XF 2.3 Undelete/Restore Direct Messages

[TorontoJoe]

Hi Gang. I've always noticed there is no "trash" or "bin" were deleted DM's go.... rather that they can just be deleted via the (vague) "Leave Direct Message action in the menu once messages are selected.

I have a user who was using this for the first time and has accidently deleted some DM's that she wished to keep.

Is there any safe way to restore her deleted messages? Or perhaps secret repository that is used as a "recycle bin" equivalent ?

I've always found the structure of DM's to be a bit uncustomary, with the absence of things like Inbox, Outbox, Draft, Sent, Trash etc.... I imagine there's a reason or perhaps something that I'm just not seeing.

 

[Rene_V]

Is there any safe way to restore her deleted messages?

If the messages are gone from the relevant tables in the database the only way to bring them back can be done through a backup restoration. But that means that all the other content that was acquired in the forum from the time of the backup will be gone. Another way is to perform a partial restore by taking only the relevant dm data from the database for that particular user and adding them back, but this is a super complex task as a lot of stuff is involved.

Or perhaps secret repository that is used as a "recycle bin" equivalent ?

Not a.f.a.i.k.

I've always found the structure of DM's to be a bit uncustomary, with the absence of things like Inbox, Outbox, Draft, Sent, Trash etc.... I imagine there's a reason or perhaps something that I'm just not seeing.

You can make a suggestion about adding a placeholder for deleted dms here.

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[TorontoJoe]

@Rene_V

Thanks for your quick response. I think even if the solution you proposed is possible, it's well beyond my skill level.

I think the answer is that they are gone. Which us unfortunate, and sort of strange. I will visit your suggestion link now..

Kind regards

 

[chillibear]

My understanding is that the actual conversation messages are only removed from the database when all members of the conversation are removed from the conversation. So if you have UserA and UserB who are members of a conversation and UserB removes themselves from the conversation UserA will still have access and could add UserB back into the conversation. So that might allow you to "restore" it for UserB. If User A however has also left the conversation then I believe XenForo will clean up the conversation and remove it from the DB as part of its periodic jobs.

 

[TorontoJoe]

@chillibear Thank you! One of my mods pointed this out to me just moments ago... then I saw this post. Indeed it does work. As long as the other party has the message thread and replies (and providing one doesn't select "ignore future messages" at the time of deletion.... everything is restored.

I don't suggest that I have any insight into how a platform like this is designed... but would the fact that the thread is still there not suggest that it could go into a "bin" repository that could be recovered by the person who deleted?

Just trying to wrap my head around this thing.

 

[chillibear]

You could have a "rejoin" conversation feature, presumably having a list somewhere of conversations you'd left, but were still on the system. I'd have thought that could be added as an add-on, you'd need to track former conversation participants I guess. In fact there are two or three add-ons that aim to make the conversations/private/direct message system experience much more like email with folders, tags and searches and so forth. It may well be that they already have a "bin" type concept. There might be one with features that'll suit you.

 

[Rene_V]

I don't suggest that I have any insight into how a platform like this is designed... but would the fact that the thread is still there not suggest that it could go into a "bin" repository that could be recovered by the person who deleted?

Just trying to wrap my head around this thing.

I can add such an option to my add on. Admins can rejoin users to any Direct messages.

Resource icon R

Direct messages log

Saturday at 6:11 PM

Logs and displays all users direct messages.

• Rene_V
• Add-ons [2.x]