Server Move - What Site Extras can go away?

[Gary]

I am in the process of moving the site to a new server and am trying to work from a "clean install" of the forum software. There were many add-on features that are not part of the core program added to OpelGT.com over the years. Several are no longer active as their support stopped and they were never upgraded to work with newer versions. Their files add a lot of clutter the site.

Also several of the old add-ons are now part of the core forum program. It will be much easier to manage core features rather than waiting for the authors to update their add-ons once an upgrade or security hole is discovered..

Here are some of the add-ons we use That I can think of off the top of my head:

Blogs - Current program has very poor support. A blog is now offered as part of the forum software so we will be using the forums version. If you currently have a blog here, save your info and reload it when the new one is online.

Articles & Projects - This has always been a major pain. Trying to find a consistent program where members could post a detailed tech article or details on their restoration project where members could comment on it. I am leaning toward using a new program that is part of the "Main Page" program's offerings and has a similar structure so it will be easier to manage. More on this later.

Links - The links page will continue as is. Support and upgrades have been great.

Downloads - The current version has not had the support nor upgrades to match new requirements. I am looking into replacing it with a stable program that will allow members to upload/download files.

Opel Tech Center - I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately it had a lot of errors after a major upgrade. This is a very powerful stand alone program that is completely outside of the site's "core" programs. I will be doing a fresh install and rebuild of it once the site is running smoothly after the move.

Garage (vbPicGallery) - Another feature that I had high hopes for. The intent was to have members enter info about their Opel and that would go into a database where it could all be sorted. That never happened and it is basically a duplicate of the Photo Gallery. It is on the fence for moving it or not.

Parts Review An add-on program that has not had too much activity in recent years. I did not renew the license. There has been one upgrade since then. Does it still hold value?

Classifieds - The new version is very well supported and constantly improving. We will continue using it. It will be upgraded to the latest version after the move.

Photo Gallery That program is well supported and will continue. It does need a major clean-up and new structures for the photo albums.

There are a couple of others that have been disabled for a while (Zoints) and will disappear.

New forum features -

A "Social networking" feature that we will modify use for all the clubs. This will allow for the regional clubs to list their members and events and dialog while still being part of the entire community.

Tagging of threads/posts - Members will be able to add a tag word below a thread that will aid searches.

Prefixes for Threads - Prefixes liks "Question" can be added to thread titles.

Public messaging - A shoutbox type of feature

Member profile pages - Fully customizable with it's own photo gallery.

"lightbox" viewing for attachments rather than opening a new window.

Bookmark threads to sites like digg, deli.co.us, stumbleupon or /google.

Auto resizing of attachments


I hope to get two working versions of the site moved this weekend. One live and one to trim down (and screw up on).

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

[tekenaar]

Garage - don't move . . . duplicate, like you said . . . .

Parts Review - already done in Forum Posts specific to special/replacement/substitution parts . . . .

New features:

Auto resizing of attachments - woohoo!! . . . already talked to you about this via earlier PM . . . VGA (640 x 480)?

[Gary]

Originally Posted by tekenaar Garage - don't move . . . duplicate, like you said . . . . Parts Review - already done in Forum Posts specific to special/replacement/substitution parts . . . . New features: Auto resizing of attachments - woohoo!! . . . already talked to you about this via earlier PM . . . VGA (640 x 480)?

Thanks for the feedback Otto. I think the auto resize is for the attachments, not the embedded img tags. (I could be wrong though)

[2 Fast 4 U]

I would lose the blogs, Articles & Projects this already being done in the forum threads, all the rest that has been disabled since the last hack, unless somebody has missed it, and what Otto said.

and for the new items I would like to see:
Member profile pages
"lightbox" ?? don't know, I like the new window for attachments
Auto resizing of attachments this would be nice to have all the photo's in the same size

[sawdust]

Gary, would setting up a poll work here. On what we use or not or what changes might be needed? I think a poll would be better than our individual comments,

[Phoenix]

I actually like the Garage feature, I just wish more people would put up stuff on their cars.

Tags would be great anything to help out on searches. Sometimes I know exactly what I'm looking for and still can't find it with either the site search or Google.

I could never get Zoints to work properly, and I sure tried.

I've been for the Regional section from the begining. It could really help out with events and compliment the way we already do business. It could be like subscribing to a mailing list or cut things down to active members and inactive members. At least there would be a better feel for who's in your region.

Gary, you do a good job with everything because I never notice any downtime, or errors.

[Ooooner]

Everything you are doing is greatly appreciated! Is there a way to "Instant Message" someone when you see them on-line on the site? There have been many times when I saw someone on-line at OpelGT.com and wanted to chat with them. I know there is the "Opel Chat" but it does not let the person you want to talk to know you are there.
Again, thanks for everything you are doing!

[neuropel]

Originally Posted by Ooooner Everything you are doing is greatly appreciated! Is there a way to "Instant Message" someone when you see them on-line on the site? There have been many times when I saw someone on-line at OpelGT.com and wanted to chat with them. I know there is the "Opel Chat" but it does not let the person you want to talk to know you are there. Again, thanks for everything you are doing!

Good Idea Roy. One option is to click the user's profile and see if they're members of any public groups like AIM, ICQ, or Yahoo Messenger - usually you can quickly add them to your "buddy" list and contact them IF they have their chat software up and running. I agree it would be great if you could IM them through the site here.

Todd

[namba209]

IDK if this site and programming is the same as the old site, but if you send a PM to someone and they're on the site, they will get a pop-up window saying they have a PM almost immediately. HTH.

[Gary]

Originally Posted by namba209 IDK if this site and programming is the same as the old site, but if you send a PM to someone and they're on the site, they will get a pop-up window saying they have a PM almost immediately. HTH.

That pop-up window is user set. not all have it activated.

I'm working on the attachment problem now. That directory is huge!