The Fastlane Motorsports Forum

The old forum was running some very old software, which quite frankly has been causing me some major problems "behind the scenes" and required the forum to be upgraded.

I couldn't copy over the forum exactly as it was so have had to rebuild it. The themes have been lost, as have the 'Like posts' feature, but I have backed up all that data and when a mod becomes available I will reinstate it.

New features
1. Notifications: A feature which allows you to see when someone has quoted you, mentioned you, or PM'd you - just like Facebook.

2. Tag Users: Type the @ key and immediately after, start typing someone's username. It will appear like this and they will be notified of your tag: @PTRACER

3. Relative dates: Posts now display as '5 minutes ago' or '3 days ago' rather than a specific time and date. If you want the precise date, hover your mouse over the 'x days/hours ago' text and it will pop up.

4. Sticky Topic Info: Not a kind of dessert, but a modification which allows you to see if a post is Announcement, Sticky, or a Poll.

5. All new theme: The forum looks really sexy now doesn't it? The old prosilver and subSilver themes are still available, found in your UCP. I have added a few other little mods like Image Lightbox and 'Hide subject on replies' which tidies up the forum A LOT. This forum has previously looked very, very messy. Each theme is also now fully mobile compatible. Huzzah!

My only objection resolves around the aforementioned lack of templates, but you can fill me in on how difficult it is to upgrade, I'm sure TSO will come knocking one day to say "you need to upgrade your forum, it's shit" like they did when 2.0 was compromised.

Fine by me. I dont really care about the themes etc.... as long as I can read it and it doesnt make my eyes bleed is all I care about.

Ian-S wrote:My only objection resolves around the aforementioned lack of templates, but you can fill me in on how difficult it is to upgrade, I'm sure TSO will come knocking one day to say "you need to upgrade your forum, it's shit" like they did when 2.0 was compromised.

It was pretty smooth. The database upgrade only took a few minutes. I had to delete all mod data first though. There's no "Like" mod for 3.2.0 yet, but mChat works. I think I can live without the 'Like' feature tbh.

What do you mean by delete the mod data? The columns/rows in the database?

Ian-S wrote: ↑7 years ago What do you mean by delete the mod data? The columns/rows in the database?

Yes. You need to clear any columns/rows which are non-standard to phpBB3 using that tool. Otherwise, if you try to install that mod again in the future, it will see a conflict and it won't let you install it.

So for example, the new mChat extension wouldn't install until I deleted all the data pertaining to the 3.0.x version of the mod.

Also, I just quoted you. Can you tell me if this appears in 'Notifications'?

PTRACER wrote: ↑7 years ago

Ian-S wrote: ↑7 years ago What do you mean by delete the mod data? The columns/rows in the database?

Yes. You need to clear any columns/rows which are non-standard to phpBB3 using that tool. Otherwise, if you try to install that mod again in the future, it will see a conflict and it won't let you install it.

So for example, the new mChat extension wouldn't install until I deleted all the data pertaining to the 3.0.x version of the mod.

Also, I just quoted you. Can you tell me if this appears in 'Notifications'?

Yes there was a dot with a 1 in, so seems to be working.
I've so heavily modified our forum I can't remember what is standard and what isn't, does this tool come with the new forum or do you have to do it manually?

Ian-S wrote: ↑7 years ago

PTRACER wrote: ↑7 years ago

Ian-S wrote: ↑7 years ago What do you mean by delete the mod data? The columns/rows in the database?

Yes. You need to clear any columns/rows which are non-standard to phpBB3 using that tool. Otherwise, if you try to install that mod again in the future, it will see a conflict and it won't let you install it.

So for example, the new mChat extension wouldn't install until I deleted all the data pertaining to the 3.0.x version of the mod.

Also, I just quoted you. Can you tell me if this appears in 'Notifications'?

Yes there was a dot with a 1 in, so seems to be working.
I've so heavily modified our forum I can't remember what is standard and what isn't, does this tool come with the new forum or do you have to do it manually?

The tool is separate. You just upload it to your phpBB3 directory and then manually type the link to the folder (which is /forums/stk/). You have to do it before you start upgrading the files, because it's not compatible with anything above 3.0.14.

Cheers, the only thing i don't like so far is the author being on the right, i don't think i'll ever get used to that

Ian-S wrote: ↑7 years ago Cheers, the only thing i don't like so far is the author being on the right, i don't think i'll ever get used to that

Very easy to move that over to the left actually I like it on the right with this theme though. Makes it look tidier.

Grrrr

I'm totally in love with this new look forum. All the extensions are 100% compatible with all themes. I've made a lot of changes with the CSS to make everything look a little less clunky. And we have some new features too.

One is the Mention system. Type the @ sign, then begin typing a username. A small box should appear with the username in it. If it doesn't, then place the username inside mention tags. E.g.:
E.g. #2
@Ian-S

Looks good!

Much better than the old one.

I'm with @Ian-S here and the movement of the usernames to the right and loss of the old theme isn't sitting well with my stuck-in-a-rut nothing-shall-ever-change attitude.

Still, you pay the bills and have the skills to run the place, so if the boss says this is how it'll be then this is how it'll be.

It's not very phone friendly (but that will come) but it's by far the best implementation of this version I've experienced so far, makes you wonder just what other sites are doing wrong...