[PB update request] email reminder sent to inactive users

[DarkPikachu]

this is alot like the VPester plugin,
except it makes use of the email system and sends an email to users who have been inactive for 1 month, 2 months, etc.

email contains the forum address with their username and pass (if possible) to remind users who've forgotten they've subscribed.
(I have over 50 of these users, out of 64, and would like to try to liven up the forum again)
^ the last time they were on was before the v5 update.

EDIT:
it's not possible to do alone, and requires ALOT of work to actually achieve.
but it IS possible to perform.

WARNING: large code is needed

EDIT2:
I know what needs to be done, but I can't write a plugin to save my life.

1: implament the profile email button, and add the option if users want it displayed on their profiles or not
2: use that interface to send users an email for every 31 days they're inactive.

data required for a key:
8bits:
    bool: display email button
    bool: email was sent
32bits: date of last activity or sent email (after 31 days, this date is updated)

[EbonyDoe]

Support

[CheatAreZee]

Hi DarkPikachu,

It would not be possible to create a plugin that automatically generates an email. You can set yourself a reminder and can send a mass email to your members each month, that would be the best way to go

[DarkPikachu]

Sept 11, 2013 9:29:37 GMT -8 CheatAreZee said:

Hi DarkPikachu,

It would not be possible to create a plugin that automatically generates an email. You can set yourself a reminder and can send a mass email to your members each month, that would be the best way to go

that's the exact reason I'm requesting it...

are you sure it's not possible to automate the public process of sending users an email??
(since Mass Emails are staff only)

find the user's last active date, and if that user has been gone for over 31 days, automatically send them a public email.

if I can do this with a footer code, I'd be happy there as well
though I'd need some sort of access to remember if a message was sent on that user's date...
(the reason I suggested a plugin)

could I perhapse access a plugin key with the footer code??

[CheatAreZee]

I'm more than sure it's not possible to automate the process, as the only way you can email members is through the admin panel which is not affected by plugins or other addons on the forum. Sorry.

[DarkPikachu]

*looks at members profiles*
holy crap, I thought it was possible for users to send members an email as well as a PM. ._.

ok... through hacking, would it be possible??

I want just that for my members as well. >_>


like... what's the code in the admin panel that actually sends just one user an email??
I want to fix up the profile template (if there is one) with a JS-added email button.


or perhapse even...
yea, a plugin IS possible, but you'd have to code in every last method of adding a button and everything.
(Todge added options to a member profile for her "Personnal Smileys" plugin, but is it possible to read other inputs from the profile)
^ if I'm right, it should be possible

the first step would be to add the button, and a menu option to select weather users want to recieve email or not.
and then the option of the original plugin in question.

help me out here cause I still don't know much about PB :/
and I really want this, I mean both features.

I can wait however long it takes to program a plugin like this.

[Brian]

The email function is hard-coded into the admin area. It wouldn't be possible to port that over.

Pulling up all of your members' emails to select specific ones wouldn't be possible to do via a code or plugin, as they'd all have to originally be on the same page at once upon loading to begin with.

[DarkPikachu]

so don't use that function.
how does one send an email via JS??

if you can't use it, write your own.
(I've always done things this way, and while things are still in the works, it IS working)
^ also called hacking

I want to help where I can with coding...
is it possible to start a group project with this plugin??

[Brian]

That sounds like a question for Google.

stackoverflow.com/questions/7381150/send-email-with-javascript

You can do whatever you want when creating plugins.

In short, it's not going to be possible to automate the email through Javascript.

[DarkPikachu]

Sept 11, 2013 10:33:32 GMT -8 Brian said:

That sounds like a question for Google.

stackoverflow.com/questions/7381150/send-email-with-javascript

You can do whatever you want when creating plugins.

woops, sorry, I put "??" instead of "?"
thanks though.

as for all emails being on the same page, does it HAVE to rely on the page for loading data??
I mean, can you sub-parse link directories through every profile and only have the plugin actually update once daily??

you could always store each member's email in a hidden text-area during the first page-load of the day if so.
(future page-loads won't initialize the plugin, so the time to load the page won't be affected)

[DarkPikachu]

Sept 11, 2013 10:33:32 GMT -8 Brian said:

In short, it's not going to be possible to automate the email through Javascript.

I'm seeing less and less options, but I'm still seeing a few possible ones.

EDIT: am hoping it doesn't get down to my last one ._.

[Brian]

If you're viewing their profile, you won't need to place the emails in a textarea.

As long as their email is normally visible to the user on a page and the template it accessible, you can surround the email with a span that has an ID and grab it using Javascript or jQuery.

I don't think it's possible to circumvent the email display settings anyways.

[Wormopolis]

I had a code in V4 that attempted to send an invite to people by clickign a button.

here is what I learned:

javascript will open whatever email program you have set as default. which means even if you were to gather up all the emails of everyone, its not going to look like it came from the forum. its going to come from YOUR email acct.

if you default email is a web based email, like google mail or yahoo mail, then you are not allowed to fill the body with content. they did that on purpose to prevent people from spamming the crap out of everyone.

You wont be able to set any sort of timer to automatically click the "PM all" button in the admin panel when you are away. cron jobs arent applicable here. it would only be able to happen from an account that was currently logged on, and had that option. so since you are going to have to be there anyways, you might as well just manually hit the button. as suggested earlier in this thread, having some sort of reminder pop-up for the admin acct that pestered them to send the email would be the only viable option.

at least not without server side coding.

[DarkPikachu]

mmmmmmm >_<
ok you win

I turn this into a request for an update