Should we change the forum?

Hi all,

I know we all hate change, but people have been telling me and I've also been noticing a lot of people mentioning they can't find things on this forum due to the pretty poor search function. Thats not good news at all! So, the question is, should I upgrade the forum to one with a superior search ability?

This forum was only a quick fix to the issues experienced before, and although it solved the security problem, it isnt that great.

I can put up a demo of the forum I'm thinking of installing if you'd like to see it and play around before you vote.

If you're all happy, then I'm happy.

[MotherBear]

Change isn't necessarily for the bad so maybe it wouldn't hurt to have a look at what you've got lined up for us. ?At least it shows that the forum isn't stagnant and you're always looking to improve it. ? ?

The search facility does have its problems, but I think some of that could be to do with it not going back further than 2005 and picking up some of the older posts. ?Some stuff was lost after the hacking/move to the new forum, so we can't blame the search facility for that. ?It's better than some others in that you can look up individual words and also phrases, which is good.

If the new forum could lend itself to showing members' locations, too, it would be helpful, as it's difficult trying to assist someone when you don't know which country they are posting from and such information given varies from country to country.

I, for one, would be interested to see what you have in mind by way of a new forum, BUT PLEASE COULD YOU ENSURE THAT THE FORMAT IS COMPATIBLE THIS TIME as I really don't think I could stand up to another battering with having to edit and amend all the corrupted tagging again ?. ?I still haven't completed a large part of the work even now .

[Glenda]

I really don't mind. :)

Getting used to a new forum is a bit of a pain, but gets easier the more times one has to do it. ::) Hope it will not be too complicated though as I am sure some people find typing difficult, let alone working out how to join in with the forum.

As Mother Bear says, it would be nice to know where other posters live ... I put this info in my signature space.

:)

[Dawn]

The other forum used to show your location under your name didn't it? Yeah, would be helpful, I think it's good to keep trying new things so I'm happy for you to give anything a go. As long as it's user friendly that's all that matters isn't it? :)

Ok, you can see it here: http://www.movetonz.org/forum

Please dont reply to any existing posts on there, but feel free to post new things to have a play around with it. ?I've transferred some info over there so you should be able to log in and see the current posts etc, to get a feel for it all. ?Some stuff is not fully transferred though, so some member info isnt there and smileys are missing etc. ?This will all be there in the final transfer.

This also isnt how it will look, so dont pay attention to the colour scheme!!

[MotherBear]

Oh charmin'!

I tried to log in to the new forum and this is what I got for my trouble.

vBulletin Message

You have been banned for the following reason:
No reason was specified.

Date the ban will be lifted: Never ? ?

A girl can get a complex you know. ?

I see the search facility has one of those irritating image verification thingies. ? >:( Forum doesn't look terribly exciting, but I'll hold judgement on that until I see the finished result. ?At least my pics appear full size and haven't got the side chopped off them. ? 8-)

Did you manage to log in? I think the image verification thing is only shown to guests to stop harvesters.

[MotherBear]

No, I tried to log in and it thanked me for doing so then the above message appeared and now it just won't entertain me at all. ?Whatever I try to look at on there it's telling me I'm banned. ?You've got it well trained, haven't you? ? ;D

Not bad - banned and I haven't even made a post on there yet. My reputation precedes me. ? 8-)

Odd, you're showing as being logged in!

[MotherBear]

Well, I must be in there in stealth mode because I can't even get to first base with it now. I tried bringing up the new forum again from the link but it just brought up the banned notice. It really doesn't want me in there, not even to view the front menu page any more. :-[