d3Xt3r: Just what the title says. Why isn't this implemented? Any plans on adding it in the future?

The problem is, the "Compose Reply" page is too bloated. Clicking on it and having to load a page, is, well, slower than being able to type your reply in the same page. You can view the messages posted before you right over there in a logical order as it should be, instead of scrolling down and having to find earlier posts. Keeping track of the conversations in the thread while composing your reply can get difficult.

So in short, Quick Reply is where you get a small reply box on the current page of the thread you're viewing. It isn't fancy, doesn't have any formating controls or smilies. The box isn't drawn on every page by default (can be configured), but hitting the "Quick Reply" button should pop up a small reply box without taking you to a new page.

This feature would even save the site bandwidth a bit.. :)

Edit: This feature is called "Fast Reply" in some BBs like Invision.

Here are a few screenies:

Before: http://i42.tinypic.com/b8pb4i.png

After: http://i42.tinypic.com/b7xgtj.png

Here's another implementation with a few basic controls included:

http://i42.tinypic.com/2vcjdrp.png

Here's another implementation using SMF:

http://i44.tinypic.com/96dnqb.png

d3Xt3r:But seriously, words can't do justice to the utility it offers. I suggest you give it a whirl in some other forums that have it and you'll get addicted to it! :)

nate:

d3Xt3r:But seriously, words can't do justice to the utility it offers. I suggest you give it a whirl in some other forums that have it and you'll get addicted to it! :)

Valid points, the issue is whether others would use it, and if it's worth freitasm's time to code it up and implement it (the forums here run off a heavily modified forum code base so any additions have to be coded up and included)

freitasm: That others will use it is no question. The problem is that a Quick Reply couldn't use the TinyMCE editor - otherwise it would be an increase in traffic.
Not using the TinyMCE reduces functionality (not easy to add links, images, etc).
So the question is what is the balance. Just making it to satisfy one user out of? 40,000 is not the answer.

If only we had a poll, we could have found out what percentage of users want it... ;)

But do count me in if I could be of help in any way.

freitasm, you could still implement it without TinyMCE (which I turned off as soon as I signed up ;D), and if someone really wants to post a larger/complex post using TinyMCE features, they could hit 'compose reply'.