Change usernames

[its me]

It would be great to have a plugin to change usernames. If you change the display name, the username still stays the same, which causes some problems. Would this plugin be possible to make?

It would be okay if only the forum's staff members could change the usernames, not every member.

[Todge]

The usernames are tied to specific accounts, and are stored serverside, and as JavaScript is client-side, it has no access to PB servers, and so there's no way a plugin can change a username.

Sorry.

[Chris]

May 9, 2022 16:21:02 GMT -8 its me said:

It would be great to have a plugin to change usernames. If you change the display name, the username still stays the same, which causes some problems. Would this plugin be possible to make?

It would be okay if only the forum's staff members could change the usernames, not every member.

I have some interest in what problems you may have encountered by not having the ability to change the user's identification in the system?

[its me]

May 11, 2022 6:13:05 GMT -8 Chris said:

May 9, 2022 16:21:02 GMT -8 its me said:

It would be great to have a plugin to change usernames. If you change the display name, the username still stays the same, which causes some problems. Would this plugin be possible to make?

It would be okay if only the forum's staff members could change the usernames, not every member.

I have some interest in what problems you may have encountered by not having the ability to change the user's identification in the system?

The problem is mostly just the tagging system. If the username and display name are different and the forum member tags a user with @ using the display name, it doesn't work

[Chris]

Oct 27, 2022 16:15:54 GMT -8 its me said:

May 11, 2022 6:13:05 GMT -8 Chris said:

I have some interest in what problems you may have encountered by not having the ability to change the user's identification in the system?

The problem is mostly just the tagging system. If the username and display name are different and the forum member tags a user with @ using the display name, it doesn't work

In that case, you would create a thread in the support board requesting a reindex if typing the display name does not automatically bring up the username when tagging, if you are not seeing that list popup then you might want to revisit this topic: Inserting User Link Not Working

Usernames are used to identify a user in the system so you cannot change that. The user can change their display name to be whatever they want, but the username cannot be changed.

[its me]

Oct 27, 2022 16:43:33 GMT -8 Chris said:

Oct 27, 2022 16:15:54 GMT -8 its me said:

The problem is mostly just the tagging system. If the username and display name are different and the forum member tags a user with @ using the display name, it doesn't work

In that case, you would create a thread in the support board requesting a reindex if typing the display name does not automatically bring up the username when tagging, if you are not seeing that list popup then you might want to revisit this topic: Inserting User Link Not Working

Usernames are used to identify a user in the system so you cannot change that. The user can change their display name to be whatever they want, but the username cannot be changed.

Typing the display name in that list does bring up the username, but many people don't search the username from the list: they only use the "quick" tagging by writing member's @displayname. It's not a big deal, but a bit annoying, since the user won't get a notification. Thanks still!

[Chris]

Oct 27, 2022 16:15:54 GMT -8 its me said:

The problem is mostly just the tagging system. If the username and display name are different and the forum member tags a user with @ using the display name, it doesn't work

I would suggest that the way to combat that is through education. Try posting a public service announcement showing the proper way to tag:

Sept 17, 2013 9:26:49 GMT -8 ProBoards Help Guide said:

One way to get a member's attention is to tag them in a post. If the member has the notification setting 'when someone tags you' checked they will receive a notification that they were tagged. Tags can also be used as a simple way to identify a specific member you are talking about or to create a link to a member's profile.

Tagging works by placing an @ before the person's username.

Important things to remember.

• A new line, space or special character must be before the @ or the system will assume it's an email address and will not create the tag.
• NO SPACE between the @ and the username.
• A username must be used, however after being posted the members Display Name will be shown.
• Tagging a display name will not work. The system will attempt to find a username matching what was typed.
  
• A new line, space or special character will end a tag. Any name containing these is not a username.
  
• Usernames are always entirely lowercase alpha-numeric characters. Examples: admin   harry   steve37
• Multiple tags must be separated by a new line, space or special character or they will not render properly.
• Since usernames cannot contain commas or apostrophes, adding these in your post immediately after tagging a username will not negatively affect the end result.

The member's username is used because it cannot be changed. It is a constant identifier and ensures the tag will remain accurate over time. However after the post is created the display name with proper styling will be shown. This is because people identify member's by their display name. If a member is tagged and they change their display name all tags will update to reflect their new name. A post won't become outdated and readers will know who was specifically being talked about.

After tagging someone and submitting your post, the tag becomes a display name and is clickable. This will take you to the member's profile.

Finding a member's username for tagging.
There are 3 ways to easily find out a member's username when posting.

1. Hover over any Display Name you see and the member's username will be displayed with the @ symbol.
2. If you have started typing a quick reply you can Alt + Click on any Display Name and the tag will be appended to the end of the quick reply message.
3. If you are on a composition page you can click the Insert User Link icon. Search for the member by any name and click on the micro profile in the results. The tag will be inserted into the message.

Related Note: When you Quote a post the author value is actually a tag.
[quote author="@admin" timestamp="1372440480"]Hello[/quote]



Source: www.proboards.com/user-guide/posting/tagging

It should also be noted that the Alt + Click shortcut also works on user names contained in the thread summary and will insert it into your active typing area (either preview or bbcode) when composing on the full reply page.

You will probably never get to 100% compliance, but the goal is to achieve just enough compliance to innoculate and save the forum from the breakdown that would undoubtedly come from the spread of this conversation-killing practice. Those who refuse to put the needs of the community above their own will become fewer and far between and may even reluctantly join the bandwagon after a critical mass has been reached.