cChat - Console-Friendly Chat Enhancement

A lightweight Elder Scrolls Online addon designed for gamepad/console UI compatibility that adds timestamps and chat history restoration to the game's chat system.

Features

Timestamps

• Add timestamps to all chat messages
• Toggle between 12-hour (3:45 PM) and 24-hour (15:45) formats
• Clean, bracketed format: [3:45 PM] Your message here

Chat History

• Automatically saves chat messages
• Restores chat history when you log in
• Configurable maximum history size (100-600 messages)
• Clear history with a single button

Installation

1. Copy the cChat folder to your ESO addons directory:

   • PC: Documents/Elder Scrolls Online/live/AddOns/
   • Console: Use the ESO Console Add-ons Developer Uploader Tool

2. Install the required dependency:

   • LibAddonMenu-2.0

3. (Optional) For smoother history restoration of large logs:

   • LibAsync

4. Enable the addon in-game from the Add-ons menu

Usage

Settings Menu

Access settings through the game's Add-ons settings menu (works with gamepad UI):

• Enable/disable timestamps
• Switch between 12/24-hour format
• Enable/disable chat history
• Adjust maximum history size
• Clear stored history

Slash Commands

• /cchat - Show help and current version
• /cchat toggle - Toggle timestamps on/off
• /cchat clear - Clear all chat history
• /cchat count - Show current message count

Technical Details

Dependencies

• LibAddonMenu-2.0 (required) - Settings UI panel
• LibAsync (optional) - Frame-safe batching for history restore

Saved Variables

• CCHAT_SETTINGS - User preferences and configuration
• CCHAT_HISTORY - Stored chat messages (separate file for safety)

Console Compatibility

cChat is designed to work with ESO's gamepad UI:

• Minimal memory footprint
• Restores history into both PC (CHAT_SYSTEM) and gamepad (GAMEPAD_CHAT_SYSTEM / CHAT_MENU_GAMEPAD) chat surfaces

File Structure

cChat/
├── cChat.addon           # Addon manifest
├── cChat_Global.lua      # Namespace and initialization
├── cChat_Timestamps.lua  # Timestamp formatting utilities
├── cChat_History.lua     # Chat history storage and restoration
├── cChat.lua             # Main addon logic and chat formatter
└── cChat_Settings.lua    # Settings UI configuration

Version History

v1.1.0

• Restored chat history is now fully interactive on console: navigating to a past message in the fullscreen gamepad chat menu surfaces the Whisper / Invite to Group / Add Friend / Send Mail / Ignore keybinds, and item / housing / achievement / quest links can be cycled and activated (Travel-to-house, item tooltip, etc.) just like live messages
• History entries now persist the full per-message payload (target channel, sender display name, raw text, narration) so the gamepad chat menu can rebuild link extraction and social options on replay
• Saved-vars schema is additive: pre-1.1.0 entries replay non-interactively and age out of the ring buffer; no migration or settings reset
• AddOnVersion bumped to 2 so the console updater detects the release

v1.0.0

• Initial release
• Timestamp support (12/24-hour formats)
• Chat history restoration
• Gamepad-compatible settings UI
• Console platform support

Credits

Inspired by rChat (by Shadowfen), a comprehensive chat enhancement addon for PC.

License

This Add-on is not created by, affiliated with or sponsored by ZeniMax Media Inc. or its affiliates. The Elder Scrolls® and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved.

You can read the full terms at https://account.elderscrollsonline.com/add-on-terms