Hi, I see with great interest that you moved away from SMF (Simple Machines Forum) to something called Invision Forums.

 

Congratulations on what looks like a fairly smooth site transition! Such a big  move is normally a PITA and I sympathize.

 

My questions, as a current SMF site owner who was motivated by UO's experience to move my own community to SMF years ago:

 

What in particular drove this move?

 

IMO, SMF is extremely dated and very, very hard to extend. It's got the DNA of old internet farts refusing to come to terms with the web past 2005 or so.

 

I recently added a message box to my SMF encouraging not-logged-in visitors to register. This is a very basic community site function today but there was NO add-on in SMF to do this. It took forever to find the correct places in template files to add the change.

 

Do you host this forum on your own server? It looks like it's self hosted with a "community" open source edition.

 

How's the server load after this move compared to SMF?

 

How was the migration away from SMF? Was it DIY or did you pay for help?

 

As much as I criticize SMF it has been rock solid.

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

Edited October 15, 20186 yr by Rusty Shackleford

Just now, Rusty Shackleford said:

Hi, I see with great interest that you moved away from SMF (Simple Machines Forum) to something called Invision Forums.

 

Congratulations on what looks like a fairly smooth site transition! Such a big  move is normally a PITA and I sympathize.

 

My questions, as a current SMF site owner who was motivated by UO's experience to move my own community to SMF years ago:

 

What in particular drove this move?

 

IMO, SMF is extremely dated and very, very hard to extend. It's got the DNA of old internet farts refusing to come to terms with the web past 2005 or so.

 

I recently added a message box to my SMF encouraging not-logged-in visitors to register. This is a very basic community site function today but there was NO add-on in SMF to do this. It took forever to find the correct places in template files to add the change.

 

Do you host this forum on your own server? It looks like it's self hosted with a "community" open source edition.

 

How's the server load after this move compared to SMF?

 

How was the migration away from SMF? Was it DIY or did you pay for help?

 

As much as I criticize SMF it has been rock solid.

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

@Rusty Shackleford

 

What in particular drove this move?  You answered this one yourself!  SMF has become extremely dated and although it served us well for many years, it was time to move on to a more modern forum software.

 

Do you host this forum on your own server? Yes, self-hosted on our own server.

 

How's the server load after this move compared to SMF? I've noticed the server load to be about double what it was on SMF.  This isn't much of an issue, going from .10 to .20-.30 on average. (6-core cpu, 16gb Ram, SSD)

 

How was the migration away from SMF? Was it DIY or did you pay for help? Migration was handled by the provided software to Invision.  This worked very well with little to no issues.

 

Overall, we're very happy with the new software.  The hardest part is the learning curve which also affects our users.  If I had to give a downside of the new software, it would be the low number of 3rd party mods available. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer, Rich.

 

So are you using an open source/free version of the board? Did you have to pay for  anything to make this move happen?

 

I saw a comment in another thread that BB codes don't work here (yet) and that is a bit odd. 

 

Low number of 3rd party mods? Can't be much worse than SMF. When I adopted SMF years ago, it was VERY painful to migrate the board I owned from a hosted provider (Yuku, now Tapatalk) to MySQL and SMF. It seemed like there was a LOT of stuff around to support SMF but it was all crude, semi-outdated in instances, and very DIY in nature.

 

I notice that the theme you're using is almost mobile compatible. In SMF with the default theme, on a cell phone my forum looks like a postage stamp. When I switch to a WAP view it's super primitive texty. This seems a lot nicer.

@Rusty Shackleford

So are you using an open source/free version of the board? Did you have to pay for  anything to make this move happen? The software if pay to use, with a one time fee and then a continuing fee every 6 months.  So to have just a forum, it'd be $200 and then I believe $25 every 6 months.  There are add-on options such as a gallery, commerce, blogs, download manager, etc. 

 

I saw a comment in another thread that BB codes don't work here (yet) and that is a bit odd. BB code is old and today the norm is html.  This forum supports full html which is better than BB code if you ask me.

 

Low number of 3rd party mods? Yes, there aren't many and most of them come at a cost, with some having recurring costs.

 

I notice that the theme you're using is almost mobile compatible. In SMF with the default theme, on a cell phone my forum looks like a postage stamp. When I switch to a WAP view it's super primitive texty. This seems a lot nicer. This forum software is responsive, therefore no matter what device you're using, it's accessing the same exact thing.  This to me is huge and was probably the main reason for moving.

Thanks again. 

 

Why is the search so wildly inaccurate? 

 

If I type in "FC Cincinnati West End" I should get that thread, at least somewhere on the front page if not first.  Instead, I get "Mt. Auburn News" first, and FC Cincinnati is nowhere to be seen. 

On 12/5/2018 at 5:24 PM, jmecklenborg said:

Why is the search so wildly inaccurate? 

 

If I type in "FC Cincinnati West End" I should get that thread, at least somewhere on the front page if not first.  Instead, I get "Mt. Auburn News" first, and FC Cincinnati is nowhere to be seen. 

 

I changed a few settings and also rebuilt the forum search index since it hadn't been done since moving to a new server a few weeks ago.  That search will now give you the FC thread as the number one result. @jmecklenborg

2 hours ago, richNcincy said:

 

I changed a few settings and also rebuilt the forum search index since it hadn't been done since moving to a new server a few weeks ago.  That search will now give you the FC thread as the number one result. @jmecklenborg

 

 

Thanks, it worked.  I'll let you know if I have any more problems. 

 

 

How do you sort threads so that the newest post(s) show first?? ??‍♂️

Is anyone else’s home page not showing the most recent posts correctly? I have one from ten minutes ago and one from 21 hours ago showing

^ Yes I noticed it as well. Seems like it started a couple days ago.

I'm having the same issue. That's where I usually go to check all the most recent stuff. It's just easier. 

This began happening when I updated the forum to the latest version. I’ll work on fixing it. 

Also mentioned in another thread is the fact that the I Love Cleveland thread has disappeared.  Anyone know where it went?  I could have sworn it was there 4 or 5 days ago.

On 3/24/2019 at 4:48 AM, richNcincy said:

This began happening when I updated the forum to the latest version. I’ll work on fixing it. 

 

Thank you. Otherwise I think the far-right conspiracy folk on here will start accusing you of shadow banning

11 hours ago, jeremyck01 said:

Also mentioned in another thread is the fact that the I Love Cleveland thread has disappeared.  Anyone know where it went?  I could have sworn it was there 4 or 5 days ago.

 

It has been restored.

On 3/23/2019 at 8:25 AM, CbusTransit said:

Is anyone else’s home page not showing the most recent posts correctly? I have one from ten minutes ago and one from 21 hours ago showing

 

On 3/23/2019 at 11:00 AM, Clvlndr in LV said:

^ Yes I noticed it as well. Seems like it started a couple days ago.

 

On 3/23/2019 at 11:24 AM, KFM44107 said:

I'm having the same issue. That's where I usually go to check all the most recent stuff. It's just easier. 

 

I've applied the fix and we're back in business. It was a setting they changed in the latest update and it affected all forums.  Needless to say, there were many unhappy forum admin.

Thanks! Looks great!

@richNcincy

 

Do “poisons” (the skull and crossbones) subtract from our community reputation score?  I’m not sure what exactly the poison is supposed to convey. 

 

I know a “thumbs down” does, which I don’t like. I don’t think we should be penalized because someone disagrees with us. 

1 hour ago, jeremyck01 said:

@richNcincy

 

Do “poisons” (the skull and crossbones) subtract from our community reputation score?  I’m not sure what exactly the poison is supposed to convey. 

 

I know a “thumbs down” does, which I don’t like. I don’t think we should be penalized because someone disagrees with us. 

 

Yes that is correct.  I have no problem with making the poison neutral, then it would not lower your rep if someone selects it.  The poison is one of those that can be up to user interpretation, therefore I think it has a place here.  

12 hours ago, jeremyck01 said:

@richNcincy

 

Do “poisons” (the skull and crossbones) subtract from our community reputation score?  I’m not sure what exactly the poison is supposed to convey. 

 

I know a “thumbs down” does, which I don’t like. I don’t think we should be penalized because someone disagrees with us. 

Although I rarely use the thumbs down, when I do it may not be because I disagree with the poster but because I am not happy about the news in the post (and I am sure others do the same thing) and that  definitely should not subtract from a community rep score.  In that instance I am probably agreeing with the poster even though I use the thumbs down.

On 6/8/2019 at 8:36 AM, richNcincy said:

 

Yes that is correct.  I have no problem with making the poison neutral, then it would not lower your rep if someone selects it.  The poison is one of those that can be up to user interpretation, therefore I think it has a place here.  

 

Thank you for making the poison neutral.

What happened to the link icon (infinity symbol) in the "post reply" form?  I can't figure out how to link to an article anymore.

 

Thanks 

Hi @richNcincy

 

I've noticed lately that when I click on a link in a post to an outside media article, instead of opening another widow to view the article, the link replaces my UO page with the article.  Am I explaining this correctly?  I prefer to have links open other tabs instead of replacing the web page I'm on so I don't have to back click to get back to UO.  

 

Has it always been this way?  I seem to remember more often than not, another tab would open.  Any way for me to adjust how links open?  Thanks

On 6/18/2019 at 11:27 AM, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

What happened to the link icon (infinity symbol) in the "post reply" form?  I can't figure out how to link to an article anymore.

 

Thanks 

 

There is a link icon in between the strike through  and quote icons.  This allows you to both add the link and to have a link text.

28 minutes ago, jeremyck01 said:

Hi @richNcincy

 

I've noticed lately that when I click on a link in a post to an outside media article, instead of opening another widow to view the article, the link replaces my UO page with the article.  Am I explaining this correctly?  I prefer to have links open other tabs instead of replacing the web page I'm on so I don't have to back click to get back to UO.  

 

Has it always been this way?  I seem to remember more often than not, another tab would open.  Any way for me to adjust how links open?  Thanks

 

I've changed the setting back to open links in a new window.

39 minutes ago, richNcincy said:

 

There is a link icon in between the strike through  and quote icons.  This allows you to both add the link and to have a link text. 

 

 

 

I don't see it, that's where it used to be as I said, but it's gone now.

 

 

5 hours ago, richNcincy said:

 

I've changed the setting back to open links in a new window.

 

Thank you.

On 6/19/2019 at 2:25 PM, The_Cincinnati_Kid said:

 

 

 

I don't see it, that's where it used to be as I said, but it's gone now.

 

 

 

We had a mod installed that wasn't working correctly and it prevented the link icon from showing. It is now fixed.

@richNcincy

 

I’ve looked, but haven’t seen a place where we at UO could list and sell items we think might be of interest to other formers. 

 

For instance, I have three framed (24”x19”)  maps of the individual Cleve, Columbus and Cincinnati maps/streetgrids that have been laser cut from architects board (I think that’s what it’s called). I had these custom made and they are in perfect condition, but I’m redoing my walls, so they have to go and I want someone at UO to have the chance to enjoy them. Is there a spot that would be appropriate for me to post?  

 

The other pic that says “Cleveland OH” is a framed print, also up for grabs. 

@jeremyck01

 

The software has a few classified mods available for purchase, but I don't think they are necessary at the moment.  I could add a sub-forum from the urbanbar to where members can post things they'd like to sell.  

^That would be great, thank you. 

Hi strange issue - I am not able to view the site on my laptop but can post on mobile.

 

The laptop says I’ve been banned, which I assume is a mistake. Can anyone PM me or help me figure out how to fix this. Thanks all!

Well...we recently banned someone (not you) earlier today but I don't know why it would affect you.  Unless...you're that same person (?).

 

31 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

Well...we recently banned someone (not you) earlier today but I don't know why it would affect you.  Unless...you're that same person (?).

 

 

Who got banned! 

On 6/8/2019 at 10:14 PM, Htsguy said:

Although I rarely use the thumbs down, when I do it may not be because I disagree with the poster but because I am not happy about the news in the post (and I am sure others do the same thing) and that  definitely should not subtract from a community rep score.  In that instance I am probably agreeing with the poster even though I use the thumbs down.

 

I've changed the thumbs down to not reduce the individuals reputation score.  On the site it is now impossible to lower your community reputation.  

On 2/7/2020 at 6:56 PM, richNcincy said:

 

I've changed the thumbs down to not reduce the individuals reputation score.  On the site it is now impossible to lower your community reputation.  

 

So how do we downvote posts that violate forum decorum and/or extreme negativity and/or repeated stupidity? I feel weird about “reporting” any comment to a mod that isn’t an extreme, but there are certainly posts that earn regular old downvotes. 

I've been fat fingering on mobile a lot lately. I'll mean to touch the star to see new posts in a thread, but instead it will click the user's name or avatar and send me to their profile. Then I'm the most recent visitor on their profiles. So if you think I'm being creepy looking at your profile all the time (I have no idea if anyone actually feels this way), it's just my fat fingers or the way my phone displays the site. I don't know if this happens to anyone else.

 

This is more of a PSA than a complaint, really.

Version 4.5 of our site/forum software will be released soon.  It will give users the option of modifying what clicking on a thread does. You can select to be taken to the newest post, oldest post, last viewed post, etc.  This should help with your fat fingering on mobile. 

Did the new software get rolled out?  Some things are different today in terms of layout.

3 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

Did the new software get rolled out?  Some things are different today in terms of layout.

 

Not yet, I was testing out a new Day/Night button feature in beta.  

@richNcincy Hello. On my PC or my mobile phone, when there are new posts in a thread (let's take Cleveland:Downtown:Sherwin Williams Headquarters, for example) the new posts cause the thread title to be in bold font.  Once I've clicked into that thread and read the posts, the thread title goes to a normal type.  I noticed yesterday that when I click into a thread on my iPhone and I've read the thread and go back to the main page (in this case, Northeast Ohio Projects and Construction) the thread topic is staying in bold type.  It's only happening on my phone, not on my PC.  This makes it a bit difficult to remember what I've read and what still needs to be read as the thread topic doesn't lose the bold and go to regular type.

 

I hope I'm explaining this adequately.  Has anyone else experienced this?

Make sure you're scrolling down to the very last reply.  This should ensure that the thread is being marked as read.   I was able to replicate the issue you were having but it marked as read if I went all the way to the bottom. 

On 4/27/2020 at 10:18 AM, GCrites80s said:

I've been fat fingering on mobile a lot lately. I'll mean to touch the star to see new posts in a thread, but instead it will click the user's name or avatar and send me to their profile. Then I'm the most recent visitor on their profiles. So if you think I'm being creepy looking at your profile all the time (I have no idea if anyone actually feels this way), it's just my fat fingers or the way my phone displays the site. I don't know if this happens to anyone else.

 

This is more of a PSA than a complaint, really.

With the new update you can now change where you are taken when you click on a forum thread.  I've changed mine to go to the first unread post, allowing me to not have to click the star anymore.  To change your settings go to > Account Settings > Content View Behavior