Auto Response : Away Message

[bAST84]

Hi,

If my Status is "Away" an Auto Response is send to my Contact´s if they send me a Message.

Would be great if a Function to edit this Auto Response , for Example " I´m away from Computer: *Away Message* or to completly disable the Auto Response, will be integrated in Astra ;)

Just my Opinion, but maybe someone has the same idea.

bAST84

[fatpanda]

Just my Opinion, but maybe someone has the same idea.
Yes, it's already filed as Bug ID 1287 (http://bugs.ceruleanstudios.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1287) (feature request on bugzilla from 2007-02-04) :)

[Lomgren]

I don't have any problems with custom away messages. I have a ton right now, in fact.

To edit them, including the default ones, you need to open your preferences and go to "Away Mode." The default messages there can be changed. It may not be as easy as you were wanting, but it is possible. The default messages are

"Set All Away"
"Set All Idle"
"Set All Invisible"
"Set All Back"

The Invisible and Back messages are blank by default.

Also, you can change the "auto-respond with message" as well. So I don't see where the bug is, if this is the only problem you are having.

[fatpanda]

I think that the submitter of the first post and the submitter of the bug (request) wants Trillian to add a pre- or postfix to the away message so that the reciever of the auto reply can see it's an auto reply.

In the previous versions away messages wasn't broadcasted in the buddy list by Trillian, but now it is, so many users will perhaps change the way the write away messages (i.e. I usually added "(auto response)" to my away messages but now my contacts says it looks odd with "(auto response) I'm out shopping" as a message in the contact list :)

[Lomgren]

Isn't it generally accepted that a message is an autoreply if you send a message and instantly get a sizeable block of text back? It makes sense to me at least. The other part of that bug report, MSN not showing a message having been sent, I have seen before, and believe is a bug.

[bAST84]

@ Lomgren

I Know how to Edit the Status Messages or how to Use the new Directly Away Function in Astra.

fatpanda already say it, a Prefix to the Away Message would be great. An other Idea is to disable the hole Function of Auto Response.

Just my 2 Cents ;)

[Smooth L]

bump

I do agree, sometimes I talk to people on away and they say why do you keep saying that.


Lance says
good luck smytty


So I do hope the autorespond can be disabled yet still set the away message :)

[Lomgren]

I'm guessing you're talking about a global option for turning off autoresponding? As I know that individual messages can be tailored to be an autorespond or not.

[Smooth L]

well if you create your own message how can you? Wheres the option?

[Taco John]

Clicking where "Online" is written will allow you to put up a custom status message. Clicking the Trillian icon next to it brings up more options.

For even more options, go to the Preferences screen, then click Away Mode.

[Smooth L]

looks like in the cardonata skin (could be all skins now) when I choose new message it automatically takes me to a pop up to enter my away message and choose auto respond. Before i would go straight to the field. kudos guys for the fix.

[psyTex]

Sorry, for bumping this Thread, but after the new update, there is no option to disable "Auto-Responding"!
Or, is there one?

[DiamondNRG]

psyTex ... it appears to be missing right now, hopefully it will return soon.

[psyTex]

It has not been implemented with the latest update

[Virtu@lizer]

I'm also wondering why the option disapered in the last two/three builds..
hopefully it come back soon !

my contacts complaining already about ;)

[Seth81]

Is it just me or auto response is now off by default with no option to turn it on?
I really need to have this feature enabled as I need my contacts to see me online but know that I'm not able to reply at that time.
Build 114

[agnostic-stigma]

It has been disabled till 4.1

[Seth81]

Great! :(

[Smooth L]

I like it!

[StickyFinga]

Well you just need to bring the checkboxes and features from the 3.1 version awaymessages / custom statuses of Trilly back and all will be happy. I'm desperately waiting for that.

[DiamondNRG]

Well you just need to bring the checkboxes and features from the 3.1 version awaymessages / custom statuses of Trilly back and all will be happy. I'm desperately waiting for that.

@Sticky .... It will be returning with options in 4.1 though

@Lance .... that's only because you use MSN and your contacts don't understand it... I would hope that you don't seriously think the way this was removed was the appropriate permanent fix to the debate.

[StickyFinga]

That's great to hear, NRG. :D

[Kithron]

Nice to hear that

[Seth81]

Is there anywhere I can get a build where auto-response is still working, also having problems adding new yahoo contacts with the newer builds (not just me), so if someone could tell me where to get an older build I would REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

[Le_poilu]

I'm using a lot the auto-response feature while I'm away (since i'm a Trillin 3.x user). I really miss it!

Sad to learn that it has been disabled in build 114.

I've made a little search over the forum, but I found nothing here with some explanation.
Can someone tell me why it has been disable please ?
I saw in built 113 a fix for autoresponse to offline message and now in built 114 it's disable.... strange... really strange...

[Ode1st]

Hopefully the new version listed somewhere in the thread above that has the away message functions will come out soon. I might have to switch back to Trillian 3.1 because of this. I need people who message me to receive my away message to clear up any confusion.

Also, I noticed you can't seem to create a custom away message WITHOUT saving it currently. Am I simply missing where I can do this, or was this recently taken out? The only way I can make a new away message it seems, is to create a new SAVED message, which becomes inconvenient when I'm changing my status to appropriately reflect my situation.

[but2002]

@Ode1st: Where you see the word "Online" Simply CLICK there and start typing

[DiamondNRG]

@Ode1st ... actually for it to be a custom "AWAY" message you need to pick Away first and then you can just start typing as that box will be in focus. If you do it without picking away first, it will just set a custom status message, you will still appear to be ONLINE and AVAILABLE.

[ottid888]

Seems like a lot of people really miss the auto response feature.... me included...(LMAO)

also got tons of autoresponse messages made already and was really stumped at why it's not doing it anymore.... thanks DiamondNRG for pointing me to this forum...

Quote:
Originally Posted by StickyFinga http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/forums/showthread.php?p=783944#post783944)
Well you just need to bring the checkboxes and features from the 3.1 version awaymessages / custom statuses of Trilly back and all will be happy. I'm desperately waiting for that.
- Quote

i wish they would implement that!..... my wife's using trillian 3.1 and i'm also thinking of going back just for the auto response message feature..:cool:

[Vexii]

Yup, count me in for this feature. I really liked it but i think it will come back later if lots of us request it.

[ve6msp]

It'll get fixed with the next version, Scott says. Especially since it was somewhat broken code, and slapdash in the process. He said he's gonna do a full re-write of that code for 4.1, including the option to set it as an auto-response or just an away status message.

[montek]

I really miss this feature. All of a sudden, all the people I communicate with constantly throughout the day (work people) no longer get told that I'm in a meeting, on the phone, etc.

[DiamondNRG]

I really miss this feature. All of a sudden, all the people I communicate with constantly throughout the day (work people) no longer get told that I'm in a meeting, on the phone, etc.

Apparently they are going to have to learn to look at their contact list and read your status instead.

[montek]

Apparently they are going to have to learn to look at their contact list and read your status instead.

Yes, but that doesn't work super great for people who use IM at work and come and go frequently. Sometimes I have IM windows open to people the entire day and we pop in and out of conversation. It's useful for them to be told that I've stepped away (for whatever reason) and I'm not just ignoring them.

(I realize you may have just been telling me that there is a WAY for them to know this information, and I certainly agree that there is; I'm just offering that there is a true usefulness for this feature.)

[DiamondNRG]

Maybe you misunderstood me... I was saying basically "this is the best you can do for now". I think it completely SUCKS this feature is gone, but I had a big chat with Scott and fully understand and respect his decision, he just better get 4.1 rolling damn soon!

[montek]

I did misunderstand you. heh

Thanks for the clarification.

[montek]

Actually - is there any way we can get this restored sooner than the next version (we're getting builds frequently but I don't know the next-version schedule)? This is giving me serious problems and I'm thinking I might have to go back to Trillian Pro.

[DiamondNRG]

Probably not a snowballs chance in hell :P I tried begging to no end with all the money I had hanging way out on a stick... didn't work.

4.1 alpha cycle should start soon-ish though and hopefully this can be one of the "earlier" things to be added in.

[montek]

What kind of crazy are these people?!!? You begged AND offered money sticks and still got nowhere?

Maybe the problem is virtual: if we did that on their doorstep, I'd bet we'd get something (e.g. like hauled away in handcuffs by the cops). ;)

[DiamondNRG]

Uh huh, so you try it and let me know with your "one phone call" from the slammer.

[montek]

The problem is that I can't leave my desk! If I do, no one knows I'm away, so I guess the roadtrip will have to wait.

[DiamondNRG]

Haha... (y)

[holyninja3]

REALLY want the auto response back! please enable it soon!

[elf_fu]

Good to know it'll be returning! I was just wondering about this myself and went looking for the why's and what fors--glad I found this topic!

I missed this feature this build around :-9

[Ouronos]

Greetings...

I, for one, will be waiting with baited breath for the auto-response feature to return. Yes, all it takes is for someone to actually *look* at the status messages, but who actually does that anymore? (Well... except for us, who know that our friends kind of got used to the auto-responses).

I'm just saying, is all...

Until that time...

[montek]

Is there any way we could use the automation features to do something here? I'm wondering if there's a workaround we could implement, even if it required an extra hotkey or something?

[DiamondNRG]

There isn't, I tried everything close...

[montek]

Dammit, you're not very helpful! You're supposed to say, "Great idea. Just do this. . . . " ;)

[DiamondNRG]

Dammit, you're not very helpful! You're supposed to say, "Great idea. Just do this. . . . " ;)

I'll prod the devs to hurry up... best I can do :P

[montek]

4.0 is out, but still nothing on this front. I was so hopeful.

[DiamondNRG]

4.0 is out, but still nothing on this front. I was so hopeful.

Huh? 4.0 is when they removed it... 4.1 is when its coming back. And 4.1 is nowhere near being out.

They are going to talk about it on the blog TODAY though, so make sure you read http://blog.ceruleanstudios.com/ today for info about away status enhancements for 4.1

[Seth81]

They say some new away system will be included in 4.1
Let's hope it's released sooner than later, they keep advertising it.

[montek]

Huh? 4.0 is when they removed it... 4.1 is when its coming back. And 4.1 is nowhere near being out.

Curious - I just got the 4.0 update announcement today (yesterday perhaps) and upgraded. I wasn't using 4.0 before that (unless I'm on crack) and the feature was still broken.

They are going to talk about it on the blog TODAY though, so make sure you read http://blog.ceruleanstudios.com/ today for info about away status enhancements for 4.1

Awesome; thanks.

[DiamondNRG]

You were using 4.0 before if it was removed. It works fine in the latest 3.1 release.

[montek]

You're right. I saw the little update thing, immediately followed by something cheering 4.0 and I just mistaken thought it was a major thing. Carry on, then. :)

[ve6msp]

It'll happen when it happens, folks. Just be calm, patient, and know that they ARE working on it.

Jeez, you guys are like a bunch of little kids in a candy store, with no money and no parent. =)

[DiamondNRG]

It'll happen when it happens, folks. Just be calm, patient, and know that they ARE working on it.

Jeez, you guys are like a bunch of little kids in a candy store, with no money and no parent. =)

Hmm, well dozens of messages on my screen everyday because people do not read status messages until they are auto responded to them suck. The wait for this feature in 4.1 is a tough one.

[montek]

I agree. I am really trying to be supportive and patient on this issue, but it's more than just random whining about a nice-to-have feature we wish the product had.

[ve6msp]

I know, I miss it too. I have the same problem, DiamondNRG, but I also have managed some form of patience over it. It has been gone for quite a while now, so I've accustomed myself to not having it anymore.

But that's just me.

[DiamondNRG]

I know, I miss it too. I have the same problem, DiamondNRG, but I also have managed some form of patience over it. It has been gone for quite a while now, so I've accustomed myself to not having it anymore.

But that's just me.

Yup, I would too except for the 14 to 20 IM's I get a day while I am away from my desk that I would rather not get.

[DiamondNRG]

Woohoo Auto Response is back :) I (l) 4.1

[agnostic-stigma]

:) That makes me happy

Edit: I think it would be nice to add a faster way to enable or disable auto response (instead of having to open the preference window all the time). Maybe do something similar to the "Current Song" option. Put it in the same location as the Current Song and Random Message options. Maybe put it right above the Current Song option.

[jazde86]

Good idea, this quick switch option in the menu.

[DiamondNRG]

I like that idea too, bugzilla it.

Or maybe auto repsonse could be an option specific to each message with the global preference option only being the default for new messages... that way I can have some that do it and some that don't :)

[agnostic-stigma]

I like that idea too, bugzilla it.

Or maybe auto repsonse could be an option specific to each message with the global preference option only being the default for new messages... that way I can have some that do it and some that don't :)

Filed as bug/feature request 10160
http://bugs.ceruleanstudios.com/show_bug.cgi?id=10160

[jazde86]

Good point and the option for each message is another nice feature request - I would like to vote for both. :D

[DiamondNRG]

Filed as bug/feature request 10160
http://bugs.ceruleanstudios.com/show_bug.cgi?id=10160

DiamondNRG, Please add your idea or thoughts. I only filled in what i thought would be nice but i like your idea as well.

I voted for yours and added mine here: http://bugs.ceruleanstudios.com/show_bug.cgi?id=10162

[agnostic-stigma]

I voted for yours and added mine here: http://bugs.ceruleanstudios.com/show_bug.cgi?id=10162

Got my vote.

[montek]

Woohoo Auto Response is back :) I (l) 4.1

Is this just a pronouncement that it's included in 4.1 or are you using an Alpha version?

Also, I'm not able to look at the bug pages because I mustn't be special enough to have authorization.

[Vexii]

I cast my votes :)

[DiamondNRG]

Is this just a pronouncement that it's included in 4.1 or are you using an Alpha version?

Also, I'm not able to look at the bug pages because I mustn't be special enough to have authorization.

I am using the 4.1 alpha yes. We are testing build 12 currently. If you have a 4.x pro license, you can test it too. Information is on the blog.

To view bugzilla you need to use username: beta, password: beta, then register an account.

I cast my votes :)

Why? It is already added.

[montek]

Much thanks! I am a paying member, so I grabbed it. Awesome.

[montek]

I am...noticing something a little strange, I think. If you have a window open, it doesn't appear to be telling people that you're away after one time.

Here's an example, I was chatting with someone and went away. They saw the message. Then I came back (status reset too), continued to chat with them, and then I went away again. The second time, the user didn't get my autoresponse.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue?

[StickyFinga]

Is anyone else experiencing this issue? I can confirm this.

Just tested it. A friend got an away message auto reply earlier. I returned, changed status to online, and then went away again changing my status and status message to the same one I used before. When he sent messages again he didn't get any auto replies.

I tried changing to another away status and a different message but that didn't work either. No more auto replies.

[DiamondNRG]

I can confirm this.

Just tested it. A friend got an away message auto reply earlier. I returned, changed status to online, and then went away again changing my status and status message to the same one I used before. When he sent messages again he didn't get any auto replies.

I tried changing to another away status and a different message but that didn't work either. No more auto replies.

Yeah its tied to you closing the window... but I do think that changing to online and back (or changing the message at all) should reset this behavior.

[montek]

Yeah its tied to you closing the window... but I do think that changing to online and back (or changing the message at all) should reset this behavior.

After having used this feature for years, I think that changing the status at all should cause a new message to be sent. If it go from being on the phone to being away, I think someone should get the message twice. That said, the old Trillian Pro (old...haha) did not work this way either; it only resent the message if you went back to online and then away again. So I got in the habit of doing that, but I do not find that ideal.

[DiamondNRG]

After having used this feature for years, I think that changing the status at all should cause a new message to be sent. If it go from being on the phone to being away, I think someone should get the message twice. That said, the old Trillian Pro (old...haha) did not work this way either; it only resent the message if you went back to online and then away again. So I got in the habit of doing that, but I do not find that ideal.

I agree with that idea. Any changes to it should cause the response to be sent again. It being tied only to closing and reopening the window is actually kinda silly because the same contact will know if you closed the window because it will resend it. I actually would like it to keep track of who it sent it to since I put a status up and then reset that list on status change, so that no contact of mine gets the response twice (in say about a 24 hour period).

[Big_Ern]

I just installed Astra 4.1 beta (build 19) and ticked the box to "Automatically respond to messages with my away message" but how/where do I edit my away messages?

I see the button for 'status messages' but where do I got to edit or add new away messages? I looked everywhere in preferences and cannot find anything...?

Thanks! I'm glad to see this feature has returned - it was greatly missed

[StickyFinga]

Preferences > Away Mode > Status Messages? (wizard)

[Big_Ern]

Those are just the STATUS messages. I want to edit my AWAY messages

Or are they the same messages? If so, this is a bug and they should be labeled as such because it appears that 'away' messages don't exist.

Away and Status should be two separate messages though. I would like my status to just say "away" or something simple, where as my auto away response says a line or two telling them whats up.

[StickyFinga]

Away is a Status. Since you can change your status without being away, calling them Status Messages is correct.

You can label your message as Away and edit the text to 'I'm not here right now.' or something. That is of course possible.

[Big_Ern]

yes, I know away is a status, but I want to edit the auto response message that gets sent when I am away.

This should not be the same as the status message that gets displayed beside a user's name/profile

[van_ra]

http://forums.ceruleanstudios.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23162&stc=1&d=1261341790

[DiamondNRG]

yes, I know away is a status, but I want to edit the auto response message that gets sent when I am away.

This should not be the same as the status message that gets displayed beside a user's name/profile

Yes, it is always the same. There is no difference. A message is a status message... A status is a status... the only time there is such a thing called an away message is when your status is away and you have a status message... thus you have an "away message"

In effect it works like this...

STATUS - Message name
Online - Status Message (could even call it a Personal Message or an Online Message)
Away - Away Message
DND - DND Message or even still Away message, since DND is kind of just a more specific away status...
etc....

[Big_Ern]

Okay, so they are both always the same?

Lets take MSN for example:
-Astra automatically changes my status from 'online' to 'away'
-There is a status message that gets displayed by my name when someone hovers over my name on their msn that says something like "I'm in a meeting, leave a message"
-Someone sends me a message and my trillian sends them an auto response with the exact same text as my status message "I'm in a meeting, leave a message"

Is this correct?

There should be two independent message variables that I can edit. These two messages should not be the same.

The status message should be a short message so it doesn't clutter up people's messengers, and the auto response can be more in depth as it is a message that gets sent to them and not shown in a limited text area.

[DiamondNRG]

But they are the same... auto response is just a feature where it allows your status message to be sent as a reply.

No other IM client has ever made them separate before either... although it isn't entirely a bad suggestion to be able to create a custom away message where the auto-reply is different (longer or more detailed or whatever) than the away message.

Good idea for a feature request! :) I will add it to the dev's bugzilla feature request list.

[Ouronos]

Greetings...

Diamond -
In this matter, I believe that you may be mistaken.

AIM/AOL has always(?) allowed you to have an Away (auto-response) message independent of the Away status. My status, for example, would read "Away and Asleep", while I would have an auto response set up (generally some haiku, if I was feeling up to writing one).

Also -
If I am not mistaken, Trillian Pro (before Astra) allowed separation of Away status and Away message.

This was a feature that I got very used to, and am hoping that there is enough call to bring it back.

Until that time...

[Big_Ern]

Thanks for the clarification Ouronos. I thought that was how it worked before in Trillian Pro 3.x, but thought maybe I was just crazy and couldn't remember right...

It was a very nice feature to have. I was quite disappointed to find no auto reply in Astra 4.0 until I searched and found it existed beta 4.1 and promptly upgraded. Thanks for adding it to the dev's bugzilla feature request list Diamond. If it has been entered can you provide a link or number for it? Thanks :)

[DiamondNRG]

Well I used AIM for years up until Trillian came out in 2000, so they must have added that since then as it never had it before that and I don't have much AIM usage since then. And I have never once seen another person request it so I really didn't know it existed. I will have to check it out myself.

What do you mean by separation of Away status and Away message... you can still do everything you could in Trillian Pro 3.1.

3.1 did not allow you to have a different auto-reply than a status message either.

You can set yourself away with the icon next to the online text and type in whatever you want or just have it say "away"... or you can just click the online text and type whatever you want without being away... so they are indeed "separate".

[DiamondNRG]

Ouronos ... well I just installed AIM 7.1 to test this... and sure I can set a status message ... then when I set myself as away it highlights the box for me to enter a new status... so I do... and your right it does not change the existing status message being shown to my contacts... but it also does not auto-reply at all, so in fact it looks like it does nothing. And when I set myself back to online it clears out my previous online status message.

However, if I create a saved away message... the new saved away status will indeed over-ride the online status... so that part works (without the bug) and the auto-reply also works ... but it auto-replies with EXACTLY THE SAME AWAY STATUS MESSAGE as what is shown to my contacts on the list.

In short, it does not work at all on AIM like you claimed... in fact it is worse than how it is on Astra. While I do think it is a great idea, I do not like being made out to be wrong when I am not.

[Big_Ern]

Thanks for the support and testing/verification Diamond.

Sorry if we tried to make you sound wrong, but I could have sworn in Trillian 3.1 there was a separate away auto-response message. But I guess I/we were wrong. Then again I didn't think status messages even existed because don't really remember even using them.

Probably a misunderstanding on my part :o I still do think it is a great idea to have a separate away auto-response message :)

Diamond, did you file that in the dev's bugzilla feature request list?

Thanks for your help!

[DiamondNRG]

Correct, I completely forgot to mention that ... 3.1 did not support status messages at all.

I'll add it to bugzilla, sure :)

[Big_Ern]

Ah ok. Thats why I never remembered Satus messages before. I have always used Trillian (without status messages) in the past and only the Microsoft MSN messenger briefly here & there to transfer files quickly since trillian is/was so sloooooow and for webcam chat or video calls since Trillian doesn't support this for MSN either

Thanks for your help Diamond. I hope this feature gets considered for future updates :)

Hopefully MSN file transfer speeds get fixed too(y)

[Ouronos]

Greetings...

@Diamond: My apologies if I mis-remembered how both AIM and Pro worked. I still feel like I recall using this feature where the Away and Away message was separate. A memory glitch, then, and I stand corrected.

I wasn't so much trying to make it seem that *you* were wrong, Diamond, but this is one of those cases where I honestly feel like I recall using such a feature.

I will, at some time in the near future, pull archives and the like and see where I may have gotten the idea that Away messages and Away auto-responses were different.

Thanks for doing the research into this, though; definitely qualifies as a feature request in any regard.

Until that time...

[DiamondNRG]

Thanks for the reply :)

No hard feelings, I agree its a neat feature request though ... I would think it would be able to be added without the medium servers needing to support it as the auto-response could be handled directly by the client.

[_user]

Sigh, so that means no auto-response message setting yet?
Couldn't we somehow tweak the "automation" settings in the preferences to set this thing up somehow? I tried it and haven't come up with any good result, but was just wondering.

[smokinwithstyle]

^You could download 4.1, and check mark it in the preferences.