The new forum

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 02 Feb 2010, 21:36

Hello everyone,

Please use the new forum to post new threads. We are slowly attempting to migrate to the newer interface since it appears this script which we use for this current forum is severely limited and buggy.

You may need to register there first using the same IDs.

http://rasikas.org/newforum/index.php

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 02 Feb 2010, 22:30

Will you be migrating the threads from this forum to the new? What happens to the current 'oldforum', the original one from which you moved to this? I ask because even now, I have to go to that 'old forum' to retrieve truncated posts, and I'm sure we will face something similar this time around as well!

prasaad95 · Post by **prasaad95** » 02 Feb 2010, 22:55

phpBB is a better forum any day, but there should not be any issue like posts or messages getting deleted while migration. Most importantly users should not be made to dilly-dally to find their earlier posts.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 02 Feb 2010, 23:07

Yes I am planning to migrate these threads there, and correct all the truncated posts too after that.

It is not necessary to re-create existing threads there, since these threads will be moved shortly

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 03 Feb 2010, 00:42

Thank you srkris. I did not get any auto reply to activate the account @ improved rasikas.org. On second attempt to send activation helped the situation.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 03 Feb 2010, 08:27

srkris
Is it possible for you to research so that user id's and passwords are migrated from this forum to new forum so that we dont have to register again.?

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 03 Feb 2010, 11:26

rajeshnat wrote:srkris
Is it possible for you to research so that user id's and passwords are migrated from this forum to new forum so that we dont have to register again.?

I second that.

Posts from new members of the new forum require approval from moderators. If every one has to register again, there will be a huge load on the moderators

girish_a · Post by **girish_a** » 03 Feb 2010, 13:24

I think that the new forum, though it looks a little more slicker, is actually not much better than this in terms of usability.

I am not very excited about the new layout. It is not a great improvement, in my opinion.

The existing UI scheme, though not exactly jazzy, is easy on the eyes, and has an academic feel to it, which is apt for students and rasikas alike.

I think we should stick with this scheme, or at least postpone the migration until such time as some sort of consensus is reached among forum regulars as to the changes that should be incorporated.

If the new changes are only in the UI, then I think srkris should invite forum members well versed in web design to submit Cascading Style Sheets which can be applied to the site, and the best CSS can be chosen by vote.

For those who are wondering what CSS is, CSS allows you to vary the look-and-feel of a site without messing with its content. With CSS, you can separate the user interface from data, which allows the two to vary independently.

Don't get it? Take a look at this site: http://www.csszengarden.com/ to understand the power of CSS. Observe how the same content in that site can be displayed in multiple formats by choosing a CSS (under the "Select a design" heading).

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 03 Feb 2010, 14:02

girish_a
Like you I am bit puzzled on the new format . UI wise this one rocks compared to what the new one offers. As such I am assuming the new UI can be tweaked little later . To me when srkris says "We are slowly attempting to migrate to the newer interface since it appears this script which we use for this current forum is severely limited and buggy.", I am assuming there are few key functionalities (not just UI)that has necesiated this migration , I would like to know what was buggy and what limitation is that. May be those bugs and limitation can be addressed in this site itself by few of us who are techies.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 03 Feb 2010, 14:09

srkris and mods,
Assuming you have taken a decision to move towards new forum , can we first think of migrating the whole of this site there so that we all get the comfort that our new site has all the content there so that we can continue to post there. But as such my previous post of #9 is a first choice to me.

All
In general if you type some new long post in kutcheri reviews or some long post in any thread always save it in your local machine , please... As such personally keep your typed content backed up.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 03 Feb 2010, 16:28

Only taken a quick look so far. I'd certainly like the poster's names back on the left (where they are in every other forum I have ever seen) which is probably a small config matter. Otherwise I am open minded.

Only the administrator will know the day-to-day hassles and difficulties of running any system, and the details are really nothing to do with us. Apart from truncated posts at the last upgrade, there has been almost nothing wrong that shows to us users --- which is to skris's credit.

Just a gentle reminder, too, that this is a labour of love and generosity. Whatever is easiest for skris and the mods should be fine.

Migrating the forum, though, must be a headache: Good Luck! If, by chance, it can't be done, then I hope skris might accept to live with this software

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 03 Feb 2010, 17:21

nick H wrote: Otherwise I am open minded.

Only the administrator will know the day-to-day hassles and difficulties of running any system, and the details are really nothing to do with us. Apart from truncated posts at the last upgrade, there has been almost nothing wrong that shows to us users --- which is to skris's credit.

So far the migration has been from one version to another where in we did not have to re-register ,this exercise of re-registering in a brand new site and then migrating is just not looking like an upgrade it is tossing up left right and center(I am not too worried about UI,other functionality etc, I will take it at face value that they will be better even though as girish_a said the UI of the newsite is not user friendly).

All the forumites reregistering and continuing with the same id which is a frame of reference and more importantly migration of all the 150,000 posts , so that we do a one round of validation for few days is the key.

I suggest a plan from srkris and mods with more details.Here are few things that srkris and mods have to work on

1. Try migrating both login and password into that new site so that with the same id and password we all can go in. As of now do not allow brand new topics for few days that is fine we all can wait, let that wait for not opening any new threads be disabled in both this forum and the new forum.

2. Migrate the entire posts from this site into the new site.

3. Let us all do a one or two days of just reading the posts and help him in the sanity testing process. 8000 eyes in 150,000 posts will alleviate any concerns of truncated posts.Involve all of us in this before you open the floodgates of new threads in that new forum

4. Then only open new topics in new site. As such keep only the registration open in the new site or if migration of ids and passwords is done , great.May be that one single thread of welcome post in the new forum can be kept open , all other threads donot allow us to add new topics.

I want steps like this 1 to 4 etc.

This migration is not a simple one , we need to plan with more specifics .More communication is needed with right sequence with very detailed steps from srkris and mods,then just a 2 liner in the top. I am not pushing hard on mods and creating more tension to them , but as such this migration when this particular site is near perfect is creating a jittery feeling. ,I especially would like to help on the first point(post #1) if srkris spells out the bugs and limitation that he is encountering in this site. May be if that limitation is overcome we can continue to be in this site itself.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 03 Feb 2010, 17:38

Will the new forum make reading from multiple machines any easier? This one keeps track of what you have read in cookies that makes it inconsistent when logging in from a different box.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 03 Feb 2010, 21:58

I do have an issue with posting on the new forum - all posts have to approved by the moderator before being posted - I see several issues with this format:
1) I thought that we were an open forum. This would be distinctly against that.
2) If posts need to be approved then, they can only show up when this perosn has the time to look through them and approve - and usually they will appear en masse.
3) Finally, given the volume of posts, will it even be possible for one perosn to read the whole lot before approving?

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 03 Feb 2010, 22:22

rshankar wrote:I do have an issue with posting on the new forum - all posts have to approved by the moderator before being posted; given the volume of posts, will it even be possible for one perosn to read the whole lot before approving?

I clearly see conflict with "Open forum Vs Preapproved forum"

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 03 Feb 2010, 23:58

It is a very useful tool against spammers and trolls among new members. Many forums have a modest number of posts, up to which there must be moderation and approval. Also this can be triggered by weblinks or selected words to help keep out the advertising spammers.

I can't imagine skris+team having to time to moderate every post on this forum. Maybe its a setting they haven't got around to.

ramakriya · Post by **ramakriya** » 04 Feb 2010, 02:00

Srkris,

Meanwhile, can you also tell us the status of the Wiki? I don't find the content of the old wiki anywhere - Or am I missing something?

Thanks,

-Ramakriya

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 04 Feb 2010, 02:21

Patience, folks patience is what is now needed!
Rome was not built in a day!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 04 Feb 2010, 09:04

srkris
WHat you are doing is production data migration from one system to another not a simple 2 liner to state that"please use the new forum to post new threads".
# I personally wanted to know , reasons of post #1(so that I can help you) ,

# More importantly a well laid out plan with the steps of migration(Very concerned if the data is going to be migrated perfectly and more importantly tested and also the hassle of each and every 8000+ user to re-register, we are certainly losing community that we have built so far day by day for years)

I do know mods in general work on policing the posts and at the most lock the thread, but as such only YOU and only YOU (SRKRIS) is involved in all these ground zero changes. Lay out a plan other than 2 liners and more importantly take the help of select few so that decisions are done right. As such " when things are not broken we dont touch it"

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 04 Feb 2010, 09:24

rshankar wrote:I do have an issue with posting on the new forum - all posts have to approved by the moderator before being posted - I see several issues with this format:
1) I thought that we were an open forum. This would be distinctly against that.
2) If posts need to be approved then, they can only show up when this perosn has the time to look through them and approve - and usually they will appear en masse.
3) Finally, given the volume of posts, will it even be possible for one perosn to read the whole lot before approving?

Ravi
I am pretty sure that for the first post alone this approval is there. From the 2nd post onwareds, very likely 99% sure that approval is not a prerequisite for the mass view.

To me three big issues are posts getting migrated to new forum, reregistration hassle that will take another 5 years to build this 8000 + community and another point where sureshvv has mentioned about cookies getting passed from machine to machine.

VK RAMAN · Post by **VK RAMAN** » 04 Feb 2010, 10:38

rajeshnat wrote: Ravi
I am pretty sure that for the first post alone this approval is there. From the 2nd post onwareds, very likely 99% sure that approval is not a prerequisite for the mass view.

To me three big issues are posts getting migrated to new forum, reregistration hassle that will take another 5 years to build this 8000 + community and another point where sureshvv has mentioned about cookies getting passed from machine to machine.

Second post also required approval

vganesh · Post by **vganesh** » 04 Feb 2010, 16:40

Dear SRKris,
The system says you would be notified on approval/publishing. This is not required. .... I post a comment. It is up to you to publish or reject. As you are the owner I wouldn't comment about you approving/not approving the post. But please do not give any mail back to me up on approval
Regards

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 04 Feb 2010, 19:02

VK RAMAN wrote:Second post also required approval

Rajesh you were wrong (100%)...as VKR says, second post also needs approval, unless the admin is sending a (not too subtle) message to some of us!

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 04 Feb 2010, 19:35

vganesh wrote:Dear SRKris,
The system says you would be notified on approval/publishing. This is not required. .... I post a comment. It is up to you to publish or reject. As you are the owner I wouldn't comment about you approving/not approving the post. But please do not give any mail back to me up on approval
Regards

Amen!

rajumds · Post by **rajumds** » 04 Feb 2010, 21:15

This kind of pre-approval is a standard practice in many forums. A member needs to make a minimum number of posts with approval (usually around 25) before he can post directly. If all the members are going to be treated as new members, it will be huge task for the moderators

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 04 Feb 2010, 21:25

Heaven Forbid!

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 05 Feb 2010, 00:28

Girish_a, unfortunately, phpbb is a better software and we can customize the layout later to make it easier on the eyes. This software is severely limited in its ability and it has some bugs which I am having a hard time troubleshooting.

Nick thanks, we can do that change of usernames back to the left once things stabilize. But since every post has a heading like "Postby VK RAMAN Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â» Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:13 pm", hopefully it should give the proper information without having to look towards the left or right.

Rajeshnat, we will be done with this transition in a few days (hopefully one or two days) and so I have noted all your points.

Sureshvv, yes it retains session IDs and so will be easier to keep unread topics unread.

Rshankar, the post approval is for new members (particularly to combat spam) and while setting up the new forum, I enabled it without foreseeing this issue. I have disabled it for the time being so that old members/mods are not put through the hassle of approvals. Please don't read any other message, subtle or not so subtle.

Ramakriya, the wiki is up next.

Rajeshnat, I am taking professional help so everything will be fine.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 05 Feb 2010, 00:40

It is not necessary to register on the new forum unless you are going to post something. All existing users will be moved to new forum eventually in one or two days.

One more important thing is I may need to freeze both forums (or atleast this one) for a few hours when the actual migration takes place. Only reading the posts may be allowed. However I will announce it here before it starts.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 05 Feb 2010, 01:50

Thanks for the updates, skris. Hopefully some doubts will be put to rest

If possible, if you can put a notice on the head of the page, when you do freeze it, so that, even if pre-announced, people can see.

Professional help. Hmmm... Yes... I've had that, in the past... Can be very good, but don't take your eyes off them for a minute!

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 05 Feb 2010, 02:24

>don't take your eyes off them for a minute!

Lest they steal all the pearls of wisdom from here

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Feb 2010, 02:32

..In case you desire to register at the New Forum pl use the same name that you use here so that we do not have to wrestle with Multiple ID problems which is a NO NO! Thanks

gn.sn42 · Post by **gn.sn42** » 05 Feb 2010, 02:59

cmlover wrote:..In case you desire to register at the New Forum pl use the same name that you use here so that we do not have to wrestle with Multiple ID problems which is a NO NO! Thanks

The new forum did not allow a "." in the user id; so I could not register as gn.sn42; instead I registered as gn-sn42. I'll leave things alone for now, but when the user id migration happens, please delete one of them as appropriate. The reason I'm posting is to alert you of this issue, which others may also have.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Feb 2010, 05:48

Noted.

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 05 Feb 2010, 08:33

srkris wrote:This software is severely limited in its ability and it has some bugs which I am having a hard time troubleshooting.

....
Rajeshnat, I am taking professional help so everything will be fine.

What are the bugs please send me those or post it here(specifics only please), this particular fluxbb vs new phpbb , I reviewed the differences not much to gain per say other than arresting spams etc or few administrative nightmares vs the nightmare of moving posts and RE REGISTERING ....

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:02

>>not much to gain per say.....<

Do you mean "per se" ( i.e., by itself)?
Not to find fault, but I am wondering if you mean something else.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 05 Feb 2010, 09:29

Chembai,

Thanks for your clarification, but a few seconds ago, I posted (a welcome message to Aishu's dad) and got the same message that my post will need to be approved.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 05 Feb 2010, 10:53

Yes Shankar! You are right. Bug has to be corrected!

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 05 Feb 2010, 11:27

Rshankar, I think you already got into the approval loop, so it is prompting again. Once it crosses 5 posts it won't require approval.

Girish, I will sort out the dot in username issue now and change your username to the existing one so if you are not able to login with the dash, try it with the dot.

gn.sn42 · Post by **gn.sn42** » 05 Feb 2010, 13:13

Thanks, srkris - it works fine now.

msakella · Post by **msakella** » 05 Feb 2010, 20:19

When I have entered my username and the password I have been already been using they were not accepted surprisingly in the new forum. Even after the shift over if it happens in the same manner I have to stop doing nothing thereafter. amsharma

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 05 Feb 2010, 21:16

msakella, please wait for a day. Everything will be fine.

S.NAGESWARAN · Post by **S.NAGESWARAN** » 06 Feb 2010, 00:31

Dear Administrator and Moderators,

Kindly include one more box while registering to indicate the real name of the persons registering so that multiple IDs are eliminated.

S.NAGESWARAN.
06.02.2010.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 06 Feb 2010, 01:07

People are known not to tell the truth. Moderators and administrators have to rely on different tools and techniques to detect multiple-ID users and, in most cases, it is not that difficult.

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 06 Feb 2010, 02:24

cmlover wrote:Patience, folks patience is what is now needed!
Rome was not built in a day!

agree paNNikka Rome

gobilalitha · Post by **gobilalitha** » 06 Feb 2010, 11:53

I have great difficulty in logging inthe new forum . I have not changed my user name or password , bnot yet activated. SHOULD M Y USERNAME AND PASSWORD BE CHANGED HELP REQUIRED GOBILALITHA

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 06 Feb 2010, 12:13

I am prepared to wait until things are straightened out.
Yet, how I miss concert reviews! Hope our brood is ready with the week's reviews--just have to wait for a day or two to post them in the New Forum.

Divya Gopalan · Post by **Divya Gopalan** » 06 Feb 2010, 12:46

I posted a response yesterday which went for approval and is still not updated, while it hardly took a few hours for the previous posts. A few clarifications around that.
How long does it take before a post gets updated?
Is there an intimation if a post does not get published?
Also noticed some discrepancies in the General Discussions. One of the posts (i think a post about some festival in singapore is deleted)
I think i have around 5 posts so far, do my posts still need approval?

Just wanted to clarify.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 06 Feb 2010, 14:16

erode14 wrote:
cmlover wrote:Patience, folks patience is what is now needed!
Rome was not built in a day!
agree paNNikka Rome

agree paNNikka'rOmO' i(ta)llaiyO
americcaiyA, As(a)iyA
poRuttirundAl
palan kiDaikkum.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Feb 2010, 21:10

sa ri pA!
sa ri mA!

erode14 · Post by **erode14** » 07 Feb 2010, 00:07

ap(pa-sa)rikkaa...