New forum software

[Andy Y]

We have finally upgraded to the latest version of the forum software. Firstly I must apologise for the extended downtime, everything took a lot longer than anticipated as it was necessary to update other server software before the upgrade could take place. The process wasn't smooth and everything's far from complete.

Notices have been placed at the top of the site at present to make people aware of the following issues.

Combined Login and Display Names
Some users on registration will have chosen separate login and display names, this version of the software combines the two fields and uses only the Display name. Users should login with their chosen Display Name and Password.

Several users have now advised me that it would not accept their saved password but that they followed the Lost Password process and re-entered it (or an alternative) and they then were OK.

Search indexing
The software has to rebuild all of the content for the search function. I had hoped this could take place whilst the site was offline but the default method for populating this works by observing user actions and then starts to populate this. A bit daft but there we go. Therefore the decision was made to open the site up to see if this will accelerate the process as described; if it doesn't there are alternatives that we will have to put in place. This also affects the Activity Streams which pull up content.

As a temporary work-around if you enter a search term into the search box and hit return Google Site Search is enabled to try and pull some results for you.

Previously uploaded image attachments not displaying
In posts made before the upgrade where any image attachments are uploaded currently you may see something like [attachment=1093445:p001_BRMFeb19 4.75.jpg]. I have been advised that when all of the indexing is carried out these should correct themselves. Post owners can go into Edit the post and they should see all of the attachments below the text editor box and they can re-insert them into the post - this would rely on the post owner revisiting and editing the post so patuience would be needed there!

All images uploaded since the upgrade should be fine, in fact image upload is a lot easier now than before with the facility to drag and drop from your own computer's folders into the position in the post you want them to appear.

Gallery
At present there is a glitch where the gallery module does not seem to recognise the display theme the forum uses saying it's out of date. It's not; it's straight out of the new box so we are working to fix this.
 

I understand that users will need to familiarise themselves with the changes but I ask that you take time to feel your way around before firing 101 questions. The software is a lot better but it takes a time to get used to. I've brought the site back online with basic features; there's more to be added in due course once I know the basics are working as they should.
 

Goodbye to View New Content, hello to Activity Streams
Although there is a Unread Content link at the top and bottom of each page there are more powerful ways to filter the content you may be interested in and that is the Activity Tab. I accept you will not see everything there you expect to as that is down to the Search Indexing noted above; this will improve as we go on.

A guide to using Activity Streams can be found here - https://invisioncommunity.com/4guides/how-to-use-ips-community-suite/content-discovery/activity-streams-r69/

If you feel that the Activity Stream takes up too much of your screen space try the Condensed or Expanded option.

I hope you continue to enjoy the site and I look forward to developing this incarnation of the site over coming weeks and months, we've got some great features coming!

[Richard Mawer]

Hi, as feedback to the testing, the very latest images I posted are there. The previous ones do not show. Thanks

[The Fatadder]

First impressions very favourable, especially that it looks like you can now upload multiple images on mobile (and a much cleaner interface).

 

however one potential issue, I have been trying to upload some photos using the mobile version (running on the latest iOS / Safari.  When I select the photo it throws out an error saying Allowed file extensions are Jpg, stl etc etc etc 

[AY Mod]

3 minutes ago, The Fatadder said:

I have been trying to upload some photos using the mobile version (running on the latest iOS / Safari.  When I select the photo it throws out an error saying Allowed file extensions are Jpg, stl etc etc etc 

Pardon my ignorance but what's the file format for those pics?

[MrDobilina]

Looks good so far, unusal upgrade process to not complete the process on a separate server before touching the live one.

But glad you guys are showing good progress.

Not a simple thing to do!

Well done!!!!!!

Edited February 1, 2019 by MrDobilina

[andi4x4]

Hi Andy,

 

Looking good so far !   One question I have - All the threads I was following on the previous site have disappeared. Will these reappear as the rebuild progresses, or will I have to manually add them myself ?  Some of the threads were quite old and had no new posts for several months or even years - they could take some time to find again !

 

 

[The Fatadder]

Just now, AY Mod said:

Pardon my ignorance but what's the file format for those pics?

A good question, I have just emailed a copy of the photo from the phone and its coming up as Jpeg but I am not sure if that is just Windows 10 converting it.  They both uploaded fine on the laptop.

 

[Tony_S]

I had the same message as Fatadder for a JPEG photo from iOS. It was over the file size limit. Sending a smaller version removed the message and the image posted. 

[AY Mod]

2 minutes ago, andi4x4 said:

Looking good so far !   One question I have - All the threads I was following on the previous site have disappeared. Will these reappear as the rebuild progresses, or will I have to manually add them myself ?  Some of the threads were quite old and had no new posts for several months or even years - they could take some time to find again !

I'm told it should eventually rebuild but there's no harm in re-following them.

Another thing not showing is who previously 'liked' posts etc but that may never totally tally as it uses different tables for it now. Everyone's points still remain though.

[Dan Griffin]

will the 'my content' function be back in the top left corner with our user name drop down as it was before. if it is there, apologies, but I couldn't find it.

 

regards

 

Dan

[AY Mod]

2 minutes ago, The Fatadder said:

A good question, I have just emailed a copy of the photo from the phone and its coming up as Jpeg but I am not sure if that is just Windows 10 converting it.  They both uploaded fine on the laptop.

I have added jpeg as an allowed file type now in addition to jpg - have another go.

[AY Mod]

Just now, Dan Griffin said:

will the 'my content' function be back in the top left corner with our user name drop down as it was before. if it is there, apologies, but I couldn't find it.

No, when the indexing is done it'll be accessible via My Activity Stream.

[Sir TophamHatt]

Hello

Thanks for doing the upgrade.

FYI, if something happens to the site that looks like a DOS attack, let me know.  Another site I frequent had a problem with the search engines trying to index all the posts, which just caused crashing, slow running.

1) Is there a way to turn off the alerts telling me someone has replied yet?

2) I used the "View My Content" every time I visited the forum.  Will this come back as an activity stream or is there a direct link I haven't found yet?  been answered.

Thanks

Edited February 1, 2019 by Sir TophamHatt

[Dan Griffin]

1 minute ago, AY Mod said:

No, when the indexing is done it'll be accessible via My Activity Stream.

thank you Andy, appreciate the response. liking the new look. thank you for all your efforts.

[The Fatadder]

1 minute ago, AY Mod said:

No, when the indexing is done it'll be accessible via My Activity Stream.

That has done the job thanks, this multi upload from a phone is huge improvement!  Thanks

[AY Mod]

2 minutes ago, Sir TophamHatt said:

1) Is there a way to turn off the alerts telling me someone has replied yet?

2) I used the "View My Content" every time I visited the forum.  Will this come back as an activity stream or is there a direct link I haven't found yet?

1. Click on the Notifications Bell at top and go to My Notification Settings.

2. See post just before yours. 

[AY Mod]

1 minute ago, The Midland Mole said:

Two things that immediately jump out at me:

1) It's SOOOO bright, all the white is making my eyes hurt. Any chance of a night/dark mode like so many sites have these days?

2) All my notifications have gone, and on the followed content page I can longer see when people last posted on threads I follow. I have no idea what I have missed the last few days and cant see any way to find it again without checking every single followed thread.

1. Alternate themes may happen at a future point but it would double the workload on some future developments. Wear some sunglasses.

2. Please read OP and previous posts ref Search indexing. And then wait.

[yelrow]

Its good, like the new set up. john

[burgundy]

Well done Andy.

The first rule of project management is that  "sh1t  happens". Effective project management is dealing with that and keeping stakeholders informed. This project should  therefore rate as a success

I have just tested the search function on a thread that I recently retitled "Mr Craven's Engines". The old search facility had been unable to find it since the change of title. The new one does. Unfortunately, none of the photos have yet been recovered. 

Thanks for all the hard work.

Best wishes 

Eric 

PS The editor that removes bad words is also working  - hence my post now reads "sh1T"

Edited February 1, 2019 by burgundy

[88D]

Well done on keeping us informed of website status. Don’t realise how much you miss it until you can’t  get on! All the best with the remainder, Dai

[MJI]

Got to admit I prefer the old layout, I like the grids, the less bright and the visible buttons.

Also I keep getting acosted for "Would you like to receive notifications" what is that about?

 

Also miss the easy to find content as well.

[The Lurker]

So far so good for me. I haven't tried to do anything clever but the formatting is nice and clear

[hayfield]

On the face of it the presentation looks a lot better, cannot find either "My content" or whatever will replace it or new posts since last visit. I guess these will come on stream as and when

[martin_wynne]

19 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

I have added jpeg as an allowed file type now in addition to jpg - have another go.

Hi Andy,

You may want to add upper case JPG and JPEG to the list, as typically created by digital cameras. On a computer they are interchangeable, but not on the internet where they are distinct.

cheers,

Martin.

[Nickey Line]

Howdy, pleased it's back up again!

I did have some trouble logging in though; new and old username or email address plus password - nothing worked. In the end I had to reset my password to... what it was before!

Thought you might like to know in case anyone else has the same issue.