Possible Forum Rebuild: What features do we need/want post build

[Jim]

Well folks, the bomb (and restore from backup) from this morning reinforces a possible forum rebuild.

If we rebuild, what forum features would be in the NEED arena and what would be in the WANT / would be nice to have arena?

Aside from standard forums list, we have several plug-ins and enhancements.

A list that I can think of (I'll edit this master list as folks suggest things)

NEED
RSVP system to make a run and have people RSVP yes/no/maybe
"Yellow Box" listing of upcoming runs, near the top of the forum's pages
Calendar for events for runs and possibly birthdays

UNDECIDED between NEED/WANT
Donation system

WANT
"Thanks" system
"Back To Top" button
Member photo album
Tapatalk (security concerns)
Better mobile device photo upload process


Would we want old content imported or just start bare and clean?
+ Desire to have the tech info content carry over.
+ Build threads

[96EXXLTinCO]

I like the thanks and back to top buttons. As for starting over, there is a lot of links and info in the tech area that are useful and might be hard to re-do. I found some sites in there I didn't know about that have been useful.

[DETN8R]

It'd be nice to be able to post from the Tapatalk mobile app.

[Java]

I already like it, but... I'd like to see a Like button as well as Thanks, sometimes it would be more appropriate. and faster picture loading.

[Jim]

I'd like to see a Like button

Looking for clarification... A Facebook like button? How would this Like button work?

[Java]

I guess like any other like button, you click on it and it says "Jim likes this" or something like that. IDK, it's just a random thought, the Thank You works fine.

[Chris]

Looking for clarification... A Facebook like button? How would this Like button work?

It's a standard vBulletin feature Jim. IIRC I changed the "like" button to "thanks" but I don't think both can co-exist.

Need to have - RSVP, Thanks, Back to Top,


Tapatalk - this was bad in the past, allowing easy access for hacking. I’s imagine that’s changed by now but I’m not sure.


Member photo album - standard VB IIRC


Random Photos From Member Album - above yellow box - I liked it for visual interest but it’s high maintenance as lots of the pics are from people long gone. Probably delete that.


Starting over would lose too much good stuff IMHO

The DB shouldn't have any problems rolling to whatever version you want (except going backwards)

Going to the DB directly and removing junk is easy enough but keeping forums/ posts, members is pretty important.

This version has a lot of "features" not being used - articles, blogs, etc.

[Brucker]

Guess I don't quite understand why the forum would need to be rebuilt. Has it grown to large for the current servers? Is the software being used just way out of date? Or?

TIA

EDIT: nevermind just found the other post about this.

[Spieg]

Really don't have any issues to resolve IMHO. Seems pretty functional as is.

On the "Nice to have" list I would appreciate a more robust site search tool (like most vBoards you have better luck searching with Google than with the site's built in search tool).

Tapatalk is pretty cool but it comes with some quirks that can be a pain to manage.

[Jim]

Thx for the info.

As for search, the site is using google.com for search. Punch up a search term and hit search. A new tab should open at google.com with the search of your term plus "site:frontrange4x4.com".

[Chris]

As for search, the site is using google.com for search. Punch up a search term and hit search. A new tab should open at google.com with the search of your term plus "site:frontrange4x4.com".

Also if you want to search for a post from a member or use the vBulletin Advanced Search just put "search" without the quotations in the search field and Google should show the first link as one to the advanced search. Sometimes it finds more accurately than Google.

[FINOCJ]

Maybe more of a comment on the forum layout as opposed to the wants and needs aspect you are discussing...plus this JMO and has no real basis other than my personal preference....

Maybe we can simplify the forum thread 'divisions' or categories. for example I find it a bit too much to have a trail planning and planned trail run categories, especially with the calendar and hopefully yellowbox type banner. I would just have one (trail running planning - when its definitely planned and on the calendar it will appear on the banner and calendar). Same with some of the trail resources/conditions/questions/information etc categories - lump them all together. If members use that for sharing info then that would help keep the trail run planning thread a bit cleaner and a separate planned trail run unnecessary. Again...same with the the tech categories. Most of those could be lumped together as well. Build threads are good to keep separate. Same with some of the general 4x4 topics and interests and photos categories...lump together.

JMO...so take or leave as warranted...nothing but support for whatever the admin decide is best and nothing but thanks to you as well.