Forum Thread Read-Position Marker

WHAT IT DOES

Forum Thread Read-Position Marker automatically detects forum thread pages and marks your last read position with a visible divider between read and unread posts. The tool stores your read position per thread URL, so when you return to a thread later, you can instantly see where you left off. A "Jump to First Unread" button scrolls directly to the first unread post, saving you from manually searching through long threads. The marker can be displayed as a line divider, a badge, or a highlighted block. The tool also supports auto-marking your position as you scroll, ensuring your read position is always up to date.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension works on any website that contains forum-style post structures — including traditional forums, community boards, comment sections, and discussion threads. It automatically detects post elements using over a dozen common CSS selectors and structure patterns, making it compatible with virtually any site that has threaded or sequential content. The tool works across all domains, from large forum platforms to small community boards.

HOW TO USE

Install the extension and navigate to any forum thread. The tool automatically detects posts on the page. Click "Mark Current Position" to save your current scroll position — a visible marker appears between the last read and first unread post. Click "Jump to First Unread" to scroll directly to the first post after your saved position. Press the J key on your keyboard as a shortcut to jump. Use "Clear Position" to remove the saved read position for the current thread. Choose your preferred marker style from the settings: Line divider (a clean green line with label), Badge marker (a compact "Read here" badge), or Highlight block (a subtle highlighted area with left border). Enable "Auto-mark on scroll" to automatically save your position as you scroll through the thread.

TECHNICAL SECTION — MULTI-STRATEGY POST DETECTION AND POSITION PERSISTENCE

The extension uses a comprehensive DOM analysis engine to identify post elements on any forum or discussion page. It queries over a dozen common selectors including .post, .comment, .message, article, and pattern-based class matches. When standard selectors fail, it falls back to structural analysis — scanning content containers for child elements with substantial text content and visible height. Each detected post is assigned a stable ID derived from the element's id attribute, data attributes, or a content-based hash. The read position is stored using GM_setValue, keyed by a normalized thread URL that includes the path and page number, ensuring positions are preserved across pagination. The marker placement system inserts the divider element before the target post and applies visual styling that distinguishes unread posts with a subtle left border highlight.

THE PANEL — DRAG / PER-SITE POSITION / SNAP / COLLAPSE / RESIZE / ESCAPE

The overlay panel is fully interactive and designed for seamless multitasking. Drag it anywhere on the screen using the handle at the top of the panel; the position is saved per site so it stays where you left it across sessions. The panel includes a snap-to-edge feature that gently anchors the overlay to the nearest screen edge when released. Click the collapse button to minimize the panel to a compact pill showing the current marker status; expand it again with a single click. Resize the panel vertically by dragging the bottom-right corner to view more controls. Press the Escape key at any time to instantly close the overlay; it reappears on the next page navigation or refresh.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz companion extension to function, as it provides the underlying content script injection and cross-origin communication framework. No personal data, browsing history, or forum content is stored, transmitted, or shared. Read positions are stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue and are never sent to any external server. The extension does not access or store login credentials, financial data, or personally identifiable information. Forum sites may update their page structures; the extension includes multiple fallback detection strategies to maintain compatibility. The tool does not modify or interfere with forum functionality, post content, or user authentication.