ssl 2.0! working on the forum

[yeppie]

Year 2 of ssl will see some changes of the board.
I´m right now beginning to work on the download system so please be aware that some problems might occur during the next days. As soon as new functions are implemented, I will let you know.

[yeppie]

Well, at least I didn´t deceive you with false promises Wink)

The new download script has been installed and it seems to work, more or less ... right now the result is no downloads possible.

Please take my excuses for this situation and keep patient. Looks like some more hours to get everything running again. Watch this space, I´ll keep you informed.
Thank you
Yeppie

[yeppie]

First step (you might not like it):
The older files (uploaded with previous script) have all been deleted in the forum and moved to the archives. The new script is working and some files have been uploaded yet. As some settings have to be changed, instructions will follow a little later.
You can be sure that there will be more files to download soon.

[yeppie]

Second step:
The old attachment script (add an attachment to a message) does only work with images now. For every other filetype please use the new script!

[yeppie]

Third step:
The new script is in Beta now.
It seems to be working ok but now it is up to you to test it´s functions and let me know what you think. More information will follow in a new topic in the Read First Forum within some minutes.

[psifon]

Have you done anything to the uploads script? when trying to UL to the members section I get an error indicating that the mp3 extension is not valid.

[psifon]

My bad, I just caught the update

[sc0tt-uk]

just logged on and had a go with the new script thingy... heres my 2 cents.

So far I've browsed, downloaded, listened, commented, and rated. All seems to work well, so well done Yeppie!

I know I was one of those who asked for changes, so the next part isn't me moaning... just thoughts I guess:

It seems to split the forum in to very separate areas. One of the cool things about this place was how the files and discussion was all integrated in to one thread.

The "view posts since last visit" function is the only thing that keeps me on top of whats going on here, and I don't see a function like that in the new script? It'd be very easy to fall behind with happenings if you didn't log in regularly and if the place has a busy spell.

I know we've got a few blind members - was wondering how they got on with the new section. It was a bit confusing for me at first, but I don't have access to think about on top of everything else. Figured its best to find out how it works for the folks who do sooner rather than later.

Thats all that springs to mind really. the rating system is neat to have though, i think it'll help a lot with active memberships and encouraging more posts.
sc0tt-uk

[shung421]

Today is the first time I have tried to download with the new setup, but it won't let me. Whenever I go to the Upload-Download page, it opens in a new window and shows me as not logged in. If I log in again, it takes me back to the index and I have to click back into Upload-Download, which again shows me not logged in. A vicious circle!

[shung421]

Never mind, it was a cookie issue...problem solved!

[yeppie]

... It seems to split the forum in to very separate areas. One of the cool things about this place was how the files and discussion was all integrated in to one thread.
...
Thats all that springs to mind really. the rating system is neat to have though, i think it'll help a lot with active memberships and encouraging more posts. sc0tt-uk

Well, that´s exactly what I think now. I feel that we´ll switch back to the old system sooner or later. If that would be easier ...

For now I´d like to give the new script some more time to be tested and discussed. What I like about it is the fact that it could be developed to a new membership system (similar to the one at tomvoyeur).

And maybe anybody will bring up a solution to combine the advantages of a great upload-download script and a living discussion board ...

yeppie

[coyote]

Yes; I think the concern with the new upload-download system is that it will reduce community; you mention TomVoyeur, but his site is poorly organized and really lacks community. I would hate to see you go in that direction.

I understand the goal of developing a better upload/download system that encourages both membership and upload. One thing to bear in mind with that, though, is the amount of absolutely useless crap people upload to Tom -- including tons of dupes -- simply to earn credits.

That said, the new script seems to be working pretty well now, and I do like the rating and comment features and UI on files. What would work really well, I think, would be to migrate the whole community/forum to that script by adding in the possibility of starting threads without files; thus you can have discussion forums and files intermixed. Threads beginning with a file might be marked by a file icon; otherwise maybe a talk bubble icon. I imagine it would be possible to hack in that functionality to the script by scripting in an alternative to the upload sequence.

(And, if you don't have the technical know how to mod the scripts, I might be able to help: I'm a professional in the field of web applications, and am expert in both php and perl.)

[yeppie]

The "view posts since last visit" function is the only thing that keeps me on top of whats going on here, and I don't see a function like that in the new script?

You might want to try the "download statistics" button and you will find a "last uploads" section. Only the last 10 uploads are shown but that could be changed (I think) if we tended to keep the script.

[yeppie]

Just to keep you informed and should you wonder about another download link on top of the forum: I´m testing a different script right now but it looks even worse.

[yeppie]

Yes; I think the concern with the new upload-download system is that it will reduce community; you mention TomVoyeur, but his site is poorly organized and really lacks community. I would hate to see you go in that direction.

I don´t think that this site is poorly organized (or don´t understand what you mean) but yes, there is nearly no community existing. That´s definitely not what I´m aiming at.

I understand the goal of developing a better upload/download system that encourages both membership and upload. One thing to bear in mind with that, though, is the amount of absolutely useless crap people upload to Tom -- including tons of dupes -- simply to earn credits.

Fully agreed. My idea was to connect the amount of uploads with the rating of the files. Something like "you only get points if your sounds are rated 5 /10 (average, at least) by (at least) 10 members" and the better the rating, the more points.
Doesn´t that sound pretty much difficult to install?

That said, the new script seems to be working pretty well now, and I do like the rating and comment features and UI on files. What would work really well, I think, would be to migrate the whole community/forum to that script by adding in the possibility of starting threads without files; thus you can have discussion forums and files intermixed. Threads beginning with a file might be marked by a file icon; otherwise maybe a talk bubble icon. I imagine it would be possible to hack in that functionality to the script by scripting in an alternative to the upload sequence.

I was wondering if it might be possible to combine the two upload scripts. Uploading files like before by attaching them to messages and storing them into the new system with categories and the rating system, leaving them linked to the message so they would be commented in the forum.
Do you know what I mean?

(And, if you don't have the technical know how to mod the scripts, I might be able to help: I'm a professional in the field of web applications, and am expert in both php and perl.)

Did you hear me shout Yippie! ?
All I can do is install mods and do some minor adjustements but that does not seem to be enough expertise to manage this project.