ProBoards Version 6: PhoenixThe fundamental principle guiding us in improving our platform is the user experience. Everything from the design of the product to the features we provide should engage the user, provide value, and promote meaningful conversations. We want you to have an awesome experience communicating with your friends, colleagues, and other enthusiasts seamlessly across all platforms.
New Features...
Plugins
Now that the mobile view is being retired, plugins will be able to run on all platforms. All of your users will get your forum’s customized experience regardless of what device they have close to hand.
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Patrick Clinger
President and CEO
ProBoards, Inc.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhen is ProBoards v6 coming?
At this moment there is no official release date. There has been much progress already made, but we want to ensure that we release a polished product that we can all be proud of. Expect more updates over the coming weeks.
Will there be an Open Beta?
Yes, an announcement will be made about this at a future date. You can sign up for the
ProBoards v6 email list to stay up-to-date with all the latest announcements.
What will happen to my current ProBoards v5 themes and templates?
We will continue to support ProBoards v5 themes for 18 months after v6 launches, which includes any custom template changes you made. This will give you ample time to make any needed preparations to switch to the new responsive design. However, we’re sure that with all the big upgrades and features that are coming you will want to switch over as quickly as possible after the launch. After the 18 months are up, old themes will be disabled and removed with all users being switched to the responsive design.
I like the existing mobile view, can I still use it?
Users that access your forum that are still using a ProBoards v5 theme will get the same mobile experience they are used to until the switch to ProBoards v6. Afterwards they will get the upgraded fully responsive design that improves the overall user experience.
Why responsive design?
We think
this blog post sums it up well.
Will anyone be able to help me with the transition from ProBoards v5 to v6?
Absolutely. Our amazing support team is here to help every day of the week. When v6 launches, our team will be there to assist you with any questions you may have. We want to ensure that you have a stress-free transition to the new (awesome) responsive design, so you’ll have 18 months to switch your forum theme to the new design.
Will existing plugins work on ProBoards v6?
Existing plugins will not automatically run on the new responsive design, but don't worry! This is because most plugins will most likely need some small updates to work with the new responsive themes. We will be working directly with plugin authors to support them and get their plugins ready for the launch of ProBoards v6. When a plugin is updated by the author it will still have access to any of it’s plugin key data, so no information will be lost in the update.
Will there still be free Themes and Plugins?
Yes. Plugin and theme authors can still offer their creations for free in exactly the same way they always have done.
You’re reworking the ProBoards Store. Does this mean prices will change?
Some store items are undergoing a restructuring in terms of how they work, but we have not made any decisions related to pricing at this time.
Will v6 include an API for third party apps?
No, it will not. However, this is very high up on our list of things that we want to provide for developers. Expect more on this right after v6 launches.
Can I run a v5 and v6 theme at the same time? How can I transition?
Absolutely. A theme can either be a new responsive v6 theme or a non-responsive v5 theme. You can run these themes side-by-side on your forum and users can select which themes they’d like to use just as it is right now.
Is any major functionality going away or changing?
No. While the design of the software is improving, we are not planning on removing any major functionality as part of ProBoards v6.
Am I going to lose my members, threads, posts, etc. with the upgrade?
All of your existing forum data will be unaffected. Your threads, posts, members, etc. will all automatically transition into the responsive design without any data loss.
How is my current forum affected?
Your current forum will continue to function as it always has. After the launch of v6, you will have 18 months to switch to the new responsive design. After 18 months, anyone that has not switched will be automatically switched over to the new design. All your forum features including your members, posts, threads, etc. will continue to function as normal in both the old and new design.
How do I get v6?
Sign up for
email updates and we will keep you up-to-date with the latest happenings!
Do I have to switch to ProBoards v6?
Yes, all forums that have not updated will be automatically updated 18 months after v6 launches.
How long does it take to upgrade?
Unlike past upgrades to the ProBoards service, there is no “conversion” process for ProBoards v6. When we launch, all forums will immediately have access to the new features. At that time, forum admins will be able to head into their Admin Panel and create a new responsive theme to take advantage of all the new features.
Will Forums.net get the upgrade as well?While ProBoards and Forums.net are separate products, they will both be receiving the update. The scheduling for the release may be slightly different for each, but in the grand scheme of things the release dates should be relatively close together.
