UBB Demo Install Problems

[Darth]

Hey everybody.

Not a good day for me (although everything FutureQuest is loading faster! : ) Hurray and good job).

I've been trying to install the UBB demo on my site. After beating my head against the wall until it fell off and rolled under the sink, I finally figured out that my username and password were the ones clearly documented in the installation instructions.

<sigh> and <arggg!> at the same time.

Well, now the majority of the scripts seem to be working, but whenever the actual post to invoke the BB happens ...

... /Ultimate.cgi?action=intro

I just end up with a blank page (or a page that is trying to load forever, I should say).

I've CHMODed my little heart out, but I can't seem to figure out what's going on.

Has anyone here seen or heard of this problem?

Thanks for your time.


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Andy Tuttle
"Life is too important to be taken seriously" (with thanks to Oscar Wilde)

[Del]

Hi Andy. If you'd post the URL to your UBB, I'll go have a look and see if I spot anything. If the page looks like it's trying to load, chances are it's not a permissions problem.

Also, check your error logs (logs_weg and logs_cgi) they may provide some insights as to what's going on.



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Del
www.downinit.com (http://www.downinit.com)

da da da

[Justin]

I just installed the freeware version on my site because I like it a LOT better than Matt's free script. However, I will not say it was easy.

Their directions on their site and in the script itself were contradictory, especially in the area of the whole 775 cgi thing. I finally got it to work by making a directory below the www root and making it 777 as well as the variable files inside it, then changing the paths in all CGI files, where it says require= to show the full path, e.g. /big/dom/xvdj/ubbfiles/mods.file

Finally, I am very happy with it. Sure, the email, cookies, closing threads, deleting posts, etc., is disabled, but overall it has the same look and feel as this one. I like it. It beats the crap out of Matt's free WWWBoard script (no offence).

Justin
http://www.vdj.net/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi

[Del]

Don't forget, there's a "how to install UBB on FQuest" tutorial thingus at http://www.downinit.com/stuff/ubb.html http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif



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Del
www.downinit.com (http://www.downinit.com)

da da da

[Justin]

Ok, your tutorial says that the variable files CAN go in the cgi-bin and will work at 755 - are you sure? I'm not doubting you, but... well... umm... are you sure? I didn't try it, because I've always heard that it wouldn't work. Of course, I am using the free version... maybe there's a difference.

Anyway, doesn't matter anyway, mine works as it is, so I'm happy. I did notice that the links still say "BypassCookie=True", even though there is no cookie support. Reminds me of shareware - the features are probably there and just not enabled. That's odd, on an open source thing like a perl script. I could be wrong about that, but I also noticed that some files that are "not included in the free version" are there...

Anyway, if it gets popular on my site, I am going to get the licenced version. What do you recomend - lease or purchase? I'm not sure about that one.

I guess I should cross that bridge when I come to it.

Justin

[Del]

Remember, that tutorial-ish thing is 'how to install on FutureQuest'. In other words, Do not try this at home! er, wait... What I mean is, it'll only probably work on machines that Terra has built, cause as near as I can tell he's the only guy that builds em right. You see, Terra is running a highly modified suEXEC wrapper, which basicly gives all scripts running under your domain the same ID as you. Therefore, you don't need to set the permissions to world writable on everything, thus allowing the variable files to safely live in the cgi-bin at mode 755 http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Or, now that it's too late to make a short post, Trust me, it works *g* I installed my free UBB ( http://www.downinit.com/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi ) by following my own directions *grin* I've also installed a 'real' UBB (not free) using the same directions.

As for the 'lease or buy' question, the answer is most assuredly a resounding LEASE! Reasoning is simple, when you buy it, your upgrade-ability is only valid for one year. After that, to get the latest version, you gotta buy it again. When you lease it, you can only use it for a year To get the latest version after that, you gotta lease it again (sound similar?) The only difference is that when you lease it instead of buy it, you're paying like $100 less!

Okay, done blathering now.



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Del
www.downinit.com (http://www.downinit.com)

da da da

[Terra]

lease...

Deb has a heated discussion on this topic, forget where though, just search for it... http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

--
Terra
--It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood--
FutureQuest

[Justin]

Do not try this at home!

Hehe - that's funny. I did try it at home http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif Good old Apache for Win32 and Perl 5.something. Worked nicely, too.

Ok, I didn't realize how that worked - in other words, it's the equivelant of me writing to the file when the script does so. I like that. Actually, any other way wouldn't make sense. Why would a script be considered "World" anyway? I put the script there, so obviously I trust it, right?

It all makes sense now. Del - I was not doubting you at all, I just needed clarification, and Now I know http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif Sorry if I sounded like I was doubting you. I have very little experience with CGI/Perl and this is all still pretty new to me. I'm learning fast as heck, though, and I couldn't possibly ask for a better server to learn on (although I've been learning "at home" first, just in case I cause a crash or something http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif)

Boy, I really am tired. I only ramble like this when I am. I'm the only one to post so far on my UBB and it's full of my ramblings http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif That's ok, though. It's my freakin' UBB, and I'll ramble if I want to (spare you guys the torment!)

Justin

[Justin]

I have a question now. It's sort of a moral thing, I guess, and sort of like a loophole.

I have been hunting aroung in the free script files and I have found that most of the functionality is there from the paid version, it's just not enabled. Now, in the license agreement, it says that I am free to modify this script to fit my own purposes, as long as I don't distribute it to anyone or try to sell it. That's all fine.

My question is, if I "Crack" it, make all of the features work, It should be within their license agreement, legally anyway, is that ok to do? I would be modifying it for my own use only, and if they include features that aren't enabled, my enabling them would only be modifications to the code for my own use.

Right??

It wouldn't legally be any different than if I added these features on my own. I saw stuff in there relating to Emailing lost passwords, cookies and "Show topics from the last xx days", all stuff that is not "in" the free version.

Just curious - I don't want to do anything to it until I'm sure that it's legal - It sounds right to me, though, and it's all in accordance with their license agreement...

Justin

oops - Showing Topics... is there anyway. The other stuff isn't, though.

[This message has been edited by Justin (edited 02-01-99).]

[Dean B]

I'd tread very carefully there Justin ..


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Regards, Dean.
**DMCity Web Board**
http://xdmcity.futurequest.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi

[Justin]

I'm not going to mess with it, for a few reasons. Number one, I don't have the time. Two, I don't need all of those abilities, really, on my site. And three, being a shareware author, that forms a conflict of interest. What is to stop someone from using the same justification to crack my proggy http://www.aota.net/ubb/frown.gif

I guess it was just another one of my dumb little ideas http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif Lack of sleep does things to my rationalization.

It's bed time - C-yall!

[Darth]

Thanks for all the posts, you guys.

Del, I was going to post the address this morning (hate to say it, but I was so frustrated last night I ... I ... turned off the computer and just watched some TV) ... but now even the access to the cp.html page isn't working.

I think I'll take a break from it today, and try and reinstall (from scratch) tonight using your instructions.

sigh UBB inpressed me so much I bought some Perl books with the intention of trying to see how much I could assimilate. I feel like someone who's decided to learn French finding out they've been assigned the task of translating Encyclopedia Galactica into French (from PanGlactic).

In one night.

Oh well, thanks again for the hints/tips. I'll be getting back to you with a status report tonight / tomorrow.

Justin, UBB has a place on their site discussing UBB code hacking

www.scriptkeeper.com/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=UBB+Code+Hacking] (http://www.scriptkeeper.com/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=UBB+Code+Hacking])

and I saw several folks asking about hacking the demo version referred to that area by moderators. I don't know if they were giving oblique approval, or just trying to keep their forum clean, but there are a great many posts in that area.

Thanks again for the help. I'll be back begging for help (or happily gloating) if I can get it working tonight.

Del, how much do you charge for an install, anyway? ; ) (Thinking the best but planning for the worst!)

Thanks again you'se guyz.

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Andy Tuttle
"Life is too important to be taken seriously" (with thanks to Oscar Wilde)

-- HEY! My smileys aren't working anymore! Can't I do anything right?! : (

[This message has been edited by Darth (edited 02-01-99).]

[Dean B]

Darth,
If you're still having problems with your UBB guestbook let me know and I'll set it up for you should you wish. I've set numerous UBBs & guestbooks up and have a fair idea now of what makes em tick http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif
No charge as you're a fellow FQuest dude http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif


------------------
Regards, Dean.
**DMCity Web Board**
http://xdmcity.futurequest.net/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi

[Del]

Justin,

Sorry if I sounded like I was doubting you.

Don't worry about it. At no point did I think that at all. I think I was in as wacky of mood as you were last night *grin* Also, the reason it prolly worked 'at home' is that on Win32 (be it 95, 98 or NT) you don't have to chmod anything.


Darth,

I know the feeling! Many times I've gotten frustrated enough to shut the darn thing off. However, probably not as often as I should... http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Anyway, if you are still having troubles with it, just let me know, I'll be more than happy to help. As far as cost, I dunno... The last one I did was in exchange for a graphic (which you can see at the top of http://www.downinit.com/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi , thanks Joe!) Maybe if I could get ya to send me a box of smokes or something... *grin*

Del

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Del
www.downinit.com (http://www.downinit.com)

da da da

[Justin]

-- HEY! My smileys aren't working anymore! Can't I do anything right?! : (
When I first started posting here noone would tell me how to make the darn smilies - and it took me a few minutes to figure it out http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Remember, no space after the : and before the )

: ) <---Wrong
http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif <---Right

http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif http://www.aota.net/ubb/redface.gif

Justin

[Justin]

As much as I love the UBB, the HTML in this thing was cut and pasted from a WYSIWYG editor - nothing really wrong with that in itself, I guess... but there is so much repetative code in there it's pathetic!

Anyway, I'm tweaking the hell out of the UBB free version's HTML code. I set up a bunch of variables so that the colors can be easily changed by modifying one file - every color, font, etc. I think the paid version is supposed to do that anyway - not sure though.

The other thing that I'm doing (that should have been done anyway) is making each reply a separate table. This solves the problem of having to wait for the whole page to load to see anything. Now each reply shows as soon as it's own table is loaded - looks no different from that, either. Added about 2 words to the code for that - </table> and <table> http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

I am also, in the process, learning Perl. Very simple language, and I found out that math is performed in the same way as VB, C, PHP, etc. Easy. Hardest part was getting the individual replies to alternate BGCOLOR's.

It'll be up when I'm done - according to their own forums, it's perfectly ok to do this and even give it away for free, as long as their copyright and Powered by the Ultimate Bulletin Board remain. No problem.

Oh, I realized that the cookie stuff is just their not changing the links in the free version (BypassCookie=True). It just ignore's that anyway.

I might try to write a web interface, integrated with their "Control Panel", to change color scheme's and fonts. I guess that's how the paid version works (??).

Anyway, it's my bed time. Getting there anyway (can you tell?) http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif Gonna go eat some Wheaties and crash.

Justin
-- If it ain't broke, don't fix it! (yeah, right) --

[Darth]

Hey everybody! Sorry it took a day or two to get back to you guys.

I purchased a ubb lease, per everyone's suggestion. I agree with some of the stuff Deb wrote elsewhere ... ubb has a strange way of dealing with customers. Oh well. I figured if I was going to do it, I'd just do it once, with the real McCoy, if you know what I mean.

Del - Thanks for your pages! I went there, printed them up, and used them to get the ubb scripts working. Almost missed the part about uploading the variable_files, but since I'd already sorta' done it once, I caught myself. I really gotta learn to read documentation more carefully! http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Once I get my site up and functional (hopefully today, I'm sick at home but able to do "non-mission critical" work!), I'll send you some pretty graphic for your site. Maybe you'll find them useful.

Dean - Thanks for your gracious offer of assistance. Knowing you'd be there to help out made me confident enought to go ahead and purchase the license. I really appreciate your proactively offering to help me. Thanks.

Justin - Thanks for the smiley help. http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

FutureQuest is a great place to be. Thanks again to you all!

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Andy Tuttle
"Life is too important to be taken seriously" (with thanks to Oscar Wilde)