[IMP] mail: improve user notification model in mail.message

Currently if a message has a res_id and a res_model it appears in the
matching record's chatter. Its access rights are computed based on this
record. This is the standard behavior of mail.message model.

User notifications are currently built on messages not having model and
res_id in order to avoid appearing on chatter. This has several drawbacks
notably access rights, redirection to the record, systray, finding back
records, ...

This commit solves those issues by adding new message_type 'user_notification'
that should be as a classic mail.message with model and res_id but without
the whole notification mechanism and without being displayed in the chatter.

An user notification is now a classic message pushed to a given partner only
and not displayed in the chatter.

Related to task 1943901
Linked to PR #32404

5 files changed, 107 insertions, 61 deletions

diff --git a/addons/mail/models/mail_activity.py b/addons/mail/models/mail_activity.py
index a989ac4c983..ab098ed52a1 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/mail_activity.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/mail_activity.py
@@ -386,13 +386,14 @@ class MailActivity(models.Model):
                 engine='ir.qweb',
                 minimal_qcontext=True
             )
-            self.env['mail.thread'].message_notify(
+            record = self.env[activity.res_model].browse(activity.res_id)
+            record.message_notify(
                 partner_ids=activity.user_id.partner_id.ids,
                 body=body,
                 subject=_('%s: %s assigned to you') % (activity.res_name, activity.summary or activity.activity_type_id.name),
                 record_name=activity.res_name,
                 model_description=model_description,
-                notif_layout='mail.mail_notification_light'
+                notif_layout='mail.mail_notification_light',
             )
 
     @api.multi
diff --git a/addons/mail/models/mail_mail.py b/addons/mail/models/mail_mail.py
index a2ba820656f..ffc8aa33399 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/mail_mail.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/mail_mail.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ class MailMail(models.Model):
                         'failure_type': failure_type,
                         'failure_reason': failure_reason,
                     })
-                    messages = notifications.mapped('mail_message_id').filtered(lambda m: m.res_id and m.model)
+                    messages = notifications.mapped('mail_message_id').filtered(lambda m: m.is_thread_message())
                     messages._notify_failure_update()  # notify user that we have a failure
                 (notifications - failed).sudo().write({
                     'email_status': 'sent',
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ class MailMail(models.Model):
                 bounce_alias = ICP.get_param("mail.bounce.alias")
                 catchall_domain = ICP.get_param("mail.catchall.domain")
                 if bounce_alias and catchall_domain:
-                    if mail.model and mail.res_id:
+                    if mail.mail_message_id.is_thread_message():
                         headers['Return-Path'] = '%s+%d-%s-%d@%s' % (bounce_alias, mail.id, mail.model, mail.res_id, catchall_domain)
                     else:
                         headers['Return-Path'] = '%s+%d@%s' % (bounce_alias, mail.id, catchall_domain)
diff --git a/addons/mail/models/mail_message.py b/addons/mail/models/mail_message.py
index c9a54701ca7..0e595654885 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/mail_message.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/mail_message.py
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ class Message(models.Model):
     message_type = fields.Selection([
         ('email', 'Email'),
         ('comment', 'Comment'),
-        ('notification', 'System notification')],
+        ('notification', 'System notification'),
+        ('user_notification', 'User Specific Notification')],
         'Type', required=True, default='email',
         help="Message type: email for email message, notification for system "
              "message, comment for other messages such as user replies",
@@ -79,8 +80,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
     author_avatar = fields.Binary("Author's avatar", related='author_id.image_small', readonly=False)
     # recipients: include inactive partners (they may have been archived after
     # the message was sent, but they should remain visible in the relation)
-    partner_ids = fields.Many2many('res.partner', string='Recipients',
-        context={'active_test': False})
+    partner_ids = fields.Many2many('res.partner', string='Recipients', context={'active_test': False})
     needaction_partner_ids = fields.Many2many(
         'res.partner', 'mail_message_res_partner_needaction_rel', string='Partners with Need Action',
         context={'active_test': False})
@@ -393,7 +393,8 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                 customer_email_data.append((partner_tree[notification.res_partner_id.id][0], partner_tree[notification.res_partner_id.id][1], notification.email_status))
 
             has_access_to_model = message.model and self.env[message.model].check_access_rights('read', raise_exception=False)
-            main_attachment = has_access_to_model and message.res_id and self.env[message.model].search([('id', '=',message.res_id)]) and getattr(self.env[message.model].browse(message.res_id), 'message_main_attachment_id')
+            if message.attachment_ids:
+                main_attachment = has_access_to_model and message.res_id and self.env[message.model].search([('id', '=', message.res_id)]) and getattr(self.env[message.model].browse(message.res_id), 'message_main_attachment_id')
             attachment_ids = []
             for attachment in message.attachment_ids:
                 if attachment.id in attachments_tree:
@@ -417,7 +418,13 @@ class Message(models.Model):
 
     @api.multi
     def message_fetch_failed(self):
-        messages = self.search([('has_error', '=', True), ('author_id.id', '=', self.env.user.partner_id.id), ('res_id', '!=', 0), ('model', '!=', False)])
+        messages = self.search([
+            ('has_error', '=', True),
+            ('author_id.id', '=', self.env.user.partner_id.id), 
+            ('res_id', '!=', 0),
+            ('model', '!=', False),
+            ('message_type', '!=', 'user_notification')
+        ])
         return messages._format_mail_failures()
 
     @api.model
@@ -515,7 +522,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
             message['needaction_partner_ids'] = notif_dict.get(message['id'], dict()).get('partner_id', [])
             message['is_note'] = message['subtype_id'] and subtypes_dict[message['subtype_id'][0]]['id'] == note_id
             message['is_discussion'] = message['subtype_id'] and subtypes_dict[message['subtype_id'][0]]['id'] == com_id
-            message['is_notification'] = message['is_note'] and not message['model'] and not message['res_id']
+            message['is_notification'] = message['message_type'] == 'user_notification'
             message['subtype_description'] = message['subtype_id'] and subtypes_dict[message['subtype_id'][0]]['description']
             if message['model'] and self.env[message['model']]._original_module:
                 message['module_icon'] = modules.module.get_module_icon(self.env[message['model']]._original_module)
@@ -583,6 +590,19 @@ class Message(models.Model):
         if not self._cr.fetchone():
             self._cr.execute("""CREATE INDEX mail_message_model_res_id_idx ON mail_message (model, res_id)""")
 
+    @api.multi
+    def is_thread_message(self, vals=None):
+        if vals:
+            res_id = vals.get('res_id')
+            model = vals.get('model')
+            message_type = vals.get('message_type')
+        else:
+            self.ensure_one()
+            res_id = self.res_id
+            model = self.model
+            message_type = self.message_type
+        return res_id and model and message_type != 'user_notification'
+
     @api.model
     def _find_allowed_model_wise(self, doc_model, doc_dict):
         doc_ids = list(doc_dict)
@@ -640,7 +660,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
         super(Message, self.sudo(access_rights_uid or self._uid)).check_access_rights('read')
 
         self._cr.execute("""
-            SELECT DISTINCT m.id, m.model, m.res_id, m.author_id,
+            SELECT DISTINCT m.id, m.model, m.res_id, m.author_id, m.message_type,
                             COALESCE(partner_rel.res_partner_id, needaction_rel.res_partner_id),
                             channel_partner.channel_id as channel_id
             FROM "%s" m
@@ -656,14 +676,14 @@ class Message(models.Model):
             ON channel_partner.channel_id = channel.id AND channel_partner.partner_id = %%(pid)s
 
             WHERE m.id = ANY (%%(ids)s)""" % self._table, dict(pid=pid, ids=ids))
-        for id, rmod, rid, author_id, partner_id, channel_id in self._cr.fetchall():
+        for id, rmod, rid, author_id, message_type, partner_id, channel_id in self._cr.fetchall():
             if author_id == pid:
                 author_ids.add(id)
             elif partner_id == pid:
                 partner_ids.add(id)
             elif channel_id:
                 channel_ids.add(id)
-            elif rmod and rid:
+            elif rmod and rid and message_type != 'user_notification':
                 model_ids.setdefault(rmod, {}).setdefault(rid, set()).add(id)
 
         allowed_ids = self._find_allowed_doc_ids(model_ids)
@@ -733,13 +753,14 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                     (self._description, operation))
 
         # Read mail_message.ids to have their values
-        message_values = dict((res_id, {}) for res_id in self.ids)
+        message_values = dict((message_id, {}) for message_id in self.ids)
 
         if operation == 'read':
             self._cr.execute("""
                 SELECT DISTINCT m.id, m.model, m.res_id, m.author_id, m.parent_id,
                                 COALESCE(partner_rel.res_partner_id, needaction_rel.res_partner_id),
-                                channel_partner.channel_id as channel_id, m.moderation_status
+                                channel_partner.channel_id as channel_id, m.moderation_status,
+                                m.message_type as message_type
                 FROM "%s" m
                 LEFT JOIN "mail_message_res_partner_rel" partner_rel
                 ON partner_rel.mail_message_id = m.id AND partner_rel.res_partner_id = %%(pid)s
@@ -752,7 +773,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                 LEFT JOIN "mail_channel_partner" channel_partner
                 ON channel_partner.channel_id = channel.id AND channel_partner.partner_id = %%(pid)s
                 WHERE m.id = ANY (%%(ids)s)""" % self._table, dict(pid=self.env.user.partner_id.id, ids=self.ids))
-            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, partner_id, channel_id, moderation_status in self._cr.fetchall():
+            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, partner_id, channel_id, moderation_status, message_type in self._cr.fetchall():
                 message_values[mid] = {
                     'model': rmod,
                     'res_id': rid,
@@ -760,13 +781,15 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                     'parent_id': parent_id,
                     'moderation_status': moderation_status,
                     'moderator_id': False,
-                    'notified': any((message_values[mid].get('notified'), partner_id, channel_id))
+                    'notified': any((message_values[mid].get('notified'), partner_id, channel_id)),
+                    'message_type': message_type,
                 }
         elif operation == 'write':
             self._cr.execute("""
                 SELECT DISTINCT m.id, m.model, m.res_id, m.author_id, m.parent_id, m.moderation_status,
                                 COALESCE(partner_rel.res_partner_id, needaction_rel.res_partner_id),
-                                channel_partner.channel_id as channel_id, channel_moderator_rel.res_users_id as moderator_id
+                                channel_partner.channel_id as channel_id, channel_moderator_rel.res_users_id as moderator_id,
+                                m.message_type as message_type
                 FROM "%s" m
                 LEFT JOIN "mail_message_res_partner_rel" partner_rel
                 ON partner_rel.mail_message_id = m.id AND partner_rel.res_partner_id = %%(pid)s
@@ -783,7 +806,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                 LEFT JOIN "mail_channel_moderator_rel" channel_moderator_rel
                 ON channel_moderator_rel.mail_channel_id = moderated_channel.id AND channel_moderator_rel.res_users_id = %%(uid)s
                 WHERE m.id = ANY (%%(ids)s)""" % self._table, dict(pid=self.env.user.partner_id.id, uid=self.env.user.id, ids=self.ids))
-            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status, partner_id, channel_id, moderator_id in self._cr.fetchall():
+            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status, partner_id, channel_id, moderator_id, message_type in self._cr.fetchall():
                 message_values[mid] = {
                     'model': rmod,
                     'res_id': rid,
@@ -791,35 +814,38 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                     'parent_id': parent_id,
                     'moderation_status': moderation_status,
                     'moderator_id': moderator_id,
-                    'notified': any((message_values[mid].get('notified'), partner_id, channel_id))
+                    'notified': any((message_values[mid].get('notified'), partner_id, channel_id)),
+                    'message_type': message_type,
                 }
         elif operation == 'create':
-            self._cr.execute("""SELECT DISTINCT id, model, res_id, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status FROM "%s" WHERE id = ANY (%%s)""" % self._table, (self.ids,))
-            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status in self._cr.fetchall():
+            self._cr.execute("""SELECT DISTINCT id, model, res_id, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status, message_type FROM "%s" WHERE id = ANY (%%s)""" % self._table, (self.ids,))
+            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status, message_type in self._cr.fetchall():
                 message_values[mid] = {
                     'model': rmod,
                     'res_id': rid,
                     'author_id': author_id,
                     'parent_id': parent_id,
                     'moderation_status': moderation_status,
-                    'moderator_id': False
+                    'moderator_id': False,
+                    'message_type': message_type,
                 }
         else:  # unlink
-            self._cr.execute("""SELECT DISTINCT m.id, m.model, m.res_id, m.author_id, m.parent_id, m.moderation_status, channel_moderator_rel.res_users_id as moderator_id
+            self._cr.execute("""SELECT DISTINCT m.id, m.model, m.res_id, m.author_id, m.parent_id, m.moderation_status, channel_moderator_rel.res_users_id as moderator_id, m.message_type as message_type
                 FROM "%s" m
                 LEFT JOIN "mail_channel" moderated_channel
                 ON m.moderation_status = 'pending_moderation' AND m.res_id = moderated_channel.id
                 LEFT JOIN "mail_channel_moderator_rel" channel_moderator_rel
                 ON channel_moderator_rel.mail_channel_id = moderated_channel.id AND channel_moderator_rel.res_users_id = (%%s)
                 WHERE m.id = ANY (%%s)""" % self._table, (self.env.user.id, self.ids,))
-            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status, moderator_id in self._cr.fetchall():
+            for mid, rmod, rid, author_id, parent_id, moderation_status, moderator_id, message_type in self._cr.fetchall():
                 message_values[mid] = {
                     'model': rmod,
                     'res_id': rid,
                     'author_id': author_id,
                     'parent_id': parent_id,
                     'moderation_status': moderation_status,
-                    'moderator_id': moderator_id
+                    'moderator_id': moderator_id,
+                    'message_type': message_type,
                 }
 
         # Author condition (READ, WRITE, CREATE (private))
@@ -832,7 +858,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                           if message.get('moderation_status') != 'pending_moderation' and message.get('author_id') == self.env.user.partner_id.id]
         elif operation == 'create':
             author_ids = [mid for mid, message in message_values.items()
-                          if not message.get('model') and not message.get('res_id')]
+                          if not self.is_thread_message(message)]
 
         # Parent condition, for create (check for received notifications for the created message parent)
         notified_ids = []
@@ -873,7 +899,10 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                     ])
                 fol_mids = [follower.res_id for follower in followers]
                 notified_ids += [mid for mid, message in message_values.items()
-                                 if message.get('model') == doc_model and message.get('res_id') in fol_mids]
+                                 if message.get('model') == doc_model and
+                                 message.get('res_id') in fol_mids and
+                                 message.get('message_type') != 'user_notification'
+                                 ]
 
         # CRUD: Access rights related to the document
         other_ids = other_ids.difference(set(notified_ids))
@@ -886,13 +915,13 @@ class Message(models.Model):
                 DocumentModel.check_mail_message_access(mids.ids, operation)  # ?? mids ?
             else:
                 self.env['mail.thread'].check_mail_message_access(mids.ids, operation, model_name=model)
-            if operation in ['write', 'unlink']:
-                document_related_ids += [mid for mid, message in message_values.items()
-                                         if message.get('model') == model and message.get('res_id') in mids.ids and
-                                         message.get('moderation_status') != 'pending_moderation']
-            else:
-                document_related_ids += [mid for mid, message in message_values.items()
-                                         if message.get('model') == model and message.get('res_id') in mids.ids]
+            document_related_ids += [
+                mid for mid, message in message_values.items()
+                if (message.get('model') == model and
+                    message.get('res_id') in mids.ids and
+                    message.get('message_type') != 'user_notification' and
+                    (message.get('moderation_status') != 'pending_moderation' or
+                    operation not in ['write', 'unlink']))]
 
         # Calculate remaining ids: if not void, raise an error
         other_ids = other_ids.difference(set(document_related_ids))
@@ -915,15 +944,22 @@ class Message(models.Model):
     @api.model
     def _get_reply_to(self, values):
         """ Return a specific reply_to for the document """
-        model, res_id, email_from = values.get('model', self._context.get('default_model')), values.get('res_id', self._context.get('default_res_id')), values.get('email_from')  # ctx values / defualt_get res ?
-        records = self.env[model].browse([res_id]) if model and res_id else None
-        return self.env['mail.thread']._notify_get_reply_to_on_records(default=email_from, records=records)[res_id or False]
+        model = values.get('model', self._context.get('default_model'))
+        res_id = values.get('res_id', self._context.get('default_res_id'))
+        email_from = values.get('email_from')
+        message_type = values.get('message_type')
+        records = None
+        if self.is_thread_message({'model': model, 'res_id': res_id, 'message_type': message_type}):
+            records = self.env[model].browse([res_id])
+        else:
+            res_id = False
+        return self.env['mail.thread']._notify_get_reply_to_on_records(default=email_from, records=records)[res_id]
 
     @api.model
     def _get_message_id(self, values):
         if values.get('no_auto_thread', False) is True:
             message_id = tools.generate_tracking_message_id('reply_to')
-        elif values.get('res_id') and values.get('model'):
+        elif self.is_thread_message(values):
             message_id = tools.generate_tracking_message_id('%(res_id)s-%(model)s' % values)
         else:
             message_id = tools.generate_tracking_message_id('private')
@@ -933,7 +969,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
     def _invalidate_documents(self):
         """ Invalidate the cache of the documents followed by ``self``. """
         for record in self:
-            if record.model and record.res_id and 'message_ids' in self.env[record.model]:
+            if record.is_thread_message() and 'message_ids' in self.env[record.model]:
                 self.env[record.model].invalidate_cache(fnames=[
                     'message_ids',
                     'message_unread',
@@ -996,7 +1032,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
             if other_cmd:
                 message.sudo().write({'tracking_value_ids': tracking_values_cmd})
 
-        if values.get('model') and values.get('res_id'):
+        if message.is_thread_message(values):
             message._invalidate_documents()
 
         return message
@@ -1010,13 +1046,14 @@ class Message(models.Model):
 
     @api.multi
     def write(self, vals):
-        if 'model' in vals or 'res_id' in vals:
+        record_changed = 'model' in vals or 'res_id' in vals
+        if record_changed or 'message_type' in vals:
             self._invalidate_documents()
         res = super(Message, self).write(vals)
         if vals.get('attachment_ids'):
             for mail in self:
                 mail.attachment_ids.check(mode='read')
-        if 'notification_ids' in vals or 'model' in vals or 'res_id' in vals:
+        if 'notification_ids' in vals or record_changed:
             self._invalidate_documents()
         return res
 
@@ -1058,6 +1095,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
           notification templates);
         :param mail_auto_delete: delete notification emails once sent;
         """
+
         msg_vals = msg_vals if msg_vals else {}
         rdata = self._notify_compute_recipients(record, msg_vals)
         return self._notify_recipients(
@@ -1079,7 +1117,9 @@ class Message(models.Model):
             'partners': [],
             'channels': [],
         }
-        res = self.env['mail.followers']._get_recipient_data(record, subtype_id, pids, cids)
+        res = []
+        user_notification = msg_vals.get('message_type') == 'user_notification'
+        res = self.env['mail.followers']._get_recipient_data(not user_notification and record, subtype_id, pids, cids)
         author_id = msg_vals.get('author_id') or self.author_id.id if res else False
         for pid, cid, active, pshare, ctype, notif, groups in res:
             if pid and pid == author_id and not self.env.context.get('mail_notify_author'):  # do not notify the author of its own messages
@@ -1214,7 +1254,7 @@ class Message(models.Model):
         })
         # proceed with notification process to send notification emails and Inbox messages
         for message in self:
-            record = self.env[message.model].browse(message.res_id) if message.model and message.res_id else None
+            record = self.env[message.model].browse(message.res_id) if message.is_thread_message() else None
             message._notify(record, {})
 
     @api.multi
diff --git a/addons/mail/models/mail_thread.py b/addons/mail/models/mail_thread.py
index b55f5cc0937..b53f9713583 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/mail_thread.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/mail_thread.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
         compute='_get_followers', search='_search_follower_channels')
     message_ids = fields.One2many(
         'mail.message', 'res_id', string='Messages',
-        domain=lambda self: [('model', '=', self._name)], auto_join=True)
+        domain=lambda self: [('model', '=', self._name), ('message_type', '!=', 'user_notification')], auto_join=True)
     message_unread = fields.Boolean(
         'Unread Messages', compute='_get_message_unread',
         help="If checked new messages require your attention.")
@@ -187,8 +187,9 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
                                  ON (cp.channel_id = rel.mail_channel_id AND cp.partner_id = %s AND
                                     (cp.seen_message_id IS NULL OR cp.seen_message_id < msg.id))
                                  WHERE msg.model = %s AND msg.res_id = ANY(%s) AND
+                                        msg.message_type != 'user_notification' AND
                                        (msg.author_id IS NULL OR msg.author_id != %s) AND
-                                       (msg.message_type != 'notification' OR msg.model != 'mail.channel')""",
+                                       (msg.message_type not in ('notification', 'user_notification') OR msg.model != 'mail.channel')""",
                              (partner_id, self._name, list(self.ids), partner_id,))
             for result in self._cr.fetchall():
                 res[result[0]] += 1
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
             self._cr.execute(""" SELECT msg.res_id FROM mail_message msg
                                  RIGHT JOIN mail_message_res_partner_needaction_rel rel
                                  ON rel.mail_message_id = msg.id AND rel.res_partner_id = %s AND (rel.is_read = false OR rel.is_read IS NULL)
-                                 WHERE msg.model = %s AND msg.res_id in %s""",
+                                 WHERE msg.model = %s AND msg.res_id in %s AND msg.message_type != 'user_notification'""",
                              (self.env.user.partner_id.id, self._name, tuple(self.ids),))
             for result in self._cr.fetchall():
                 res[result[0]] += 1
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
             self._cr.execute(""" SELECT msg.res_id, COUNT(msg.res_id) FROM mail_message msg
                                  RIGHT JOIN mail_message_res_partner_needaction_rel rel
                                  ON rel.mail_message_id = msg.id AND rel.email_status in ('exception','bounce')
-                                 WHERE msg.author_id = %s AND msg.model = %s AND msg.res_id in %s
+                                 WHERE msg.author_id = %s AND msg.model = %s AND msg.res_id in %s AND msg.message_type != 'user_notification'
                                  GROUP BY msg.res_id""",
                              (self.env.user.partner_id.id, self._name, tuple(self.ids),))
             res.update(self._cr.fetchall())
@@ -341,7 +342,7 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
         cascaded, because link is done through (res_model, res_id). """
         if not self:
             return True
-        self.env['mail.message'].search([('model', '=', self._name), ('res_id', 'in', self.ids)]).unlink()
+        self.env['mail.message'].search([('model', '=', self._name), ('res_id', 'in', self.ids), ('message_type', '!=', 'user_notification')]).unlink()
         res = super(MailThread, self).unlink()
         self.env['mail.followers'].sudo().search(
             [('res_model', '=', self._name), ('res_id', 'in', self.ids)]
@@ -534,10 +535,12 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
         msg_comment = MailMessage.search([
             ('model', '=', self._name),
             ('res_id', '=', self.id),
+            ('message_type', '!=', 'user_notification'),
             ('subtype_id', '=', subtype_comment)])
         msg_not_comment = MailMessage.search([
             ('model', '=', self._name),
             ('res_id', '=', self.id),
+            ('message_type', '!=', 'user_notification'),
             ('subtype_id', '!=', subtype_comment)])
 
         # update the messages
@@ -1948,7 +1951,7 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
         # set in the context.
         model = False
         if self.ids:
-            self.ensure_one()
+            self.ensure_one()  # not so usefull
             model = kwargs.get('model', False) if self._name == 'mail.thread' else self._name
             if model and model != self._name and hasattr(self.env[model], 'message_post'):
                 return self.env[model].browse(self.ids).message_post(
@@ -1991,8 +1994,10 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
                 subtype = 'mail.%s' % subtype
             subtype_id = self.env['ir.model.data'].xmlid_to_res_id(subtype)
 
+        user_notification = message_type == 'user_notification'
+
         # automatically subscribe recipients if asked to
-        if self._context.get('mail_post_autofollow') and self.ids and partner_ids:
+        if self._context.get('mail_post_autofollow') and self.ids and not user_notification and partner_ids:
             partner_to_subscribe = partner_ids
             if self._context.get('mail_post_autofollow_partner_ids'):
                 partner_to_subscribe = [p for p in partner_ids if p in self._context.get('mail_post_autofollow_partner_ids')]
@@ -2000,8 +2005,8 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
 
         # _mail_flat_thread: automatically set free messages to the first posted message
         MailMessage = self.env['mail.message']
-        if self._mail_flat_thread and model and not parent_id and self.ids:
-            messages = MailMessage.search(['&', ('res_id', '=', self.ids[0]), ('model', '=', model)], order="id ASC", limit=1)
+        if self._mail_flat_thread and model and not parent_id and self.ids and not user_notification:
+            messages = MailMessage.search(['&', ('res_id', '=', self.ids[0]), ('model', '=', model), ('message_type', '!=', 'user_notification')], order="id ASC", limit=1)
             parent_id = messages.ids and messages.ids[0] or False
         # we want to set a parent: force to set the parent_id to the oldest ancestor, to avoid having more than 1 level of thread
         elif parent_id:
@@ -2047,7 +2052,8 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
         canned_response_ids = values.pop('canned_response_ids', False)
         new_message = MailMessage.create(values)
         values['canned_response_ids'] = canned_response_ids
-        self._message_post_after_hook(new_message, values, model_description=model_description, mail_auto_delete=mail_auto_delete)
+        record = self.env['mail.thread'] if user_notification else self
+        record._message_post_after_hook(new_message, values, model_description=model_description, mail_auto_delete=mail_auto_delete)
         return new_message
 
     def _message_post_after_hook(self, message, msg_vals, model_description=False, mail_auto_delete=True):
@@ -2137,8 +2143,8 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
         return composer.send_mail()
 
     def message_notify(self, partner_ids, body='', subject=False, **kwargs):
-        """ Shortcut allowing to notify partners of messages not linked to
-        any document. It pushes notifications on inbox or by email depending
+        """ Shortcut allowing to notify partners of messages that shouldn't be 
+        displayed on a document. It pushes notifications on inbox or by email depending
         on the user configuration, like other notifications. """
         kw_author = kwargs.pop('author_id', False)
         if kw_author:
@@ -2154,16 +2160,15 @@ class MailThread(models.AbstractModel):
             'body': body,
             'author_id': author.id,
             'email_from': email_from,
-            'message_type': 'notification',
+            'message_type': 'user_notification',
             'partner_ids': partner_ids,
-            'model': False,
             'subtype_id': self.env['ir.model.data'].xmlid_to_res_id('mail.mt_note'),
             'record_name': False,
             'reply_to': self.env['mail.thread']._notify_get_reply_to(default=email_from, records=None)[False],
             'message_id': tools.generate_tracking_message_id('message-notify'),
         }
         msg_values.update(kwargs)
-        return self.env['mail.thread'].message_post(**msg_values)
+        return self.message_post(**msg_values)
 
     def _message_log(self, body='', subject=False, message_type='notification', **kwargs):
         """ Shortcut allowing to post note on a document. It does not perform
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/js/models/messages/message.js b/addons/mail/static/src/js/models/messages/message.js
index 2e49975c9d9..73c4ece9025 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/js/models/messages/message.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/js/models/messages/message.js
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ var Message =  AbstractMessage.extend(Mixins.EventDispatcherMixin, ServicesMixin
      * @return {boolean}
      */
     isLinkedToDocumentThread: function () {
-        return !!(this._documentModel !== 'mail.channel' && this._documentID);
+        return !!(this._documentModel !== 'mail.channel' && this._documentID && this._type !== 'user_notification');
     },
     /**
      * State whether the current user is the author of this message