Australian Coin Forum

[Triggersmob]

The Australian Coin Forum (ACF) looks like it might be closing soon, unless they can find a new owner. I have left a message over there, inviting members to sign up here.
Would hate to lose contact with fellow Aussie collectors.

[TKO]

If there was any way to get an email list of the group, I could send all of them an invite.

[Sir Krash]

Was going to suggest contacting someone on ACF, but I see you've already registered there.  There's a converter from mybb18 to SMF 2.0.19, which could then be upgraded to SMF 2.1.7.  There was a script for merging two SMF forums, I'll inquire if it's possible to convert the ACF forum and merge it with this one.  That, of course, assumes the ACF owner would be willing to donate his database.

[Triggersmob]

If there was any way to get an email list of the group, I could send all of them an invite.

You would have to contact Markn, the owner for that, once your account is activated.

[TKO]

Their site is a Wordpress format is that possible?

[Sir Krash]

The forum may be running under or alongside a WP website, but it's a MyBB forum install and can be converted to SMF.

[TKO]

That's pretty slick. I was just going to try and get the owner to transfer everything to Croc. If it can be integrated just by manipulating the database, that would save me a bunch of money. So, you would convert the database then merge or set up a different subdomain to use their IP independently?

[Sir Krash]

Converting MyBB to SMF looks to be straightforward, there's a converter here.  You'd need the MyBB database and attachments.  It's also possible to merge two SMF forums, although I've never done it.  One of the devs has posted a merge script here that should work in 2.0 and 2.1. 

I think the first thing to do would be to get the ACF forum running on your CW server in MyBB, then convert it to SMF.  If it goes well, we can try merging the two SMF forums so ACF content is integrated with KOTCT.  If you can get a complete cpanel backup from ACF owner, we can go with that.  Worst case would be you'd have two separate forums linked to each other.  In either case ACF can run in your CW account, you have plenty of resources.

[TKO]

I actually would like to see them separate with a link on each of the forums to the other. Set theirs up in a subdomain and link their IP to it then put a button like the Gallery on our to theirs an vice versa. It would allow them their own hosting without actually buying into one.

[Sir Krash]

That would be pretty simple to do if you can get the files and database.  It can continue as MyBB so it remains the same for ACF members, or we can convert it to SMF, which would be easier to support.  You'd have to get a full backup of just the forum, not the WP install.

[TKO]

I'm still waiting on my approval for membership. I'll solicit them for that info just as soon that happens. I'm not sure they're ready to give up yet.

[Triggersmob]

Looks like your membership has been approve Terry, and Mark has posted on the ACF, stating that it looks like you will be taking over the forum. Many thanks mate.

[TKO]

Yup! I in a conversation via email with Mark and he's gathering the information I need to get the wheels turning.

The site may not be accessible for a day or two in order to get everything set up and to allow for propagation. Also, it might come to the point to where it will need to be changed to the kind of software we use. As you know, that's not a bad thing. Appearance would be the only thing. Once it's done we'll run a poll for the members to choose before doing so.

Mike hosted your site on a Linux shared site and from what he's told me each of the main items were housed in different sections. Meaning the database was in one spot, the programs were maintained in another and all the images were in another.

But the first thing is to get your domain transferred then it can be pointed to his storage until the new home is complete. If you don't think this is confusing, your the only one.

Cheers mate!!

[Triggersmob]

Yep, I'm confused, but that's not unusual. Thanks Terry & Sir Krash.

[Sir Krash]

This may be of interest -

https://docs.mybb.com/1.8/faq/moving-to-a-new-web-host/

I've done a quick install of current version MyBB 1.8.40 here -

https://www.thekrashsite.com/mybb/index.php

Can install it here in kotct.com if you want to play with it.

My feeling at this point is we'll have to continue running ACF in MyBB.  I doubt there's any way to convert the gallery to SMF, and that seems to be the bulk of their content.  MyBB has decent documentation and a good support forum, which will be necessary to maintain and upgrade the forum going forward.

[TKO]

It looks just like theirs. Could you create the subdomain called ACF in kotct and install it there. Then when we get their database maybe trade them? Your the expert here but, I kind of wanted to keep their site as is. It's what they are use to and won't run anyone away. I think that links could still be made on both sites so everyone could switch from one directly to the other if they wanted to.

[Sir Krash]

I'll do that tonight.  There's a few things I need to learn to get it set up. 

[Sir Krash]

https://acf.kotct.com

Basic core install with menu button to kotct.com.

[TKO]

This is awesome. I don't know if you noticed but, their domain name is pending in my account. Mark from ACF told me that once it was transferred he would get me the database files and the forum files. I'm not sure if the images will be in the forum files or if they are separate. I did tell him to make sure that I had them since they were 75% of the site.

I'm also not sure how he is planning on sending them to me. I was hoping that they would be in like a .zip file. He also told me his internet wasn't very fast. I hope this doesn't present problems. I remember a member telling me that he uploaded a video of him and his wife and it took him 22hrs for it to complete. Dude that's DSL slow.

I guess I just need to keep my fingers crossed.

[Sir Krash]

If CW support can access his host account they can migrate the TAR file directly to your CW account, that would be much faster than downloading/uploading it.

[TKO]

Here's what I sent him. I'll have to wait to see his reply'

Hi Mark,

I was discussing the file migration with Krash and explained your time issues. He replied with this:



Do you think that this is something you would rather do? This way you just provide the host account info and they do it all.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers mate!

[Sir Krash]

If Mark can pack up the TAR and park it somewhere on his server CW should be able to get to it.,

I've added an ACF button to main menu on this forum.  Only admins can see it for now.

[TKO]

I'll see what his response is. I'm not going to even guess what his response will be. If he is giving up it shouldn't be an issue with letting CW snatch it off his Linode Slice.

I seen the Button in the menu. I wished I knew how to do this shit. I did have a time issue with my view of our site. I went in and set the default time to EST/EDT but, it didn't change mine. Duh, my look and layout was set to Pacific time.

[Sir Krash]

Won't be doing anything further on ACF forum until we have the production install, unless there's something you want to try.

[TKO]

That's fine. Until we get their info and the domain activated your kind of stuck.

[Triggersmob]

Is it possible to add images directly to our posts, like on the CCF forum.
When I click on "Insert an image" button above, it wants a URL. Would be nice to have the option to load it directly from our files from our PC or phone. ACF also has that problem. Need to load to the gallery first.

[TKO]

Sure there is.... See the big blue bar at the bottom of the text frame that says
"Click or drag files here to attach them." - Click that and it will open your folders menu so you can choose the image to add to your post. Once it's added a small box with an arrow pointing up asking to add the attachment to the text area will pop up. Just click that and then preview to see where it adds it. It will place the image just after the current cursor position.

[TKO]

Won't be doing anything further on ACF forum until we have the production install, unless there's something you want to try.

Since you know Johnathan (vbgamer45), he has a mod Ultimate Shoutbox & Chatrooms. I was wondering if it would coincide with our current theme choices and if there are any issues we could have if it was installed.

We are beginning to get an influx of people who previously enjoyed being able to live chat. It says Hooks Only and I'm not familiar with what hooks are and how they interact with the coding.

[Sir Krash]

It's installed without errors in Curve2, KOTCT Dark, KOTCT Lite, and I've disabled it.  Shoutbox settings are in Admin > Configuration, you can set it up as you like and play with it.  Hooks are used to bring in external code so changes to existing forum code are minimized.  vbgamer's mods are usually pretty good and are well supported.

[TKO]

That's pretty cool! I set it to chatroom only for now. I'll test it out just as soon as I can. Thanks a bunch!

VB is pretty clever. Programming has got to be the only thing he does with as much he's got going on at Hacks.