New BB Software?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Jan 2005 3:44 am

Unfortunately, in the IT/Data Processing/Computer world change is something that happens all the time. It has to be accepted and you move on or you are left behind. PC Operating Systems are a good example, Windows XP is not a DOS based OS and that is hard for many to accept as most of their "old reliable" DOS programs no longer work and if they want the same functionality they must move to Windows XP compatible software (and they ultimately accept the change).

Where I worked, before retirement, is a good example. In 1974 SSA went on line with their first "computer based" system, that replaced an old Teletype network. At first operators didn't want to use the new computer system and had a hard time getting some offices to use the new system (the old one was left in the office for 30 days). But, once they used the new system, within a few days, most never wanted to go back to the more forgiving Teletype system.

What you are has no bearing on change - all are affected. Just have to cope with whatever it is, whether very subtle or major and move on.

Ernie Renn · Post by **Ernie Renn** » 11 Jan 2005 7:59 am

I feel that change is good, as long as it's an improvement. I also believe, "If it works, don't fix it!"

When you went to the software you're using now, I didn't think I'd ever figure it out. I was so used to the threads being listed in a long list. After using it for a while, I found the new board to be a great improvement. At that time I left it completely up to you. b0b, you do what you deem necessary. I have faith in your judgement and I know you will try to make as many people happy as you can.

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My best,
Ernie

www.buddyemmons.com

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 11 Jan 2005 9:56 am

The problem is that it doesn't work. The current system is close to its breaking point. At peak times, it gets so sluggish that its almost unusable.

I'm trying to preserve most of the user interface that we all know and love, but update the underlying technology to handle more messages, better searches, etc. I'm not changing it just to have the latest technology - I'm changing it because if I don't, it will slow to a crawl and die.

I don't think that the current system has another year left in it. It's no longer supported by its manufacturer. My job is to make this transition as easy as possible for you folks. My goal is to leave no member behind.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 11 Jan 2005 6:23 pm

Anyone have any opinions about Invision as compared to the other programs mentioned above?

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 11 Jan 2005 7:30 pm

b0b,

I do like the WowBB software, though I must admit I haven't made a rigorous comparison to other options.

To all: I want to thank b0b for all his efforts to keep the SGF alive, well, and friendly. This transition he is looking into is necessary (I pretty much understand these things, even though I'm a hardware engineer and b0b is a software engineer)

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 13 Jan 2005 8:46 am

I like the WowBB OK, but I like the Invision search tool a lot better.

In fact the WowBB search button only seems to search the current folder/topic?

Not nuts about that, since you have to navigate to the folder you want to search.. or am I using it wrong?

Other than that, I like it..[This message was edited by Bill Terry on 13 January 2005 at 08:50 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 13 Jan 2005 9:45 am

b0b, I looked at the Invision site.
it seem pretty good, but I haven't uesed it.

I certainly see the forum slowing and getting glitchy.

a hosted Java-based real-time chat room
This seems interesting, and would likely take a lot of the" hi how ya doing" stuff off the topics.

The ban filter might if used judiciously make moderators jobs a triffle easier.
Ban George Carlins 7 words and be done with it.

Would you need to switch the whole database to as newer type, or just the front ends engines that read and service it?

Have you considered running some trial demos on the side to get our feedback?
Might be worth the time.

Good luck.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 13 January 2005 at 02:37 PM.]

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 13 Jan 2005 10:30 am

I like the look of what we have but would be happy with the new look if it works well..I could not log on there to try a post..

Hook

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HookMoore.com
Allen Moore

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 14 Jan 2005 4:48 pm

Now wait a minute..

When did the Black Box start coming with software?

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 15 January 2005 at 03:22 AM.]

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 19 Jan 2005 3:54 am

B0b - the WowBB test site seems like a winner to me. Certainly an "upgrade" to the current BBS in use. If everything else (price, ease of administration, etc.) works for you, I'd say give it rip. I've kicked the tires a bit and so far I'm very pleased.

What is your current thinking? Best, -Dave

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 19 Jan 2005 5:26 am

The WOW test site looks good to me, only it's a little hard on the eyes. I set the text size to largest but it did not help. Hopefully with the full version there will be a solution. I say if it works for you, it will work for me.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Jan 2005 9:40 am

WowBB seems interesting too, Iforgot top look earlier

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
Your users can view your board in their language of their choice. WowBB is currently available in

* Arabic
* Dutch
* English
* French
* German
* Italian
* Malay
* Spanish
* Turkish
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Well this part might really make things easier for our foreign steelers with limited english.
granted some of this translation software is accasionally odd in output.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>
WowBB automatically detects the correct time zone settings for each user. No manual time zone settings are necessary. Daylight saving times are taken care of, too!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

With WowBB's advanced private messaging
is cool

A user "adds mana" to other users
hhhmmm not sure about this one...

How about doing a comparison test run of both systems?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 19 Jan 2005 10:16 am

In WowBB I can add a way to increase the text size as a user preference. I experimented with it a bit, and I'm confident that I can provide a "big text" view for those who need it.

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 19 Jan 2005 11:02 am

I just finished poking around on the test WowBB sit, a vBulletin site, and Invision's support site. I agree with b0b that WowBB's default user interface design is quite clean, but I think overall it is lacking in some functionality. The search feature on Invision is by far the best of the three, and vBulletin's search is still a huge improvement over WowBB.

Invision has some nice navigation features, and the ability to display the threads in many different sort orders. I don't like the fact that lots of their buttons are images.

I like how vBulletin doesn't waste tons of screen space with not-so-useful stuff when displaying a thread. They also suffer from using images as buttons.

My order of preference would be Invision, vBulletin, WowBB.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 19 Jan 2005 11:50 am

What does vBulletin search have that WowBB doesn't?

Don Poland · Post by **Don Poland** » 19 Jan 2005 1:03 pm

I like the WOW board, but I guess I would be happy with any as long as we get to have the old board archived, so us newbies can do some studying

[This message was edited by Don Poland on 19 January 2005 at 01:23 PM.]

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 19 Jan 2005 1:21 pm

I asked in the WowBB Support Forum about searching and got this speedy response: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>To limit the search by forum or category, go to a forum or category, and a "Search in this forum (or category) only" checkbox will appear under the search box.

You cannot limit search by date at this time. However, we hope to add support for this in future WowBB versions.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 19 Jan 2005 9:30 pm

What does vBulletin search have that WowBB doesn't?

vBulletin supports boolean operators (AND OR NOT), wildcards, the ability to search just topics or full posts, and the ability to display matching threads or just individual posts.

Invision additionally supports quoted phrase matching. I've found this feature to make a huge difference for some seaches.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 20 Jan 2005 1:32 am

The built in translators, would have helped Cor no end with getting his message out clearly...

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 20 Jan 2005 8:57 am

I don't think that there's any built-in translator. I think that the language switch is for the user interface, not for message content.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 20 Jan 2005 10:49 am

Another reply from the WowBB team:

WowBB considers all queries "AND" queries, and supports phrase search: simply enclose your phrase in double quotes (").

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 20 Jan 2005 12:43 pm

Yes Bobby you're right I registered for French language and the interface is in french, but all text is still english.

I sence the same feel for the board, as the old one, but a few nice things like test before you post,
and greatly improved speed... granted the load is light for it.

I tried double voting in the polls and you can't...
good.

Will it interface with the old DBMS from the current board?[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 20 January 2005 at 12:48 PM.]

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 20 Jan 2005 1:04 pm

There's no database in the current system. It's all file-based. That's part of the problem.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 20 Jan 2005 1:11 pm

Can it be reverse engineered?
Or maybe data mined?

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 20 Jan 2005 2:35 pm

WowBB considers all queries "AND" queries, and supports phrase search: simply enclose your phrase in double quotes (").

It bothers me that such features are not listed in their help document.