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Edward Salem
TryHard
SA
Soarer 2.5GT-T

Posts: 155
Reg: 01-2007

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 04:48 pm, by:  Edward Salem (Sydeward) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Couldn't think of anywhere else to put this but simply id like to make a suggestion in upgrading the forum software. While I understand a lot of work wouldve gone into setting up this forum, id be fairly certain that it would be less difficult than you may think to set up a completely new forum, and the result would be many benefits for the admins and members alike.

These include:

Easier to manage: The new forum software from phpBB and Invision is very straight forward to use. Ive set up my very own forums in the past and id be wiling to bet my bottom dollar that they're just as easy to manage if not easier than the older software this forum is running on. Banning members, controlling and editing posts and designating powers is very straight forward using the current phpBB and invision software. For members editing posts, adding information to your profile and creating new topics is easier and more feature rich than the current software it is running on.

Extra features: im sure most people would love to be able to have signatures / avatars. Im also certain that im not the only person who gets fustrated when I have to scroll down to the end of the page to make a new topic... sometimes there can be hundreds of topics in one page which makes navigation and page loading times a LOT slower. current forum software makes it easier to restrict how many topics are displayed per page, and enhancments make the page itself load quicker and snappier.

Looks better, easier to get around. I like this theme too, dont get me wrong, but itd be very easy to recreate on todays current forum software. The newer software is very easy to navigate and very responsive.

HTML codes are pre programmed too which means pictures uploads and codes can be used by iven the inept!

There are countless different enhancments shortcuts and features coded into the currently available forum software which would mean itd not only be easier to set up and nicer to use, but in the long run itd save the admins work as opposed to managing these forums day to day.

I hope you consider this suggestion.

While weve got a decent enough community already perhaps having new software will help attract new members onto the forum?

I dont endorse any of the companies i mentioned I just thought itd be a good idea. Im good enough with a computer to assist setting up the forums if need be. I know a bit about uploading and photoshop so if you do decide to put this plan into action id be more than willing to help.

There is a cost involved in download invisions forum software, although for minimal fuss phpBB is a free download and just about as feature rich as well.

Either way you cant go wrong!

What do you guys think?
Edward Salem
TryHard
SA
Soarer 2.5GT-T

Posts: 156
Reg: 01-2007

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 04:58 pm, by:  Edward Salem (Sydeward) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

For those of you that havent used it before, heres some examples of the forum software I mentioned earlier...





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David Vaughan
Goo Roo
ACT
V8 Ltd manual

Posts: 3392
Reg: 07-2005

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 05:06 pm, by:  David Vaughan (Davidv) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

We think this has been discussed more than once before but no harm in giving it another trot around the block for general entertainment.

Personally, I like this software and here is the only place I find it but if Peter wants to change it, he will. Most of the other sites I use have all sorts of useless features which cramp reading and impede finding what you want.

Avatars? You are speaking as a person who does not have a pic in your profile. Behind what sort of fantasy symbol do you plan to hide?
Edward Salem
TryHard
SA
Soarer 2.5GT-T

Posts: 157
Reg: 01-2007

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 05:16 pm, by:  Edward Salem (Sydeward) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


David Vaughan wrote on Monday, August 27, 2007 - 05:06 pm:

We think this has been discussed more than once before but no harm in giving it another trot around the block for general entertainment.

Personally, I like this software and here is the only place I find it but if Peter wants to change it, he will. Most of the other sites I use have all sorts of useless features which cramp reading and impede finding what you want.

Avatars? You are speaking as a person who does not have a pic in your profile. Behind what sort of fantasy symbol do you plan to hide?




Not trying to bag this software mate, its well designed and im sure many hours of hard work have been put into it. but none the less I dont see the harm in upgrading to a newer platform, software nowadays is very easy to taylor, even for someone like me who dosent know a thing about coding, and the end result might be a quicker, easier to use and more rewarding SC! No point in keeping an old donkey just because its the last one left lol

just j/k

But who knows you might like the end result? youll never know if you dont give it a go!

Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Celsior UCF11 V8

Posts: 1398
Reg: 11-2005

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 06:13 pm, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hmm If it ain't broke dont fix it! :-)

Its what soarer central is, and what we all know it as, so lets just leave it how it is :-)

Plus I'm sure Peters busy enough as it is!
Ben Kelly
TryHard
Lidcombe
v8

Posts: 149
Reg: 08-2005

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 06:14 pm, by:  Ben Kelly (Ace) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Edward, it sounds like pretty interesting stuff, but i have to say that the functionality and look and feel of the current site is most excellent. Its certainly one of the easiest sites to navigate on the net and looks great.
Mike Beck
Goo Roo
New Zealand
Celsior UCF11 V8

Posts: 1401
Reg: 11-2005

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 06:41 pm, by:  Mike Beck (Gold_40gt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah plus we are all used to it, so would be annoying if it was suddenly altered from this perfectly fine design. :-)
Rob Andreacchio
Goo Roo
Victoria
Supercharged VT Calais & 1991 JZZ30

Posts: 2771
Reg: 01-2005

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 06:41 pm, by:  Rob Andreacchio (Reepa) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Considering Peter has just spent more money to upgrade the current version of discus, I think you have 2 chances of it happening... Buckleys and none! lol
Edward Salem
TryHard
SA
Soarer 2.5GT-T

Posts: 159
Reg: 01-2007

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 06:57 pm, by:  Edward Salem (Sydeward) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Discus?

is that the name of the software this forum runs off?

Edward
David Vaughan
Goo Roo
ACT
V8 Ltd manual

Posts: 3393
Reg: 07-2005

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 07:06 pm, by:  David Vaughan (Davidv) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Edward, I think I said pretty clearly that I had given it a go, on other fora.
Rob Andreacchio
Goo Roo
Victoria
Supercharged VT Calais & 1991 JZZ30

Posts: 2772
Reg: 01-2005

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 07:22 pm, by:  Rob Andreacchio (Reepa) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It has been discussed before, and Peter will agree with this also... Discus (the version of forum software used here and the ALSC) is very simple to use, is excellent for searching & archiving, and is missing a lot of the frills you find in php forums that chew bandwidth and are there for no real purpose (avatars are a great example).

Peter tried many different forum packages before building SC, and chose to use Discus for these and many more good reasons. Just as I have chosen to stick with discus with the ALSC forum.
Alen Sadikovic
TryHard
VIC
Soarer GTT

Posts: 207
Reg: 10-2006

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Monday, August 27, 2007 - 09:17 pm, by:  Alen Sadikovic (Alen87) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i recon that type of forum is harder to use, the silvia and ford forum use it and i found this forum much easier to use.
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 8301
Reg: 11-2004

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 07:38 am, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Edward, I appreciate your thoughts, and maybe one day it will get changed, but as others have mentioned, functionality was the key to choosing this software.

Yes, it is different, but if you learn to take advantage of those differences, then you may enjoy it more. :-)

I participate in a couple of other forums running on more "popular" software, but I still miss the really nice things like the way that SC does the New Post list for an example.
Callum Finch
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT & Corolla

Posts: 3305
Reg: 09-2005

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 09:00 am, by:  Callum Finch (Sigeneat) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Edward Salem wrote on Monday, August 27, 2007 - 05:16 pm:

uicker, easier to use and more rewarding SC!



Honestly i find the current setup to be very fast.
That "NEW POSTS" button is fantastic, and being able to highlight parts of people's posts that i want to quote is less tedious than other forums offer.
Braden Murdoch
DieHard
NSW
Cressida 1JZ TT

Posts: 669
Reg: 04-2006

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 03:25 pm, by:  Braden Murdoch (Ribfeast) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I wish it was easier to post images in posts. And when I first log in, it takes forever to load all the threads up. Upgrading to some recent forum software would be great, but it's a lot of work I'd say.
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 8308
Reg: 11-2004

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 04:19 pm, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Braden, easiest is to just use the New Posts button. The first time you do it, things will be horribly slow as it will scan ALL messages, but after that, it is really quick and just present the new messages since you last checked.

This is also an advantage over some other software, that scans for new messages since you last logged in - big difference.

With SC, if you quickly want to check for a particular post without reading all the new messages, no problem as the counter is only reset when you actually click the New Posts button. So you can come back again later, hit New Posts, and despite having logged in earlier, you haven't lost all the new messages. If that makes sense, I am doing really well. :-)
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 8309
Reg: 11-2004

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 04:22 pm, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Also, what is hard about posting images?

Just click the paper clip icon, browse to the image on your PC, and click to upload. select up to 4 at a time. Some people use the thumbnail which means you have to already have it hosted on the Internet somewhere, but direct upload is the preferred method. :-)
David Vaughan
Goo Roo
ACT
V8 Ltd manual

Posts: 3398
Reg: 07-2005

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 04:59 pm, by:  David Vaughan (Davidv) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The main bookmark I have for the forum is
http://soarercentral.com/cgi-bin/sc-forum/search.cgi?stype=n&nmsm=2&where=all&username=username
(replace "=username" with your username, e.g. =Ribfeast ) which means it goes straight to new posts; no need even to click a button.
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8

Posts: 8310
Reg: 11-2004

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 05:10 pm, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yep!
Rod Quaife
TryHard
Waikato
V8

Posts: 120
Reg: 08-2005

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - 05:22 pm, by:  Rod Quaife (Rod_quaife) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As an oldie I have only recently got used to the way this system operates, not a problem but as someone said aint broke works very well for me anyway. Suppose new tech stuff coming out all the time will change one day but nah fine as it is.
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31

Posts: 2910
Reg: 10-2005

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 06:41 am, by:  Matthew Sharpe (Madmatt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I find this forum simple to use and its faster than most other forums I've used. Avatars and signatures annoy the hell out of me most of the time anyway, and I know my way around well enough by now not to find I have to wade thru topics to find what I'm looking for.
Tim McMullin
Tinkerer
Alberta
TT

Posts: 43
Reg: 05-2007

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 01:57 pm, by:  Tim McMullin (Dirty380) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Edward..

I would have to agree with you on this one. I think the software needs SOME updating..maybe not a complete overhaul.

But as you have found out, people don't like change.

Nice gesture though!

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