49 replies to this topic

[Jackie]

As I'm sure most of you know by now, we are planning to switch forum software to IPB. After tinkering in the background with the new software I'm now ready to make the switch.

So, Monday 19 July is the day. I was going to do it on Sunday but then realised it's my wedding anniversary so thought I'd perhaps better pick a different day unless I want a divorce. :)

We will likely be down for the whole day as the process is fairly lengthy. The conversion itself is fast but then I have to set up permissions all over again, double check settings, run backups, install and then move software around, fiddle with the theme, install addons etc. and then make final checks that everything is as it should be. It may take less time, but I'm allowing for a full days work.

I have run a test conversion which went well, although it did have a problem with some PM's and a couple of avatars got switched around. The posts themselves got converted fine however, which is the main thing, there were a few formatting issues but nothing major. I will keep this version of the forum available for a while after the switch in case anything needs to be retrieved, so don't panic if you think something important has been lost.

When the forums reopen you will be able to log in with your existing username and password. You'll probably want to set up your profile again as some of the settings are different/new in IPB compared to vBulletin. Signatures are carried over so should be ok.

The biggest loss that will occur is I think the 'thank you' system. We will lose all existing thanks that have been given. This will be replaced by IPB's 'reputation' system, which is basically the same thing but under another name. Perhaps once we're all settled in we could go over the old posts and rate them bit by bit.

That said, I think the gains outweigh any loss. IPB has features that our existing software doesn't, and amongst other things users will be able to have their own blogs (as well as group blogs where more than one person can contribute). There will also be a built in chat room which I know is a feature some of you have been wanting for a while.

Anyway, all will be revealed next Monday. I don't know about you lot but I'm excited! :geek:

[Kate]

Woo hoo, very exciting :)

If my avatar is going to be mixed up I'd like to be Rusty please, I like that CamVip logo ;)

[Jackie]

LOL Sorry Kate, yours was fine. :D

It only happened to a couple of accounts that I spotted so it probably won't effect most. :)

[S3AB1SCU1T]

Yay we can haz Vape Blogs, Sweet.
there good for doing Reviews.

[BadSeed]

Exciting times indeed. New toys to play with. Hope it all goes nice and smoothly Jackie.

[Kate]

Oh, oh, oh ... Jackie, I've changed my mind ... I want you to get me mixed up with BadSeed's Chorlton avatar, plz :D

[Kingtut]

Good Luck with it Jackie:whoohoo:

[Alice]

Well I will miss the thanks button.. it is my favourite thing!

Good luck with it Jackie, hope not too many headaches!

[Jackie]

It's not really going Concs, just it'll be under a different name. I could get an addon that allows for a thanks button but I'd have to pay for it and it's really only the same as the built in reputation system so I didn't see the point. :)

Kate I know what you mean, Chorlton is fab. :D

[Alice]

'ello little ole lady

[Alice]

I'll get you Chorlton!!!!!

[Dave]

Good luck..lol

Remember ... drop table is bad.. very very bad, and have at least 500 backups of the db on different computers.

[hifistud]

Bugger... this means I may have to find another distraction from working on Monday...

[Dave]

All over to facebook and play Frontierville .. lol

[Jackie]

Dave said:

Good luck..lol

Remember ... drop table is bad.. very very bad, and have at least 500 backups of the db on different computers.

Will 499 do? :D

And don't even get me started on Frontierville, lol.

[Dave]

499 is a nice round number Jackie and will be good.

I was going to say how I used to do it.. but you have got the T shirt so I won't .. lol

But no doubt you have done a test db conversion and are happy.

P.S I'm having issues trying to get Frontierville running on Mrs Dave's laptop using ubuntu .. so when you get a min .. :tongue2:

Edited by Dave, 14 July 2010 - 09:46 AM.

[Starlight]

Good luck, Jackie, and I look forward to the new IPB forum! :D

Did you get any help from IPB with the installation and conversion, as it comes as part of the annual licence?

Not having the latest version, I don't what, if any, anti-spam features there may be. But it there aren't any, let me know and I'll tell you what I do on my IPB forum which works pretty well :)

[Kate]

Jackie told me in secret that the new forum is going to be lovely - all pink and flowery and frilly. Now doesn't that sound nice?

[Crossbow]

Kate said:

Jackie told me in secret that the new forum is going to be lovely - all pink and flowery and frilly. Now doesn't that sound nice?

I think black and red with a skull motif would be more likely :p

:lol:

[hifistud]

Violet, with traces of aubergine and taupe...




That fecking Gok Wan gets everywhere