Forum/Message Board: your opinions

[Daria]

OK, I know, I know, "Do the Search"... and may The Force be with me. Search helps to those who know what they are doing and can read between the line of marketing mumbo-jumbo... Please bare with me. (Or is it bear with me?)

I want to start running a forum on one of my sites. I am not coding anything myself, just want to cut/paste a good working forum. Between UltimageBB and "Look, ma, my own page" kinda boards I've searchd over and over.

I've installed (what a breeze!) a Chipmunk Forum on the website, seems to be fine and working it's in the testing stage now. The thing it doesn't have from what I need is polls. Before I go ahead an announce it to my list of 8000 people I want to make sure I'm not gonna make a fool of myself.

Bottom line:
share/suggest/advise from experience what works, what doesn't, etc.. If not Chipmunk, then something else - I would prefer a freebie but will be open to all suggestions.

[pyro]

I'd recommend going with something more popular, which has been properly tested/hammered by huge numbers of people, on tons of sites. The two below are quite good - I've run them both:

http://www.invisionboard.com/
http://www.phpbb.com/

[Daria]

Originally posted by pyro
[B]I'd recommend going with something more popular, which has been properly tested/hammered by huge numbers of people, on tons of sites.

That is exactly why I am asking! Thanks.
Now that test-drove Chipmunk I think I can tackle the installation of something more complex/better.

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

i personally think phpbb is easy enough for any newb to install...

[youlilsheshe]

I dont understand how to install the phpbb thing. I downloaded the zip file but then what do i do?:confused:

[PeOfEo]

dont use phpbb, it sucks :) inivision is better.

[youlilsheshe]

Dont You have to pay for invision? Im kinda broke right now and dont really want to pay. If it does cost somehting, how much is it? Is there anything else that is really good and free?

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

for phpbb, which does not suck, just put the unzipped folder called forum onto your server.... then go to

www.blah.com/forum

then it will have an installation page right there. it's easy.

[youlilsheshe]

I put what im my server? Whats my server? sry Im new i dont understand at all.:confused:

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

your website... www.yourwebsite.com

do you have a web addy? post it for me?

[youlilsheshe]

Well Here it is. It sucks (please note that) I didn't know what i was doing ( and still dont but bare with me here im only thirteen) http://www.geocities.com/youlilsheshe/frontpage.html:(

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

i'm sorry. i don't know of an easy to install way of making forums on geocities. it doesnt support php.

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

also: that login thing won't work.

member1 password1
member2 password2
member3 password3

is right in the sourcode. you need a server-side language for this, and again, geocities doesnt support that.

[youlilsheshe]

Well then do you know of a hosting site that would do that? Im not up for payin a lot but if thats what it takes then ok.

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

well, before you start paying for things you need more experience. and there are plenty of good free servers out there.. one being www.aspfreeserver.com ...asp is a popular language to learn... but I'd personally go with learning PHP.
(they support it php. so you can have asp and php on your website if you want to.. though i don't see why, but it would be easy to learn both languages using them sense it's just one host.)

EDIT: If you signup for aspfreeservers, PM me your username and password, and i'll setup PHPBB on the webpage for you.

[PeOfEo]

geocities doesnt support a thing get a new host. If you want a good asp msg board use web wiz, www.webwizforums.com i think is the address. A good asp.net one is the official one on www.asp.net there are some other good asp.net ones but this one is the one i have used and it is supported well. The problem is you need access to the server or you need to use a 3rd party dll to get it to ur sql server account. You need mssql server or msde too....

[youlilsheshe]

Cool, I really appreciate this. one more thing while i sign up...... whats php and as whatever. is it like html but different codings?

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

yes. php and asp are SERVERSIDE languages. that means that the computer you store the pages on has to READ the code, then send the output to the client(whoever is at your webpage.)

to start learning PHP, go here: http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_syntax.asp

And btw, I have just started learning PHP, so I could possibly help you learn all this stuff if you would like.

my MSNM name: xaxei@hotmail.com
My aim name: Xaxei
ring me anytime. (moderators dont remove this information. I don't mind if it gets out.)

[youlilsheshe]

thanks

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

no problem. just signup and keep using these forums. I would really like to help you learn, cause the more i help you, the more i learn too=P

[youlilsheshe]

did you get my pm? can you get on aim right now cause it'll be easier to talk that way. I dont want to put my sn on here so get on and ill IM you ok?

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

errr... i dont have aim on this computer. let me install it.

[Daria]

OK, here's my update: I've just installed phpBB forum - it took me whole 7 seconds! :)

I'll just have to struggle with styles a little bit to adjust the look and feel to my liking.

From the functionality standpoint it definitely ROCKS! - Of course, time will show if I'm right in my enthusiasm, but so far, so good.

Thanks for recommendations!
D.

[soccer362001]

www.compactvision.com has a great free forum that I use.
http://users.cvforums.net/soccer362001/index.php?

[pyro]

It's called Invision. ;) See my first post in this thread.