Preview of the new FCF!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Apr 2009, 15:20

I have done a test conversion of this forum as the next stage in the migration from our present phpBB2 sotware to phpBB3. I created the test Forum from the backup I took early on Sunday Morning.

You may have a look at it here but please bear in mind that it's only for test and comment and NOT for use although you are welcome to make test posts to see how everything works. Do log in and look at your user control panel. Your existing usernames and passwords are valid.

Please accept that it may not always be available and bugs will still be in it. Any bugs you find, please let me know. One issue is that not all smilies are available at the moment.

It is running on my webserver and if a few are logged in it may not be very fast. If it makes my server or internat link wilt too much I may have to pull it.

All comments welcome as I'll not migrate for real until everyone is happy with the new-look FCF.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 20 Apr 2009, 15:45

Very smart, and i realy like this lay out now ive got used to it else where

D

citroen7 · Unread post by **citroen7** » 20 Apr 2009, 16:14

looking good jim well done!

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 20 Apr 2009, 17:08

Just had a quick browse around and its looking good!
Some forums I've been on have 'looked' over complex due to the colour scheme and cluttered with buttons and closely located sections here, there and everywhere. No matter how IT literate you are, they're still hard to navigate

I was afraid that the upgrade to phpbb3 may bring a lot of this bumph and be like Vista is to XP

It appears not, which is great

Don't go overcustomising though Jim

When Andrew is feeling his old self again, Im sure he could apply a subtle touch of his graphic desgin skillz

SLYTZD · Unread post by **SLYTZD** » 20 Apr 2009, 17:09

Looks good, glad to see the seach has been improved.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Apr 2009, 21:01

Thanks all

That's very positive thus far...

Don't worry, customisation will be kept low-key and whilst I've looked at alternative styles, farnkly most are absolutely vile

One thing you can do though is switch between two styles. One is the default phpBB3 style called "prosilver" and the other is "subsliver2" which makes the forum look similar to the phpBB2 board you all know and love.

Choose the one you like best by clicking on the User Control Panel link in the top right corner and then clicking the Board Preferences link under options and selecting either prosilver or subsliver2 from the dropdown about half-way down.

What you choose for yourself does not affect anyone else.

Can someone try uploading an avatar please, to see if that works OK. Also try uploading an image as an attachment.

red_dwarfers · Unread post by **red_dwarfers** » 20 Apr 2009, 22:47

I've stuck a couple of images up on the test forum

Uploaded rather quickly. If this feature was incorporated into the new forum, would the images be stored on your server or the webserver? How would that work with the whole limited space on webserver/draining on your home connection?
Linking with the file size upload limit, is there a way of getting the forum to auto resize the image if its too big to save the hassle of those that may find it a little difficult to do?

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 21 Apr 2009, 20:12

Saw your images Kev. Great stuff

They're stored on the webserver and these is a set limit to how much space thay may occupy and an upload size limit for obvious reasons!

I am aware that there is an add-on to automatically resize large images and I'll be looking at that.

I've also added a bit of BBCode to handle the embedding of Youtube videos.

Have a look at Youtube embedded on the test FCF for a demo. The vid I used is poor but does the job!

Basically, to enbed you take the code after the equals sign in the youtube url ad pop it between the [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= and [/media] tags.

Note these tags appear in the new posting form.

anybloodybody · Unread post by **anybloodybody** » 05 May 2009, 20:53

Very pretty.