Thread-Specific Moderator Notices
I would like to suggest an add-on for XenForo 2.2 that would allow moderators to display thread-specific notices directly above the first post.
The purpose is to let the moderation team add important information to a particular thread without editing the original post and without posting a regular moderator reply.
Main functionality
Authorized moderators should be able to add, edit, or remove notices from the thread moderation tools.
The notices should be stored separately from the thread posts and displayed below the upper pagination and thread-action area, directly above the first post.
A dedicated permission such as Manage thread notices should control who can manage them.
Notice types
1. Related Threads
A clean and compact notice that can direct readers to parallel discussions, earlier threads, or useful background information.
Suggested appearance:
- Light-blue background
- Thin border
- No large heading or heavy nested boxes
- Support for clickable links and preferably BBCode
Example:
2. Admin Warning
A more prominent notice for instructions or warnings relating specifically to the current thread.
Examples:
- Please keep the discussion focused on the original topic.
- Do not post copyrighted files in this thread.
- This thread relates to an older version of the product.
It could use XenForo’s native warning styling, such as:
blockMessage blockMessage--warning blockMessage--iconic
A thread should be able to display both notice types at the same time.
Placement
The notices should appear in a separate full-width area:
+--------------------------------------------------------------+<br>| Thread actions Page navigation |<br>+--------------------------------------------------------------+<br><br>+--------------------------------------------------------------+<br>| Related threads: Thread A · Thread B |<br>+--------------------------------------------------------------+<br>| ⚠ Admin warning: Please keep the discussion on topic. |<br>+--------------------------------------------------------------+<br><br>+--------------------------------------------------------------+<br>| First post |<br>+--------------------------------------------------------------+<br>
They should not be placed inside the pagination row or inside the first post itself.
No empty HTML container should be rendered when a notice has no content.
Moderator interface
The thread tools could include an option such as:
Manage thread notices
This could open an overlay containing:
- Related Threads notice
- Admin Warning notice
- Save/update button
- An option to remove each notice
- BBCode support, if practical
Moderator log
Adding, editing, or removing a notice should create an entry in the XenForo Moderator Log.
The entry should record:
- The moderator
- The affected thread
- The notice type
- Whether the notice was added, updated, or removed
Additional considerations
- No core file modifications
- Responsive/mobile-compatible layout
- Visible interface text should use XenForo phrases
- The structure should make it possible to add more notice types in the future
- Only users who can view the thread should be able to view its notices
I believe this could be useful for many communities, especially for highlighting related discussions, clarifying the purpose of a thread, or displaying thread-specific moderation instructions.