Give this a try. Make the change in the skin. Go to the bottom and find

$Hit->log();        // log the hit on this page

and change it to

if ( $theauthor != $current_User->get( 'login' )  ) $Hit->log();        // log the hit on this page

Then, find this part

$Item->Author->preferred_name();

and add a line below it:

$Item->Author->preferred_name();
$theauthor = $Item->Author->get( 'login');

First & foremost, thank you very much for your help.

The $theauthor != $current_User->get( 'login' ) correctly verify the condition and it did stop $hit from executing. However, the view count continues to increase.

I guessed $Hit->is_new_view() could still have been executed, it just didn't get logged into db. Hence, if( $dispmore && !$preview && $Hit->is_new_view() ) remains true.

I tried inserting $theauthor != $current_User->get( 'login' ) into _item.class.php but received a 'non-object' error instead. I was thinking if I can get $theauthor value into _item.class.php, your solution might work there... your advice pls.

Try :-
if ( isset( $current_User ) and $Item->Author->get( 'login') == $current_User->get( 'login' ) ) $Item->set( 'views', $Item->views - 1);
$Item->content();

¥

It works! It finally works!! This community truly rocks!!! Thank you both for your help. I do hope the beta/final release will take this into consideration since there's no reason why the author would want to increase his own view count. I just wanna say 'Thank you' once again. Cheers! :p

No problem ;)

¥