AO3 Floaty Comment Box (Responsive) is a userscript created to facilitate commenting on the fly while reading on archiveofourown - specifica
Do you also read fic on your phone and wish you could write a review while you're reading?
A couple of years ago, tumblr user ravenel made a userscript for a floating comment box on ao3, to allow a reader to write a review while they're reading. I absolutely love this script, but it didn't work for me on mobile - and I exclusively read fic on my phone.
To that end, (with their permission) I wrote a userscript built from their concept, that should work on mobile. It also works on desktop, but the layout is less optimal for large screens. Compatible mobile browsers that have been tested so far:
Firefox on Android: tested with Tampermonkey
Microsoft Edge on Android: tested with Tampermonkey
Safari on IOS: tested with Tampermonkey (paid) and Userscripts (free)
Below is a brief installation guide & more detailed explanation of the functionalities (see also GreasyFork link above).
Feedback about bugs is welcome, but no promises in terms of updates/maintenance. This is made mostly for my own needs/preferences, but I wanted to share in case others could use it too, especially if it increases fic comments / engagement for fic authors.
How To Install
1. Install a mobile browser that can run extensions (e.g. Firefox or Edge on Android, or Safari on IOS - there are other options but these are the most popular browsers)
2. Install a userscripts extension:
- Tampermonkey for Firefox
- Tampermonkey for Edge (browse extensions menu if this list doesn't work)
- Userscripts for Safari IOS
3. Install the AO3 Floaty Comment Box (Responsive) userscript: https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/542872-ao3-floaty-comment-box-responsive
Additional help: How to install & use Userscripts for Safari IOS
4. Fully refresh the page on an ao3 story. A button should appear in the top right corner, to toggle on the floaty comment box. When in doubt: if you open the extensions menu in your browser, you should see some type of notification that a userscript is active when you are on ao3.
Functionality
Header bar:
Quotation marks « » : button to insert selected text
Down arrow ⇓ : scroll down below to real comment box
Up arrow ⇑ : scroll back up to where you were in the story after hitting the down button
Light bulb 💡: inspiration/suggestions to write a review
Cog wheel ⚙️: overview of functionalities & settings
Collapse window ▲ : only the header bar will remain visible
Enlarge window ▼ : the floaty comment box will take up the whole screen
Close >> : button to hide the entire container & show the corner button instead
Syncing and submitting:
Everything that is typed or inserted into the floaty comment box will be automatically synced with the real comment box below.
Your ongoing comment will be remembered as a saved draft (until either submitted or cleared).
Your comment will only be submitted once you submit it in the real comment form below.
There are currently two adjustable settings:
Default view: a button in the top right corner to toggle on/off the floaty box, or a sticky header bar on top of the page
Quote format: inserted text is formatted as a blockquote + italics, or inserted text is formatted inline between quotation marks + italics
