Django messaging functionality not working
So I'm trying to add messaging functionality to my e-commerce website, where buyers can message sellers and sellers can message buyers once the buyer has purchased something from them (haven't written the code for that yet, just want basic messaging functionality out of the way). So this is what I've tried.
So about my views, I have two views. Through the message_seller view I can directly message that specific seller, it takes me to the inbox of that seller, and the user_messages_view is like an inbox of that user's messages, sent and received, and the user can click on a selected message to open up the conversation.
I can send message to other users, but there is one problem with this. That is when a user receives a message initiated by another user, the inbox shows an incorrect self-conversation rather than the actual message. Even though the unread message counter correctly shows the unread messages for that user.
Screenshots:
I have sent the business H&M a new message right now
Now when I log in as the user with the H&M business, I see this, as I was saying the unread message counter is right, I have 1 unread message, but why is it a conversation with me?
Can anyone please help me solve the issue? Thanks in advance!
My models.py:
class Business(models.Model):
BUSINESS_TYPE_CHOICES = [
('product', 'Product Business'),
('service', 'Service Business'),
]
seller = models.OneToOneField(CustomUser, on_delete=models.CASCADE, related_name='business')
business_name = models.CharField(max_length=100)
description = models.TextField()
business_slug = models.SlugField(unique=True, blank=True)
business_type = models.CharField(max_length=20, choices=BUSINESS_TYPE_CHOICES)
countries = models.ManyToManyField(Country)
states = models.ManyToManyField(State)
address = models.CharField(max_length=200)
phone = models.CharField(max_length=20)
website = models.URLField(blank=True, null=True)
email = models.EmailField(blank=True, null=True)
profile_picture = models.ImageField(upload_to='business_profiles/', blank=True, null=True)
banner_image = models.ImageField(upload_to='business_banners/', blank=True, null=True)
is_featured = models.BooleanField(default=False)
def __str__(self):
return self.business_name
def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
if not self.business_slug:
self.business_slug = slugify(self.business_name)
super().save(*args, **kwargs)
class Message(models.Model):
sender = models.ForeignKey(CustomUser, related_name='sent_messages', on_delete=models.CASCADE)
recipient = models.ForeignKey(CustomUser, related_name='received_messages', on_delete=models.CASCADE)
business = models.ForeignKey(Business, related_name='messages', on_delete=models.CASCADE, null=True)
content = models.TextField()
timestamp = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
is_read = models.BooleanField(default=False)
def __str__(self):
return f'Message from {self.sender} to {self.recipient} in {self.business}'
My views.py:
@login_required
def message_seller(request, business_slug):
business = get_object_or_404(Business, business_slug=business_slug)
if request.method == 'POST':
content = request.POST.get('content')
if content:
Message.objects.create(
sender=request.user,
recipient=business.seller,
business=business,
content=content
)
return redirect('message_seller', business_slug=business.business_slug)
# Mark messages as read for the current user and business
Message.objects.filter(recipient=request.user, business=business).update(is_read=True)
messages = Message.objects.filter(
Q(sender=request.user, recipient=business.seller) |
Q(sender=business.seller, recipient=request.user)
).filter(business=business).order_by('timestamp')
individual_business_message_counter = Message.objects.filter(recipient=request.user, business=business, is_read=False).count()
context = {
'business': business,
'messages': messages,
'individual_business_message_counter': individual_business_message_counter,
}
return render(request, 'business/message.html', context)
@login_required
def user_messages_view(request, business_slug=None):
# Fetch all businesses the user has interacted with
businesses = Business.objects.filter(
Q(messages__sender=request.user) | Q(messages__recipient=request.user)
).distinct()
user_messages = []
unread_businesses = set()
for business in businesses:
last_message = Message.objects.filter(
Q(sender=request.user, recipient=business.seller) |
Q(sender=business.seller, recipient=request.user)
).filter(business=business).order_by('-timestamp').first()
unread_count = Message.objects.filter(recipient=request.user, business=business, is_read=False).count()
if unread_count > 0:
unread_businesses.add(business)
user_messages.append({
'business': business,
'last_message': last_message,
'unread_count': unread_count,
})
unread_message_counter = len(unread_businesses)
if request.method == 'POST':
business_slug = request.POST.get('business_slug')
business = get_object_or_404(Business, business_slug=business_slug)
content = request.POST.get('content')
if content:
Message.objects.create(
sender=request.user,
recipient=business.seller,
business=business,
content=content
)
return redirect(f'{request.path}?business_slug={business.business_slug}')
selected_business = None
messages = []
business_slug = request.GET.get('business_slug')
if business_slug:
selected_business = get_object_or_404(Business, business_slug=business_slug)
messages = Message.objects.filter(
Q(sender=request.user, recipient=selected_business.seller, business=selected_business) |
Q(sender=selected_business.seller, recipient=request.user, business=selected_business)
).order_by('timestamp')
Message.objects.filter(recipient=request.user, business=selected_business).update(is_read=True)
context = {
'user_messages': user_messages,
'selected_business': selected_business,
'messages': messages,
'unread_message_counter': unread_message_counter,
}
return render(request, 'business/user_messages.html', context)
My urls.py:
urlpatterns = [
path('message/<slug:business_slug>/', views.message_seller, name='message_seller'),
path('messages/', views.user_messages_view, name='user_messages'),
path('messages/<slug:business_slug>/', views.user_messages_view, name='user_messages_with_slug'),
]
My message.html:
<main class="content">
<div class="container p-0">
<h1 class="h3 mb-3 mt-3">Messages</h1>
<div class="card">
<div class="row g-0">
<div class="col-12 col-lg-5 col-xl-3 border-right">
{% for message in user_messages %}
<a href="#" class="list-group-item list-group-item-action border-0">
<div class="badge bg-success float-right">{{ individual_business_message_counter }}</div>
<div class="d-flex align-items-start">
<img src="{{ message.business.profile_picture.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" width="40px" height="40px">
<div class="flex-grow-1 ml-3">
{{ message.business.business_name }}
{% if message.last_message %}
{% if not message.last_message.is_read %}
<div class="small">{{ message.last_message.content }}</div>
{% else %}
<div class="small"><b>{{ message.last_message.content }}</b></div>
{% endif %}
{% else %}
<p>No messages yet.</p>
{% endif %}
</div>
</div>
</a>
{% endfor %}
<hr class="d-block d-lg-none mt-1 mb-0">
</div>
<div class="col-12 col-lg-7 col-xl-9">
<div class="py-2 px-4 border-bottom d-none d-lg-block">
<div class="d-flex align-items-center py-1">
<div class="position-relative">
<img src="{{ business.profile_picture.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="Sharon Lessman" width="40" height="40">
</div>
<div class="flex-grow-1 pl-3">
<strong>{{ business.business_name }}</strong>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="position-relative">
<div class="chat-messages p-4">
{% for message in messages %}
{% if message.sender == request.user %}
<div class="chat-message-right pb-4">
<div>
<img src="https://bootdey.com/img/Content/avatar/avatar1.png" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="Chris Wood" width="40" height="40">
<div class="text-muted small text-nowrap mt-2">{{ message.timestamp }}</div>
</div>
<div class="flex-shrink-1 bg-light rounded py-2 px-3 mr-3">
<div class="font-weight-bold mb-1">You</div>
{{ message.content }}
</div>
</div>
{% else %}
<div class="chat-message-left pb-4">
<div>
<img src="{{ business.banner_image.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="{{ business.business_name }}" width="40" height="40">
<div class="text-muted small text-nowrap mt-2">{{ message.timestamp }}</div>
</div>
<div class="flex-shrink-1 bg-light rounded py-2 px-3 ml-3">
<div class="font-weight-bold mb-1">{{ business.business_name }}</div>
{{ message.content }}
</div>
</div>
{% endif %}
{% endfor %}
</div>
</div>
{% if request.user.is_authenticated %}
<form method="post">
{% csrf_token %}
<div class="flex-grow-0 py-3 px-4 border-top">
<div class="input-group">
<input name="content" type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Type your message">
<button class="btn btn-primary">Send</button>
</div>
</div>
</form>
{% endif %}
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</main>
My user_messages.html:
<main class="content mt-5 mb-5">
<div class="container p-0">
<h1 class="h3 mb-3">Your Messages</h1>
<div class="card">
<div class="row g-0">
<div class="col-12 col-lg-5 col-xl-3 border-right">
{% for user_message in user_messages %}
<a href="{% url 'user_messages' %}?business_slug={{ user_message.business.business_slug }}" class="list-group-item list-group-item-action border-0">
<div class="badge bg-success float-right">{{ user_message.unread_count }}</div>
<div class="d-flex align-items-start">
<img src="{{ user_message.business.profile_picture.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" width="40px" height="40px">
<div class="flex-grow-1 ml-3">
{{ user_message.business.business_name }}
{% if user_message.last_message %}
<div class="small">{{ user_message.last_message.content }}</div>
{% else %}
<p>No messages yet.</p>
{% endif %}
</div>
</div>
</a>
{% endfor %}
<hr class="d-block d-lg-none mt-1 mb-0">
</div>
<div class="col-12 col-lg-7 col-xl-9">
{% if selected_business %}
<div class="py-2 px-4 border-bottom d-none d-lg-block">
<div class="d-flex align-items-center py-1">
<div class="position-relative">
<img src="{{ selected_business.profile_picture.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="{{ selected_business.business_name }}" width="40" height="40">
</div>
<div class="flex-grow-1 pl-3">
<strong>{{ selected_business.business_name }}</strong>
</div>
</div>
</div>
{% endif %}
<div class="position-relative">
<div class="chat-messages p-4">
{% for message in messages %}
{% if message.sender == request.user %}
<div class="chat-message-right pb-4">
<div>
<img src="https://bootdey.com/img/Content/avatar/avatar1.png" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="User Avatar" width="40" height="40">
<div class="text-muted small text-nowrap mt-2">{{ message.timestamp }}</div>
</div>
<div class="flex-shrink-1 bg-light rounded py-2 px-3 mr-3">
<div class="font-weight-bold mb-1">You</div>
{{ message.content }}
</div>
</div>
{% else %}
<div class="chat-message-left pb-4">
<div>
<img src="{{ selected_business.profile_picture.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="{{ selected_business.business_name }}" width="40" height="40">
<div class="text-muted small text-nowrap mt-2">{{ message.timestamp }}</div>
</div>
<div class="flex-shrink-1 bg-light rounded py-2 px-3 ml-3">
<div class="font-weight-bold mb-1">{{ selected_business.business_name }}</div>
{{ message.content }}
</div>
</div>
{% endif %}
{% empty %}
<p>No messages yet.</p>
{% endfor %}
</div>
</div>
{% if request.user.is_authenticated and selected_business %}
<form method="post" action="{% url 'user_messages' %}?business_slug={{ selected_business.business_slug }}">
{% csrf_token %}
<input type="hidden" name="business_slug" value="{{ selected_business.business_slug }}">
<div class="flex-grow-0 py-3 px-4 border-top">
<div class="input-group">
<input name="content" type="text" class="form-control" placeholder="Type your message">
<button class="btn btn-primary">Send</button>
</div>
</div>
</form>
{% endif %}
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</main>
Solution
when a user messages a business owner, the business owner isn't receiving the message.
what I mean is that, the message isn't showing up on the recipient's inbox.
Your query is only for messages sent to and received from businesses, not for messages received for a business. The question does not define how such chats with each sender are supposed to be displayed, since chat messages are grouped by business in the question.
Nevertheless, this answer will demonstrate how to query for and display messages for a business with other users. Similarly, you will need to handle if request.user == business.seller for the case where "business owners can message a buyer" in if request.method == 'POST', which is not shown in this answer.
1.a. Query user_messages for business with other users, pass 'user' to template:
def user_messages_view(request):
businesses = Business.objects.filter(
Q(messages__sender=request.user) | Q(messages__recipient=request.user)
).distinct()
user_messages = []
for business in businesses:
if request.user == business.seller:
# Query user_messages for business with other users
messages = Message.objects.filter(
Q(sender=business.seller) |
Q(recipient=business.seller)
).filter(business=business).order_by('-timestamp')
for user, chat in itertools.groupby(messages, lambda m: m.recipient if m.sender == request.user else m.sender):
last_message = next(chat)
user_messages.append({
'business': business,
'last_message': last_message,
'user': user,
})
else:
last_message = Message.objects.filter(
Q(sender=request.user, recipient=business.seller) |
Q(sender=business.seller, recipient=request.user)
).filter(business=business).order_by('-timestamp').first()
unread_businesses = set()
if Message.objects.filter(recipient=request.user, business=business, is_read=False).exists():
unread_businesses.add(business)
user_messages.append({
'business': business,
'last_message': last_message,
'unread_count': len(unread_businesses),
})
...
1.b. Handle display user_messages for business with other users, using message.user:
{% for message in user_messages %}
{% if message.user %}
{# Handle display user_messages for business with other users #}
<a href="{% url 'user_messages' %}?business_slug={{ message.business.business_slug }}&username={{ message.user.username }}" class="list-group-item list-group-item-action border-0">
<div class="badge bg-success float-right">{{ individual_business_message_counter }}</div>
<div class="d-flex align-items-start">
<img src="https://ui-avatars.com/api/?name={{ message.user.username }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" width="40px" height="40px">
<div class="flex-grow-1 ml-3">
{{ message.user.username }}
{% if message.last_message %}
<div class="small">{{ message.last_message.content }}</div>
{% else %}
<p>No messages yet.</p>
{% endif %}
</div>
</div>
</a>
{% else %}
<a href="{% url 'user_messages' %}?business_slug={{ message.business.business_slug }}" class="list-group-item list-group-item-action border-0">
<div class="badge bg-success float-right">{{ individual_business_message_counter }}</div>
<div class="d-flex align-items-start">
<img src="{{ message.business.profile_picture.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" width="40px" height="40px">
<div class="flex-grow-1 ml-3">
{{ message.business.business_name }}
{% if message.last_message %}
<div class="small">{{ message.last_message.content }}</div>
{% else %}
<p>No messages yet.</p>
{% endif %}
</div>
</div>
</a>
{% endif %}
{% endfor %}
2.a. Query messages for selected_business with selected_user, using username:
def user_messages_view(request):
...
selected_business = None
messages = []
if 'business_slug' in request.GET:
business_slug = request.GET.get('business_slug')
selected_business = get_object_or_404(Business, business_slug=business_slug)
if request.user == selected_business.seller and 'username' in request.GET:
# Query messages for selected_business with selected_user
username = request.GET.get('username')
selected_user = get_object_or_404(CustomUser, username=username)
messages = Message.objects.filter(
Q(sender= selected_user, recipient=selected_business.seller) |
Q(sender=selected_business.seller, recipient= selected_user)
).filter(business=selected_business).order_by('timestamp')
else:
messages = Message.objects.filter(
Q(sender=request.user, recipient=selected_business.seller) |
Q(sender=selected_business.seller, recipient=request.user)
).filter(business=selected_business).order_by('timestamp')
...
2.b. Handle display messages from selected_business:
{% for message in messages %}
{% if message.sender == request.user %}
...
{% elif selected_business.seller == request.user %}
{# Handle display messages from selected_business #}
<div class="chat-message-right pb-4">
<div>
<img src="{{ selected_business.banner_image.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="{{ selected_business.business_name }}" width="40" height="40">
<div class="text-muted small text-nowrap mt-2">{{ message.timestamp }}</div>
</div>
<div class="flex-shrink-1 bg-light rounded py-2 px-3 mr-3">
<div class="font-weight-bold mb-1">You</div>
{{ message.content }}
</div>
</div>
{% else %}
...
{% endif %}
{% endfor %}
2.c. Handle display selected_user:
{% if selected_business %}
<div class="col-12 col-lg-7 col-xl-9">
<div class="py-2 px-4 border-bottom d-none d-lg-block">
<div class="d-flex align-items-center py-1">
{% if selected_user %}
{# Handle display selected_user #}
<div class="position-relative">
<img src="https://ui-avatars.com/api/?name={{ selected_user.username }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="{{ selected_user.username }}" width="40" height="40">
</div>
<div class="flex-grow-1 pl-3">
<strong>{{ selected_user.username }}</strong>
</div>
{% else %}
<div class="position-relative">
<img src="{{ selected_business.profile_picture.url }}" class="rounded-circle mr-1" alt="{{ selected_business.business_name }}" width="40" height="40">
</div>
<div class="flex-grow-1 pl-3">
<strong>{{ selected_business.business_name }}</strong>
</div>
{% endif %}
</div>
</div>
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