Update admin commands to include channelpause functionality

- Added `channelpause` and `channelresume` commands to the admin commands list in configuration files, allowing admins to pause or resume bot responses on public channels via DM.
- Updated documentation to reflect the new command functionality and its implications for channel responses.
- Modified validation and message handling to incorporate the new channel response control feature.

config.ini.example

@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ admin_pubkeys =
 # Commands that require admin access (comma-separated)
 # These commands will only work for users in the admin_pubkeys list
 # reload: Reload configuration without restarting (radio settings cannot be changed)
-admin_commands = repeater,webviewer,reload
+# channelpause: DM-only; channelpause / channelresume — pause or resume bot responses on channels (not persisted)
+admin_commands = repeater,webviewer,reload,channelpause
 
 [Plugin_Overrides]
 # Plugin Overrides - Use alternative plugin implementations

config.ini.minimal-example

@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ admin_pubkeys =
 # Commands that require admin access (comma-separated)
 # These commands will only work for users in the admin_pubkeys list
 # reload: Reload configuration without restarting (radio settings cannot be changed)
-admin_commands = repeater,webviewer,reload
+admin_commands = repeater,webviewer,reload,channelpause
 
 [Keywords]
 # Available placeholders (message-based):

config.ini.quickstart

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ banned_users =
 [Admin_ACL]
 # 64-char hex public keys (comma-separated). Leave blank to disable admin commands.
 admin_pubkeys = 
-admin_commands = repeater,webviewer,reload
+admin_commands = repeater,webviewer,reload,channelpause
 
 [Keywords]
 test = "ack @[{sender}]{phrase_part} | {connection_info} | Received at: {timestamp}"

docs/config-validation.md

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ The bot will not start without these sections. The validator reports them as **e
 
 If these are absent, the validator reports **info** (no error):
 
-- **`[Admin_ACL]`** – Absent means admin commands (repeater, webviewer, reload) are disabled.
+- **`[Admin_ACL]`** – Absent means admin commands (repeater, webviewer, reload, channelpause) are disabled.
 - **`[Banned_Users]`** – Absent means no users are banned.
 - **`[Localization]`** – Absent means defaults (e.g. `language=en`, `translation_path=translations/`) are used.
 

docs/configuration.md

@@ -93,3 +93,7 @@ Before starting the bot, you can validate section names and path writability. Se
 ## Reloading configuration
 
 Some configuration can be reloaded without restarting the bot using the **`reload`** command (admin only). Radio/connection settings are not changed by reload; restart the bot for those.
+
+## Pausing channel responses (remote)
+
+Admins can DM **`channelpause`** or **`channelresume`** (see `[Admin_ACL]` in `config.ini`) to stop or resume bot reactions on **public channels** only—greeter, keywords, and commands on channels are skipped; DMs still work. The setting is **in memory only** (back to responding on channels after restart). Scheduled channel posts from the scheduler are **not** blocked by this toggle.

modules/commands/channelpause_command.py

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Channel pause command
+DM-only admin: pause or resume bot responses on public channels (in-memory only).
+"""
+
+from .base_command import BaseCommand
+from ..models import MeshMessage
+
+
+class ChannelPauseCommand(BaseCommand):
+    """Pause or resume channel-triggered bot responses (greeter, keywords, commands)."""
+
+    name = "channelpause"
+    keywords = ["channelpause", "channelresume"]
+    description = "Pause or resume bot responses on channels (DM only, admin only)"
+    requires_dm = True
+    cooldown_seconds = 2
+    category = "admin"
+
+    def __init__(self, bot):
+        super().__init__(bot)
+
+    def can_execute(self, message: MeshMessage) -> bool:
+        if not self.requires_admin_access():
+            return False
+        return super().can_execute(message)
+
+    def requires_admin_access(self) -> bool:
+        return True
+
+    def get_help_text(self) -> str:
+        return (
+            "Controls whether the bot responds to public channel messages.\n"
+            "DMs always work (including this command).\n"
+            "Not saved across restarts.\n"
+            "Usage: channelpause — stop channel responses\n"
+            "       channelresume — resume channel responses"
+        )
+
+    def _stripped_content_lower(self, message: MeshMessage) -> str:
+        content = message.content.strip()
+        if self._command_prefix:
+            if not content.startswith(self._command_prefix):
+                return ""
+            content = content[len(self._command_prefix) :].strip()
+        elif content.startswith("!"):
+            content = content[1:].strip()
+        content = self._strip_mentions(content)
+        return content.lower()
+
+    async def execute(self, message: MeshMessage) -> bool:
+        text = self._stripped_content_lower(message)
+        resume_kw = self.keywords[1].lower()
+        pause_kw = self.keywords[0].lower()
+
+        if text == resume_kw or text.startswith(resume_kw + " "):
+            self.bot.channel_responses_enabled = True
+            reply = "Channel responses: ON. The bot will respond on public channels again."
+        elif text == pause_kw or text.startswith(pause_kw + " "):
+            self.bot.channel_responses_enabled = False
+            reply = (
+                "Channel responses: OFF. No greeter, keywords, or commands on channels; "
+                "DMs still work. Not persisted after restart."
+            )
+        else:
+            reply = "Use channelpause or channelresume."
+
+        await self.send_response(message, reply)
+        return True

modules/commands/greeter_command.py

@@ -1201,6 +1201,15 @@ class GreeterCommand(BaseCommand):
                 self.logger.debug(f"Waiting {self.dead_air_delay_seconds} seconds before greeting {message.sender_id} on {message.channel}")
                 await asyncio.sleep(self.dead_air_delay_seconds)
 
+            if not getattr(self.bot, "channel_responses_enabled", True):
+                self.logger.info(
+                    f"Skipping delayed greeting for {message.sender_id} on {message.channel} "
+                    "(channel responses paused)"
+                )
+                if key in self.pending_greetings:
+                    del self.pending_greetings[key]
+                return
+
             # Check if greeting was cancelled (user was already greeted or human responded)
             if key not in self.pending_greetings:
                 self.logger.debug(f"Greeting for {message.sender_id} on {message.channel} was cancelled")

modules/config_validation.py

@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ def validate_config(config_path: str) -> list[tuple[str, str]]:
     if ADMIN_ACL_SECTION not in sections_present:
         results.append((
             SEVERITY_INFO,
-            f"Section [{ADMIN_ACL_SECTION}] absent; admin commands (repeater, webviewer, reload) disabled.",
+            f"Section [{ADMIN_ACL_SECTION}] absent; admin commands (repeater, webviewer, reload, channelpause) disabled.",
         ))
     if BANNED_USERS_SECTION not in sections_present:
         results.append((

modules/core.py

@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ class MeshCoreBot:
         self.connected = False
         self.connection_time = None  # Track when connection was established to skip old cached messages
 
+        # Volatile: DM-only admin command (channelpause) toggles this; not persisted across restarts.
+        self.channel_responses_enabled = True
+
         # Bot start time for uptime tracking
         self.start_time = time.time()
 

modules/message_handler.py

@@ -2628,7 +2628,7 @@ class MessageHandler:
 
         # Check greeter command for public channel messages (BEFORE general message filtering)
         # This allows greeter to work on its own configured channels even if not in monitor_channels
-        if 'greeter' in self.bot.command_manager.commands:
+        if self._channel_responses_allowed(message) and 'greeter' in self.bot.command_manager.commands:
             greeter_command = self.bot.command_manager.commands['greeter']
             # First, check if this message should cancel a pending greeting (human greeting detection)
             if greeter_command:
@@ -2779,6 +2779,11 @@ class MessageHandler:
             self.logger.debug(f"Ignoring message from banned user: {message.sender_id}")
             return False
 
+        # Channel-only pause (DM-only admin command); DMs still processed
+        if not message.is_dm and not getattr(self.bot, "channel_responses_enabled", True):
+            self.logger.debug("Ignoring non-DM message: channel responses paused")
+            return False
+
         # Check if channel is monitored (with command override support)
         if not message.is_dm and message.channel:
             # Check if channel is in global monitor_channels
@@ -2804,6 +2809,12 @@ class MessageHandler:
 
         return True
 
+    def _channel_responses_allowed(self, message: MeshMessage) -> bool:
+        """True if channel-driven bot responses are allowed for this message (DMs always True here)."""
+        if message.is_dm:
+            return True
+        return getattr(self.bot, "channel_responses_enabled", True)
+
     async def handle_new_contact(self, event, metadata=None):
         """Handle NEW_CONTACT events for automatic contact management"""
         try: