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David Russell (russell)
Senior Member
Username: russell

Post Number: 54
Registered: 2-2001
Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 1:10 pm:   

In the open source world, phpBB is the acknowledged leader.

I'm guessing many NIR Discussion group members belong to one or more phpBB sites.

Don't know if you're self hosted or not but most web hosting providers include phpBB in modestly priced hosting plans.
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Ian Michael (admin)
Board Administrator
Username: admin

Post Number: 30
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 11:52 am:   

This has been prompted by Ole Rasmussen's suggestion of Vbulletin as replacement Forum software (http://www.impublications.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=5&post=5202#POST5202).

For some time I have been planning to move from the current software used to run the Discussion Forum and have looked at a number of forum software packages, both commercial and open source (free). There are a number of reasons for needing to move, not least that the current software is no longer being maintained. Another major reason for us is that we are rebuilding the IM Publications website and I want to integrate the Forum into the new site. This integration should cut down on the number of username/passwords members need to remember and, more importantly, enables us to promote the Forum more widely throughout the site.

The Forum is, thanks to all of you, a marvellous resource and one that should be more widely known about�echoes of Howard Mark�s comments about �marketing� educational resources (http://www.impublications.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=5&post=5201#POST5201). We will be able to highlight the most recent posts throughout relevant parts of the new site, as well as posts that haven�t been answered, for example. I think this will bring real benefits in wider recognition of the Forum.

To get the integration, it is necessary to go for a Forum with minimal �features�. However, I think that the basics are done well and are all most people need. I spoke to Howard at Pittcon and he made some suggestions. In the end, I am afraid I am going to be dictatorial! I think that canvassing thoughts on the ideal forum will lead to one that is unaffordable and will never get built!

I will keep the current Forum open until we are ready to change. At that point, the current Forum will be �locked� and no further messages will be able to be posted, although all will still be available for searching and browsing. New threads can then be started on the new Forum. If there are active threads we will find a way of transferring them over.

Your thoughts and comments will be welcome, but there will be a limit to what is possible! We can review the new Forum after a few weeks and see what the consensus is. We are hoping to launch our new website before NIR-2011. I will see how things go, but I think it will be sensible to wait to move the Forum until after the conference, not least because I don�t want to be troubleshooting from Cape Town!

Talking of NIR-2011, IM Publications are on Stand 1. If you are going to the conference, please come and see us. I should be on the stand most of the time and would be delighted to see as many of you as possible. I can probably give you a run through of the new Forum before it goes live if you are interested.

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