Updated Bulletin Board Software
 

You may have noticed some changes to the software we are using. This is an updated version and contains some new features which I have yet to discover and implement.

One problem to begin with will be the apparent speed of the BB. For the first 48 hours or so the server will be building a cache of the pages and thsi will slow things down. As more and more people log into the new software we have been assured that the speed will return to normal and maybe even be faster than previously.

If you normally log into the forums by any route other than the entrance page please make sure you change the url in your favourites list. In the meantime though, please be patient while the server settles down to the new routine and builds its cache.

Its great the way you continue to evolve this amazing site. Great work Capt'n! :D

All very exciting Cap. Thanks for your efforts. :)
FC.

:eek:

Had a fright 'cos I thought Pprune had forgotten me!

I think the 'Rate Member' stars will be interesting - particularly for 'Guvnor' or 'Ronncher' from Wannabes - or whatever he is calling himself these days.

The chappy who wrote the Why JMC Are Amazing thread might be in for a bit of stick too...
;)

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: Blackshirt ]

Like the look of the new BB Danny .... top work!! :p I can hopefully also get these sodding graemlins to work with the new system!

slooow as you like..... :eek:

It looks it's gonna be lovely ... but it keeps crashing my normal browser (IE5 running under windows ME). The bug warning is 'valueversion undefined in line 4', whatever that means ...

Luke
Yep I get the same thing - it's a JavaScript error and looks like a missing or misconfigured setting on the server. I'm running IE6 on Windows 2000.

Regards,
757 - Rocket with wings. :cool:

I am also getting the same problem, Line 4, 'ValueVersion' is undefined. Windows 98SE, IE5

It sure looks super Danny

But it is

s....l.....o......w

Sq :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

If you are getting a javascript error and you are using one of the later versions of browser software then I suggest you clear your browsers cache!

Also make sure you have in your browser options 'check for newer versions of stored pages' set to:

Every visit to the page

Wow, Danny, really impressive. Congrats!

One tiny comment, if I may. I find the static site list on the left of the page is unnecessary and a tad annoying in that it is 'squashing' the rest of the page up. Is there an option to allow me to remove it? :confused:

Yes there is... use this URL as your link to the forums:
http://www.pprune.org/ultimateb b.cgi

Hope you don't mind me fixing your link, Danny ... it was missing a small piece

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: McD ]

Emperor's new clothes time:

1. How do I get rid of that annoying 'navigation bar' on the left.

2. The new icons are almost meaningless on a laptop.

3. What's this 'log in, log out' business for?

4. Too many icons - I prefer text to multiple symbols.

5. Resetting all the bookmarks is evidently necessary - why?

6. Too many details in message headers and footers - e.g. 'rate member' etc add-ons.

7. But at least it isn't slower.

8. Was the previous version 'broken'...??

PS - Ah - that's how you edit a post. 'Edit' was easier...tried your link above and it didn't work.

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

Good work indeed Danny :)

Now with over 30000 members as well ..... wow, did you really imagine it would become such a top site when you set it up????

ES

absolutely the best thing after sks and ofcourse landing at LCY and.... well great. I've tried my native toung versions (eg Dutch) but eventhough some on this BB think there is a thing called the continent of Brittain and a few islands. this is still the best BB any where!!!

Pointer :rolleyes:

I could've sworn that didn't work the first time around :confused:
http://www.infohiway. com/javascript/misc/bkmrkfrm.htm )

Thanks McD!

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: Superpilot ]

There is an easier way ... just use the link that Capt PPRuNe posted (right above BEagle's post).

or click here

That will take you to the front page of the forums without the navbar. Once you're on that page, simply bookmark it in your browser's normal way.

BEagle, even though you've probably addressed those questions to Danny and/or PPRuNe Towers, I can probably help you out a bit with your questions...

1) See the post just above yours (or see the instructions above here)

2) (I'm not sure what you mean here ..)

3) Good question .. perhaps to keep people out of here before they agree to some TOS?That's just a guess from me.... Capt PPRuNe - over to you on this one!

4) A case of "majority rules" most likely ... a majority of people like the icons, and a wide variety of them as well.

5) Because it's a new URL ... resetting your bookmarks means that you don't have to wait to be forwarded.

6) Again, probably relates to "majority rules", but I have to agree with your point about the "Member Rated" thing. Seems a bit like a popularity contest or something.

8) No, but all good BB creators continually look for ways to improve the service, and to meet or exceed the desires of the subscribers/readership.

------------------------------

As with any change, there will be a time of adjustment. I'm sure that Danny, PPT, and others will be looking at all feedback regarding the new software. In the meantime, give it the benefit of the doubt and try out all the new stuff. If you run into problems, let someone know.

Sorry - you lost me. Does anyone actually like the 'navbar'? Or the plethora of tacky icons?

(Edit) Thanks for your kind assistance- have now got rid of the damn navbar and re-bookmarked the sites I wanted. Now there are just the silly icons to junk - is there a way, anyone?? By the way, my point 2 meant that the new icons have such low resolution that their intended impact is lost on a small screen. Much as I don't like too many pointless symbols, the last series were at least legible.

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

It's getting faster already!

What's the deal with the rate a member setting? Are we supposed to give marks out of 5 for each contributor? If so where does that show, and is it really appropriate given the hot-headed discussions that can ensue from some topics?

Hey, Danny, this new format is exactly the same as the Virgin in house one (VOICE)!! What's going on here, are you now wearing a wooly pully? Can we look forward to seeing you in Lagos soon? Has PPRuNe become another notch on Richards bedpost??? :D

Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!!

Could be because the software, Ultimate Bulletin Board, is commercial software and Virgin thought it was good enough for them. Wish I had their budget for a really powerful server though. :(

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: Capt PPRuNe ]

Some feedback/questions:

• I went off-line and reconnected a few hours later: to my astonishment I was still logged in! Is this the way it's supposed to be?
• About those ratings: It doesn't say if we are supposed to rate someone on either: a) How much we simply like them, b) How much we agree with their opinion, or c) How important we deem their presence on PPRuNe, whether we usually agree with them or not. An important distinction!
• When will UBB code in JetBlast be enabled again?
• After the upgrade, I (and others) get a message like this when trying to log on to chat: "Hack attempt logged or corrupt member file found with extra fields [29 total for UserName ... ]. I even registered a new user, but with the same result.
• The server's clock appears to be about six minutes slow.

Similarly, I rated (as a test) Capt PPruNe as ***.. Then tried to re-rate to discover how to do so. Don't seem to be able to. Also, I dared to say that there were some elements of the new system which I personally didn't like - so someone (and I'm sure I know who) gave me a *.... rating. Not that I care a jot about that - but why is such a pointless and divisive system in place on what is supposed to be an open bulletin board? Personally I find it extremely distasteful - as I told you before, Danny.

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

One problem found so far, when searching for someones post...not possible anymore...only by Member number...how do I find them now... :confused:

Sorry to post again, but I just noticed that someone who had been rated "*" by 2 voters retained that rating even after I gave him 5 stars. Does this "Weighted Score" mean that some posters' vote is more important than others?

At least it would only be fair to publicly display a list of all voters and the ratings they gave, maybe with personal comments as well.

Does anyone think that the 'Rate Members' feature is a good idea? Or just a way for those who don't wish to make a reasoned response to denigrate others whilst retaining their own anonymity.

Votes in favour of getting rid of it??

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

How does the private message thingy work?

If you don't like the new Rate Member option I believe it can switched off in your profile under:

"Allow your user rating to be publicly displayed? " Yes/No

Actually, BEagle, you are not the only one who doesn't care for the "Rated" feature. There was some discussion in Chat (even before you got there) regarding this feature, and it seems (by my humble personal observation) that more people are against it . So on that note....

Remainder of thread deleted because it seems that the post by Semper Paratus (just prior to this one) has the solution for disabling the "Rated" feature

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: McD ]

I can't get into Chat! The new Chat window won't even allow me to type my name in the box - anyone got any ideas??

Semper Paratus - thanks for the tip! But I still think that it should be generally deleted rather than selectively by individuals!

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

Testing the "rated" feature -- hopefully it's gone

Edit -- It worked!

Also (for BEagle and others who were asking) . . this feature MAY (I'm not sure) be an imbedded part of this software, which might prohibit it from being disabled on its own. I'll ask about that in the near future. At least the "individual disabling" is a measure which each person can take if they don't want to be annoyed with the ratings.

Clic k Here for a link to a Survey in JB regarding the Rated issue.

[ 07 July 2001: Message edited by: McD ]

Nice one Danny - a much more comprehensive system. Ok, I'm on broadband but I also find the new engine a lot quicker.
One question - does it load up your server if I forget to log out?

What server hardware do you run the board on?

And how much load is it normally running at?

And i know this might not be PC but occasionaly we have left over hardware after upgrades and as the accountant doesn't factor it in the bill it normally gets recycled to worthy causes. And as memory has dropped to 50ukp per 256MB 133nS locally it is treated as consumables. No MBoards or procs though.

MJ

Well done Danny, from an old PPRuNer :D

:eek: Wow, what a great improvement!
Speed is even faster than before and all the new features - Well Done Danny & Friends.
BSB

Wooohooo.
Very cool and all those new buttons and thingys.
Good one and thanks again Danny.

Can I have a break please! :confused: I am as new to this new software as anyone else so when I get back from my flight later today and subject to not being called out on standby I will get back to you all.

We are still waiting to see what the server load will be like in anger. Monday will probably be the crunch day for that.

Because of nw file formats the password feature of the chat is disabled and I have put a generic log in page. You will just have to try and act like adults for a change and behave on there as there is no way of verifying who is who for the time being.

Patience please.