topic Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ?? in Community Site Feedback

Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

TORPC — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:04:05 GMT

Despite Plusnet trying to fix this broken ancient forum
Should PlusNet upgrade to a new forum ?

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

Oldjim — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:15:13 GMT

I have made a different suggestion
Archive a lot of old posts - it is 7 years since we had a general archive action and move the archive to a separate server not accessible by posters
This would drastically reduce the size of the forum and the associated database
I haven't had an answer but I believe the effect is being looked into

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

TORPC — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:33:03 GMT

It may work,
however a fresh base wouldn't go a miss

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

Oldjim — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:36:09 GMT

As I remember the last time the Forum was completely rejigged I really don't want to be around if it is moved to a new server(s) and up to date software

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

MauriceC — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 20:44:47 GMT

Moving to a new forum will be no easy task. Like OldJim, I was around and on the periphery of the new Community Forum site and to achieve the functionality and integration with the Member Centre and the main blog page was a massive effort. As a result the current system is almost certainly befuddled by legacy integration issues between Wordpress and SMF. Making changes risks bringing even greater problems into focus.
As a starter for 10 OldJim's proposal for an archive of many of the old posts now redundant boards and then a tidy-up on the tables should make a big improvement ---- BUT. There be dragons down in them dark tunnels. Not a task to be tackled lightly or in haste.
Longer term a fresh look at the whole back office infrastructure needs to be carried out, but would a User Forum in its current format survive the financial review?
Maurice

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

pwatson — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 21:10:21 GMT

Voted 'No' as there isn't a 'None of my business, it's completely up to PN' option...

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

w23 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 23:07:45 GMT

'Undecided' is my vote.
Love the forums except for slowness and 'posing with attachment' issues.

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

Townman — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 07:40:16 GMT

No one as cited the issues which need to be fixed to justify change.
Change consumes resources - money and time - which arguably if available should be spent on other more important matters - eg SSL for email.
If it ain't broken don't try fixing it seems an appropriate maxim here!
All databases need periodic maintenance - table tidying, index restructure etc... - one hopes this is implemented and performed on a regular basis?

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

Devonian — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 12:42:35 GMT

I do think the forum is looking a little dated, and could do with being brought in to 2014, but if it took funds away from other projects, then I would rather it stay as it is.
I voted YES though.

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

TORPC — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 14:40:12 GMT

Why oh!!! why.... do people think it will cost the earth ..........
There are latest versions of SMF that are Free even update(s)
There are also other free forum maker(s) available therefore the cost(s) can be kept to a minimum, towards the staff(s) wages
PN already have the server(s)
Research my friends research
We all know that PN are up against it whilst trying to sort the issues, that comes with such an old / modified forum base, with old standard(s) of coding, new browser rendering et al
However, that said
New standard(s) of coding are clearly here
Think of it as a long overdue spring clean

Quote
Powered by SMF | SMF © 2006-2008, Simple Machines LLC

2006 -2014 = 8 years = time for a revamp

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

MauriceC — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:09:43 GMT

Quote from: TORPC
Why oh!!! why.... do people think it will cost the earth ..........
There are latest versions of SMF that are Free even update(s)

As I pointed out earlier, it isn't the base cost of the Forum software that takes time (and the implied cost!) it's the integration with the other Plusnet facilies that make the task quite complex - and a real beast to test..
M

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

jelv — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:11:19 GMT

Compare these forums with the Simple Machines Community Forums (the creators of this forum software):

	Plusnet Community Forums	Simple Machines Community Forums
Total Members	25,412	333,297
Most users online ever	838	3,726
Total topics	124,291	423,055
Total Posts	1,092,340	3,476,529

Conclusion: there's nothing wrong with the forum software, it will scale it way, way beyond the size of the Plusnet Community forums. The problem is Plusnet's inability to identify and fix the problems with the way they have implemented it and/or the hardware platform it is running on.
If they switched to different software, no doubt they'd make a mess of that too!

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

TORPC — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:17:53 GMT

If there is nothing wrong with the clearly outdated forum software
Why is there so many complaint(s) referring to the various different problems / issue(s) ?? ?? ?
To which the some problems are clearly getting worse ?? ?? ?
Since they have undated their Call Centre, bringing it into the 21^st century then surely it makes sense to bring the forum up-to date to cater for future proofing as best as possible

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

Oldjim — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:18:53 GMT

I am sure that you will point out I am wrong but a quick glance the Simple Machines Forum doesn't allow image uploads only links
If this is the case this could be the problem as is shown by the number of times posts with uploaded images hang
I have no idea what the total forum server load is with and without the images but I would imagine that the difference is significant

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

TORPC — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:23:57 GMT

They have a mod for that http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1669

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

jelv — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 15:57:35 GMT

SMF allows posting of attachments (including images) by default. They must have disallowed images in the permissions on some of the boards.
But look here: http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=520872.0 - it can't be across the board.
Were you logged in on their forums when you tried?

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

Oldjim — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 16:04:03 GMT

I am not a member of the forum and that link takes you to a login screen
Can you post a link to a thread where there are attachments included

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

TORPC — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 16:08:30 GMT

http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/SMF2.0:Attachments_and_Avatars

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

Oldjim — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 16:10:29 GMT

The question isn't whether the software permits it
It is whether the Community Forum there allows them

Re: Should PN upgrade to a new forum ??

jelv — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 16:11:00 GMT

That was a link to a post with an attachment!