Matt Komarnicki

Unfortunately this functionality is not shipped by phpBB by default and it requires a small modification of both core logic of the phpBB as well as a single change of a template used by your community.

Open includes/functions.php and try to find line:

$tz = ($user->data['user_id'] != ANONYMOUS) ? strval(doubleval($user->data['user_timezone'])) : strval(doubleval($config['board_timezone']));

After this line add:

$sql = "SELECT COUNT(post_id) as total
        FROM " . POSTS_TABLE . "
        WHERE post_time >= " . $user->data['user_lastvisit'] . "
        AND poster_id != " . $user->data['user_id'];

        $result = $db->sql_query($sql);
        $row = $db->sql_fetchrow($result);
        $total = $row['total'];

Note that the line you need to search for may look a little bit differently. ⚠️

In the same file search for:

'U_SEARCH_NEW' => append_sid("{$phpbb_root_path}search.$phpEx", 'search_id=newposts'),

After this line add:

'TOTAL' => $total,

Save the file and open:

styles/<template name>/template/index_body.html

Search for:

<a href="{U_SEARCH_NEW}">{L_SEARCH_NEW}</a>

and replace this line with:

<a href="{U_SEARCH_NEW}">{L_SEARCH_NEW} ({TOTAL})</a>

This is it.