Author Topic: Changes to The Host Helpers 6-13-11 (Read 934 times)

rvtraveller · « **on:** June 13, 2011, 10:27:04 PM »

Hi everyone,

If you hadn't noticed, we've had a bit of a rough day. Earlier today, I installed a copy of SMF 2.0 to test its functionality and see how well THH would convert over to it. This was done in a separate directory from the live, production site and its purpose was just to see how things would move over and what changes would have to be made. As part of this, I was copying some files from the live site to the production site. For some reason, I realized that the easiest thing to do was going to be to make a current copy of the live forums and then upgrade them to 2.0 in order to preserve the posts and such. This required me to delete the SMF 2.0 installation I had started installing to test. Well, I guess I had a brain lapse because I forgot to check what directory I was in before using FTP to start deleting files. About 25% through, I glanced at the current directory and realized I was deleting the live site.

Luckily, the database wasn't affected and I had a backup copy of the files that were deleted. I decided since the forums were already offline, I would take this opportunity to upgrade SMF version to 1.1.13 (actually, realized part way through that it is now 1.1.14). Well, for some reason the easy-peasy web install/upgrade version wasn't connecting to the database properly and would not authenticate me as an admin on the forums so I uploaded the manual installation. Well, long story short, I ended up upgrading to SMF 2.0 which isn't entirely a bad thing.

So, where do we go from here? As you can plainly see, we have again changed forum themes. It should be noted that this has been on the to-do list for a month or so now. As we speak, Brad is working on a theme for the forums and we will transition to that once it is completed. In the mean time, we will stick with this lighter theme for the time being. (BTW Brad, you asked a while ago if we could switch to SMF 2.0 because it was easier to code a theme for...consider it done) Your feedback is always welcome.

We also made some changes to the boards. Again, this was work that has been scheduled for some time now and was completed simply because the forums were offline anyway. Personally, I like the smaller footprint in terms of number of boards available. Your feedback is always welcome.

Finally, as part of the upgrade we now support the openID authentication allowing you to use your openID account here at the forums.

There have been other minor behind the scenes work, some done by me, some because of SMF 2.0. If you find yourself missing functionality that you used to have or having more functionality than you use to have please let us know and we will work on correcting the situation.

Thank you for your continued support of The Host Helpers.

-RVTraveller

Pinako · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:40:05 PM »

Go team! I'm glad to see that we're back on track. Thanks for all the hard work.

zzbomb · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2011, 10:51:17 PM »

Looking good. Good to see the forums back online.

Primefalcon · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2011, 11:32:40 PM »

Good to see the forums back online had me worried there since I noticed it went from maintenance to a 404.... I was like ut-oh, I've had smf forums balm on me before and had to restore database and files from backup....

rvtraveller · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2011, 12:14:55 AM »

I really wish I could blame this on SMF but it was truly my fault. Sorry guys.

Primefalcon · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2011, 12:23:24 AM »

I wouldn't worry to much about, that's why we keep backups, though you coulda blamed smf and gotten away with it

btw..... the deletion issue aside, how hassle free was the upgrade?

Brad · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2011, 04:05:09 AM »

Woo! I might get that theme done now that we are no longer using horrid tables!

rvtraveller · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2011, 07:40:27 AM »

Quote from: Primefalcon on June 14, 2011, 12:23:24 AM

I wouldn't worry to much about, that's why we keep backups, though you coulda blamed smf and gotten away with it

btw..... the deletion issue aside, how hassle free was the upgrade?

At first difficult because I was still missing some important files. Once those got back, only issue was I tried to upgrade using their "web install" system and it wouldn't authenticate my account with the database. Once I uploaded the other upgrade it worked like a champ. Hardest part was removing all the old themes (which obviously don't work) and reinstalling all the packages.

paulspage · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2011, 09:31:33 AM »

It seems that the forum is much slower now.

Joey · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2011, 10:30:58 AM »

Quote from: paulspage on June 14, 2011, 09:31:33 AM

It seems that the forum is much slower now.

Maybe a bit but not too much =)
Great work on this, it looks great

Primefalcon · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2011, 07:33:05 PM »

Although I honestly prefer the darker themes, I honestly find the forum faster....

ultimatebuster · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2011, 08:47:26 PM »

This is actually a good forum theme. That's all i got out of this.

paulspage · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2011, 12:53:16 AM »

its possible that the host is slow sometimes. may not be the forum as now seems to load faster.

Piotr GRD · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2011, 06:38:32 AM »

I don't if it's software or webhost, but I have noticed the slowness sometimes, too. Or even "freezing" while loading, but after refresh loads quickly.

Quote from: rvtraveller on June 13, 2011, 10:27:04 PM

(...) If you find yourself missing functionality that you used to have or having more functionality than you use to have please let us know and we will work on correcting the situation. (...)

I don't care how it is set, it's no difference for me. But before the OS and browser of the poster was visible only when being logged in, now it's visible also while being logged out. No difference for me, but I've spot this change - intentional or not, I don't know.

-----------

About the dark themes...
For all the people that do prefer dark themes: how do you read anything in a very bright day? For my eyes it's hard and I don't like it. No problem at night, but in a bright day...

rvtraveller · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2011, 10:22:08 AM »

Re: Slowness

I noticed this a bit every now and then. But, I don't think it is an SMF problem. I have noticed Google Analytics taking some time to load. I'll keep an eye on server load.

Re: OS/Browser Detection

I forgot that we modified that setting when we set it up last time. Should be modified now so that only logged in members can see it.

Re: Forum Theme

Personally, I kind of liked the main theme of the old forums. However, dark colors weren't inviting enough so I went with a light theme. Personally, I prefer darker colors and didn't have issues with reading on a bright day but that is just me. I'm open to suggestions on themes, only thing is I am not installing multiple so if I install a different one this one goes away.

gamerz300 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 15, 2011, 10:49:36 AM »

i liked the dark theme as well... so if you were to install another theme to go along with this one a dark would be nice (i liked the theme you had as default prior to the upgrade

)

If not then ill live with this

Primefalcon · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2011, 03:50:59 PM »

I think Gamerz summed up my feelings exactly lol

Brad · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2011, 05:53:52 PM »

The theme I have finally got round to starting for us includes both a dark variant and a light variant. I like to cater for the masses :3

Primefalcon · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2011, 06:30:56 PM »

Quote from: Brad on June 15, 2011, 05:53:52 PM

The theme I have finally got round to starting for us includes both a dark variant and a light variant. I like to cater for the masses :3

Sweet!

ultimatebuster · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2011, 09:09:40 PM »

As long as I get this theme, I'll be fine