[Resolved] How do I structure a messaging system between admin(company) and users(clients)?

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[Lykke Scavenius]

Hi again,
Thank you for always great support.

I really have tried, but I can't figure out how to create messaging between single users(clients) and administrator(company), using Toolset.

I know plugins for messaging exist, like https://wordpress.org/plugins/front-end-pm/, but it's made for front-end use, for messaging between users - on this site users(clients) have no contact with each other, messaging should be between single users(clients) and the administrator(the company) only.

Also I really don't want to add extra plugins to the site, if I can build it with Toolset, which is used for everything else on this site.

My goal:
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User(client) should: manage messages from their (front-end) client page.
Administrator(company) should: manage messaging with users(clients) from administration area.

****
I've created a login and a client page for my client user.

Now I need to add messaging system. But I'm unable to come up with a structure that would make this work. I've read guides and some documentation, but I haven't found anything to use as basis for this.

I hope you can help me find out how Toolset could be used to create an admin-client messaging functionality.
Maybe you can suggest a structure of post types and post relationships?

I'm lost on this.

Thank you for your time.
Best regards,
Lykke

[Beda]

CRED, which is the Tool that comes closest to your needs, is not a messaging tool but a Post Update and Creation tool.

This means it allows you to create and edit Posts and Users.
But it's not a messaging tool, and even with Custom Code you will never come to the same output as a native Messaging Tool like the BuddyPress Chat, or others.

We do have a similar setup in the Classifieds Site here:
hidden link
You can get yourself a Copy to play with (and build your site on top of it) here:
http://discover-wp.com/site-templates/

Please aknowledge that this specific Site uses some hidden Plugins of Toolset (The Classifieds Plugin) and some Custom Code. The site will be subject to some changes in near future as well, to make thigns simpler and more "Toolset only" based.

The only what you can do with alone CRED and Toolset is create a CPT (Custom Post Type) "Messages" and then place a "Create new Message" CRED form on the front end.
To that CRED Form you will attach a notification that sends emails on form submit, to your personal Email or any other email.

Then you will reiceive an email when a User submits the form, and you can write him back.

A nested messaging System (with first post, reply, answer and so on) is also possible, but I have to disreccomend to go down that road.

I have, and it's not nice to keep it updated and working.
A nested messaging system with CRED requires complex Views (displaying the replies and answers) and Parent Child relations of Messages, Replies and Answers.
The problem is several of those things also need Custom Code, and it's subject to Bug Fixing often after Updates.

CRED is not inteded to be used like that, this is why it's a bit complex.

I suggest to have a look at the Classifieds Site and to checkout the possiblity you have with the above mentioned approach of a CPT "Messages" and use Email.

[Lykke Scavenius]

Okay, I guess I was just thinking almost anything could be done with users and post types and forms, but I'll try and simplify, to just display messages on client pages, no reply, they can reply in email, or a form that sends an email, if I can't get the reply to the message post.

How do I let a post know it is related to a specific user if that user is not creating the post?
Is there any other way to create an option, like a drop down, - that is not "author", where I can select a user, from a post type?

Thank you for your time,
Best regards
Lykke

[Beda]

No, there is no such option.

What you would need to do is populate a Select Field in Toolset > Post Fields with all datas of the Users, or populate it programmatically.

What you also can do is use the "Message" post Type as a Child to the Post where the messages should appear.
Then the author can be set according to the user who submits it.