Feature request: Auto merge back to back posts

So one thing that commonly happen is i read a long thread and reply to individual posts in the thread. Sometime these post end up back to back and I get yell at by the moderator but I don't know they will be back to back. We can't manually delete posts like most forums but it would be nice if the software just merged the two posts if done by the same person - this is how the forum at plantedtank.net works.... don't know if their software engine is the same as yours but i suspect not.

 

I've looked into it previously and the main problem with auto-merging back to back posts is for journal type threads where post dates are important. If you were chronologically posting details about your tank (as an example) you wouldn't necessarily want all your back to back posts merged automatically because you would lose that time tracking.

It's not a rules violation or anything like that to post back to back. Just sort of an etiquette thing. I think it mostly comes down to members not knowing how to multi-quote posts and they keep using the single quote. They make back to back posts using just the single quote when they could've just multi-quoted and responded all in one post.

 

That's an interesting point but would it be easy for the software to do it if the two posts occur within a short period of time - say 10 minutes ?

I've looked into it previously and the main problem with auto-merging back to back posts is for journal type threads where post dates are important. If you were chronologically posting details about your tank (as an example) you wouldn't necessarily want all your back to back posts merged automatically because you would lose that time tracking.

It's not a rules violation or anything like that to post back to back. Just sort of an etiquette thing. I think it mostly comes down to members not knowing how to multi-quote posts and they keep using the single quote. They make back to back posts using just the single quote when they could've just multi-quoted and responded all in one post.

 

Yeah good point if there is an add-on that allows for a time period function like that. I'll check on xenforo in a few mins.

 

I get hollered at for this a lot somedays lol!! I try to be mindful and not do it, but if i am at work at the time...not so easy to keep track of.

 

To be honest, the multi-quote function has never worked on any of my devices. It says "added to multi-quote" or whatever but the field stays blank and nothing actually gets added. I have to click "reply" and just delete the parts I don't want multiple times in order to multi-quote anything.

Then I get a message "posts merged for the following reason: please use multi-quote."

not a huge deal but worth bringing it up while we're on the subject anyways

 

Ok, found an addon to do this. Let's test it out.
Testing again - should get auto-merged
sweet - seems to work
and you get a notification if the post was merged.

 

Cool, this could be nice. I also do this unintentionally occasionally.

 

That works for me. saves me from trying to get multi-quote to work

 

B
L
It worked!!!!

 

test.
test2
Now we have to do a long test.... what is the time limit for auto merge ?

 

I set it to 24 hours for now. So any back-to-back posts within 24 hours will be merged.

 

Hi all! I'm loving this as a person who always has another thought as soon as I hit post

I am struggling a little bit with the 24 hour period though. I want to post again on my build thread with a new parameter reading for today, but it's going to get merged into yesterday's post if I do. It feels like a small issue in the interest of seamlessly preventing double posts, since I guess I can add the date and time in my next post if I have to, but it does make things a tiny bit harder. Maybe a 10 hour period, or even 5 would be better? ime, most people aren't returning to a thread hours later to add on to their previous related thought, but I could be wrong!

Also, a question about functionality. If I reply to someone and then double post to add on, will the OP or those watching the thread get a notification for the second post? And are they likely to see the new info that's been merged? That's always my concern when I add an important or time sensitive thought to a post by editing. I worry that the intended recipient will miss it!

In any case, this is a great feature already. Thanks for adding it!

 

I’m thinking about something else.

What is somebody has a really urgent post? Let’s say - Columnaris.

For those posts we don’t really have 24 hours, and I’m sure we’ve all been in the place that nobody is responding to our thread. I think a better, time would be somewhere from 1 to 5 hours, just for the bumping up in urgent times, like tank leaks and such,

 

Hi all! I'm loving this as a person who always has another thought as soon as I hit post

I am struggling a little bit with the 24 hour period though. I want to post again on my build thread with a new parameter reading for today, but it's going to get merged into yesterday's post if I do. It feels like a small issue in the interest of seamlessly preventing double posts, since I guess I can add the date and time in my next post if I have to, but it does make things a tiny bit harder. Maybe a 10 hour period, or even 5 would be better? ime, most people aren't returning to a thread hours later to add on to their previous related thought, but I could be wrong!

Also, a question about functionality. If I reply to someone and then double post to add on, will the OP or those watching the thread get a notification for the second post? And are they likely to see the new info that's been merged? That's always my concern when I add an important or time sensitive thought to a post by editing. I worry that the intended recipient will miss it!

In any case, this is a great feature already. Thanks for adding it!

I liked it too!
If you are having this problem, here's what might work. Post something within the 24 hour period. Then, when it back-to-back posts, put a line break or something. For example:

November 15 - Params:
Ammonia
Nitrate
Nitrite
------------------------- or ************** or simply just:
November 15 - Params part 2:
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

Something like that should work. Or you can wait until the next day and just mention in the post that the readings are from the previous day, even though you're making a new post.
Edit:

I’m thinking about something else.

What is somebody has a really urgent post? Let’s say - Columnaris.

For those posts we don’t really have 24 hours, and I’m sure we’ve all been in the place that nobody is responding to our thread. I think a better, time would be somewhere from 1 to 5 hours, just for the bumping up in urgent times, like tank leaks and such,

This is a good point too.

Another thing - there I did it! I made a new post replying to Bettamay, and it auto-merged. Thumbs up from me

 

I liked it too!
If you are having this problem, here's what might work. Post something within the 24 hour period. Then, when it back-to-back posts, put a line break or something. For example:

November 15 - Params:
Ammonia
Nitrate
Nitrite
------------------------- or ************** or simply just:
November 15 - Params part 2:
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

Something like that should work. Or you can wait until the next day and just mention in the post that the readings are from the previous day, even though you're making a new post.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking I'll do! I've also noticed that the merged posts aren't separated by a blank line, so I'll be hitting the return key before typing a double post from now on. That might be neurotic of me but w/e lol

 

I’m sure Mike will keep an eye on it & may be able to tweak it at some point

 

Has the auto merge feature been deactivated or is it broken or something? I started relying on it and just double posting instead of editing and now I keep accidentally double posting because there's no auto merge and I got into the habit of not editing my posts *facepalm*

 

The auto-merge of back-to-back posts is still in place. Hard to find the sweet spot as far as timing goes. If I recall correctly it is currently set to 4 hours.

 

Here lemme test
Bbbbbbb
Yeah ok it works