New Forum Release Date!

[Jazza]

I think the new forum (SMF) is ready to go live.
I might make it live Monday night or Tuesday morning depending on circumstances.

Features:
* Gallery is not implemented yet
* Quick Reply works
* Avatars works
* Registration basically made spam proof (It's even hard for humans to read validation code so I added voice but it has problems, so in the meantime you will have to just click "Refresh Image" till you can read it)
* FlashChat works and is now faster/more stable
* Fixed front page for new software (Equipment page overflow)

Possible Problems:
* May have to re-upload avatars due to compatibility issues
* Groups will need to be repaired due to compatibility issues
* Old links to post may not work, but I think I fixed the problem by making a fake viewtopic.php file for SMF (PS: It is PHP injection protected so don't bother hacking, I'm not that stupid)

What is Going to Happen:
* All Registrations/Users/Posts/Topics etc. will be transferred to the SMF forum
* The phpBB forum will be turned off and redirected to new forum.

What will happen if it goes wrong:
* phpBB forum will be turned back on and redirection removed
* You may lose a day or so worth of posts so just be aware of this if we need to switch back

To Do:
* ERADICATE ALL POSTS/REGISTRATIONS from Test Forum
* Convert phpBB data to SMF (duh)
* Fix UserBox under header
* Ensure permissions are functioning after transfer
* Ensure Groups are functioning after transfer
* Removed Testing Forum warning (duh)
* CREATE "New Topic" BUTTON WITHIN A TOPIC!
* Make entire "body" page wider so everything isn't squished
* See if I can make the "Downloads" link on front page prettier

This is probably more of a checklist for myself rather than others.
Please add more, if you really think it's important

Technically speaking we can go live within the next 5 minutes, heck, we could have done it last week, but if something goes wrong then post/registrations will be lost if we have to go back to phpBB.

PS: Update your bookmarks to http://www.paranormal.com.au/public/ when the forum goes lives, not that it really matters since you will be redirected anyway.

Remember: There is always at least one problem during an upgrade like this. So be patient during and after the upgrade.

[chainz]

I think do it! Do it ASAP.

[Jazza]

Note to self: Copy fake viewtopic.php from SMF to phpBB after transfer so old links will still function.
Will someone remind me to do this once I'm sure that we won't need to jump back to phpBB?

Also, if you haven't already, just take a peak at the new software so you don't get a shock when we go live. http://www.paranormal.com.au/public/index.php
If it asks for a username and password ("Not yet public") then I am, at that very moment, making the new system go live.

[chainz]

Make the change already