Converting to a new forum system

[Akula.]

i second the phpbb motion, phpbb3 is coming out soon, id wait a while for that. integrated file uploader, attach files to PMs, friends/foes, thousands of mods, etc.

Complete feature list is here

[Wingo]

Probably not, but it is nice to know it's there and it has the power to handle the load

[Akula.]

thousands of mods? sure we need them, who doesnt need a Skype button... or a little thing to say whether people or online... or a karma thingy... or a...

you get the idea.

Basically, no, we probably wont ever need all the mods, but its nice to have the options.

[Akula.]

Okay, for my own purposes i set up a test forum running phpBB3, take a look at it. Join if you want, its only gonna be a test forum though

Here: http://phpbbtest.dajoob.com

[EirePlane]

phpBB3 does look a lot better from an admin perspective as well as a user perspective.
In all honesty, I think it might be beneficial to SimV if we just started a new forum from scratch using phpBB rather than messing around trying to convert it.
as well as the usual benefits gained by switching to phpBB, it would mean freeing up a huge amount of space on the servers by getting rid of the hundreds if not thousands of users who have been inactive.

[Wingo]

But then you have the hassles of loosing posts, especially memorable ones, everyone loosing PMs they want to keep, setting up the forums again as well as making new stickies. A lot of the tutorials would be lost. The hassle of converting is worth it.

[Akula.]

yeah, site would lose its history. Best to spend a while converting than to lose the whole site

[legoalex2000]

I use phpbb as well for (the dead?) FSGallery. it is quite flexible in customizing. Good stuff, i added a few things to personalize it. PHPbb is definetly worth looking at. and quite a few webhosts provide auto-install for a wealth of programs. anyone heard of Fantastico?

Ramos

[EirePlane]

ive just installed phpbb3 on ym own computer and as Winged One and Akula said, it would be better to try and convert it if possible.
anything that i mentioned can be done from within phpBB anyway thanks to some new tools of theirs.

[Akula.]

oh, and, one more plus for phpBB: open source. This means that if we for some reason dont like it for a lack of a feature, and there arnt any mods already out, then we can write our own (or find someone to do it for us, and with 20,000+ members, there's gotta be someone willing to do it...)

by the way, id be interested to know the database size for a phpBB-based SimV... im guessing around 50-100mb

[legoalex2000]

and (pete & mods this should make you estatic: i did find a mod to where pictures can only work if uploaded to your domain.

once things get going, i'll find that mod

ramos

[Wingo]

I think it's safe to say things are starting to get moving now
Just think, by Christmas we should (hopefully) have a new and improved SimV forum that will allow the increased expansion of this wonderful community!

[pete]

Expect a new server soon so wait 'till then.

[Wingo]

Sccccccchhhhweeeet!!! New server AND forums, all that was old is new again