500Eboard Forum Software Conversion to XenForo

[gerryvz]

Was trying to finish emoticons this morning, but had to go to Reagan National Airport for a flight to Boston. I'll finish it this afternoon. Smilies will all be the same as they were before in terms of the codes used. They are on the server, I just have to point to them.

TONS of other small tweaks, such as banner images, the imported images from linked URLs in posts, and much more. But basic functionality should be here. I will change user titles, too. Not all of you are new members.

281lxm will have a special catetory "Banzworld Refugee".

Explore and enjoy.

Also you can change the skin via the link at the bottom left of the home forum page. I have the default skin and two other ones.

 

[gerryvz]

I got up nice and early this morning to commence the migration, and immediately ran into a snag. I've been working the past four hours to find an appropriate workaround for it, but decided to bring this forum back up anyway while I'm doing this.

The issue is that the current hosting company (1and1.com) does NOT allow remote computers (i.e. systems that are not their own) to access MySQL databases for their hosted accounts. This is pretty much a show-stopper, because it means that I can't give the XenForo system access to the vBulletin database that runs this site.

So, appears that I have two options:

1) Create a parallel XenForo system on the virtual server that I have at 1and1 (a separate, test server that I've been using for the past couple of years for test migrations), which SHOULD allow a direct import as I've done before. Then, I can use this installation (I have complete control over it, unlike this site) to then open up the database for the XenForo migration at the other site (www.500eboard.co)

2) Do a database export, and then import it directly as a database at the new 500eboard.co server. Then I just have to connect the XenForo database to the imported database -- both would be on the same server.

Number 2 seems easier and much less work, but I'm going to have to work this out.

So, migration is postponed. I don't know for how long. Hopefully a matter of a day or 3. Until I get this figured out. Ugh.

This site will continue to be up and running as per normal.

This was from the old forum, I posted on Saturday morning. I was able to work around everything.

 

[nocfn]

 

[TerryA]

Gerry,

I know it's been a long weekend for you. I'm glad that you survived it.

Thanks for all of your hard work.

LoL

 

[alabbasi]

Excellent work!

 

[gerryvz]

Sitting here at the United Club in Reagan National Airport .... tweaking small things like mad. Already nailed three bugs in the past 40 minutes. Have to board my plane in 20 minutes ... maybe I'll get a couple more.

I'm getting a lot of server errors for the elasticsearch function, so I'm going to turn it off until I'm able to delve into the stack trace and see what is happening. Looks like elasticsearch is being denied access to a directory it needs ... so it may be a unix permissions error. I'll figure it out. In any case, the search function even stock is better than the one on 500Eboard's vBulletin.

 

[albdentist]

It all looks fantastic Jerry... thank you for all of your hard work and expertise...

 

[gerryvz]

testing a smlie....




EDIT: YAY... it works !! All of the original ones will be forthcoming, probably later today/tonight. There are about 250 of them, and they need to be tweaked, manually, one by one.

 

[Glen]

I like the fresh new look.

 

[gerryvz]

I have to add the Wiki and migrate all of the old Wiki content over from the old forum. That is a secondary priority, though. Likely weeks away.

 

[LWB250]

Looks great, Gerry! I've been through conversions like this, and it ain't fun. Looks like things are working pretty well - great job!

Dan

 

[Duh_Vinci]

Looks great, surely tons of work on your part to make it happen and it is appreciated indeed!

Regards,
D

 

[ricsim]

Congratulations Gerry !

 

[daantjie]

Nice work Gerry, looks spiffy

 

[Maui]

It looks so schnazzy. Thanks for all you hard work.

 

[600Eric]

Really looks great Gerry, Thanks.

 

[Gatorblue92]

This is fantastic! Thanks for all the work!

 

[gerryvz]

And remember, with the new forum, EGGL (everyone's gonna get laid) !!

Spoken a long time ago !!

 

[gerryvz]

Here are the first 13 site banners, for the new site.

We'll have a couple more added into the mix, probably after the new board debuts.

Enjoy !!

What do you guys think of the new site banners? They’ll be up and running within the next week or so.

 

[Benz]

Nicely Done, Im digging the skins will keep an eye out for any minor things that me need sorting

 

[gsxr]

I'm only seeing 3 skins, is that correct? deFault, Awesome, and Awesome Dark?

 

[Jlaa]

Good stuff Ger, this new SW is da bomb. Best part so far is that attachments are so much easier to effect --- drag and drop! Thanks for all that you've been doing.

 

[gerryvz]

A couple of minutes ago, I had to re-boot the server in order to remove a block storage volume for resizing downward from 100GB to 50GB. This was unrelated to the forum, but I had to take the server off-line to un-attach the storage volume from the server.

Apologies for the 3-4 minutes of downtime for the server.

 

[gerryvz]

I'm only seeing 3 skins, is that correct? deFault, Awesome, and Awesome Dark?

That is correct -- default skin, and then a light and dark version of the Flat Awesome skin.

I don't want to have TOO many skins, because of a couple reasons:

1) they are expensive -- the two FLAT AWESOME skins cost $25 !!

2) they require customization (each one) to add banner images, and the rotating banner code and other modifications. This is a lot of effort. I'm going to focus on the Default Skin first with all of the mods, then the Flat Awesome skins.

 

[gerryvz]

Good stuff Ger, this new SW is da bomb. Best part so far is that attachments are so much easier to effect --- drag and drop! Thanks for all that you've been doing.

I know ! I told you guys, this new software would give everyone woodies, and everyone's gonna get laid with it !!

The vBulletin was like a 1980s Mack truck. Worked well, was reliable, did the job quite nicely. But, was creaky and showing its age.

This XenForo brings us into the modern era. And I have had a crash course as a Linux system admin, php developer, and MySQL dba (database administrator). MUCH more so than I have ever had in the past.

It's weird being totally God of all aspects of the system, as compared to a managed system where you can't get yourself into too much trouble.

 

[nocfn]

:not worthy:

 

[LWB250]

View attachment We're All Gonna Get Laid.mp4

 

[gerryvz]

I did some more work this morning on adding smilies from the old forum, but there are many more to do.

One thing that you guys may want to check out as a setting in your profile (in addition to adding an avatar, if desired) is the "push" notifications. This allows messages to pop up in your browser or on your device that note various things happening (for example if someone replies to one of your posts). This is completely configurable. Tapatalk users have seen this same thing for the past couple of years, but now the capability is available to everyone, if they want it.

 

[gerryvz]

One cool thing that I implemented for the new forum is a new Members Map, which replaces the functionality that Glen implemented on the previous vBulletin forum.

To access it, click on the "Members" drop-down menu at the top of the screen, and then select "Members Map"

The new map uses Google Maps.

Eventually I will make a "Members Map" button at the top of the screen, but for now it will stay under the "Members" drop-down.

 

[gsxr]

How do forum members enable (or edit) their location on the map?

 

[gerryvz]

You don't. It's automatic. I had a configuration issue (which I fixed) that did not allow some members to show up on the map. That should be fixed now.

 

[gsxr]

Is it possible for a user to disable this if they choose to, or edit what location appears? What data element drives the location on the map?

 

[Glen]

Is map location dynamic? Right now, it's showing me at the office.

 

[gsxr]

Is map location dynamic? Right now, it's showing me at the office.

If it pulls dynamic location off mobular devices, that would be hilarious.

 

[gerryvz]

Is map location dynamic? Right now, it's showing me at the office.

I believe it shows general location of the device, yes. Although my entry is showing my house, not downtown Boston where I am right now.

 

[gsxr]

I'm off the grid, and it appears a lot of other folks are also MIA.

 

[gerryvz]

Give it time. I had to rebuild the map to get the first batch of folks on (it's scheduled to run as a cron job only once every couple weeks). I will rebuild it again after the permissions change happens. Just needs time to work, is all. Just was made operational today.

That being said, isn't Idaho "in general" off the grid, anyway?!?

 

[gsxr]

That being said, isn't Idaho "in general" off the grid, anyway?!?

Not anymore. Half of California moved here in the past 5 years or so.

Back to the previous question. Due to privacy concerns, members should have the ability to either edit their location, or disable it entirely. I'm not sure everyone will be enthused about the map showing their exact location and possibly where they work, etc.

Would also be nice to be able to search the map for a username.

 

[gerryvz]

Would also be nice to be able to search the map for a username.

You can. Just mouse over an individual pin. Then click.

 

[gsxr]

You can. Just mouse over an individual pin. Then click.

I'm suddenly less confident of the touted "improved search" capabilities in XF...

 

[gerryvz]

I'm suddenly less confident of the touted "improved search" capabilities in XF...

 

[gsxr]

LOL, you also need to update the SearchDammit animation from VB to XF!!

 

[gerryvz]

LOL, you also need to update the SearchDammit animation from VB to XF!!

Maybe we can get LWB to do that for us....

 

[LWB250]

No can do. VB to C# maybe, but not to XF. Sorry.

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

All you have to do is capture a gif using the XF software on your browser. Simple animated screen capture, eh? Then just send to me.

 

[LWB250]

K. I can do that.

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

K. I can do that.

Dan

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LWB250]

Since I'm a Mac guy, it was easy enough to do a screen grab with QuickTime, export it as a .mov file, then convert that into a .gif.

Here are both for your use. No charge, of course.

Dan

 

[gerryvz]

That's the old vbulletin one. I think Dave was suggesting this new forum software.

 

[LWB250]

Gotcha. I'll get right on that.

Dan