Forum upgrade and downtime notice

[tampa24]

Yay! We have our main site toolbar back on top of the forum page. Thank you guys!

 

[Ms. Kianna]

The "New Posts" button is not showing all of the most recent threads or posts. I say this not as a criticism but as means of pointing out some of the kinks in the system. If I post on a thread and then jump back to the new posts option, my post and the whole thread are nowhere to be seen. Except if I go the longer route to the Membership section vs. non membership posts and look them up there.

Also sometimes when I use the preview post option before sending, the text comes out garbled in the bottom preview box for typing but not on top. For instance in the bottom preview box I may type: "I went to the store and bought some grapes. Then I went home." What it shows is something like : "I went to the store and bought some grapes. and bought some grapes. Then I went home." In hindsight I must admit that this might have been when I was trying to spellcheck with my Google app.

Also, obviously my Google spellcheck doesn't like this system. I tried using the ieSpell option in the spellcheck with this system on BSB TV. I still can't figure it out. I even downloaded the ieSpellcheck option (On BSB TV) but then it gave me a prompt box asking me to agree to buy (pay for) the spellcheck feature.

Any help or tutoring on enabling the spellcheck feature (for free) would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

I know all this stuff will be tough until we get all the kinks out. I have patience as well as great faith in your abilities.

My Preview Post does not show what it will actually look like on the forum. I centered a message and enlarged it, on Preview Post it was beautiful, but when it went on the forum it was broken up in pieces and all lowercase, I had to go back and edit it, until it turned out right.

 

[rrhill]

This new version of the vBulletin software doesn't come in a great choice of colours. Any template adjustments have to be bought in or written.

Thank heaven that Broke Straight Boys has it's own PHP programmer in the person of WebMonkey.

 

[rrhill]

The future is bright, with a black background

Some hope for those that love a black background... that's very well possible with this software via vBulletin AdminCP -> Usergroups -> Usergroup Manager -> Admin or moderator -> ( http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=284860 )

Next there are lots of skins (color schemes) also for this new version of vBulletin available... watch: http://www.vbstyles.com/vbulletin-4x-skins-c1.html

So Mark could decide for his own Broke Straight Boys skin in time.

 

[grace17]

The last 24 hours has seen quite a surge of posts related to the fourm upgrade. As a silver lining, its that you all care deeply about the forum and defend it with no mercy. We are fortunate for that sentiment. Furthermore.. change should be incremental. (Inform you its coming, explain as its rolled out, etc. Its a take-away for me as I am often a source of changes to the site).

Scorpio has been working his tail off on this and not all of the effort is apparent yet. Im quite sympathetic to the challenges he is working with (need to upgrade, limits with upward compatibility). I think more than a few liked the older colors
and styling, it was a custom skin developed just for Broke Straight Boys The comments about it are very valuable and loud and clear.

Where do we go from here...There is exciting stuff ahead with the new software from my vantage point...new features, video posting, improved security, better plumbing, better performance, cool new statistics about posts...VBulletin is great forum software, probably the best on the market, and we want to offer you the best experience.

One of my goals in the future is to more tightly integrate the forum with the rest of Broke Straight Boys, now there are more opportunities for that.

The forum is a powerful part of Broke Straight Boys and while not every member posts, many do read. We have the good fortune to have so many loyal readers, its definately a part of my day now. I look forward to seeing everyone's comments, even if I dont agree.

Looking forward

WebMonkey

You guys are doing a great job. Upgrading software never goes smoothly and more often than not someone ends up a jibbering mess in a corner...that's just the way it is.

I have to admit I don't like change and I'd happily go back to the old look forum, but I'll get used to it and so will everyone else. This time next week we'll all be posting away as usual

 

[rrhill]

Back to black

 

[tampa24]

You guys are doing a great job. Upgrading software never goes smoothly and more often than not someone ends up a jibbering mess in a corner...that's just the way it is.

I have to admit I don't like change and I'd happily go back to the old look forum, but I'll get used to it and so will everyone else. This time next week we'll all be posting away as usual

Exactly Grace!

The old system was no longer safe from hackers and would no longer support all the various upgrades that Mark's team needed to incorporate. This isn't an example of, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it." The old system was becoming "broken" and obsolete. I admit that the new system is frustrating for me. But then so was learning the old system. It took me weeks in 2008 to figure out what the heck I was doing with the mechanics of it. Having learned the old system though we now have a much stronger basis for learning to navigate the new one.

My biggest regret with the new system is how bright it is. If we could get a black skin or even a darker blue one like the old BCB forum, I'd like that better. It's more soothing on the eyes. But look! Scorpio has already mentioned that they were already looking for a black skin before they changed it over. But...the quality of the black skins that were more easily available with the new system, were not of a quality that he was comfortable with forcing upon us. Thank you Scorpio for the quality control! They are looking out for us and are trying to anticipate what the members want. So it has been deferred to Mark to make the call on whether to keep looking for a customized black skin that would be of better quality and be reasonably affordable. I hope they can find something that fits both of those criteria.

We're all on the same side here.

 

[rrhill]

Maybe a temporary black skin that is not all that perfect, but sooth the eyes in our low lit rooms... for the time being.

Later to be followed by an ultimate kinky Broke Straight Boys design.

 

[lovelumps]

I know I'm completely in the minority here, but I like the new forum just fine. It's close enough to the old version that I can navigate easily through the things I normally do on the forum. One feature that I like the most is it's a little more discreet and I find I don't have to hide what I'm doing from my family as compulsively as I was before. It's not like they stand over my shoulder, but if one of them happens by while I'm typing I don't immediately close the window! (the forum, not the main site, that I reserve for alone time)

I do keep getting confused about which site I'm on, though, since I have both the Broke Straight Boys forum and the BSB TV forum up.... Oh, well.

Fairly happy customer, here!

 

[joninliverton]

I know I'm completely in the minority here, but I like the new forum just fine. It's close enough to the old version that I can navigate easily through the things I normally do on the forum. One feature that I like the most is it's a little more discreet and I find I don't have to hide what I'm doing from my family as compulsively as I was before. It's not like they stand over my shoulder, but if one of them happens by while I'm typing I don't immediately close the window! (the forum, not the main site, that I reserve for alone time)

I do keep getting confused about which site I'm on, though, since I have both the Broke Straight Boys forum and the BSB TV forum up.... Oh, well.

Fairly happy customer, here!

Yes but you also recommend the dreaded R which has now been switched off.... runs for cover.....

 

[joninliverton]

Some hope for those that love a black background... that's very well possible with this software via vBulletin AdminCP -> Usergroups -> Usergroup Manager -> Admin or moderator -> ( http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=284860 )

Next there are lots of skins (color schemes) also for this new version of vBulletin available... watch: http://www.vbstyles.com/vbulletin-4x-skins-c1.html

So Mark could decide for his own Broke Straight Boys skin in time.

Robert, as ever your expertise astounds me. You should be a consultant for this site, just as Quasar in the uk is whatever he does from the uk.

 

[lovelumps]

Yes but you also recommend the dreaded R which has now been switched off.... runs for cover.....

True. I'll go back and stand alone in my corner... *sniff sniff* *wipes tear*

 

[Ms. Kianna]

Yes but you also recommend the dreaded R which has now been switched off.... runs for cover.....

She didn't ask for a "Reputation" feature. She just asked for a like button, to say she liked a post. I see that as two very different things.......but then I know nothing about social networking sites.....

 

[rrhill]

Hocus Pocus

She didn't ask for a "Reputation" feature. She just asked for a like button, to say she liked a post. I see that as two very different things...

Members should be very careful what to ask for! You might end up getting it...



PS: How many wishes have we left?

 

[lovelumps]

I hope we have at least 3 wishes left, Robert!

 

[joninliverton]

I hope we have at least 3 wishes left, Robert!

I only want one - and that's to get this bright sunlight outta my eyes..

 

[lovelumps]

I only want one - and that's to get this bright sunlight outta my eyes..

Then I think someone needs to start a poll about color schemes before any of us go wishing willy-nilly! I'd hate to be responsible for a turquoise background color!

 

[joninliverton]

Then I think someone needs to start a poll about color schemes before any of us go wishing willy-nilly! I'd hate to be responsible for a turquoise background color!

Pink dear pink.

 

[rrhill]

Mauve...

 

[Ms. Kianna]

Then I think someone needs to start a poll about color schemes before any of us go wishing willy-nilly! I'd hate to be responsible for a turquoise background color!

Then the whole forum will remind us of CHAD!