what are the benefits of the update on the forum?

[Roger Chandler]

Moderators,

since the upgrade on the forum software is now showing up, what are the benefits to the posters and the readers?

[John Keeton]

Roger, it was hoped that the new software could be installed and run "behind the scenes" for a couple of weeks to let the mods and staff get accustomed to it, but that didn't work out. So, unfortunately, we are learning along with you guys and gals!! I understand there will be several new features that were not possible on the old system, but I am not familiar with all of those, and I am sure there will be bumps in the road. But, this has been in the making for awhile, and when it all smooths out, I am sure it will be sweet! Change is never easy, and this one will be no different.

[Roger Chandler]

Roger, it was hoped that the new software could be installed and run "behind the scenes" for a couple of weeks to let the mods and staff get accustomed to it, but that didn't work out. So, unfortunately, we are learning along with you guys and gals!! I understand there will be several new features that were not possible on the old system, but I am not familiar with all of those, and I am sure there will be bumps in the road. But, this has been in the making for awhile, and when it all smooths out, I am sure it will be sweet! Change is never easy, and this one will be no different.

John,

No complaints at all........I just wondered about the differences........you know, I am one of those who like to understand how things work! I don't mind change when it benefits...........maybe this upgrade will prove to be a good one!

[Roger Bullock]

I am logged on but when I open a thread the photos do not show up, just a list of available photos. What do I need to do to see the photos all the time like before or will we have to click on each jpeg to see them each time?

[John Keeton]

Roger, I see them as you do. I have posted a query in the Moderators forum on this as I anticipated it would be one of the first questions. Not sure if this will be the case going forward. Thumbnails would be nice!! I will let you know in this thread when I find out. It may be awhile getting answers, as I am sure it has been a long day for Keith, Jackie and Aaron!!

[Keith Outten]

Roger,

Aaron Koehl will be sharing some information about the new software upgrade ASAP. He has been working since midnight last night to get this upgrade installed, he may require a break before we hear from him.

The upgrade to vBulletin 4 is major. There are many new features, some required a significant change to the way things work behind the scenes which is why the upgrade took so long to complete. There is a new publishing side to this software that is currently turned off, we need time to make some decisions and to configure the new features. There is a new plugin for mobile access that Aaron will enable soon. You can now imbed video links, etc.

The thumbnail pictures will probably have to be turned on again, Aaron will take care of it ASAP.

Stay tuned :)
.

[Roger Chandler]

Thanks Keith, I look forward to all the new features when they are up and operating. BTW, I know this must have been a real endeavor labor wise..........please know that we all appreciate the fact that you maintain a forum for woodworkers of all stripes to interact with one another, and the effort it takes to keep it all going smoothly!

[Jack Mincey]

I am getting the same list of pictures as well. I'm able to click on them and they open up which should help you out until the fix is put in for this.
Jack

[Keith Outten]

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?154485-Major-updates

[Dave Wagner]

Most upgrades are for security reasons and functionality. Without upgrades and patches, Hackers find holes in the software and can hack your server, get members info, spam people, etc.....once you get to a certain level of Software (like this vBulletin) they stop supporting it and you have to move on to a newer version, that is totally rewritten, new features, layout, security, etc...
(Look at Windows 95, 97, 2000, XP, etc...) they only support it for so long, so you have upgrade at some point.... :)

I like it, I need to upgrade my site sometime soon.

[Barry Elder]

I couldn't view the pictures the first time I went to the forum but that may have been that I needed to log in again after the update. After logging in, the pictures are great! I like what I have seen so far!!

[Dave Ogren]

This is not a complaint but a comment. The light blue and the finer smaller grey print is, to me, much harder to read. Good luck hope you get what you are trying to achieve.

Great forum, actually the best.

Dave

[Bernie Weishapl]

I don't really care for the upgrade. I find it is really hard to read and is busy. When you have tri-focals I find it very straining on the old eyes. Guess I will hopefully get used to it at some point. I hope.

[David DeCristoforo]

There is a small "glitch" here that may have been present all along but I can't specifically recall. If you click on an image link without being logged in, you are redirected to a login page. After logging in, the image is displayed but there is no link back to the thread or the forum page. Attempting to use the "back" button results in one of those "are you sure" messages.

[Keith Outten]

Bernie,

It will be at least another week before the majority of Aaron's work list is complete. There will be lots of changes, what you see now is the out of the crate design.

None of the custom programing that Aaron has done for The Creek over the last few years worked on this new version. He has to rework everything and it will take some time. The list of things to do will be done based on a priority basis, cosmetic changes will take some time.
.

[Don Geiger]

I haven't been able to figure out how to search a specific forum for new posts. In the previous software it was in a drop down menu when you selected "new posts". If someone knows how, please let me know.

Thanks!


Don Geiger

[Keith Outten]

Don,

That feature will be re-installed as soon as Aaron can find the time.
.

[Aaron Koehl]

I haven't been able to figure out how to search a specific forum for new posts. In the previous software it was in a drop down menu when you selected "new posts". If someone knows how, please let me know.

Thanks!


Don Geiger

Don,

That wasn't a "stock" feature in the last version, it was something I wrote, and will reimplement very soon.

[Don Meyer]

I agree with Bernie I find it hard to read as it now is.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Thanks Keith. I just thought the lay out was busy and I don't know about others but was having a hard time reading on here now. Like ya said I will await judgement until after Aaron is done. I just thought the older version was so much cleaner, easier to read and didn't have any difficulties.

[Tim Thiebaut]

I am just so glad the site is back up, I have been having withdrawls from not being able to read all of the old posts here, I started at the last page and am working my way forward, and am only on page 861 so I still have a lot of reading to do!

[Ray Bell]

I am just so glad the site is back up, I have been having withdrawls from not being able to read all of the old posts here, I started at the last page and am working my way forward, and am only on page 861 so I still have a lot of reading to do!

Yikes Tim, you are persistant, and have a lot of reading to do.

[Fred Perreault]

I am willing to be patient with the new upgrade. At this point the only issue is what has been mentioned already, and that is the lighter print and the lack of recognizing that a thread has been read already by the user. I can imagine that there will be a multitude of adjustments as time goes on. I have been building desktops and stripping and rebuilding laptops for years, but I am a hardware guy, not software. In either case, there is a "burn in" time required to get all the stuff to work properly.
......go for it

[Dave Wagner]

SEARCH Individual forums - You have to click on the FORUM Topic, so you have all the threads listed under the sub-forum (ie. Turners Forum), and over on the right just above the thread listing, there is a SEARCH FORUM button. Just Click that.

[Tim Thiebaut]

I find a lot of great project ideas this way, and learn alot as well!

[Ray Bell]

I find a lot of great project ideas this way, and learn alot as well!

I agree, there have been so many really nice prodjects posted here. I wish I would have saved some of them.