Forum upgrade

[jmb]

I'm having another stab at upgrading the rather ancient software of this forum to the latest version. Could i maybe get a few members to test it out?

I'd be particularly interested in knowing whether there are any features you currently rely on that don't work as expected - e.g. moderation.

(We have a limited-access "Testing" forum section here where we can discuss findings if needed)

cheers,
James

[adam2]

Two features that would be useful IMHO, and that are not available at present would be,

Firstly, the ability to merge threads when two threads have been started on the same subject.

Improved anti spam features, such as software that "looks" for certain keywords in the profile of new members. Such potential members should not be rejected out of hand, but should require manual approval before they can post.

A dedicated section for frequent posters/long term members. Membership to be either automatic after say 6 months AND 100 POSTS, or controlled manually.

Finally, please be careful WRT to software upgrades, I appreciate that you are very experienced in software, but I have also known forums to "sink without trace" during software upgrades.

[jmb]

Thanks, Adam,

Merging topics does seem to be supported in phpBB3: https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2133836

There's a selection of anti-spam extensions which I'll be looking at: https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... ti-spam-41

Section for long-term members should be possible, there's an automatic ranking system which I think can be used that way.

I hear you loud and clear re upgrade risks. I'm going through several "approach moves" of configuring the new forum on my own server, and a separate subdomain here, isolated from the existing forum, and will keep at least three backups, and an archive / "emergency backup personality" copy of the site too ... not that I'm paranoid or anything,

[emordnilap]

I'd like to make a donation to running costs. Guideline figure required.

[jmb]

> donation

I'll leave that one to James H - I personally don't incur direct financial costs apart from the domain registration which is about £12 a year - the hosting service will I'm sure be more significant. The phpbb forum software is freeware.

[kenneal - lagger]

A good idea, Em, which should probably be put out as a sticky so that all people get to see it. There is a donation button in the top left hand corner of the screen but I'm not sure how many people notice it. Perhaps the suggestion should be added to the button or say have two buttons, one for £5 and one for £10 or whatever?

Regarding the inner circle. There is an inner circle of about a dozen people who contribute to the discussion at the moment and most of what is said is relevant to anyone who lurks here so I'm not sure what the advantage would be Adam?

And thanks again, James, for all your hard work.

[adam2]

I see two merits in having an "inner circle".
Firstly, I sometimes have items to give away, and would prefer to offer these to established members rather than to new members simply looking for anything free.
Others may wish to offer accommodation or other goods and services, but only to known or established members.

Secondly, I and others may wish to discuss the merits of certain goods and services, that if discussed in public generate vast amounts of spam.

[kenneal - lagger]

Given that we usually have five to ten times the number of Guests to Registered members online that could be useful, Adam.

By the way, I am posting this on the new version of the site. There doesn't seem to be a lot of difference at the moment.

[jmb]

new version of the site. There doesn't seem to be a lot of difference at the moment.

This isn't the new version of the site. I've set that up on a different URL, which I don't want to just post here - but it's in the "Testing" area. Anyone volunteering to have a go with it who doesn't have access to that, let me know and I'll add you.

[kenneal - lagger]

There looks to have been a significant fall off in guest numbers since the outage. No more than half a dozen instead of the ten or so before.

[clv101]

So it seems the search function isn't working - or at least it is, but only for the posts since the upgrade.