vBulletin v4 now online

[Joe Siegler]

I've finally gotten around to upgrading vBulletin to the current version of the software. Sadly, the reason we never did this when the community graciously paid for it awhile back was the fact that the guy who created the skin we had in use stopped doing development on vB4 skins. I got tired of waiting, and decided to cut my losses there.

I've upgraded to the newest version, but I must say - THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE CUSTOMIZATION DONE HERE YET. I will eventually play with how it looks, but I wanted to get the new stuff online. It's at least a dark/black skin, so that fits beter than the default "white" stuff that was in use here.

Post your questions, but for the most part, regular posting and all that should be mostly the same. There's a lot new that will come out of this upgrade for the new version of the site that will be launching. More on THAT later.

Also, please help me out and click on same ads. Don't block them. I need the money that comes from the ad clicks. Tkx.

[Pink Led Rush]

It's different. Not at all bad that's for sure, but I do have one question. What happened to the home page?

Edit: Nvm, it's there just no link back to it from the forums.

[Charger]

This is pretty different, it'll take some time to get into, but thankfully most things are in the same place...

One thing I haven't quite figured out is how to notice which threads have new messages in them...perhaps there would be a more clear way of showing that?

[Monster Boy]

This is pretty different, it'll take some time to get into, but thankfully most things are in the same place...

One thing I haven't quite figured out is how to notice which threads have new messages in them...perhaps there would be a more clear way of showing that?

The best way to do that has always been to click on "new posts" (which is on the top left of the web page now).

I like the new look!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^
The first thing I do is click on "New Posts", the only slight gripe I have with the new version is that it doesn't split the "New Posts since last visit" from older posts which are just unread, but a minor quibble.

As Charger says it'll all take a bit of getting used to but I'm sure it is an improvement (bit early to be certain but it may be quicker ... but that could be just down to lite traffic at the moment!).

[Ellbery]

It's taken 2 days to get this far!! It seems that the forums won't load or only partially load (Using google chrome)

[Charger]

I didn't notice that "New Posts" option there...that certainly makes it easier. Thanks guys. But still those icons could be bit more clear, but I'm not sure how much custom icons there are for this version...

I have to agree with Ellbery though, for some parts this does seem to be bit slower, espically on those really long topics, it seems to take a really long time to load. But ofcourse there is an easy fix for that, start new topics for all of them. Oh, and I'm using Mozilla.

But for other parts, this new one is starting to grow on me. And the skin is pretty good too!

[Ellbery]

I still struggle to get on the forum and pages only partially load or not at all. I have to keep refreshing to get anywhere. Not complaining just letting Joe know for debugging purposes

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I still struggle to get on the forum and pages only partially load or not at all. I have to keep refreshing to get anywhere. Not complaining just letting Joe know for debugging purposes

A few months ago one of the PCs I use at work wouldn't display anything beyond the home page. This happened immediately after an update by my AV software and also Flash (or may have been Java). I was using IE 7 at the time and suspect one of the updates screwed with some settings or files (it wasn't just this site I had problems with). Anyway I installed Firefox and everything's been working pretty good eversince. I'm still using IE 7 at home so I don't think it's something fundamental with IE, it may be you just need to ensure your Flash or Java are up to date?



EDIT: I've just notice there doesn't seem to be a "Report" button anymore ... not that I want to report anyone at the moment but you never kow.

[Joe Siegler]

EDIT: I've just notice there doesn't seem to be a "Report" button anymore ... not that I want to report anyone at the moment but you never kow.

There is. It's not being displayed right. Hover over the stuff under the area where your avatar is, you'll see it.

[Pink Led Rush]

There is. It's not being displayed right. Hover over the stuff under the area where your avatar is, you'll see it.

It's the square box underneath the avatar, on the same line as reply, etc.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

It's the square box underneath the avatar, on the same line as reply, etc.

Yeah, I have found it (and used it). My initial problem is that being partially sighted a dark grey box on a slightly darker grey background it just didn't show up to me!

[RLP4ever]

Although I wasn't really a big fan of the old (most recent) forum look and layout, I had obviously gotten largely used to it by now. And I'd say it was alright, overall.

Now this latest v4 doesn't look any special to me at all. In fact, one of the features that I'm already finding particularly annoying is how----unlike the large area for writing replies in the previous format, the current 'reply' box is this awfully compressed space which makes it a dreadful drag to write, read and edit text in my replies to posts in any given thread. This used to be the case only with the 'Quick Reply' feature, but oddly enough, this time I get the small reply box regardless of whether I click on 'Reply to Thread' or simply the 'Reply' option in the previous post. The monotony of the black and grey colour scheme is also a disappointment. And it's also frustrating to be constantly 'timed out' and having to "refresh the page and login" whenever it takes a while to write out a reply before posting. I honestly find these things pretty irritating and a kill-joy when browsing this forum.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Although I wasn't really a big fan of the old (most recent) forum look and layout, I had obviously gotten largely used to it by now. And I'd say it was alright, overall.

Now this latest v4 doesn't look any special to me at all. In fact, one of the features that I'm already finding particularly annoying is how----unlike the large area for writing replies in the previous format, the current 'reply' box is this awfully compressed space which makes it a dreadful drag to write, read and edit text in my replies to posts in any given thread. This used to be the case only with the 'Quick Reply' feature, but oddly enough, this time I get the small reply box regardless of whether I click on 'Reply to Thread' or simply the 'Reply' option in the previous post. The monotony of the black and grey colour scheme is also a disappointment. And it's also frustrating to be constantly 'timed out' and having to "refresh the page and login" whenever it takes a while to write out a reply before posting. I honestly find these things pretty irritating and a kill-joy when browsing this forum.

Re: Post/Reply Box Size. You can grab and drag the bottom right corner od the box and enlarge it, the system remembers the new size.

Re: Time Outs. I can't say I recognise this scenario. I've never timed out and the only time I've ever had to "re-logon" was when my computer crashed and scrambled it's cookies. Maybe I've not posted anything lengthy since the upgrade (I usually write longer posts in Notepad and cut and paste it when I'm happy with it), and perhaps it's an expeirience I'm yet to enjoy.

[Joe Siegler]

RLP, if you use "quick reply", it's wider text. Or do what Kilo suggested.

As for cookies, it doesn't work that way normally. You should nuke all your cookies for these forums, close your browser, dump your cache, and try again. That's not normal behavior, and it's cookie based.

[RLP4ever]

Thanks to you both, Charlie and Joe, for the feedback on my earlier complaints. Charlie, I tried the tactic you suggested re: reply box size, and it's worked, as I'm writing this reply. Let's see if the system remembers the adjustment I've just made, for the next time I make a reply.

Joe, I'm definitely gonna try out what you suggested about eliminating cookies, but what's "dumping" my "cache"? Anyway, I'll figure it out and see how it goes, cos frankly, the 'timeout' thing bugs me the most.

[Totentanz]

I've had problems using the forum from my phone since the upgrade - if I'm logged in I can't post replies at all and I can't even get into the topics unless I open a new window for every click. It all works fine from PC or Laptop.

I could do all this without any probs from my phone with the previous version. I've wiped my cookies/cache, but to no avail. Anybody else getting this problem, or have any suggestions for a solution?
Thanks

[devstorm]

I was just looking at my profile, it appears as though when I go to look at old posts, it skips most of 2008 through last week. So all of 2009- July of 2011 look like they're gone. Will those posts be restored at some point, or was there a glitch that deleted these?

Not a huge deal to me either way, but I am just curious.

[Joe Siegler]

There are no deleted posts. Could be the search index. I could re-run that, but it takes a few hours to get through the whole thing.

As for your phone, what phone? If it's an android or iPhone, consider this: http://www.forumrunner.net/

[RLP4ever]

Another weird glitch has appeared since last night. My 'new' forum layout has suddenly disappeared, and in its place has appeared the so-called "mobile" style. Now, I can't seem to get rid of this nuisance at all, and revert to my previous forum layout. Can anybody help?

[Joe Siegler]

There are no deleted posts. Could be the search index. I could re-run that, but it takes a few hours to get through the whole thing.

Forums were down most of today for a complete re-index. Would have been up sooner, but I fell asleep in the afternoon, and then when I woke up from my nap, I forgot I had turned the forums off.

Another weird glitch has appeared since last night. My 'new' forum layout has suddenly disappeared, and in its place has appeared the so-called "mobile" style. Now, I can't seem to get rid of this nuisance at all, and revert to my previous forum layout. Can anybody help?

http://www.black-sabbath.com/vb/show...l-forum-layout

[David86]

Thank you Joe! :D

[-E5150 StarWanderer-]

The only problem I have with the forum upgrade is the new "wink" emoticon.



Just look at it, what it is supposed to convey? To me it looks like it's questioning something and/or about to puke. Certainly not giving a friendly wink.

[RLP4ever]

I just logged on for the first time since my post here on this thread, yesterday, and miraculously find that the 'mobile' appears to have gone away.

Joe, I never saw any 'Desktop' link at the bottom of that page on 'mobile' layout. And since there's no Settings option, nor anything else that offered a hint of help to get out of mobile, I was zapped as to what to do. So ok, I'll see if my forum layout remains 'normal' now that mobile seems to be gone.

[Totentanz]

As for your phone, what phone? If it's an android or iPhone, consider this: http://www.forumrunner.net/

It's an Android phone - but today the mobile theme has disappeared from my phone and once again I can post!

I read elsewhere that you've forced the desktop theme, I'm guessing this has resolved my phone problem also, so thanks for that.

[Axeman77]

Loving the new look Joe it looks great! Cheers.

[BunnyPink]

I liked the old format where it had the news tab, the random photo that poped up each time you came to the site. There were tabs other than "forum" I don't remember what they were. Concert list maybe. I'll miss all those extras. Looks like now we only have the forum and no more. Anyway, thanks for managing this site at no cost to the fans. I normally click on a bunch of the adds to help out.

[Joe Siegler]

I liked the old format where it had the news tab, the random photo that poped up each time you came to the site. There were tabs other than "forum" I don't remember what they were. Concert list maybe. I'll miss all those extras. Looks like now we only have the forum and no more. Anyway, thanks for managing this site at no cost to the fans. I normally click on a bunch of the adds to help out.

What? All that stuff is still here:

http://www.black-sabbath.com

It's just not directly linked from the forums at this time. I'm not doing that because I need to wait for the new site to launch, because the URL's of everything is changing.

[rossmosis]

I dig it Joe! Quite possibly the best version I've seen!

[BunnyPink]

What? All that stuff is still here:

http://www.black-sabbath.com

It's just not directly linked from the forums at this time. I'm not doing that because I need to wait for the new site to launch, because the URL's of everything is changing.

Got it! Thanks. I had Forums saved to my favorites & since they are not linked to the main page I couldn't get to it. I've corrected it. Much better now.

[8bit Fighter]

Thought this would be the good thread to revive with a minor question. Every time I try to log in on the front page of the message board, the font is black and it's hard to see it. But when I press "Login", the font is more clearer white. Is there a way to change this to white? Here are pictures to explain:

[8bit Fighter]

---Bump---