Can I keep v4?

[Former Member]

I assume that this version we are using now is V4?

I have really done a lot of editing when it comes to the posting pages on my forum. It is very unique and I'm pretty sure that V5 will not have a preset option similar to the changes that I have made to my forum. For a great deal of time I have anticipated the creation of my forum which I believe is going to be very successful and it is made to profit me money. It has came time to open my site to the public and began promoting it. I really do not care to use V5, because I am worried that the change might be too much for my particular set up. Will I have the option to remain using V4?

[Ryan Roos]

There will not be an option to keep v4. We cannot maintain and support two separate versions of the software.

That being said we are going to do our best to make sure that we have a smooth transition. Very soon we will be entering Beta-Zone. Forum admins will be able to create test copies of their forums. They can see the conversion of their forum and play with codes and themes. They can start to create plugins if they wish. Essentially they can experiment and plan what they want their v5 forum to look like. They can export any plugins or themes they make during Beta Zone and import them later on.

After Beta-Zone will be the soft launch of V5. V5 will be out for any admins who wish to convert. For 3 months admins can convert at their convenience, on their schedule. Giving them time to adjust what they need. The converter will do it's best to maintain styles and colors from your v4 skins. Header and footer codes will be placed into accessible backup files for you to access at your convenience. You can then import plugins or themes you may have made in the Beta-Zone.

After 3 months is up, every forum on ProBoards will upgrade to the new software. We are offering the best forum software on the internet and we're doing it for free. We realize not everyone is going to want to upgrade, but as I said before we can't split our servers and our service. We think that after the conversion people will really see how much more powerful and easy to use the new software is. If people choose to leave us because of that then that is their choice, though starting a new community from scratch elsewhere seems to make less sense than making minor adjustments to an existing community on v5.

[moonbeam]

Sept 18, 2012 13:36:28 GMT -8 Ryan Roos said:

Very soon we will be entering Beta-Zone.

I don't suppose you can narrow down "very soon", can you? Like maybe an educated guess on how many more weeks?

[Ryan Roos]

> 2 < 8

[Shorty]

Hopefully the first!!!! Ryan, question though. How long will the Beta Zone boards be up after the early release?

[moonbeam]

Sept 18, 2012 14:21:47 GMT -8 Ryan Roos said:

> 2 < 8

[Ryan Roos]

Sept 18, 2012 14:37:10 GMT -8 Shorty said:

Hopefully the first!!!! Ryan, question though. How long will the Beta Zone boards be up after the early release?

I don't know how long Beta Zone will be up. I'm hoping that we can keep it up until Full Release, but it might not work that way. We'll need to see.

[Shorty]

Sept 18, 2012 15:25:52 GMT -8 Ryan Roos said:

Sept 18, 2012 14:37:10 GMT -8 Shorty said:

Hopefully the first!!!! Ryan, question though. How long will the Beta Zone boards be up after the early release?

I don't know how long Beta Zone will be up. I'm hoping that we can keep it up until Full Release, but it might not work that way. We'll need to see.

Alright. That's cool. Whatever makes it best for y'all. Thanks Ryan!!

[Former Member]

@ Ryan
If you find the time, I created a test account for you to view my situation. (must be logged in to view this area. It's just how the coding is set up)
The username is: test
and the password is: testtest

here is the main page
and
here is the board I am referring to.

I am adding the text input boxes because I want to force every post to have the same format. Ex. "something looking for something

You can post there to check it out if ya'd like. I still need to clean the boards up from testing anyways.

Will this be possible for me to do in V5 with a plug in, or a code that I may create?

[Omio]

Sept 18, 2012 17:27:13 GMT -8 game said:

Will this be possible for me to do in V5 with a plug in, or a code that I may create?

Ryan doesn't even need to answer - this kind of thing, if a custom field won't do, will CERTAINLY be possible with a plug-in!

I'm pretty sure developers are going ballistic about getting plug-ins ready already.

Edit: Trimmed the quote down.

[Ryan Roos]

Everything I see on that page can be achieved in v5. A plugin would be great, but you could even just modify the template directly to be honest. It looks more like you reworked the framework of the page. You will be able to replicate the functionality. Just keep an eye out for Beta Zone and maybe you can find a coder who is interested in helping you.

[Former Member]

Sept 19, 2012 6:37:18 GMT -8 Ryan Roos said:

Everything I see on that page can be achieved in v5. A plugin would be great, but you could even just modify the template directly to be honest. It looks more like you reworked the framework of the page. You will be able to replicate the functionality. Just keep an eye out for Beta Zone and maybe you can find a coder who is interested in helping you.

Cool deal! That's all I needed to know. I feel much better knowing this now!

[Tohsaka Rin]

Don't feel bad, I am in much the same situation and it's both nerve-racking and also nice to see the progress of change.

If someone's entirety of work is rendered useless a lot of forums might drop into the dirt. Sure, there are a lot of coders out there but in most cases; like myself, I have no ability to CREATE plug-ins and thus need someone to work with me to make them.

The ability to find anyone interested is very, very difficult. All we can really hope for is that those making codes for proboards don't just give up their projects and leave people in the wake of confusion on what to do.

<T^T> So scared...I fear for my board a little.

[Shorty]

Alot of the codes used now are features. And then there are coders here who will be here to help. And the coders will also make plug ins right after its released. And proboards will have a plug in library so that you can easily find them and import then. And with Beta Zone you have the time to figure out what will need to be done to make your forum how it is now before actually upgrading you forum.

[Tohsaka Rin]

Good, I was hoping there would be a library like how they had been keeping one here.

I know that there are going to be three codes that no support is being offered for; or that are likely not going to end up being ported over to plug-ins.. meaning I have to have someone make them when that time comes. (Then again, you never can predict the future so maybe something will happen.)

I always imagine horrible groans whenever someone asks for help. Then again, this has a lot to do with my bad luck in finding help in the past. I have stuck with proboards so far because it has been the first time in many years where service is offered.

This is probably the largest concern for a few forums out there like myself.