UBB 5.25

[Dean B]

For anyone that's interested I just noticed they released ver 5.25 of the Ultimate Bulletin Board. First glance looks like lots of new features, mmmm... something else to break http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif


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

[Deb]

I am quite anxious to have the new version installed... many new excellent features!

Right now I am just watching their forums carefully to see what bugs are in it before putting it up over here.... usually with the new releases it doesn't take long for the fixes to start popping up <grin>

It looks good so far though http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Deb

[Justin]

I like the new features, but I'm not sure I like the new look, with table borders. I like this look better. If I ever purchase, that's one modification I will be forced to make.

Otherwise, they did add the member status underneath the users name, but they still haven't broken up the tables in the threads, something a lot of people wanted them to do. They could easily add this as an Admin option:

if ($BreakTables eq "yes") {
print "</table><table width=$TableWidth border=0";
}

But anyway, lots more code to play with. I wonder when they will release the next free version...


------------------
Justin Nelson, SFE Inc.
http://www.vdj.net

[Dean B]

Been keeping a close eye on UBB's UBB 5.25 today and there do indeed appear to be some niggles with it. Perhaps the most worrying is the display of your ip address on each of your postings and the inability to turn this feature off. The hackers are already working on this. I'm with you Deb, although the new features look appealing I'm gonna wait till the dust settles ..

Dean.
(soon to be dmcity.com again .....hooray !)

[Dean B]

I set up a test UBB 5.25 on my FQuest site here just to have a play with it before I upgrade my *real* UBBs. I think I've found a bug - If I select expanded european date/ display AM/PM I get a funny symbol along with todays date after 'last visited' Only appears to happen in NN4.5 though. They've also for some reason dropped the password protected forums in favour of 'advanced permissions' granted by the Admin. That method certainly won't suit FQuest & new clients.

Dean.
--- Increase server load... not me ! http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif ---

[This message has been edited by Dean B (edited 02-12-99).]

[Jacob Stetser]

That method certainly won't suit FQuest & new clients.

Why not?

BTW, they had password-protected forums? I could never figure out how to do it using .htaccess, and there certainly wasn't an option on the control panel.

http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

Jake

[Justin]

I don't like the IP address thing either. I think they will add an option to disable that too. Actually, I think you can log but not display, or something like that. I have no problem with logging it, in fact I like that feature, but there's no need to display it to the public.

The password thing would be nice, but I don't think anyone's got it working right. There is no .htaccess protection, it just names the forum directory to a random name, and that's not too secure if you ask me.

Want secure forums? Go to http://www.vdj.net/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi and click the Beta Section - this is for my beta testers. Works nicely so far. Took a lot of hacking but it works, and it's more secure than 5.25's method. In fact, you can't read posts or topics, nor can you post, without it. And it's just on the one forum.

Also note the tip of the day at the bottom of the main page, under the search box (I can't help it - I can't leave the script alone for 5 minutes!)

http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif


------------------
Justin Nelson, SFE Inc.
http://www.vdj.net

[Dean B]

Jacob,
With UBB 5.25 this is the sequence to enable you to be able to post to a private forum -

First you have to become a registered member of the UBB.
Then, & only when the Administrator decides he's ready, he has go into your info/permissions via the control panel and check a box which will enable you to post to that forum.

My point being when your account is activated with FQuest you're giving a password for the server forums which enables you to post/reply immediately. Just imagine the extra administrative work on this board alone checking which username is actually an FQuest client then individually having to grant that user 'advanced permission' via the cpanel just to accomplish the same thing.
I have a database of nearly 300 internet golfers. If I wanted to give them all access to a private Forum I would previously just email them all with a forum password now I have to individually grant access to all of them. Nightmare !
Judging by what I've read on UBBs UBB this looks like it will be one of the first 'niggles' addressed in 5.26

Dean.

[This message has been edited by Dean B (edited 02-12-99).]

[flesh2dust]

Hi all, I spent every last dime I had getting 5.25 last night (literally http://www.aota.net/ubb/redface.gif) and it seems to be working fine, although I have really not fiddled with it all that much. Of course, you're welcome to come over and check it out,
www.astepback.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi (http://www.astepback.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi)

I did turn off registration for all but one of the forums...
Brian.

[This message has been edited by flesh2dust (edited 02-12-99).]

[Deb]

We utilize another UBB outside of this domain for the FQ Sales Rep. This one is sitting inside a pw protected area where we need to grant each reseller a username/password for access to this area. Once in, they proceed to register just as you would here.

Just like Dean says... it could easily be an admin nightmare for us to use the UBB's new forums. Not only for the reasons he states, but also because we have to keep track of the pw's in case someone forgets etc... I may not mind granting a pw within the Activation Letters that is different for each user (like I do for the resellers) but having to wait for the user to register and then following the steps Dean listed out would be rough -- very rough!

On the other side of it -- I do like certain things about each user having a different password -- example: Let's say Justin decides he can't stand FutureQuest any longer and cancels his account --- now I am left with two choices -- change the password for EVERYONE, or leave him with the ability to post to them. Though easier for me to change the password.. it could be a pain for the users to have it changed on a whim all the time. With the way our Reseller's forums are setup.. I give each their own pw.. and if one leaves I can remove them without affecting the others. Each login name to get into the area offers me a simple clue as to 'who they are' for easier admin..because I get to pick that part http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

I'll keep watching and see what they (or Justin since he seems to be accomplishing a great deal) come up with...

Deb

[EWS]

I'm so excited about UBB 5.25 finally being released! That's awesome. I've seen some bugs mentioned in their forums so I'm going to wait for Ted to fix 'em. Then I'll do the upgrade. I have 400+ members and I don't wanna screw anything up.

Regarding the IP logging/display ... I'm pretty sure this is OPTIONAL. I'm under the impression that IPs can be displayed w/ all messages or NOT displayed/logged at all.

Non-Registration is a really cool option. It's so flexible.

I hear talk of the control panel having a new look too. I'm hoping it's easier to delete messages/topics. The "delete by user" things sounds like a useful addition.

I don't like the table borders either but I think that can also be disabled in the control panel. well, see ya.
- http://www.ewsonline.com



[This message has been edited by EWS (edited 02-13-99).]

[Justin]

Picking on Justin. Should be nice to me - remember, we all stay here because "Deb's nice" http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

I like the anonymous posting thing too - I know some people may want to just leave a quick response and may not wish to register. I also really like the "next oldest / next newest" links in each topic. That's handy, saving a click to the back button when reading a lot of new posts.

The IP thing does bother me. I like the idea of logging it, just don't display it. I even log the user's IP address when they submit a bug report from my site, but it only shows in the resulting email that I get.

I hope you can turn off the table borders easily. Reminds me of Windows 98. I turned off most of the stuff that makes it look different from 95 (all that "View as Web Page" crapola). I like the current look better. But that's just one person's opinion, and you know what they say about that...

They really need a way to select multiple users with a single password, and possibly just block a single user from posting in that forum, so that if someone leaves FQ, they can just be blocked from that forum, while everyone else uses the same password. But that won't happen. Unless Florida falls off the edge...

http://www.aota.net/ubb/biggrin.gif


------------------
Justin Nelson, SFE Inc.
http://www.vdj.net

[Deb]

Well there is a feature to make it so this or that user is no longer allowed to post to any forum.... but that doesn't do much good.

The user can simply create a new profile with different information -- and as long as they have the password to the protected forums, they are then free to post again...

Deb
p.s you seem so easy to pick on Justin... http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif