control which roles are allowed to send and receive messages
  • Messages are restricted to plain-text and links (no html allowed for security)

Integration With Other Components

  • Followers – users can restrict messages so that only followers can message them
  • Real-time notifications – users can get a notification when someone starts a new conversation
  • Online Users – display a dot (green) for those users that are on-line

Activating The Component

To activate the PRIVATE MESSAGE component:

  • Navigate to MEMBER MANAGER->SETTINGS->COMPONENTS
  • Click the checkbox next to Simple:Press Member Manager – PRIVATE MESSAGES
  • Click the Save Changes button

The component should now be enabled.

Restricting Messaging By User Role

All existing user roles will automatically be allowed to private message each other.  To prevent certain roles from being able to do so you can do the following:

  • Navigate to MEMBER MANAGER->USER ROLES
  • Click on a USER ROLE to edit it
  • Scroll down to the PRIVATE MESSAGES section

Settings For All Users

The component has some global settings:

  • Navigate to MEMBER MANAGER->SETTINGS->COMPONENT SETTINGS->PRIVATE MESSAGING
  • There you will see a screen with the following options:

  • Update as you see fit and the click the Save Changes button

Using The Message Notification Icon

You can add a message notification icon to any menu item.  It will look similar to the following:

To set this up, follow these steps:

  • Create a menu item that is of type CUSTOM LINK:

  • For the URL, set it to private message tab – it will look something like this:  https://yourdomain.com/user/profiletab=messages
  • For the link text (which is what the user will see in the menu), make sure you include the special code {new_messages}.  So, it would look something like this:  Messages {new_messages}

  • Save the menu item and send a test message to another user.  Check the menu on their site to see the notice show up there.

Notes and Gotcha’s

  • The WordPress server time needs to be UTC in order for real-time messaging to work properly.
  • You must have a capable server since anyone that has their messaging tab open will be hitting your server every 5 seconds to check for new messages!