TFP Upgrade Possibility
 

Hey all... I wanted to discuss this with you all before I made a decision.. so tell me what you think.

There is a new version of vBulletin out.. 3.0.0 - I wanted to get some ideas about what you all think of an upgrade.

To see an example of vb3.. http://www.mattschat.com

vb3 has a ton of new features and a slightly different look, but with my limited experience with it, new custom features may come a little slow. There is a good possibility that we may lose the journals all together because the code structure and database structure are almost completely different. In fact, I don't think there is much hope for them if we do upgrade - My free time is booked so I'd need to fuck around with the code for like a month.

If we do want the upgrade, we could do it one of 2 ways. One way would be to import the current database into the new forum. I'd need to take the site down for a day or two to do this, but we'd keep most of what we have all ready.

The other option would be to just start over, much like we did a year ago under forced circumstances. There is something to be said about starting over with a fresh face. Everyone re-registers. 0 posts. Donors would get the short end of this stick, as their custom status would vanish. I could have the site up in less than an hour.

Of course.. if you all feel comfortable with this version and this layout... we will stay put. There is something to be said about a safe, secure and problem-free setup.

So, I'll leave it up to you all. Change or no change.

I mod at a couple of sites that have made the move to VB3 and although I don't mind the new layout - I much prefer the older VB2 layout. Also there are several unresolved bugs at the moment.

I think eventually everyone will change over but I believe there is life in the old dog yet...

I'm voting for staying with 2.x. I love the look and feel of this board. Looking at Matt's Chat, I'm reminded of every other message board out there. This site has its own unique feel to it.

Hal, whatever you like, but it ain't broke, so why fix?

I like it here, so I wouldn't change a thing.

How about a list of these new features?

I would stay with ver2 for now. Like TopHat said before why upgrade if there is no need, and you might lose some of what you have?
The journals are well appreciated!

If you do switch, I'm undecided on the fresh-start issue. There's something to be said for both options. Ithink I'd prefer the fresh-start though. All old topics will be re-visited again soon anyway, and with due notice, all participating members will re-register fast. This will re-invigorate (?? fresh energy) the community.

As a compromise, you could implement the new version, and keep the old as an archive? (ie. just disable posting/registering for v2)

maybe you should state what these bugs are so that people can make an informed decision.

a bulleted list of the new features would also be helpful.

kind of like a pros and cons list.

yea, i like this board quite a bit like it is. i'd just as much prefer to stay with it than switch unless the other format has some huge incentives/advantages

That's a good idea Silvy.. I don't think we should voluntarily leave ourselves without any history.

As far as the new feature list goes, most are site management based. Some features include reputation ratings, profile pictures, archived threads for search engine indexing, more advanced posting forms, optional threaded view, more deceptive banning features, multiple attachments per post, advanced search results, paid subscription features.

The board is coded to withstand a higher usage rate, so basicly, we'd have room to grow. In the past, we've had to cut down on traffic to allow the server some room to breathe.

Hmmm...the new version sounds like what another message board I sometimes frequent has gone to. It's pretty good, some problems though, but nice features. But I think I would prefer to stay with this one here.

Presonally, I like what we're using now best. The new version, like others have said, just looks so generic. This board has a personality that's all its own.

However, if we do make the switch, I have no problems with a 'fresh start.' It seems like it would be the easiest and safest way to make the switch.

I think that i'd prefer to stay with this one for now, seems to be working really well! And besides, it's only since this version that i've really become 'active'
On a side note... thanx for the forum halx!

Guess I agree with the crowd....I enjoy the look here very much.
And also, many thanx for TFP halx.

Here are pros and cons..

Option 1: Stay the course
Pros: No issues, no problems.
Cons: Reaching terminal capacity as far as forums go.

Option 2: Upgrade and import database.
Pros: All the new features, slightly faster loading, search engine recognition, and subject to new upgrades.
Cons: 1 or 2 days of downtime to switch. Loss of some unique features for a while, including journals.

Option 3: Upgrade with fresh start.
Pros: See Option 2, 'brand new world' feeling, 1 hour of downtime.
Cons: Loss of post counts, special status, downsizing of forums, loss of journals.

to me it's the people that make this forum what it is, not the software it uses. However having said that, I really like things the way they are. On the other hand if you feel this change is important to the health and growth of the site then I guess you have your answer.

I appreciate you asking us how we feel Hal, but this is your playground. Feel free to upgrade as you wish...

That being said, I am comfortable with the way things are around here now. I'm not big on change...

Thanks for asking, and keep up the good work...

DITTO.

but do what feels right! I will re-register and donate again! Just give us fair warning if you decide to.

I like this board as it is. However I don't have to deal with the administrative side of it. So if upgrading the board will make things easier on you, then you should do it.

Also, it's always nice to keep the TFP evolving. A fresh start always seems to do that. Since I don't use the journals, I'd have to say go ahead and do it.

If we go new version, I say we go clean slate. I think we should archive certain forums, like: Literature, Photography, Artwork, and Portraits. Also, I think there would be some value in retaining select threads from Sexuality, How To, and maybe some others.

I think all of "Coming Together" should be archived.

We could put it all under one link, and call it the TFP Archive, or vault, or something, and make it accessible to read. I think this is especially valuable for user-submitted works, as in the Creativity forums. These pieces should not be lost.

I think it would be good to have a fresh start.

I think TFP is perfect as it is, but since you say it may be reaching terminal capacity, it sounds like you are really being forced into either option 2 or 3.

Between the two of them, I choose option 3. It may be quite selfish of me, as I am sure people have lots of time and energy invested in their journals, but that "new world" feeling is quite amazing.

I'll never forget how I felt when I first joined TFP... what a huuuuuuge place! I would not mind once again to feel like there is something I've yet to discover.

But thats just a silly idea - there are long-term consequences that should not be ignored (but I am doing so anyway - ha!).

Halx, I trust that you are a man of vision even at your relative young age,

I sense that you already have the answer for the better, and you would like to make sure that you've miss nothing major since this is a inevitable, and significant move, now I say you go with your heart and go to VB3,

sure there are bugs, but it will work out

Tell the truth, Hal, you've been waiting for this new version for over a year now

You know you wanna do it... ;)

oh yeah, don't have an opinion on which way to upgrade, however. Starting fresh has happened enough times to not be traumatic.

But being down for a few days!?

I'm for the upgrade and db import. I don't want to lose what we have, but I very much prefer the vb3 operation and interface.

I love the way things are now. I wouldn't change a thing.

like MSD i'm all for the upgrade with the db transfer.

our history is important, and so is the continued growth and development of the site.

(besides, i think the one or two days of downtime is a good refresher for everyone.)

I just generally dislike VB3, a couple of forums I post on switched and it looks horrible :/

If TFP does go to VB3, then I say start with a clean slate, but archive some of the forums (good idea that BTW).

pretty much seems like a torn issue, but i suppose whatever comes we will all make the best of it.
what are "more deceptive banning features"?, just curious.

all i ask is for a little notice so i can copy my journal to Word.

I agree with y'all.
For the most part, I like version 3.0.0.

I hope the QuickQuote feature and the quick posting boxes will be available sometime, too.

I frequent a few boards with vb3, and a site I co-admin switched to vb3 a few months ago. So far I am impressed with some of the few features, but I do believe there are some minor bugs. I am not familiar enough with vB to be able to identify them, or to be sure it is vB and not my browser or something like that.

I don't know if vB3's reached Gold yet, but I assume it has.

The only thing I don't care for in vB3 is the interface. It's very crowded and some things are hard to find. Also, all the themes I've seen have been kind of...big. As in, posts take up more screen space, and I really dislike the way the poster's name is in huge ass font size... The reputation system is pretty cool, though, it can be a powerful tool.

But that's nitpicking, as I recommend going for a custom-made style anyway.

Whatever you decide, you may want to set up a test board for the staff to play with, before switching over cold turkey.

As for your question, I kind of recommend starting with a clean board. You get rid of the zero post members and the clutter. Classic threads can be imported.

I personally like the feel of the current setup. if it comes down to an issue of no growth because of this I would say change. If we do chenge I would like to see the DB transfer as there are many times i go back and look at some older posts for information i did not relise i would need at the time.

No pain, no gain. But then, who needs pain? And the pain would mostly be yours Halx. Like fhqwhgads said, its your site, do whatever you wish.

I agree with the majority. If it's working, why break it? ;)

Halx, if we're close to capacity why not do what you did awhile back and cull out the non-posting members who are only here for porn?

From my standpoint, it all works fine as is, and I see no need to change. From your system administrator's standpoint, things may look entirely different. If that's true, do what's needed to maintain the board's health and growth potential.

I would prefer that you keep the old database. But since that's some days of extra work for you, and you work for nothing here, again the choice is really yours.

I am never against change, but this old girl sure is comfortable...

Ditto...if it ain't broke, don't fix it...:)

I really don't have an opinion. :)

I guess I'd advise whatever's easiest on you. You seem like a busy guy anyway and long hours moving databases around doesn't sound like much fun, eh?

That being said, if it's gotta go, I'd prefer the clean slate as well. And I guess while I'm agreeing with everyone and their mother, I agree that it would be a good idea to archive the good stuff.

Does it have the quickedit/quickquote and the reply box? I really like those.

Wait....I guess I do have an opinion.... :hmm:

Good Q, I've been waiting for this topic to come up.
(and altho it *is* your world and I support 100% whatever you do, I also appreciate you asking us..)

Now then, I vote for upgrade, fresh start, with 'important' stuff archived.

Upgrading i think is inevitable at some point anyways, so why not do it relatively soon, once you/we've got the decisions sorted out and you've got the time to devote to the initial process.

Regarding the 'feel' of the current forum, I would suggest (altho this may add to the 'pain in the ass' factor), is to incorporate/transfer as much of the current 'style' into the new one, so people still feel like it's 'comfortable, home'.

I think the new features avail in the new vB will in the long run, be an improvement, administratively and as a user. Features that people may want could be more likely in vB3. (Altho I recommend in general keeping out as much 'fluff' as possible. People want things to be relatively simple, yet usable in the ways they want to use them).

Anyways, them's my 2¢.

:)

i post at 7 or 8 boards (and i admin and run 2) right now and this is the only one still at version 2. I'm really use to the new features and rely on most of them now.

My favorite feature of VB3 is that i can hover on a threads title and read the first 100 couple of words about what the thread is about. It saves me that little bit of time and lets me know if i want to read the thread or not. Also, as an administrator and moderator at other forums, we use the user notes alot.

I've seen most of all the things i've seen here on TFP at the vB hack site, like the journals, the quick quotes and stuff.

I'm all for the upgrade. I miss seeing all the great features of vb3 here :)

Stupid question, but what does it look like?

Can someone post a screenshot of it, personally, i love the green/default look better than any other forum i've ever visited.

Personally, I'm ok with either option, but, i think i'd rather just have the boards down for an hour, instead of a few days. As two days without tfp = bad.

Your choice though Hal, the community will back you either way.

I tend to like the "aint broke, dont fix " mindset, as long as it does what it has to- saves the possibility of bugs- also, if you wait to upgrade they have more time to fix/ work out any potential bugs-

if you do switch, then I say save what you can- I hate the idea of starting over more than I have to-

come what may though, I will be here, and support the place as much as I can