STAFFORD FORUM IS CLOSING DOWN!

[wizzard]

I think the only thing you'll have to do on the new forum is change your password.

Is this move still going ahead on the weekend?

 

[Admin]

I think the only thing you'll have to do on the new forum is change your password.

Nope. User profiles will be migrated, including passwords (i.e if you come to Stafford Forum and it looks drastically different, don't worry - just log-on with your normal username and password and it should work). You will have to upload a new avatar, however, but that is because the rules governing avatar restrictions have changed (i.e. you can now have a bigger one, and it is used more throughout the Forum).

Is this move still going ahead on the weekend?

Unfortunately, this is unlikely. I have hardly had any time to dedicated to The Forum this week (hence the prevalence of spam around here until just now), and that goes for the new place as well. It will be soon, though.

Make sure you make a note of any important information you have stored in Private Messages, or anywhere else for that matter. Private Messages will definitely be lost in the transition, and whilst every attempt will be made to ensure the integrity of other data during the migration, nothing is 100% guaranteed in this life!

Thanks.

 

[shoes]

I hope there will be the option NOT to have to use the mobile version of the site. I detest it when websites force you to use a crappy cut down version of their site and don't give you the option for the full site.

Why not give a splash screen with the option to view full or mobile version then this can be remembered for future use, most smartphones have no trouble viewing/using full versions of websites these days.

Good idea. To start with, however, there will be no 'mobile' version unfortunately, so your latter point is fortunate for us all as one's only choice will be the 'full version'!

So, yes, there will be an option to view the site as one would usually see it on a desktop computer, even once a mobile theme is implemented.

To clarify; there won't be two distinct 'versions' of The Forum, it will simply be that browsing via a mobile device uses a more stripped-back, mobile-centric style/skin. You will be perfectly able to choose a different (e.g. the default) style, should you want to. In fact, you will be able to choose the mobile style whist viewing on a desktop computer, should you be so inclined!

Modern high-res phones deal fine, generally speaking, with the real interweb anyway - stafford forum looks great on my handset with the screen rotated to it's landscape.

 

[Gramaisc]

You will have to upload a new avatar

Presumably, you could continue to use the same one, if you re-upload it.

you can now have a bigger one

basil will like that.

 

[wmrcomputers]

Not brilliant on a blackberry so I'm interested to see how the new forum looks on it (both before and after true mobile integration)

Some forum progs automatically create a mobile version when they know it's a mobile viewer being used. Is this not the case with your new choice, Admin?

For example, if you check out any of my website's such as www.1poundbackup.co.uk they look and work great on a blackberry with nice clear fonts etc., even though I haven't made a mobile version myself - it's an automatic process with my hosts, weebly.

 

[Admin]

You will have to upload a new avatar

Presumably, you could continue to use the same one, if you re-upload it.

Of course. Everyone should save a copy of their current avatar, if they want to continue to use to same one, so that they can upload it when they log-in to the new Forum. I will be able to retrieve old avatars upon request, however, should the need arise.

Some forum progs automatically create a mobile version when they know it's a mobile viewer being used. Is this not the case with your new choice, Admin?

No. The new Forum will run on XenForo, which is in the very early stages of development. A mobile style is on the cards, but is not officially supported at this stage.

For example, if you check out any of my website's such as www.1poundbackup.co.uk they look and work great on a blackberry with nice clear fonts etc., even though I haven't made a mobile version myself - it's an automatic process with my hosts, weebly.

Yes, as does WordPress, etc. Thing is, they display static information, in a linear fashion (e.g. blogs and such). They are very easy to 'skin' in a mobile style. A discussion forum is much harder, as it has a lot of information to display, many buttons to fit in, boxes all over the place, file/image upload functionality, etc.

It is coming, however, so don't fret. It just won't be available at launch.

 

[Gramaisc]

You will have to upload a new avatar

Presumably, you could continue to use the same one, if you re-upload it.

Of course. Everyone should save a copy of their current avatar, if they want to continue to use to same one, so that they can upload it when they log-in to the new Forum. I will be able to retrieve old avatars upon request, however, should the need arise.

Will it support avatars in the same range of formats?

e.g., gif, etc..

 

[Admin]

Presumably, you could continue to use the same one, if you re-upload it.

Of course. Everyone should save a copy of their current avatar, if they want to continue to use to same one, so that they can upload it when they log-in to the new Forum. I will be able to retrieve old avatars upon request, however, should the need arise.

Will it support avatars in the same range of formats?

e.g., gif, etc..

Of course. All the usual suspects - GIF, JPEG, PNG.

 

[Withnail]

I think the only thing you'll have to do on the new forum is change your password.

Nope. User profiles will be migrated, including passwords...

That's a shame - mine is rubbish.

 

[Gramaisc]

I think the only thing you'll have to do on the new forum is change your password.

Nope. User profiles will be migrated, including passwords...

That's a shame - mine is rubbish.

No, it's not - I've tried to hack you using 'rubbish' and it didn't work.

 

[My Name is URL]

Question - in the new forum, is there any chance of a "Thanks" button (or "+1")....

I find them useful for guaging agreement with particular posts and unlike the skill/cuffy things its more positive....

 

[tek-monkey]

A bit like the bacefook like button?

 

[Admin]

Question - in the new forum, is there any chance of a "Thanks" button (or "+1")....

I find them useful for guaging agreement with particular posts and unlike the skill/cuffy things its more positive....

Indeed there will!http://www.staffordforum.com/viewtopic.php?pid=135747#p135747

Like you say, it allows you to agree with the sentiment expressed in a specific post and show your support, regardless of who has made it.

 

[wizzard]

So is the upgrade taking place this weekend, or has it been delayed?

 

[Admin]

So is the upgrade taking place this weekend, or has it been delayed?

Unfortunately not, as per the earlier post.

I'm doing my best, it shouldn't be too long now!

 

[arthur]

I hope if going to be easy - i can't be doing with passwords just to write something i forget all my password sfor things and can never get back into them

 

[Admin]

I hope if going to be easy - i can't be doing with passwords just to write something i forget all my password sfor things and can never get back into them

You will need to know your password to log-in, the same way you need to know your password to log-in here. Your username and password will not change, however.

If you have forgotten your password, then there will be an easy way to retrieve it (in the same way that you can click 'Forgotten your password?' on the current site).

I really would recommend not leaving yourself logged-in to any websites, for two reasons. One, it means anyone who has access to your computer doesn't need to know any of your passwords as you are already logged-in to everything, but more importantly two, it forces you to log-in to a site every time you want to use it, which in turn will force you to remember the password. Eventually it will become second nature.

 

[Tinkerbell]

are we still having the smilies

I like them and they are handy for making a point

 

[Admin]

are we still having the smilies

I like them and they are handy for making a point

Of course.

 

[Admin]

Currently exporting the existing Forum database (i.e. the thing that holds all of your posts, user accounts, etc.) so that I can run a test import on the new platform. If that works, then we should be mere days away from the grand unveiling!

Although it won't be that grand, as I haven't had a chance to implement a lot of the stuff I wanted to, so that will be an ongoing process.