So Facebook has been really cool in the way that they have designed and implemented some new paradigms in the electronic communication realm. However, one thing is a problem: they’re too smart. They have hired the best of the best – and have made that the norm. The rest of us are struggling to keep up.
I was recently faced with a task: Make our message system like facebook’s. OK – seems easy. I implemented what I thought would be the solution -and it worked. Sorta. But now, I’m hearing there are bugs. Uh oh. … I think I’ve fixed them all – but I started from scratch. This is what I should have done.
Define the requirements
It’s easy to say that the system should be like Facebook’s. However, how does FB actually handle the messages? What does the user really experience in the UI/UX? Let’s define some requirements:
- 1 person can send to 1 or more people
- No subject – just message (this isn’t entirely like Facebook – but its a requirement I put on it)
- Response comes to everyone
- Delete message deletes all replies/threads from now back to inception. If a new response comes, it starts a new ‘thread’ to that user
- Sent mail only shows messages you’ve sent that aren’t already in your inbox
- Needs to show who the entire thread message is between
- Show new messages that are unread
- backend: no dupe messages – meaning – the body of the message will not be duplicated to each user- normalized tables
- You should not see a message in your inbox if you’re the sender and there are no responses yet
So there are the specs, lets do this
In order to demonstrate some of these features and practices, I’m going to have to jump ahead to the final product. I will do my best to explain why I came up with those things, however
Create the MySQL tables
In order to keep the normalized feel of all of this, we’ll need to create two tables. The first table will be for the message itself. It will contain the originator or author, when it was created, where it was created (IP), and the body of the message. Side note: The tables will all be prefixed with a ’2′ because this is my second time trying to do this… hopefully this time is successful! 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | CREATE TABLE `message2` ( `mid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment, `seq` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '1', `created_on` timestamp NOT NULL default CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, `created_on_ip` varchar(16) NOT NULL, `created_by` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL, `body` text NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY USING BTREE (`mid`,`seq`) ) ENGINE=InnoDB; |
Things to note about this table: First, the MID column is the message ID. Think of each initial message as the beginning of a thread. Instead of having unique message IDs that are all parent/children, I decided to have one main thread (MID) and then have messages in it – which are all defined by the SEQ (sequence number) column. The rest is pretty self explanatory. The created_by and all subsequent user identifications will be numeric ID’s that may point to a different user ID somewhere else. The last thing to note is that the primary key is based on the MID and the SEQ – you will never have more than one entry per MID/SEQ.
Next, it’s time to make the recipient table. All of the recipients that receive this need to have a pointer to that MID/SEQ message. Also, the sender technically is a recipient as well. (Later on, we’ll develop SQL to not show initial sent responses in the ‘inbox’ for the user who sent them – as that makes no sense).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
This table has the MID/SEQ identifier to point to the message that the users are receiving. It then has the UID column – which is in a similar format to the message2.created_by column. Finally, we have a STATUS column – which will be N for new, A for active (or read) and D for deleted. Two indexes are defined on this table. These will not make sense until we look at the SQL that is used to generate the searches for messages. We’ll do that next.
Creating the PHP
For demonstration purposes, we’re going to include a file called currentuser.php. All this does is set the $currentUser variable to an integer. In your full featured product, you’d probably use some sort of authentication/session system. Here it is:
currentuser.php
1 2 | <?php $currentUser = 1; |
Now, the first view of the user will probably be their inbox. If they have no messages to view, it has to say so. Note: I am using PDO and not a lot of security based programming in this example. Please look at the concepts and don’t just copy/paste the code. Second note: I am not really using valid HTML or pretty pages either. The focus is on the PHP system in this case.
inbox.php
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 | <?php include ('currentuser.php'); print "<h1>Acting as {$currentUser}</h1>"; print "<h2>Inbox</h2>"; $dsn = 'mysql:host=db-1.local;dbname=c3'; $PDO = new PDO($dsn, 'user', 'pass'); $sql = " select m.mid, m.seq, m.created_on, m.created_by, m.body, r.status from message2_recips r inner join message2 m on m.mid=r.mid and m.seq=r.seq where r.uid=? and r.status in ('A', 'N') and r.seq=(select max(rr.seq) from message2_recips rr where rr.mid=m.mid and rr.status in ('A', 'N')) and if (m.seq=1 and m.created_by=?, 1=0, 1=1) order by created_on desc"; $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $args = array($currentUser, $currentUser); if (!$stmt->execute($args)) { die('error'); } $rows = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC); if (count($rows)) { print '<table><tr><th>Originator</th><th>When</th><th>Body</th>'; print '<th>Status</th><th>View</th></tr>'; foreach ($rows as $row) { echo '<tr><td>' . $row['created_by'] . '</td><td>' . $row['created_on']; echo '</td><td>' . $row['body'] . '</td><td>' . $row['status'] . '</td><td>'; echo '<a href="view.php?id=' . $row['mid'] . '">View</a>'; echo '</td></tr>'; } echo '</table>'; } else { echo 'No items in your inbox'; } echo '<div><a href="compose.php">compose</a></div>'; echo '<div><a href="sent.php">sent</a></div>'; |
For our demonstration, the top of the pages will always say what ‘view’ this is and what user we’re acting as. Your full functional site may have different features to identify this. Also, at the top of each page, we’re including our currentuser.php file and making a connection to the database. This is all pretty standard stuff.
Next, you’ll see the MySQL query I came up with. First thing is to get both of the identifiers for the message (MID/SEQ), when it was created (so we can show the date), who created it (so we can show the originator or who it is ‘from’), and the status. The status will just be used to show if that message is new.
The sql gets the data from the recips table first. This is the pointer to all of the ‘copies’ of the initial message that should be available. Note that the message table itself is joined on so we can get the actual content of the message. Next, the recipient UID is verified to be the current user and the message must be either New or Active. Next, the sequence number must be a specific one. In this case a subselect is done. The maximum sequence number (so that would make it the newest) from the recips table where that message is the current message and the status is not deleted. In this case we don’t verify that the UID of that subselect is any user because we want to show any originator whether it be ourself or someone else. The last part of the where clause verifies that the sequence number is not 1 and that its not created by our current user. If it is 1, that means its the first message of the thread, created by us, and that we shouldn’t select it. Your inbox never shows items that you have originally sent but received no responses.
Then, the rest is pretty simple. All of the items are retrieved. A loop is generated and each ‘newest’ message is shown with a link to view it. Notice how the view link only has the MID, however. We don’t need to know the sequence number as we’ll be showing the entire thread.
Now, let’s actually view one of the messages.
view.php
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 | <?php include ('currentuser.php'); print "<h1>Acting as {$currentUser}</h1>"; print "<h2>Viewing a single message: " . $_GET['id'] . "</h2>"; $dsn = 'mysql:host=db-1.local;dbname=c3'; $PDO = new PDO($dsn, 'user', 'pass'); $sql = " select m.mid, m.seq, m.created_on, m.created_by, m.body, r.status from message2_recips r inner join message2 m on m.mid=r.mid and m.seq=r.seq where r.uid=? and m.mid=? and r.status in ('A', 'N')"; $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $args = array($currentUser, $_GET['id']); if (!$stmt->execute($args)) { die('error'); } $rows = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC); if (count($rows)) { /** get all of the people this is between **/ $sql = "select distinct(uid) as uid from message2_recips where mid=?"; $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $args = array($_GET['id']); $stmt->execute($args); $results = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC); $uids = array(); foreach ($results as $result) { $uids[] = $result['uid']; } $last = array_pop($uids); print '<p>Conversation between '; print implode(', ', $uids) . ' and ' . $last; echo '.</p>'; print '<table><tr><th>Originator</th><th>When</th><th>Body</th></tr>'; foreach ($rows as $row) { echo '<tr><td>' . $row['created_by'] . '</td><td>' . $row['created_on']; echo '</td><td>' . $row['body'] . '</td></tr>'; } echo '</table>'; /** now update the message to viewed **/ $sql = "update message2_recips set status='A' where status='N' and mid=? and uid=?"; $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $args = array($_GET['id'], $currentUser); $stmt->execute($args); echo '<form action="post.php" method="post">'; echo '<strong>Reply:</strong><br />'; echo '<textarea name="body"></textarea><br />'; echo '<input type="hidden" name="mid" value="' . $row['mid'] . '" />'; echo '<input type="submit" value="reply" /></form>'; } else { echo 'Cannot find this message'; } echo '<div><a href="inbox.php">Inbox</a></div>'; echo '<div><a href="delete.php?id=' . $_GET['id'] . '">Delete</a></div>'; |
As mentioned before, the header is the identification of the current user, the current page we’re viewing, and a connection to the database.
The sql statement gathers the same information as the inbox and joins like the inbox did. However, the where statement is a bit more simple. It restricts the recips it gets to the current user using the UID field, which is cool. (Remember, we will receive ‘replies’ from both messages we send as well as messages other people send). It also verifies that the message ID (MID) is what we’re hoping to view and that the replies that we are looking to view are not deleted.
It’s important to note the importance of that last part of the where statement. As per our requirements, it is possible to delete replies that we ‘own’. However, it can still happen that someone can reply after that and we will see more of the message, just not the parts we’ve decided to delete. This is the reason for that statement.
The statement is executed and if there are results, we continue on. As per the requirements, we also need to get all of the users who this conversation is through. We gather all of the distinct UID from the recips table where the message ID is the one we’re looking at. Then, using PHP, we gather them all into a numerically keyed array and POP off the last one. Then, we can implode the array with commas – and then add the last one using ‘and’. This way, if we have 4 recipients on this thread, it may look like this:
1,2,3 and 4.
If we only had two, it would look like this:
1 and 2
Next, a table is built and all of the replies are listed. An update statement is ran to update all of the ‘New’ replies as seen or ‘Active’ for the current user. Finally, an update form is shown. You can add a reply to the message using this form. Note, the hidden input of the MID is in this form. This posts to the file post.php – which is the same file that compose.php will post to. We’ll cover this later. The final link on this page is the delete.php file. It has the ID of the current message. Let’s take a look at this.
delete.php
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 | <?php include ('currentuser.php'); $dsn = 'mysql:host=db-1.local;dbname=c3'; $PDO = new PDO($dsn, 'user', 'pass', array(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE=>PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION)); $mid = isset($_GET['id']) ? $_GET['id'] : 0; $sql = "update message2_recips set status='D' where mid=? and status != 'D' and uid=?"; $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $args = array($mid, $currentUser); if (!$stmt->execute($args)) { die('error'); } die(header('Location: inbox.php')); |
This is pretty simple. Remember, we can’t delete the message itself. We can only delete the current user’s reply / message pointers as of up to now. So, the sql statement will mark all of them status of ‘D’ for deleted where the status previously was not deleted, the message ID is the current one and the user ID is our current user. Then, back to our inbox.
In order to view our sent items, the layout is pretty similar to the inbox.php file. However, the SQL statement changes. I will show just that here: sent.php ….snip…
1 2 3 4 5 6 | select m.mid, m.seq, m.created_on, m.created_by, m.body, r.status from message2_recips r inner join message2 m on m.mid=r.mid and m.seq=r.seq where m.created_by=? and r.uid=? and r.status != 'D' and m.seq=(select max(rr.seq) from message2_recips rr where rr.mid=m.mid and rr.status != 'D' and rr.uid=?) order by created_on desc |
…. snip ….
As with every other statement, the message ID, sequence, date, owner, status and boy are gathered. The message table is joined onto the recips table. Then, it has to be created by the current user. To match up the proper row, the r.uid matches the m.created_by as current user. The recip record must also not be deleted. Finally, the sequence number is the maximum from the replies where it is not deleted status and the message reply belongs to the current user. This will show both messages where multiple replies are received and the current user is the last sender – as well as messages where the user is the only sender (unlike the inbox).
Next, we have to make a new message form. This will submit to post.php – the same as the replies to a current message. compose.php
1 2 3 4 5 | <form action="post.php" method="post"> To who (csv): <input type="text" name="uids" /><br /> Message: <textarea name="body"></textarea><br /> <input type="submit" value="send" /> </form> |
Finally, we will add messages using the post.php file. It will handle replies and new messages. Depending on whether a message ID is being sent will determine if it is a new message or a reply.
post.php
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 | <?php include ('currentuser.php'); $dsn = 'mysql:host=db-1.local;dbname=c3'; $PDO = new PDO($dsn, 'user', 'pass'); $mid = isset($_POST['mid']) ? $_POST['mid'] : 0; $body = $_POST['body']; if (!empty($mid)) { /** get the recips first **/ $sql = "SELECT distinct(uid) as uid FROM message2_recips m where mid=?"; $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $args = array($mid); if (!$stmt->execute($args)) { die('error'); } $rows = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC); /** get seq # **/ $sql = "select max(seq)+1 as seq from message2 where mid=?"; $args = array($mid); $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $stmt->execute($args); $row = $stmt->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC); $seq = $row['seq']; } else { $seq = 1; $uids = explode(',', $_POST['uids']); $uids[] = $currentUser; $uids = array_unique($uids); $rows = array(); foreach ($uids as $uid) { $rows[] = array('uid'=>$uid); } } if (count($rows)) { $sql = "insert into message2 (mid, seq, created_on_ip, created_by, body) values (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)"; $args = array($mid, $seq, '1.2.2.1', $currentUser, $body); $stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql); $stmt->execute($args); if (empty($mid)) { $mid = $PDO->lastInsertId(); } $insertSql = "insert into message2_recips values "; $holders = array(); $params = array(); foreach ($rows as $row) { $holders[] = "(?, ?, ?, ?)"; $params[] = $mid; $params[] = $seq; $params[] = $row['uid']; $params[] = $row['uid'] == $currentUser ? 'A' : 'N'; } $insertSql .= implode(',', $holders); $stmt = $PDO->prepare($insertSql); $stmt->execute($params); die(header('Location: view.php?id=' . $mid)); } else { die('no recips found'); } |
This is one of the most important pieces of this puzzle, so let’s analyze it carefully. First, the current user is obtained and the connection is made. Then, the message ID is retrieved from the POST request (if its a reply) or its set at 0 (for new messages from compose.php). $body is retrieved from the body key of the POST arrray.
If not empty MID, meaning if this is a reply, then get all of the recipients from the table where this ID exists. It is necessary to send the new message recip pointers to all of them. Then, get the next sequence number which will be the current maximum plus one, obviously.
Else, if empty MID, meaning it is a new message, then set the sequence number to 1. Make an array out of the user ID’s that were sent. The current user would only send to people NOT to itself, so we add the current user onto that. Then, the IDs are uniqued – and the $rows variable is prepopulated to be in the same format as it would be from the database.
Next, check to make sure the $rows variable is populated. This is just a sanity check – in all cases it should already be populated. If not, generate an error. Otherwise, insert the message into the message2 table using the proper message ID (0 for new message will generate a new autoincrement value), sequence number, user IP, created_by (which is our current user) and the body of the message.
If we previously had an empty message ID, it is a new message – so we’ll get the last INSERT ID from the query. This is our new Message ID. This is needed for the insertions into the recipients table. To do so, it is going to be a dynamically built query. The first part is created and then holders/params variables are defined. Now, each item in the $rows array are looped through. Enough question marks for the prepared statement are added, and the rest of the parameters matching are filled in. The only thing of note is that if the current row’s user ID is the current user, then the status is ‘A’ for active. (they’ve obviously read it already). Otherwise, it is always ‘N’ for new.
The combined statement is now executed and the user is directed to look at the message they’ve created.
Ending Thoughts
While this is not yet a perfect/polished solution, I think it is further along the line. Old message systems used to duplicate a lot of messages and not allow for multiple recipients. I think this walks the line of being similar to the older systems but working with new paradigms. Are there places where I could make this better? Have any suggestions? Please let me know.
I like your implementation. However i see one problem. The deleted messages can not just stay there in your database without reason, filling it up.
You have to consider cleaning them up after a while. However if you do that, you may loose some of the recipients in a follow up reply.
@quark diskspace is pretty cheap. Especially if your client requires you to have a log of all the activities, it is good to never delete – just mark them as inactive. That’s the main reason why I do this. The only time I delete items is when its larger data – like images – and I usually will keep those for another month and purge them then.
I have literally been looking for a similar FB style messaging system for months now, and I finally hit your post here. It’s great! I am just running into a snag with your sent box sql though and I’m wondering if you ran into the same issue? It’s giving me: “Warning: PDOStatement::execute() [pdostatement.execute]: SQLSTATE[HY093]: Invalid parameter number: number of bound variables does not match number of tokens”
Specifically tossing it at: where m.created_by=? and r.uid=?
Any ideas?
@MW that means that the number of variables in the execute() method doesn’t match the sql statement. Is it still
$args = array($currentUser, $currentUser);
?
Me too I received the following message
Warning: PDOStatement::execute()
[pdostatement.execute]: SQLSTATE[HY093]: Invalid parameter number: number of bound variables does not match number of tokens in E:\Program Files\VertrigoServ\www\ms\sent.php on line 19
error
do you have any idea?
Try posting the sql statement code as well as the execute statement code here – so I can see what it looks like.
thanks!
Nice tutorial.
how if I want to join user table that carry uid & name in this query:
$sql = “select m.mid, m.seq, m.created_on, m.created_by, m.body, r.status from message2_recips r
inner join message2 m on m.mid=r.mid and m.seq=r.seq where r.uid=? and r.status in (‘A’, ‘N’)
and r.seq=(select max(rr.seq) from message2_recips rr where rr.mid=m.mid and rr.status in (‘A’, ‘N’)) and if (m.seq=1 and m.created_by=?, 1=0, 1=1) order by created_on desc”;
Hi – I’m not sure if I understand the question. Are you asking to join in the user table so you can show the user’s name? If so, you should already have this information (see the top of the view message) – it builds your array of users.
yes Aaron, it’s not just a username only but with other user detail such as full name, avatar link and etc. That y i’m asking how to join user table in the query so i don’t hv to create new field in current table for keeping the information.
@watzleft
Assuming you have a user table called User with the following columns:
User.user_id = the user id
User.user_name = the user name
User.user_avatar = the avater
…
$sql = “select m.mid, m.seq, m.created_on, m.created_by, m.body, r.status, u.user_name, u.user_avatar from message2_recips r
inner join user u on u.user_id=r.uid
inner join message2 m on m.mid=r.mid and m.seq=r.seq where r.uid=? and r.status in (‘A’, ‘N’)
and r.seq=(select max(rr.seq) from message2_recips rr where rr.mid=m.mid and rr.status in (‘A’, ‘N’)) and if (m.seq=1 and m.created_by=?, 1=0, 1=1) order by created_on desc”;
I think that should work. (Just kind of doing it in my head
)
Fantastic work. I was looking for something like this for weeks.
Now, I am working on it to build my own version to my page.
Congratulations for the job.
This is an awsome script thanks. I have one question though… On the inbox page I need it to show the id of the original poster i.e. the userID of the first seqID. Im sure this is simple but just cant figure it out. Any hep?
Ok so I managed to implement this by adding an original poster field and querying the database twice. Am I missing an easy way?
Wouldn’t that the created_by ID? There shouldn’t be an original poster … unless are you trying to show both the last creator of the reply as well as the very first one? The FB system always showcases the last replier – not the originator – in the inbox.
and how can I exclude my last message from inbox list? so, show the last sender, but not me. got it?
Warning: PDOStatement::execute() [pdostatement.execute]: SQLSTATE[HY093]: Invalid parameter number: number of bound variables does not match number of tokens in C:\wamp\www\message\sent.php on line 15
code used
$sql = “select m.mid, m.seq, m.created_on, m.created_by, m.body, r.status from message2_recips r
inner join message2 m on m.mid=r.mid and m.seq=r.seq
where m.created_by=? and r.uid=?
and r.status != ‘D’
and m.seq=(select max(rr.seq) from message2_recips rr where rr.mid=m.mid and rr.status != ‘D’ and rr.uid=?)
order by created_on desc”;
$stmt = $PDO->prepare($sql);
$args = array($currentUser, $currentUser);
if (!$stmt->execute($args)) {
die(‘error’);
}
Hello – since there is a third item in there now, you have to bind $currentUser one more time in the $args array. try
$args = array($currentUser, $currentUser, $currentUser);
I believe that should do it.
Thanx alot.it worked wel..
awesome script.. good job.
one question though about the deletion. Why don’t you delete the row in the recip table instead of just marking it as ‘D’?
I mean you can keep the original message in the messages table but delete the row in the recip table.. no? is it just for keeping history or is there another reason?
Thanks
unless ofcourse you wanna have a “trash” view for deleted messages
Correct – you could have a ‘trash’ view – but on the other hand too, I like to keep track of all the things that happen on my system. That way if someone says “I never received that” you can see that they did, and perhaps they marked it as deleted.
Why do not use traditional PHP code instead POD.
Hello – you don’t have to use PDO – I just choose to because of my familiarity and the prepared statements. You could as easily use mysqli instead.
does userB recieve an email alert like facebook? if nmot how does one implement it, i have seen a few ajax(comets) brush explanationa but i dont learn , copy or unerstand a thing. i dont mind if you share the logic or coding(both explicit)
The email alert system is something completely different that would need to be built. This blog entry doesn’t cover the specifics of writing observers in order to send notifications. It shouldn’t be that hard to write a hook into the posting page, however.
The script its really cool, but one problem, lets say that user 1 & user 3 they already had messages, then user 1 wanted to send another message to user 3 but he didnt send it from replay section, he sent as new message, it will create new single message, i hope you got my point.
Hey Steve- you are right. I modeled it after the facebook messaging system at the time of this blog post. Their system is now different – but for a while, you could have multiple threads to the same person.
Hey it’s a nice script, and i’ve been spending the last few days, building it up for a project i’m working on..
i did have a concern with it. when you reply to a message. your inbox shows the message you sent back, (also from you). so if you reply to all of them for example, your inbox will only show messages from you.. which would make it difficult to find messages from specific people. without having to look through them all. so how would i change that. to show the messages preview from the reply you sent out. but show it being from the previous person (not you) that had sent you the message. so in that sense you can have a sense of who the thread involves.. – i did add to display all messages not from $currentUser. in the inbox, but that hides any messages you’ve replied too. which is’nt very helpful either… thanks man.
Hey – I know what you’re talking about. Like I mentioned, it was after Facebook’s messaging system at the time. It was confusing at that time – I remember seeing an inbox where I had a bunch of messages that showed the recipients picture but had my message. The preview always showed the most recent item in the thread but would show the newest picture (of not you)
Also another question I had i’ve not heard of the PDO before, so its a lil confusing to look at, I added: type / subject / reply to the message2 database.When a message is replied, i’d like it to simply insert the Same subject from the message it is replying from.. simple.. (the type will be the same).. and the reply i just would like that marked as Y. when the message is a reply instead of a new message. (so i can mark the replied messages as a reply.) .. i’m going to assume all 3 can be done the same way.. but i’d need to know how to do one to do the others, if you have any advice/suggestions.
Ok. I got the type / subject / replystatus working.. still need help on the msg displaying the message coming from you, when you reply as the first msg i sent explains, if you have any suggestions for that.. thanks =]
Sorry – I am not understanding exactly what you’re aiming to do. Feel free to use the contact page of this site to send a more involved email so I can help you out!
oh I was saying I got all this worked out.. just working on the picture/name after you send the message to someone.. to basically show the previous user.. so the message can be found in the inbox, when needed.
Okay Quick Question, how would i go about changing it. – I actually want an option in the message form to allow the sender to choose to send all the messages separately, or linked together (as they currently are) as there may be times they don’t want to have ‘group’ chat, but still send out the same message to several people. I can’t imagine it’d be that hard. but i can’t find where it would be at, or even how to do it.
Am attempting to port this system using the codeigniter php framework and ajax, but i mostly work with mysqli via the codeigniter library.
I am really confused with the PDO statements
it is possible to use it as a chat system like face book?