The long awaited release 3 of the forums software

[Steve]

It's finally here although it is not final, it sure looks sweet. A much cleaner style, a WYSIWYG editor and much more. I am considering making the switch over the Christmas period.

You can see the new style here:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/index.php?

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Man, I hate change!!!!

[ozzgood2001]

looks similar i like the color contrasts of our current setup is that gonna be the colors of the new forum?

[Steve]

I will make the colors as close as possible to what they are today. I'm telling you guys you will love this new software and all the new toys it has. But for those who don't want all the new features it can be kept simple as well.

[Steve]

It looks as though this upgrade is going to cost us nearly a half day of downtime. This downtime is needed to update the format of every post and record in our database. This kind of downtime is almost unheard of on this website but unfortunately will be neccessary. What I plan to do is to make a copy of our current database and do a test upgrade first, ironing out any bumps in the process that we may run into. Only when I am satisfied with this and have written down the process, will I attempt the live switch over. I am still thinking of getting this done before the new year.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Make the downtime between 12AM and 6AM. :) I don't think I can take it any other time:eek:

[FishTales]

Just a test to see if reply works.

[jpollman]

Ok, looks like it's working for me now.

I'm a bit leary of change, but I thought that about the last major upgrade we had. :) Go ahead and do what you need to. We'll adapt. ;)

[Steve]

The site is in need of a facelift as well as added features. I will test the upgrade process on an off-line database first to see that it works. There will be some who don't like the new format initially, but I think in the end most will be persuaded that it is better.

[JasonG]

Steve

Thanks for the hard work, is this new software in use at other webs sites if so I have seen it and it seems great. The thing to remember is that software is not what makes the web site, it is all about the content. What makes this site great is content. So regaudless of what people think of the new sowftware they will continue to come back because of content.
When the transfer takes place what will pop up if some searches for the site?

[The Mutt]

Steve,

Most of us will be busy Christmas Day with our families so the downtime wouldn't be so bad then. :D :D :D

Just kidding. looking forward to the new improved (if that's possible) MS.com

Thanks for all you do.

[jeremy L]

Ah, thats better:) :)

Now for my question, Do you think the upgrade will cause any lose of pic or posts people have made prior to the update?


BTW, i deleted the thread i made about the problem i was having posting a reply to this thread.

[steve ypsi]

Is this going to be as bad as that terrible time when I was very young and my mother made a change ? I still don't like to talk about it but I need to get it off my chest any way. I still wonder to this day.
well in about 1955 we got electricity and my mother bought one of those new things called a refrigerator and when you opened the door a light was on, we tried every which way to see how this light came on, we would ease the door open just a crack and peek in, we would jerk it open and it would be on, well it was a amazing thing because our old Ice box had no light. never did figure out how that light came on so I don't like change to this day, thats my opion and I am sticking by it

[The Mutt]

Steve,

Will the "View New Posts" option still be available? I'd hate to lose that option.

[Steve]

View new posts will definitely be there. I can't think of any features that are going away, only new ones that have been added.

[Huntmaster143]

Steve,

Is there a way to view all posts after a certain date and time?

I have searched by the "View New Posts" and then had to get back to work before I could read the ones I would like to. Then when I come back on, I have to try going through the forum's that I use the most and then I can't search for those older posts, only the ones since I was on last.

Does this make any sense?

Thanks

HM

[Steve]

That will be an option when I upgrade the software, see:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/search.php?

But it is only by day, not hour and in fact you can do this now.

[Huntmaster143]

Steve,

When I try to search all posts from yesterday, it doesn't give me anything. Do you have to put in a word that you are searching for? If I don't have any words in there it doesn't work.

HM

[Steve]

Yes unfortunately you still need to specify a word.

[Steve]

I hope to have a preview online of what our forums will look like with this new software by COB today. Colors, themes, and headers will not be done but you can see how the rest of it will work.

.... then again, maybe not. It seems we ran into some problems.

[The Mutt]

.... then again, maybe not. It seems we ran into some problems.
Oh sure jerk the minnow away just as we were getting ready to taste it. Dang ice fishermen anyway.:D