Mentioning other users

It is now possible to mention other people in forum messages, error report comments and submission comments. You start by typing the '@' symbol and the site will propose some usernames. Type the first letters of the username to narrow the list down. You can confirm with the TAB key of the ENTER key.

It will result in a mention: e.g.: Bastien

When mentioned:

• the user receives an email (unless disabled in the user preferences)
• a red dot will appear in the appropriate sections, just like reply requests. Unlike these, the red dot will disappear the moment you have viewed the message or comment.

Some additional details:

• No notification whatsoever happens with the mentioned user has no access to the message or comment (e.g. editors discussing potential new candidates)
• Any link to a user in a post is considered as a mention. The visualization is applied retroactively, but the notifications are not.
• When you are mentioned, the mention will be highlighted.
• The first time you view a message or comment with a mention, the message or comment will be highligthed.

This is a first version and we can do some finetuning if necessary. With these kinds of features, the best way to decide how it should work is by using a first version and experiencing it.

This feature was implemented because sebcat CarlDennis microtherion have logged and/or voted for this enhancement.

Ha, this is really neat, Mathieu, and will save endless read replies. I hope Bastien agrees Thanks for setting this up Mathieu .

I also like the upgrade that you've made to the drop-down menus for database objects. A better visual experience

Alright! We're moving with the times! Well done Mathieu

Added to the editor manual:

https://secondhandsongs.com/page/HowTo/Mentions

Quote from sebcat

and will save endless read replies.

Oh yeah. I'll just have to mention all of the team, I will need a new shortcut for that

We now get a cartouche? Testing three options, copy/paste just the name in text, copy/paste the user/xxx internal link, and the new feature:

DashBoardDJ856

DashBoardDJ856

DashBoardDJ856

I see that copying the internal link and the new feature results in the same thing. Is this what we want?

Good idea sebcat , CarlDennis , and microtherion ! Thanks, Mathieu and Bastien !

Quote from Bastien

Alright! We're moving with the times! Well done Mathieu

Really enjoying this feature Mathieu .

I've noticed, though, that there are a couple of places where the names don't come up automatically - when first opening up a new error report and when closing out a new cover submission. Is this intentional?

Mathieu : Nice feature! But is there a way to avoid multiple notifications (as described in https://secondhandsongs.com/message/202611)?

OK, I feel like I'm being a party pooper but I have turned off receiving notifications from these mentions because I feel they are being over-used. It's a shame because in theory these mentions are better than reply requests, because reply requests do not contain questions or any indication of what should be replied to.

Quote from baggish

OK, I feel like I'm being a party pooper but I have turned off receiving notifications from these mentions because I feel they are being over-used. It's a shame because in theory these mentions are better than reply requests, because reply requests do not contain questions or any indication of what should be replied to.

I can imagine that the editors get it bad. I privately predicted the abuse of the new feature due to lack of restraint. Maybe some more experience over time will get things manageable as we get a better handle on when and when not to tag a contributor.

CE mentioned the multiple notices, and I've experienced this as well. If someone has already commented in a thread, another notice isn't really necessary, save perhaps if their last comment was a long time ago and/or the thread meandered but returned to an aspect that was of interest to the tagged person.

Thusfar, I like the "mentions", I see no harm, other than more e-mails. I'm sorry baggish thinks otherwise. Thanks Mathieu !

Quote from camembert electrique

Mathieu : Nice feature! But is there a way to avoid multiple notifications (as described in https://secondhandsongs.com/message/202611)?

camembert electrique What is requested here? That you don't get a notification when there was already a mention but you didn't read the topic since then?

Quote from Mathieu

Quote from camembert electrique

Mathieu : Nice feature! But is there a way to avoid multiple notifications (as described in https://secondhandsongs.com/message/202611)?

camembert electrique What is requested here? That you don't get a notification when there was already a mention but you didn't read the topic since then?

Mathieu : I got two notifications for this message. One because I had already contributed and one because you 'mentioned' me - like you will now get two for my answer . And If three people 'mention' the same editor/CC, he/she will get six notification mails... Avoiding that effect is what my question was aiming at.

But possibly viewing from an other end might be better: As editors/CC having contributed to threads will be notified, anyway, others in their answers should refrain from (re)'mentioning' them. In that respect, I agree to Jon and VV (naming them without tagging...)

Quote from VirileVagabond

I see that copying the internal link and the new feature results in the same thing. Is this what we want?

It says so in Mathieu's announcement.

Quote from sebcat

I've noticed, though, that there are a couple of places where the names don't come up automatically - when first opening up a new error report and when closing out a new cover submission. Is this intentional?

Well spotted. Names don't come up when opening a new error report, but do come up when replying to an error report.

Should I create a ticket Mathieu ?

Quote from camembert electrique

One because I had already contributed

Because you enabled notifications for this topic you mean?

Quote from Bastien

Should I create a ticket Mathieu ?

Yes

Quote from Bastien

Quote from camembert electrique

One because I had already contributed

Because you enabled notifications for this topic you mean?

If I contribute to any thread, I'm automatically being notified about future messages in that particular thread... If then somebody 'mentions' me in the same thread, I'll get two notifications for the same message.

If I unticked 'Mentions (in) a forum topic or case' in the email subscription section, I wouldn't know if anybody mentions me in a thread I so far didn't contribute to.

The other around: Is there anything I can do to avoid such multiple notications?