I am going to try and upgrade the forum this evening resulting in the forum being down for about two hours (but Im not ruling out the possibility of overnight downtime).

Assuming all goes well, the new forum will no longer be stored at the URI http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/forum - www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/forum   but in fact at http://www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk - www.bmwcarclubforum.co.uk . I will redirect all requests for pages from the main club site to the new one.

There will be some slight differences to the new forum - it will be more secure and faster than the current version. I am also hoping to have an upload facility so that people can upload their pictures and files instead of struggling with other websites, etc. Additional features include a spell check facility (needs a 2Mb download onto your system first!) amongst other things.

There will be teething problems but please let me know via the http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=22 - website announcements & feedback forum  what is going wrong (or right ).
Thanks
Killian

Firstly, let me apologise for the delay in getting the forum back online. I had initially said that it would be about 4 hours but in the end it turned out to be more than 48! At least Duncan Ireland can verify that I (we!) were working hard on it!
Anyway, the pages should be processed quicker on the server (download times should be similar - that is down to your connection). There is better security with the new database system also.
I spent a good while trying to get some of the modifications to the last forum into the new version. These required some new SQL coding but they seem to work fine.
There are also a few other bits & pieces with the new model. When posting messages you soon have the ability of uploading files onto the server. Forum members can also soon upload their own avatars. It will require additional configurating but Im just too dog tired tonight to spend another hour or two programming that in!
There is also a new spellcheck facility but this requires an initial download from the developer's site for it to work.
Better late than never!
Hope it works for you.
K.

Yes ....Well done Guys !

Saw a report on BBC News Samaritans had increased number of calls

 Thankyou both for the Works , first time for months I talked to the other half.!!!!!!!!

Back at begining of August, we had a NEW Web layout and Colours, which I thought was a great improvement, as it seemed did others.

Was it something we said???, Its Gone!!!

Killan.. some of the topics have been moved around or posts deleted - is this because of the upgrade or simple moderation..

Mine seem fine also but I think some threads and PMs may have gone into limbo but if anyone is missing anything then let me know & I'll dig it out for you. Id rather not go re-configuring things again.

kbannon wrote: by the way, is email notification working for you all?

Pass..not tried that bit yet...getting to grips with the new bits still 

kbannon wrote: Goldryder wrote: kbannon wrote: by the way, is email notification working for you all? Pass..not tried that bit yet...getting to grips with the new bits still  it is an old bit though!

well..umm...erm...I never used it anyway cos when I first came onto the site it wasn't working, according to a note across the top of the screen, so I never got into the habit of using it....

kevin wrote: Goldryder wrote: Mine are still there, Kevin....all the ones sent, anyway that peeps haven't deleted and I delete  ones sent to me as soon as I read them usually anyway I suspect I deleted them in error when clearing space before going away. Oh well.

Sounds like the old memory is fading Kevin...perhaps you need a holiday 

kbannon wrote: by the way, is email notification working for you all?

Yes Thanks !     

Ummm..not sure went there but the server went down for about 40 seconds, tried to refresh and it came up 'cannot find server'

Oh well, prob a twisted cable somewhere...swift kick or whack with big hammer will cure it lol