Muffduster
Well-known member
Xenforo ***** and had killed many great forums. Fact is it runs folks off. I hate it and so do countless others.
The Garage Journal V3
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
- Status
Farmall450
Well-known member
Right?
harley jim
Well-known member
We will survive, some may need to move to a dryer climate but we will all be ok.
Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Vintage Veloce
Well-known member
I cannot wait for Xenforo. It will be great!
And I hope we get a dark theme with it. ;-)
And I hope we get a dark theme with it. ;-)
racer-john
Well-known member
I would like to know what happened to the sequential posting of attatchments.
To wit: You click on one photo and at the bottom are choices; previous/next.
To wit: You click on one photo and at the bottom are choices; previous/next.
Muffduster
Well-known member
Said absolutely no one EVER.
So, not to add to the VB vs Xenforo ******* contest as I don't know if its for distance or volume, but what exactly is wrong with Xenforo? I see from other forums I visit:
a dark mode which is easier on my eyes
a like button which helps with engagement
easier photo posting
easier to look at on my phone or iPad
easier to follow threads I've subscribed to or posted in
What am I missing? So the book cover is changing, the content shouldn't.
a dark mode which is easier on my eyes
a like button which helps with engagement
easier photo posting
easier to look at on my phone or iPad
easier to follow threads I've subscribed to or posted in
What am I missing? So the book cover is changing, the content shouldn't.
I'm sure there are lots of people who don't like it. I think a lot of that is just getting past the learning curve that exists with any change.
Now there I'd have to disagree. You may not like it but you can't speak for everyone else. There's probably a lot of us here who are either excited to see the new format or at least willing to give it a chance before criticizing it.
Augus7us
Well-known member
I'm just curious; will I be able to change my icons to cornflower blue with the new software?
Vintage Veloce
Well-known member
I started a new forum a couple months ago and considered all the options. I also visit many other forums, at least eight regularly. My biggest annoyances with any of them are:
- advertising placement. some are horrible and take up all of the top of the screen. This is particularly annoying on the phone. Whatever software is used, this is a choice of the site manager.
- trouble posting pictures. Some software requires you link to an outside photo site, and so users have to use two sites to post pictures. Others require you to add the photo first to a gallery, or to add the photo as an attachment. Current versions of Xenforo allow you to just drag and drop your photo into the post! A big win, IMO.
- verticalscope. This is a company that buys automotive websites and runs them under their umbrella. Those sites seem to greatly annoy the users during the transition. It's also problematic when the owner is just a company that doesn't really care about the individual communities. Getting problems fixed is like pulling teeth. I wouldn't be surprised if many people complaining about Xenforo are actually complaining about Xenforo sites run by Verticalscope.
This place is blessed to have an owner that loves the community here. I'm sure Ryan will do his best to make this site great with the software. But sadly, I'm sure it will annoy some who cannot deal with the change. Ryan is experienced enough to ignore the naysayers.
When I started my forum I approached Ryan and he was generous with advice. On my own, I compared many software options and ended up with Xenforo. He agreed with that choice. In my opinion, it is just all around BETTER. It's hard to describe all the things that is does right. From picture management to spam management, it is just an excellent tool.
At any rate, I mean it when I say: I can't wait for this forum to move to Xenforo.
- advertising placement. some are horrible and take up all of the top of the screen. This is particularly annoying on the phone. Whatever software is used, this is a choice of the site manager.
- trouble posting pictures. Some software requires you link to an outside photo site, and so users have to use two sites to post pictures. Others require you to add the photo first to a gallery, or to add the photo as an attachment. Current versions of Xenforo allow you to just drag and drop your photo into the post! A big win, IMO.
- verticalscope. This is a company that buys automotive websites and runs them under their umbrella. Those sites seem to greatly annoy the users during the transition. It's also problematic when the owner is just a company that doesn't really care about the individual communities. Getting problems fixed is like pulling teeth. I wouldn't be surprised if many people complaining about Xenforo are actually complaining about Xenforo sites run by Verticalscope.
This place is blessed to have an owner that loves the community here. I'm sure Ryan will do his best to make this site great with the software. But sadly, I'm sure it will annoy some who cannot deal with the change. Ryan is experienced enough to ignore the naysayers.
When I started my forum I approached Ryan and he was generous with advice. On my own, I compared many software options and ended up with Xenforo. He agreed with that choice. In my opinion, it is just all around BETTER. It's hard to describe all the things that is does right. From picture management to spam management, it is just an excellent tool.
At any rate, I mean it when I say: I can't wait for this forum to move to Xenforo.
GarageLogic
MEMBER EMERITUS
Lucid Moments
Well-known member
sps4runner
Active member
This still works for me now. ???
Farmall450
Well-known member
Ryan mentioned a delay from the cold snap in Texas (where he is).
It's going to be a big surprise. One day you'll open 'er up and Ta Da!
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
I too hope for a big improvement and will reserve judgment. As for functionality, sometimes less is more.
Case in point, if we lost the 'functionality' that currently allows inconsiderate, lazy users to quote four pages of full size images just to add, "Whoa, nice score bro!" at the bottom, then I would consider that a huge improvement.
Vintage Veloce
Well-known member
Case in point, if we lost the 'functionality' that currently allows inconsiderate, lazy users to quote four pages of full size images just to add, "Whoa, nice score bro!" at the bottom, then I would consider that a huge improvement.
That is basically solved by how xenforo handles replies. ;-)
texasprd
Well-known member
Ryan, thanks for all you've done for the site/user community!
I couldn't find anything relevant when I searched the thread, and I admit my eyes glazed over before making it through 12 pages... Will thread subscriptions and grouping be maintained on the new platform?
My favorite Dodge Cummins site moved off VBulletin - I don't know what their new platform is, but it doesnt allow users to group and categorize subscribed threads like VBulletin. You can only follow a thread, which is not that helpful since you have to look through your entire subscription list. I greatly like being able to subscribe and group threads into areas of interest (for instance: air compressors and delivery) so I can quickly find the threads I subscribed by topic.
I couldn't find anything relevant when I searched the thread, and I admit my eyes glazed over before making it through 12 pages... Will thread subscriptions and grouping be maintained on the new platform?
My favorite Dodge Cummins site moved off VBulletin - I don't know what their new platform is, but it doesnt allow users to group and categorize subscribed threads like VBulletin. You can only follow a thread, which is not that helpful since you have to look through your entire subscription list. I greatly like being able to subscribe and group threads into areas of interest (for instance: air compressors and delivery) so I can quickly find the threads I subscribed by topic.
OP
If you'd like, I can just close your account now... cuz you are gonna HATE the future. It's all Xenforo man... Hell, I might even rebrand the site - The Xenforo Garage Journal.
I've been delayed by the winter storms in Texas. We've had a mess to deal with here at the office and at home. Miserable.
I'm hoping to get back on it next week.
Thank you sir.
1. I think all forum search engines ****... I try to use google search site specific most of the time...
2. You can categorize in Xenforo... Quite easily actually.
3. You can subscribe to anything in Xenforo... It's a much more powerful feature than used by VB.
4. Yes... You can organize your subs...
I think maybe you are using an older version of Xenforo?
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
justanengineer
Well-known member
What apps can I use after the switch? I use Tapatalk bc it lets me use a bunch of my fav forums but am open to change if something better exists and works with other forums.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Wrench97
Well-known member
You can use Taptalk but I find Xenforo works well in chrome on mobile devices.
Model A Fan
Well-known member
If you're the same admin from the HAMB/Jalopy Journal, I can honestly say I stopped going there much when the format changed. This forum is easy to navigate on both handheld and computer. It works, there isn't much I'd change.
After reading more in this thread, is there a particular reason to get away from vB? You can organize your subscriptions easily here.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I believe 2 of the main things he mentioned in this thread was Xenforo was more secure and better at eliminating spammers and bots.
Wrench97
Well-known member
XenForo is more secure, Vbulletin 5 has been out for several years now and is still very buggy. Vbullitin 3.5 is out of support and most forums you see are still using it or VB 4 which is going out of support soon and is also pretty buggy, XenForo has better native support for search engines, the like/thanks system is integrated and notifies users when an action has been taken. The are more add ins available for XenForo since it has become the more popular platform, XenForo updates are smoother and generally fix issues where VB updates tend to create issues.
Yes the look and feel is different personally I've been a Vb fan for a long time and still like the Vb back end better for some things XenForo has a different way of doing things that seem to flow better as long as you don't try to get too far from the main stream uses of user permissions and groups.
Yes the look and feel is different personally I've been a Vb fan for a long time and still like the Vb back end better for some things XenForo has a different way of doing things that seem to flow better as long as you don't try to get too far from the main stream uses of user permissions and groups.
OP
If you don't like the HAMB, you won't like the new Garage Journal either. Sorry man.
harley jim
Well-known member
I dont get it,
I am a member of the HAMB and went through the change there and it was a little learning curve but!
I still had all of the features I needed to subscribe to threads and post pics.
Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app
I am a member of the HAMB and went through the change there and it was a little learning curve but!
I still had all of the features I needed to subscribe to threads and post pics.
Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app
American Locomotive
Well-known member
This version of vBulliten is dead. It's not supported well, has a lot of issues "under the hood" and basically becomes more a security liability as we progress through time.
vBulliten was purchased by InternetBrands, and the newer versions of vBulliten are buggy messes. A lot of old vBulliten devs left and went to XenForo.
atch
Well-known member
My findings exactly. I like the "new H.A.M.B." just fine.
b-t-w Ryan; you've got my support in whatever changes you plan to make. In all the changes you've made to the hamb, and I've been a member there since '02, I never felt like it digressed. After a week or so of learning the new setup I liked it just well as ever.
If you have been here for a decade and asking if Ryan here at GJ is the same Ryan at HAMB, I'd venture to say that you don't visit this site or that site vey often.
The switch to Xenforo has been talked about for a few years, since HAMB made the changeover. It's going to happen, whether any of us like it or not.
Strouty
Well-known member
You mean there is only one Ryan?
When are we getting this funeral, err, party started?
When are we getting this funeral, err, party started?
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Okay. WHEN ?
BillK
Well-known member
Most of the other forums I regularly go to have switched. I dont particularly like it but its not that bad.
My biggest complaint is that it seems to waste a lot of screen space. Way too much "white space" Way more scrolling than with VB. Maybe it is the way the other forums have it set up ? There are some view options but not that many.
I rarely look at forums on my phone so that part does not matter to me.
My biggest complaint is that it seems to waste a lot of screen space. Way too much "white space" Way more scrolling than with VB. Maybe it is the way the other forums have it set up ? There are some view options but not that many.
I rarely look at forums on my phone so that part does not matter to me.
Vintage Veloce
Well-known member
Not sure what you mean about "white space"... but It's is all customizable by the administrator, Ryan.
For instance, the HAMB uses fairly large fonts and the total width of the board is limited to about 1200 pixels.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/
But those are just Ryan's choices for that board. The width and fonts are easily changed, and we have no idea what his choices will be for the garage journal. I can't wait to find out!
For instance, another board I'm intimately familiar with is an almost completely opposite look to the HAMB:
https://hqvadventure.com/forum/
That forum is light on dark, smaller fonts and wider.
Both are Xenforo software.
So you can see, it is all about his choices, and I am sure you can lobby him for the features you prefer.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I only looked at that Husqvarna site as a guest, but I love that compared to the jalopy site.
BillK
Well-known member
Take a look at the 2 screen shots below. One is from the "Heating and AC" forum here and the other is from the "Performance" forum on Team Chevell which is on XenForo Look at how much more info is on the one page compared to the other ? Now I dont know if it is changeable by Ryan, but that is what I am talking about.
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