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archer9234

Forum Software Update Discussion Topic

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Everybody knows them, some people hate them while others just accept they are there, or even appreciate them. What I'm talking about are updates. Whether it's your operating system, like Windows in most cases, or web browser - every software nowadays is frequently supplied with updates, and so is our forum software. This version that you're currently looking at, version 3, was released in June 2009. We right away decided that we want to upgrade our dated website as soon as possible. There was only one requirement: we wanted to design an own skin for the forum, so that we don't just look like any other copy of Invision Power Board. But, if you look at a calendar you'll notice that June 2009 was by now more than 3 years ago. Because creating an own skin for a software as big as this takes a lot of time and by far is not easy we simply didn't get around to doing that, so we kept pushing back the update. Due to problems with the old version of the software though that started to arise lately we decided to ditch that idea for now and just upgrade. A skin can come once it's ready. So here we are, in a fresh, new environment.

What's new?

So you might be asking yourself now what is new. To be honest, we don't really know every detail for ourselves and have to get used to this change now, too. So please excuse is if there's things not working, we might not even be aware of it. What I can say though is:

Shoutbox

The shoutbox is gone for now. Instead, you'll now find a Chat tab at the top of the page. Clicking it you'll land in a chat room that functions pretty much identical to the old shoutbox, however it has a few limitations. Because it is just the default licence that is included with the forum only 5 people can use it simultaneously. Anyone who clicks the chat tab when there's already 5 people in it wont even be allowed access. Instead it'll for some reason prompt you for a username and a password. We don't exactly understand what's that supposed to mean and why it's not right away denying access, because even us moderators and admins cannot bypass the 5 users limit. But we'll investigate into that in the future.

We also don't know for sure yet if we'll stick with the solution, seeing that 5 users is quite little, and an upgrade to 20 costs $20 a year, and, even more importantly, the chat can't be embedded in the forum frontpage like the shoutbox used to be. Let's see, maybe we'll find something better.

User profile pictures/avatars

The old version of the forum allowed everyone to link to an external picture as avatar that's shown next to each post, and IFT Investors additionally to upload a user profile picture that's shown in their profile. These two features have sort of been merged. You no longer are able to link external avatars and your existing links are gone, but now either can upload one, or choose to show your avatar from Gravatar. The default maximum upload size is 50KB, which seems like a fair amount to me. If it's too little, just talk to us. Also if you want to reuse your old picture and only had it stored online and don't anymore know the link to it by heart you can ask us and we'll probably look the link up for you in a backup of the database before the migration.

Downloads

While the downloads system is pretty much the same there's one easy statement we can make about its current state: "It means that this damn think doesn't work at all!" If you try to download any file that existed on the site before the migration you'll notice that you don't actually get the file, just a nearly blank page saying "here's your downloads". We are aware of the issue and try to fix as soon as possible.

Mobile

Additionally to featuring a mobile skin optimized for smartphones, the new version of the forum software has built in support for a smartphone app. Currently, according to the developer of the forum software, it only is available on iOS, but it should soon arrive on Android.

To use it, download the IPS Communities app from the AppStore (while it says on their homepage that it costs $2 it seems that due to many unsatisfied users they made it available for free). Using it you should be able to add this forum to it and set it up to receive push notifications when there's something new here on the forum. If you go to the User Control Panel by clicking your name in the upper right corner of the page and navigate to My Settings -> Notification Options you can quite detailed specify about what you want to receive push notifications.

At the bottom of each page in the mobile version it'll also give you the same hint that there is an app for this.

Reputation

It's been quite a while ago, but in the very first forum hosted on this site there was a reputation system. If you liked a post, you could click a button to express that. The user then got added a point to his personal account. From the amount of points the user had one could tell how much reasonable content a user contributes. This system now is back! Below every post there now is a "Like this" button - much like on Facebook. Click it, and you'll see the member's likes on his profile increase.

And that's the most notable changes I can think of so far. If you notice anything that's not working, misbehaving or otherwise strange that I didn't list here don't hesitate to contact us.

See you in the future!

The BTTF HV Team

I have to say this is a breath of fresh air to the site in a long time.

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The Android Mobile App has been canceled a couple of weeks ago, so only mobile skin is left. And the iOS app.

Edit: Will the tracker return?

Edited by Knight Bob

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I use the Tracker on my on forum, it is a great peace of software. It is infact the version that IPS developed. You could use the IP.Content database system, I'm also using it to power my Tutorials, gallery and video system.

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good thing if i get a android tablet they would be at a okay size to use the forums anyway, and i agree with updating the forums first and then designing a skin. even if it just starts as replacing icons and stuff while a skin is made properly. although giving the current skin a bttf style look to it would not be hard i think such as making the blue borders have a gradient in a similar style to the bttf logo.

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I was actually thinking about getting a tablet myself. this thought didn't even occur to me.

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No word. It certainly won't be as long as you've already waited.

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I hope there will be some users who benefit from this update because, at this point, I'm afraid I don't.

Apart from the unfamiliar new layout (wich I probably will get used to; but the old style was also organized more compact), the old site was much more responsive; It was the snappiest I periodically visit. (using several systems: WinXP/7;Firefox;JRE7 / Mint;Firefox;jdk-7-JRE)

Could this be fixed when there will eventually be a unique skin?

And my signature code was killed. :(

No wait! There it is.. :)

Just some thoughts from an unqualified user.

Edited by uokka

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I qualify you. And yes, by the way Mike and Mini-me are working on an awesome skin.

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Thanks for the feedback. I guess you coincidentally checked out the site today, because it's been faster the previous days. For some reason it's slow today, we'll see if there's anything we can do.

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You're guessing right, I can only visit occasionally atm. Good to know a skin is already on its way.

But even though the snappy days might be gone, there are some new features in the post edit box which look pretty useful (was totally blanc yesterday :P).

Edited by uokka

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will my logo stay on the new skin or will you guys make / need me to make a new one to fit it?

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there are some new features in the post edit box which look pretty useful (was totally blanc yesterday :P).

Kind of my bad. I worked on Photobucket compatibility for the media BBcode (not done yet) and added a Javascript library to the forum's main script file. That however invalidated the whole script, which I didn't notice in my tests though because of an older version of it in my browser's cache :huh: .

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It depends on how the menu bar will look, we may need a new version.

will my logo stay on the new skin or will you guys make / need me to make a new one to fit it?

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