Post Highlight

[frm]

I think the admins & mods should have a facility to highlight multiple posts within a thread. Many times, I just don't want to read the entire discussion that spans several pages; but just want to know the most useful/entertaining/informative/special posts that must be read.

Why not let the mods/admins/special user-groups have the power to 'highlight' a post and setup a new indication at the top of page that shows me all the featured/highlighted posts in that thread?

Bringing this suggestion back to life, as it is needed in this community (XenForo) more than ever.

Let users cut through the noise by highlighting posts — much like Reddit — on a point system or per admin/moderator setting as per the original suggestion (either way would suffice).

 

[Alpha1]

This could be a paid feature as well. Pay to highlight post.
It would be nice if we can give this feature through usergroup permissions as well as purchasable item.

 

[frm]

This could be a paid feature as well. Pay to highlight post.
It would be nice if we can give this feature through usergroup permissions as well as purchasable item.

If special user groups are incorporated by the OP's suggestion, this could easily be achievable by, say, a user permission of "maximum highlights" and setting it higher and higher in groups so that you could sell the upgrade.

I'm sure if the foundation to highlight is there, but not a maximum setting, it shouldn't break the bank for setting up a user permission like that for your proposed use case, especially if you're charging for them.

It'd also be nice to have leveled highlights (say bronze, silver, and gold) for if the post is highlighted by X, Y, or Z+ members.

I'm fine with the proposal and maximum highlights (if anyone else is on board with that idea), though.

 

[Alpha1]

What I mean is that it would be nice if it would be available both through usergroup permissions AND the Purchasable Items System:

XF 2.0 Thread 'How does the Purchasable Items System work?'

Dec 31, 2017

The system is split up into several distinct parts.

There's the payment provider system which is what provides the ability to pay for items using any of the built in providers, e.g. PayPal, Stripe and the provider system is extensible so other developers can add other providers (see this resource for an example).

Then there's the purchasable item system which is the system that the user upgrades stuff is built upon.

The two systems are entirely separate, so theoretically you don't really need to know how the payment provider system works to create new purchasable items.

In...

• Alpha1
• Replies: 13
• Forum: XenForo development discussions

Currently the only purchasable Items in XF are account upgrades. It would be nice to see at least one purchasable forum feature in core.

 

[Lee]

Love the idea of this.

 

[frm]

What I mean is that it would be nice if it would be available both through usergroup permissions AND the Purchasable Items System:

XF 2.0 Thread 'How does the Purchasable Items System work?'

Dec 31, 2017

The system is split up into several distinct parts.

There's the payment provider system which is what provides the ability to pay for items using any of the built in providers, e.g. PayPal, Stripe and the provider system is extensible so other developers can add other providers (see this resource for an example).

Then there's the purchasable item system which is the system that the user upgrades stuff is built upon.

The two systems are entirely separate, so theoretically you don't really need to know how the payment provider system works to create new purchasable items.

In...

• Alpha1
• Replies: 13
• Forum: XenForo development discussions

Currently the only purchasable Items in XF are account upgrades. It would be nice to see at least one purchasable forum feature in core.

You would just make Maximum Highlights 100, 200, 300 user group(s) and then assign the person the user group for the item they purchased. I'm unaware of Purchaseable Item System, but Dragonbyte Shop can do this.

Didn't read this:

Currently the only purchasable Items in XF are account upgrades. It would be nice to see at least one purchasable forum feature in core.

But it goes without saying, it can be an account upgrade by how you sell it.

Highlighter Upgrade
— Highlight up to 100 posts forum-wide.

Highlighter Upgrade II
— Highlight up to 200 posts forum-wide.

Highlighter Upgrade III
— Highlight up to 300 posts forum-wide.

 

[Alpha1]

The Purchasable Item System is what @Painbaker uses for his Pay to Play addons. i.e.

[XB] Paid Thread Pinning

Jun 22, 2025

Let users pay to stick their threads — permanently or for a set time.

• Painbaker
• monetization paid pinning sticky threads thread promotion
• Add-ons [2.x]

[XB] Paid Content Featuring

Jun 21, 2025

Let users promote their content by featuring it — temporarily or permanently

• Painbaker
• featured content monetization paid promotion payment integration recurring payments temporary featuring thread promotion xfrm resources
• Add-ons [2.x]

[XB] Thread Bump

Aug 16, 2025

Boost thread visibility by enabling manual and automated bumps

• Painbaker
• auto bump manual bump monetization paid bumps scheduled bumps thread bump thread visibility
• Add-ons [2.x]

etc.

 

[frm]

Looks like that'd have to be up to the dev to incorporate, then, once highlighting of some type or form is put in place.

The basis of a maximum highlights user permission would let you sell account upgrades natively though, just presented differently.

 

[Alpha1]

But it goes without saying, it can be an account upgrade by how you sell it.

The beauty of purchasable items system is that users do not need to buy an account upgrade subscription. They do not need permissions. The button to use the functionality is there. Users just click a button to activate a function and pay for it. Its an extra income stream for the website.

 

[Painbaker]

etc.

[XB] Custom Post Style: Content Highlights & Monetization

Feb 2, 2021

Monetize your forum by allowing users to personalize their posts with unique paid themes

• Painbaker
• monetization posts styling
• Add-ons [2.x]

 

[frm]

It does sound good, but is probably out of the scope for XenForo to implement to tie everything together nicely, regarding highlights alone.

I suspect it'd be a 1st party add on in the future, if anything. I doubt they'd put a monetization (commerce) feature like that in a 1st or 2nd point release when they know it could be sold for more, and knowing "items" have to be added as they go, getting that sweet renewal cash flow.

 

[Alpha1]

@Painbaker could you give your Pay to Play addons a common Tag so its easier to find them all?

 

[Alpha1]

It does sound good, but is probably out of the scope for XenForo to implement to tie everything together nicely, regarding highlights alone.

We can always request it. The reason why I would like to see at least one such Purchasable Item feature in XF core is that it would cause addon developers to copy the functionality to their addons.

 

[QuackieMackie]

I noticed this after it updated today and it looks similar to what this thread is suggesting.

Post & Thread Highlight Pro

Dec 18, 2024

Allow selected user groups to highlight important posts or thread. Numerous display options.

• Wutime
• Add-ons [2.x]