Forum software

[2nd Timothy]

Quick question for anyone who knows....maybe BEP since he works with this stuff.

I would like to put together something very small for my family.  Since we all live all over the place, I thought it would be neat if we could bring our worlds together in a family forum just for us.  I have a web domain saved for us, but I would like a scaled down version of something like CU's YABB to use.  Any ideas on cheap or fee...software?  I believe YABB requires perl which I don't think my host is using.  So perhaps something smaller and lighter would be the ticket.

Anyone?

Grace and Peace!

[Evangelist]

TwoTim:

Most hosts can handle php, and there are a number of chat room/bulletin board type programs available for nothing that run under either one. What type of control panel are you using with your host?

If it's cPanel, there should be several that you can choose from, up to and including a mySql database backed version.

[2nd Timothy]

I chose the cheapo account with yahoo hosting.  8 bucks a month for my own domain name.  But I believe I would have to upgrade to the middle grade account in order to use PHP or Perl to run a database driven software.   I am still waiting for my domain name to be approved in order to see what works and what doesn't.  

So far I can only access the site via FTP or the generic web interface that yahoo provides.

Grace and Peace.

[Evangelist]

Gotcha.....check out Arkwebs.com. They have some very nice accounts that don't cost an arm and a leg (about what you're paying now). They are a Christian outfit, and hosting deals right now get domain registration free for one year.  You should be able to get domain name approval immediately, or at least find out who already owns the name. I build websites, and recommend them highly.

[2nd Timothy]

Well, the yahoo deal I purchased did not work.  The low level account while it supports php and perl, simply will not run cgi or database driven programs.    I did check out arkweb.  Looks interesting, but if I understand it right they want payment for time/months in chunks.   This wont work for me....I need a low monthly plan.

Another option I am testing is ezboard.  No software to install, no hosting to worry about.  Its all taken care of by ezboard inc.   The problem there, it seems rather user hostile for pc challenged which my mom and dad certainly are.....lol

Again, the idea I have is to bring my family together under one setting online, where we can share fellowship together and talk about good ole family times and the lord together.   Having them come to CU was a thought, but I think this might be a bit too public for what I had in mind.

There must be other options I am not aware of.  Any other ideas on how I might accomplish this for a reasonable cost, and be easy enough for the pc challenged.

Grace and Peace!

[sincereheart]

I have a family group and a group for our son in Iraq. We can post messages and pictures, etc.:

http://groups.msn.com/



There's also a free forum (ads on top of each page):

http://www.suddenlaunch.com/index.html

Nothing to download and no charge.  

[2nd Timothy]

I have a family group and a group for our son in Iraq. We can post messages and pictures, etc.:

http://groups.msn.com/



There's also a free forum (ads on top of each page):

http://www.suddenlaunch.com/index.html

Nothing to download and no charge.  

Thanks SH!  That is exactly they type of thing I was looking for.

Grace and Peace!

[sincereheart]

I have a family group and a group for our son in Iraq. We can post messages and pictures, etc.:

http://groups.msn.com/



There's also a free forum (ads on top of each page):

http://www.suddenlaunch.com/index.html

Nothing to download and no charge.  

Thanks SH!  That is exactly they type of thing I was looking for.

Grace and Peace!

You're most welcome!  







They're easy enough that even I can use them!  

[Kristi Ann]

I have a family group and a group for our son in Iraq. We can post messages and pictures, etc.:

http://groups.msn.com/



There's also a free forum (ads on top of each page):



Nothing to download and no charge.  

Please stay away from http://www.suddenlaunch.com/index.html <~ I used to have Kristi Ann's Haven on them and they were Sudden Slow most of the time!!

Try http://proboards.com . I know have Kristi Ann's Haven on Proboards, and they're so much better than Sudden Launch!! Proboards have more opitions and customzing aspects of their web sites!  I know Just click on my Banner below and it will take you to Kristi Ann's Haven!

Blessings,  \o/

[sincereheart]

Please stay away from http://www.suddenlaunch.com/index.html <~

Too late. Been there about two years now.  

I used to have Kristi Ann's Haven on them and they were Sudden Slow most of the time!!

I don't have that problem with Sudden Launch.  

[2nd Timothy]

Please stay away from http://www.suddenlaunch.com/index.html <~

Too late. Been there about two years now.  

I used to have Kristi Ann's Haven on them and they were Sudden Slow most of the time!!

I don't have that problem with Sudden Launch.  

I havent seen any problem with that either (so far).  In fact its quite fast.  Strangly, when I click the proboards.com link I get a "too many connections" error try again later  

The one thing that I dislike about suddenlaunch so far is the not being able to jump to new posts.  It tells you there are new posts, but you have to find them manually.  For the most part I am happy, and having a great time sharing with my distant family.

[sincereheart]

For the most part I am happy, and having a great time sharing with my distant family.

That's wonderful!  

[Kristi Ann]

Please stay away from http://www.suddenlaunch.com/index.html <~

Too late. Been there about two years now.  

I used to have Kristi Ann's Haven on them and they were Sudden Slow most of the time!!

I don't have that problem with Sudden Launch.  

I havent seen any problem with that either (so far).  In fact its quite fast.  Strangly, when I click the proboards.com link I get a "too many connections" error try again later  

The one thing that I dislike about suddenlaunch so far is the not being able to jump to new posts.  It tells you there are new posts, but you have to find them manually.  For the most part I am happy, and having a great time sharing with my distant family.

At Proboards it depends what Server you get your Forum on. I have never had that happen with # 30 Server at all!!  Servers from 27 to 29 have problems. Proboards are working on the Problems all the time.  Proboards have over 35 Servers and they are growing all the time.

I was on SuddenLaunch for three months and at first they were great, however they had more problems then Proboards!! I switched to Proboards because of the customer service and that they have more custom functions than SuddenLaunch has ever had!!

Proboards have so many more options than SuddenLaunch!

See below right from Proboars;


Features

Every Page

Notification of instant messages, greeting, date/time
Navigation menu bar
Forum navigation links (index/category/board/message)

Forum Index

Stats including: newest member, total members, total posts
Graphical alert of new messages in each board since person last logged on
Date/member of latest posts in each board Name of board moderators
Ability to mark every post in the forum "as read" Options not accessible to guests are "hidden" for them
Fading news, with ubbc enabled

Topic Index

Graphical alert of new posts in each topic since person last logged on
Date/member of latest posts in each topic
Names of the board moderators
'Jump to' box for instant jump to a different board
Ability to mark every post in the board "as read"
Options not accessible to guests are "hidden" for them

Topic Display

No. of reply on each post
Author information, such as # posts, membergroup, IM links
Option to view profile of authors
Ability to quote messages or reply
Date of each post listed
Ability to delete or modify posts

Administration Area

Create/delete/reorder categories for boards
Create/delete/reorder boards and place them in different categories
Change newsfader text
Modify board color scheme
Allow/disallow guest posts
View/delete members
Create member groups
Ban members via IP addresses or email addresses
Set reserved words that no one can use
Rebuild member list

Other Features

Full administration and moderating options
Ability to change/administer on the fly via the web
Full UBBC code in posts, with error-checking galore (enable/disable)
Integrated instant messaging system for member to member
Ability to customize the layout colors
Private Boards in which only certain membergroups can access
Password protected message boards
Login length options
Delete registered members
Full profile options
Email all registered users
Online help
Ability to move topics
Simple registration form that generates random password
Post icons to designate the message type
Turn off smileys in your posts

If you have any HTML or URL questions how I built Kristi Ann's Haven, Please Do ask me and I will help anyone who needs it!!!

Love Always,  \o/

KristiAnn

[sincereheart]

LOL! Are you getting a commission?  

I didn't study your list in-depth, but I didn't see anything that Proboards has that SuddenLaunch doesn't.

However, ProBoards is SLOW! Very slow!
And I hate pop-ups!  

[Kristi Ann]

LOL! Are you getting a commission?  

I didn't study your list in-depth, but I didn't see anything that Proboards has that SuddenLaunch doesn't.

However, ProBoards is SLOW! Very slow!
And I hate pop-ups!  

I don't get paid for anything..  My Proboards30 account was fine all day. I Never get pop-ups at all!!  

What type of Software Browser to you use??!  It's more than likely your browser giving you all the pop-ups.

I use Opera Software and it's Free, I have this webpage open, two of Kristi Ann's Haven's webpages open, and two other Christian Forums, plus this nice website ~> "Submissive Wife", I have this open in one Window in my Opera 7.50 and I have the others minimized in the sane window. Plus Opera comes with a Very good Pop-up stopper!!

Proboards is better than Suddenlaunch!!!

Blessings,  \o/