ProBoards v5 Launch Date Announced!

[Former Member]

Jan 10, 2013 15:06:48 GMT -8 Entris said:

I'm guessing that the codes you are talking about are codes located in the Headers and Footers (main/Global/Board) on your current board and is not doing what they should in the V5 board?

When converting the board into V5 it automatically removes all the codes in the Headers/Footers and adds them to a separate part of the V5 version of the Headers/Footers
Click Admin -> Structure -> Headers & Footers - and you will see all the Headers/Footers for all your board. On the Right side of them You will see an icon kinda looking like a page with a clock in it, that will show you All the codes and other things You have there on your current board and from there you can copy them and add them to the V5 Headers or Footers and see if they work.

Some codes will not work in the headers/footers anymore in the V5 version like Java script (iirc someone correct me if I am wrong) and has to be made into a plugin but HTML codes will still work in the headers/footers (again correct me if I am wrong) and can just be transfered into the V5 version of the headers and footers to see how they act.

I too am new to all of this and am waiting for some things to be altered or get the knowhow as of how to alter things myself (not a coder or a compwizz) but also know that all of this is new to everyone else too and patiantly awaits for things to get solved, sure it would be awesome and wonderful if everything would work as I wanted right away but thats not realistic and can not be expected either imo.

I see that you only have 2 posts made on this board which tells me that you haven't been on the plugins request board and asked about getting plugins for codes not working and other things so, if you haven't checked your current headers and footers codes in your V5 version yet Do that and when you find a code that aint working head over to the plugins request or template modification boards and ask for help there and im pretty sure that if there is someone out there that can fix it (and i bet there is) they will help you setting things up and solve your issues.

I do have plenty of header / footer codes that are wonky, and I will check these resources...again, using loads of my time to get back to square one, which I find to be terrible customer service. There is no other company in the world people would be willing to spend this amount of time on for their policy changes and be happy about it, or continue using their service. Imagine if FB changed and you had to go in an alter every single wall post or picture you posted? Irritating right? If you waited on hold for several hours a day for a month or more trying to solve something you'd be pissed. Similarly, I am irritated with how they are turning something very easy to use into something overly and unnecessarily complicated, and making me spend hours a day for several months trying to get things to work properly.

I was referring specifically to posts though. The site I am concerned about more than my own personal test site (which is the one I've been testing PB5 on), has 81,536 posts since August of 2007. From what I saw happen on my test site, many of these posts codes will break, and their content will become unreadable or too frustrating to read once the switch comes. I find this to be very inconvenient and I know that technology is not so stunted that this is necessary. 81,536 posts. If we have to go in and change code on half of them it will be a nightmare. Heck even a quarter of them would be unrealistic.

[Chris]

Jan 10, 2013 16:03:21 GMT -8 @cinemagirl83 said:

Jan 10, 2013 15:06:48 GMT -8 Entris said:

I'm guessing that the codes you are talking about are codes located in the Headers and Footers (main/Global/Board) on your current board and is not doing what they should in the V5 board?

When converting the board into V5 it automatically removes all the codes in the Headers/Footers and adds them to a separate part of the V5 version of the Headers/Footers
Click Admin -> Structure -> Headers & Footers - and you will see all the Headers/Footers for all your board. On the Right side of them You will see an icon kinda looking like a page with a clock in it, that will show you All the codes and other things You have there on your current board and from there you can copy them and add them to the V5 Headers or Footers and see if they work.

Some codes will not work in the headers/footers anymore in the V5 version like Java script (iirc someone correct me if I am wrong) and has to be made into a plugin but HTML codes will still work in the headers/footers (again correct me if I am wrong) and can just be transfered into the V5 version of the headers and footers to see how they act.

I too am new to all of this and am waiting for some things to be altered or get the knowhow as of how to alter things myself (not a coder or a compwizz) but also know that all of this is new to everyone else too and patiantly awaits for things to get solved, sure it would be awesome and wonderful if everything would work as I wanted right away but thats not realistic and can not be expected either imo.

I see that you only have 2 posts made on this board which tells me that you haven't been on the plugins request board and asked about getting plugins for codes not working and other things so, if you haven't checked your current headers and footers codes in your V5 version yet Do that and when you find a code that aint working head over to the plugins request or template modification boards and ask for help there and im pretty sure that if there is someone out there that can fix it (and i bet there is) they will help you setting things up and solve your issues.

I do have plenty of header / footer codes that are wonky, and I will check these resources...again, using loads of my time to get back to square one, which I find to be terrible customer service. There is no other company in the world people would be willing to spend this amount of time on for their policy changes and be happy about it, or continue using their service. Imagine if FB changed and you had to go in an alter every single wall post or picture you posted? Irritating right? If you waited on hold for several hours a day for a month or more trying to solve something you'd be pissed. Similarly, I am irritated with how they are turning something very easy to use into something overly and unnecessarily complicated, and making me spend hours a day for several months trying to get things to work properly.

I was referring specifically to posts though. The site I am concerned about more than my own personal test site (which is the one I've been testing PB5 on), has 81,536 posts since August of 2007. From what I saw happen on my test site, many of these posts codes will break, and their content will become unreadable or too frustrating to read once the switch comes. I find this to be very inconvenient and I know that technology is not so stunted that this is necessary. 81,536 posts. If we have to go in and change code on half of them it will be a nightmare. Heck even a quarter of them would be unrealistic.

I am very curious how your posts are broken.  Can you please post a screenshot (you can just upload an attachment here) of a post so I can see?

[Coffee whisky bacon OMENTUM???]

1 day shy of 7 years. wowwww.

[missus que]

Jan 10, 2013 16:22:03 GMT -8 Chris said:

I am very curious how your posts are broken.  Can you please post a screenshot (you can just upload an attachment here) of a post so I can see?

part of what she means is that the style tags don't work. or at least not all of them. i have seen several posts made in the plugin request board for such codes, as i have already linked in a previous post in this thread, but nothing has been done yet, or at least not any that i have seen.

i am on the board she is talking about, from august 2007, and just about every single user we have uses these enhanced proboard posting tables. as far as a screenshot, this is what she is referring to. this is from my tester, but the outcome is the same on her tester as well, as she has linked me to show me.

here is the current v4 template: click
the future v5 template: click

[Former Member]

one & two

my categories don't collapse anymore, the side table is partly on top of the main section, which became way too short width wise in the code translation and now only shows half of what's been posted, and the custom image up at the top doesn't show up even though in the admin section is showing that it's the photo being used. i haven't had a whole lot of time to really delve into it, but the fact that I have to is irritating. Surely there is a way to update things without tearing everything apart? If it changed your coding and page so drastically like it does, and was just an option to upgrade, okay - cool, and even make all new pages have to join as PB5. But we don't even have a choice in the matter. Even paying customers I'd imagine don't. We get "here ya go, figure it out, here's some limited resources".

I am on this one forum I helped start in college to escape for a bit, instead of just watching TV in whatever free time I do have. But it's like watching comedy TV, in that no one is looking for complicated. Plus, PB5 is so much like invisionfree, and i didn't want one of their pages for a reason.

Like Final Cut X. Apple dumbed it down, but did it so much that it makes it way too complicated to use in a practical setting. That's why my whole studio is switching to Avid, and really the whole professional industry has rejected it (anyone worth their weight in the cheapest thing you can think of, anyways). This is similar. PB keep saying it's going to be easier, but I don't see how everyone having to spend countless hours to work around this stuff just to get back to where we started from is supposed to be "easier" for me or anyone else. Sometimes, if it's not broken don't fix it really is the best policy. Because my gripe with it isn't only the breaking posts, breaking skins, breaking headers and footers, but the convoluted admin section, the accounts linked together, the "modern" look (which really just screams invisionfree to me)... 

I am sorry to be a negative nancy, and maybe I'm saying stuff that some people are just dealing with because they don't have a choice (and I know I don't either), but it's so sad to me that it's turning into a whole package that I just don't like interfacing with anymore...and the fact that I have to spend so much time even researching and fixing (or trying to fix) all this stuff for a package that I just really really...really dislike makes me an unhappy (about to be former) ad clicker.

[Patrick [ASE]]

Anyone having problems with getting V5 to look the same as their V4,5, please post a new topic so someone can help you individually.
Thanks

[Chris]

Jan 10, 2013 18:32:46 GMT -8 @cinemagirl83 said:

one & two

my categories don't collapse anymore, the side table is partly on top of the main section, which became way too short width wise in the code translation and now only shows half of what's been posted, and the custom image up at the top doesn't show up even though in the admin section is showing that it's the photo being used. i haven't had a whole lot of time to really delve into it, but the fact that I have to is irritating. Surely there is a way to update things without tearing everything apart? If it changed your coding and page so drastically like it does, and was just an option to upgrade, okay - cool, and even make all new pages have to join as PB5. But we don't even have a choice in the matter. Even paying customers I'd imagine don't. We get "here ya go, figure it out, here's some limited resources".

I am on this one forum I helped start in college to escape for a bit, instead of just watching TV in whatever free time I do have. But it's like watching comedy TV, in that no one is looking for complicated. Plus, PB5 is so much like invisionfree, and i didn't want one of their pages for a reason.

Like Final Cut X. Apple dumbed it down, but did it so much that it makes it way too complicated to use in a practical setting. That's why my whole studio is switching to Avid, and really the whole professional industry has rejected it (anyone worth their weight in the cheapest thing you can think of, anyways). This is similar. PB keep saying it's going to be easier, but I don't see how everyone having to spend countless hours to work around this stuff just to get back to where we started from is supposed to be "easier" for me or anyone else. Sometimes, if it's not broken don't fix it really is the best policy. Because my gripe with it isn't only the breaking posts, breaking skins, breaking headers and footers, but the convoluted admin section, the accounts linked together, the "modern" look (which really just screams invisionfree to me)... 

I am sorry to be a negative nancy, and maybe I'm saying stuff that some people are just dealing with because they don't have a choice (and I know I don't either), but it's so sad to me that it's turning into a whole package that I just don't like interfacing with anymore...and the fact that I have to spend so much time even researching and fixing (or trying to fix) all this stuff for a package that I just really really...really dislike makes me an unhappy (about to be former) ad clicker.

So, no codes directly translate.  (People seem to keep saying "HTML will translate," but I disagree and think it's better to "Start from scratch.")

In term of category collapsing, try this plugin.  I think it will have the desired behavior.  The style code is in development most likely.  (I haven't touched the project, so I can't confirm.)

The most important thing to remember is that between now and April 29th (full upgrade day), many of your old codes will be transitioned to plugins that you can install, and then you'll be up and running again.

Also, I do agree that the new admin panel is a tad confusing and that it takes a bit to get used to.

[wildgoosespeeder]

What my reaction will be toward the launch of V5:

[James [a_leon]]

Jan 10, 2013 18:32:46 GMT -8 @cinemagirl83 said:

one & two

my categories don't collapse anymore, the side table is partly on top of the main section, which became way too short width wise in the code translation and now only shows half of what's been posted, and the custom image up at the top doesn't show up even though in the admin section is showing that it's the photo being used. i haven't had a whole lot of time to really delve into it, but the fact that I have to is irritating. Surely there is a way to update things without tearing everything apart? If it changed your coding and page so drastically like it does, and was just an option to upgrade, okay - cool, and even make all new pages have to join as PB5. But we don't even have a choice in the matter. Even paying customers I'd imagine don't. We get "here ya go, figure it out, here's some limited resources".

I am on this one forum I helped start in college to escape for a bit, instead of just watching TV in whatever free time I do have. But it's like watching comedy TV, in that no one is looking for complicated. Plus, PB5 is so much like invisionfree, and i didn't want one of their pages for a reason.

Like Final Cut X. Apple dumbed it down, but did it so much that it makes it way too complicated to use in a practical setting. That's why my whole studio is switching to Avid, and really the whole professional industry has rejected it (anyone worth their weight in the cheapest thing you can think of, anyways). This is similar. PB keep saying it's going to be easier, but I don't see how everyone having to spend countless hours to work around this stuff just to get back to where we started from is supposed to be "easier" for me or anyone else. Sometimes, if it's not broken don't fix it really is the best policy. Because my gripe with it isn't only the breaking posts, breaking skins, breaking headers and footers, but the convoluted admin section, the accounts linked together, the "modern" look (which really just screams invisionfree to me)... 

I am sorry to be a negative nancy, and maybe I'm saying stuff that some people are just dealing with because they don't have a choice (and I know I don't either), but it's so sad to me that it's turning into a whole package that I just don't like interfacing with anymore...and the fact that I have to spend so much time even researching and fixing (or trying to fix) all this stuff for a package that I just really really...really dislike makes me an unhappy (about to be former) ad clicker.

Every major version of ProBoards upgrade has completely broken most all previous codes. This isn't a bad thing, the old source was an absolute nightmare to code for, this new version is fantastic.

What you need to do is just calm down a little. It's only January, the full release is still months ahead. We (coders) have our own lives, we can't dedicate all day, every day to remaking the codes to work. Be patient and let us do what we do best (keeping in mind, we don't get paid for this).

Things are actually easier with v5, it's just a change so you're not willing to learn it again to see how easy it is. And that's okay, but if you don't you are missing out on what will be a better and easier experience.

Could you, or someone else, link me to the code in question for the styles in posts?

[britannia]

If we decide to upgrade our forum before the April full release date, will our V4 board still be live while we make any alterations to the layout or add plugins etc, or will it be a case of us having to do those things while V5 is live (or put it in maintenance mode)?

[moonbeam]

No, your v4 board will effectively be overwritten by the v5 software. So, assuming that you have a beta forum, the best thing you could do is make sure you have a list of all your plugins and settings for them, as well as export your themes. Then, you can either put everything back while v5 is live, or put it in maintenance mode.

[Patrick [ASE]]

Just to clarify, during conversion of your V4.5 board, it will become unavailable until the conversion is done, there will be a splash screen during this process.
After the conversion your board will be using the V5 software, this is when you will be able to add plugins, tweak your themes etc.

[britannia]

Thank you, I thought that would be the case.

[Misaka]

Jan 14, 2013 8:16:28 GMT -8 Patrick [ASE] said:

Just to clarify, during conversion of your V4.5 board, it will become unavailable until the conversion is done, there will be a splash screen during this process.
After the conversion your board will be using the V5 software, this is when you will be able to add plugins, tweak your themes etc.

now on the conversion that can take anywhere from 40 minutes-2hours
right?

[Ryan Roos]

It should be clarified that there are 2 different things going on at the same time.

The first is BetaZone, which is a sandbox of sorts. You can make a temporary copy of your forum with a temporary URL. You can see how well or not so well your forum transitioned. In all cases this will be based on your header/footer codes. Everything else converts just fine including colors.

The second is Beta Phase 2, which is the literal conversion of your forum to v5 during the beta, but before launch. Starting on January 28th (unless you're in the contest) you can upgrade to v5 early, but still during the Beta. This is entirely optional.

On April 29th 2013 full version v5 will release and all forums will automatically begin upgrading one by one. The closer we get to this date the better the beta release will be. So if you aren't comfortable with running the beta on your main forum you can wait as long as you like.

Anyone complaining about conversion issues in BetaZone needs to follow this flow chart.

Did my forum convert properly?	YES >>>	Awesome!
vvv NO vvv
Is what's wrong based on codes you had?	NO >>>	Report it as a bug
vvv YES vvv
Is that old code now a feature?	YES >>>	Awesome, go play with it's settings.
vvv NO vvv
Is this something every forum could/should use by default?	YES >>>	Make a Feature request.
vvv NO vvv
Is this something other forums could use but would want to customize a lot?	YES >>>	Make a Plugin request.
vvv NO vvv
So it's very specific to your forum and probably involves unique customization?	YES >>>	Request a Header/Footer code. but far more likely get help with a template mod.

ProBoards staff and our huge group of volunteers are here to help with the transition. We set up BetaZone so people could experiment. We are giving people a 3 month transition so they can do things on their schedule and we can provide support for any codes that don't exist yet in v5.

The argument that we should leave things that aren't broken alone isn't a reality in a modern business world and especially not online. By online standards v4.5 is outdated. V5 introduces things that are set to new standards as I'm sure the coding community here will defend. We have to adapt to stay ahead of the competition. I think most people would agree that our software upgrade is long overdue. The admin area, regardless of how used to it you are, is a complete mess to navigate in v4.5. It is literally a list of pages in no certain order. Every function has to load a new page. The entire thing is set in your own skin and if you make a mistake you could toast it. You have no way to preview anything you're doing and have to often navigate back tot the forum to check if changes occurred. You will have to learn the new layout, but that is part of gaining so much more. All the functionality of version 4.5 still exists in v5. We have however added far more regarding customization and what a forum can be. We also organized it into a logical breakdown (there are more navigation options coming btw). If you don't like a new feature then you don't need to use it. During this Beta time we are doing everything we can to make transitions the best and easiest they can be. When people come in complaining and ranting about leaving instead of asking for help or helping us fix things nothing is accomplished.

The entire point of this beta is to help admins deal with the transition to v5, but we need those willing to help to provide us with information as well. It's a two way street. We've already added dozens (if not hundreds) of features based completely on member requests. We also have created an open ended platform that literally allows for any customization you can possibly think of within reason. We even still have our ears and eyes open to new ideas and we're about to launch the software. Because we care. We're going to provide robust updates over the next few years, most of which has been member requested. So please stop and take a moment to appreciate the fact that we aren't here to ruin your community, the goal is in fact the opposite. We want to enrich it. And we're willing to listen to what your ideas for doing so are. If you've customized the heck out of your v4 forum then you should be the most open to v5, not the most closed off. We're attempting to let others experience the level of customization that you struggled to achieve over years (possibly) in a matter of minutes with v5. Yes that might require some effort on your part, but that's what being an admin is about. We know you might not care about the other communities around you, but by doing this your community will grow and prosper as well, and your opportunities will become limitless.

Edit: It has also come to my attention that there will now be an opt-in v4 server for the majority 2013. You should be able to choose to stay in v4 until we decide what to do with your forum later in the year or until you decide you are ready to use v5. ProBoards as a company will be moving forward with v5 and supporting the new software. It will not be possible past a certain point to maintain v4 on our servers, we are merely going to deal with that at a later date and not during the rush of v5 launch in April. So if you absolutely can't handle v5 in the next 3 months then you can wait.