Author Pane is a block of information about a given user, like those typically found on a forum post, but can be used in other places as well. From core, it collects the user picture, name, join date, online status, contact link, and profile information. In addition, any module or theme can feed it more information via the preprocess system. All of this information is then gathered and displayed using a template file.

Module integrations:

The following modules will automatically add information to Author Pane when enabled. Some of these integrations are included in the Author Pane project while others are included in the individual projects. More integrations can be added as explained here Non-core integrations are not supported and may be removed if they break and no one is willing to supply a patch.

• Contact*
• Facebook-style Statuses
• Fast Toggle*
• Organic Groups*
• Privatemsg 1.4 (or later) (Untested against 2.x so YMMV.)
• Profile
• QTChat
• Troll*
• User Badges*
• User Relationships
• User Stats
• User Titles* (text version by default; image version must be added to template)
• Userpoints*

* These modules' integration code are included in AP. All others are part of the module in question.

Versions

5.x is no longer supported or maintained at all, including security issues.

6.x is only not listed as abandoned because I don't want to freak out 20K Advanced Forum users who are using this with no issues. It works but is not maintained anymore. If anyone wants to care for the 6.x branch, please post an issue. Scyther is taking care of D7.

7.x This is now being maintained by Scyther.

There is a new module that is similar to Author Pane but also includes a block aimed at the logged in user: http://drupal.org/project/user_details