Chat extension (Installation guide)

[Infinitum]

Since some members (*cough* @Treks *cough*) miss some of the functionalities in the old chat room, like sounds, I found myself suddenly realizing I had the means of fixing the problem. There is a addon for Firefox known as Greasemonkey, plus its Chrome equivalent Tampermonkey, that allows users to install scripts that change the behaviour of a page in their own browser. I started working on a script to extend some of the existing features. Note that this is still a rough alpha version, so all feedback (especially bug reports) are welcome.

How to install the extension

1. Install Greasemonkey in your browser from the links above, or google "Greasemonkey [name of your browser]" and install an equivalent addon that lets you use custom user scripts
   
2. Download the TaigaChat extension from this link. Greasemonkey should automatically pop up and ask whether you want to install the script
3. Reload the chat room window if you have it open. The script should now be working

List of features (version 0.3.2)

Sound alerts The sounds are on only if the chat window is not in focus (for example in another tab). The sounds can be turned off completely from the new Sound icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Username highlighting When someone mentions your username in a message, the message is highlighted with a light blue background and there is a special highlight sound.

Username autocomplete You can cycle through the usernames of those (visibly, not hidden users) online in the room by pressing the Tab key. If the last character in the text field is a space of the field is empty, the script will suggest all users in turn. However if the last word (or letter) exist the script will filter only usernames that start with those letters. For example "in" will result in "Infinitum". If the search doesn't fit any username, nothing will be suggested.

Bug fix to the userlist updater The userlist will now correctly update every second, not only when a new message is posted.

Interface fix for chat online list To avoid having to scroll down the page to see who's online in the chat, the Members in Chat box is now above the Members Online Now box. The setting can be turned off in the script by changing the liftOnlineList value to "false".

Planned / requested features

Extended settings window A window that allows more detailed control over the extension's behaviour. I'm currently working on good solutions for this. Technically all settings can currently be changed by editing the script itself, but it's far from user friendly.


Changelog
2014-12-29 - Username highlighting changed to case-insensitive.
2014-1-3 - Lifted the Members in Chat box higher on the page.

 

[Sha'irullah]

I love scripting more than the next fellow but this is too complex. Please make it so I can snap my fingers and there be sound in the chatroom otherwise I won't care

 

[Treks]

Thank Infi! Nice work!

And @Sha'irullah, it's really easy to install. It is really just a couple of clicks.

Infi, my feedback so far is: is there any way to make the highlighting case-insensitive?
Also, just FYI, the name refresh thingy doesn't seem to be working for me. Either that or people have a fancy way of hiding themselves.

I'm glad to have sounds back! You rock! *leaves offerings of chocolate at the altar of Infinitum*

 

[Drolefille]

People can hide themselves in chat. I think it's a bad idea.

 

[Treks]

I think it's a bad idea as well.

 

[Infinitum]

Me too, but I can't change that, since the server only returns information about people who are visible on the forum.

@Treks, I can make the highlighting case-insensitive, sure. I usually prefer to have it case-sensitive, since some people have usernames that are common words. If you re-download the script, it will now react to both "treks" and "Treks".

 

[Treks]

Thank you

 

[Infinitum]

Bonus script: My dirty fixes for all things annoying in the interface. Currently it only removes the Media alerts, but there might be more later. There is an explanation in the script itself on how to turn fixes on and off according to personal preference.

Download: RF Dirty Fixes

 

[Infinitum]

Added an option to remove the glow around staff usernames to the Dirty Fixes extension.

 

[Treks]

I didn't even know there was a glow until you pointed it out. And now I need your product to correct it. I see what you did there...

 

[Drolefille]

It's new... and annoying....

 

[Treks]

Omg, just saw it in the chat room! A little bit of sick came up in my mouth :S

It is so easy to manage these extensions with Tampermonkey. I installed the RF Dirty Fixes script when Infi first published it, and just went to update it. So easy!

1. Click the Tampermonkey icon on the browser's window.
2. Click 'check for userscripts updates'.
3. It'll update itself.
4. Close your browser and reopen it (the whole browser, not just the RF tab).

Voila! It's doin' it's thang! *happy dance*

You rock, Infi! Thank you

 

[Infinitum]

Noticed I missed the glow for premium users (or whatever the term is). The script is now updated to remove it from all user groups.