I made a new poll based on our discussion about switching to ZetaBoards, but with better choices. If you do want to move to ZetaBoards, give the strongest arguments you can - but if you do NOT want to move, also give the best argument you can. ZetaBoards are honestly similar enough that a lot of admins would just make the switch without even consulting the community, and it wouldn't be a huge deal. We of course do everything as a community so I'm giving you a vote, but try and give a clear reason you don't want to move besides simply "I like it here".

Check out our test ZetaBoard here!

I'm just not sure if it's as easy as you say it is. I had a look at the member features, and I do like them, but let's face if nothing changed, why the hell do invisionfree forums still exist?

I wonder if it's possible to convert our Beyond Tests and Codes Site, so I and everyone else can get to grips with the Zetaboards. I like to know what the hell I'm doing, as an admin I think I should. Besides, our testforum is for testing, so why not use it here as well?

As for the subtle skin changes you suggested in the other topic, I think it'd be wise to take it one step at a time...

If we can convert the test forum, I say we do that first of all.

Agreed. I'm dropping that idea for now.


I've given you admin super-powers at the test ZetaBoard, so if you can handle the CSS then you should definitely try porting some of the design over. I already tried but I don't have the faintest idea what I'm doing. But yeah, I think if we can get a better idea of what our board would actually look like in ZetaBoards, we can make a better decision.

EDIT - Looks like someone (Reaper, I'm guessing) has already been fiddling. Sweet.

Sometime in the near future I'm gonna start digging through the support forums and see what problems have arisen from switching over; see if the risk is too high.

Wow, nice banner :welldone:

Yeah, that was me.

Pity though, the zetaboards code is quite different from the invisionfree one. Well, different in a way that names of objects are different, and their position in the style sheet is. It will take some figuring out what's what.

Damn, it really is hard getting used to, I'm learning what's what, but did have to give everything a different name and place?

Also, there's like 5 places to add programming language...

UGLY.
Simple.

Dude, we would implement this skin there too... -_-

Something which I've been trying to figure out for the last... 4 hours. Damn it! See, this is why I disagreed! I get way too enthusiastic when I see programming language...

Anywho, I figured a lot of stuff out, but I'm wondering if the converting will really be without changes, since the Zeta boards do have a different approach to things. And as forums have a certain part of the language you cannot edit, I think we might bump into a problem or two.

But I have set our test board: Revolution Test Site(invision, not Zeta) to be converted as soon as possible. That way I can really test what needs change and what does not. At least now I have a little insight on how the Zetaboard language is constructed.

Yeah I was gonna ask them about that actually - I noticed that the CSS was way different, so I'm not sure if converting to ZetaBoards would automatically convert that or if we would have to port it over manually (or maybe a little of both). I shall find out.

EDIT - Well it looks like with a bit of tweaking it can come out quite nicely! Don't know if you've seen this already Reaper, but here's some ZB Theme-making documentation.

Uhuh, my point exactly. I mean, for some forums there probably won't be any trouble, but this one kinda consist of a lot of custom made stuff, and little HEX colours.

But, like I said, I signed up our test-board for that reason, cause it's quite the same as our current forum. If we see what goes wrong there, the transition for this forum will be easier.

And that ZB theme-making documentation looks interesting, but I kinda had it with programming today ;)

Ha! Yeah I know the feeling...

You can do it, Reaper! We believe in you! :P

Though the half-implimented skin at the original Zeta testboard is looking kinda freaky... :blink:

Cool, I see the skin transplant is moving along. The margins are a bit funky. You know you can set the board width limit by going to Themes>Edit Theme Settings.

Hehe, thanks! ^_^

But to me it's not a matter of not knowing how to do it, but more a long process of hypnotically staring at my screen, drooling, forgetting to go to bed trying to figure stuff out. Eventually I almost always figure it out, but it does take a lot time, and I tend to get sucked in.

And right now I can't really use that. So the skin will stay this funky for a while ;) I'm taking 3 days out of programming. Yeah. So if you catch me doing any, you may bash me :D

No, my reasons:

There’s no improvement, just something different.

Complications could arise during moving.

Everyone will have to relearn how to do things, and code will have to be tweaked to function, so we’ll be less productive for a month or two.

The last two would be acceptable if we gained something, but for gaining nothing it just isn’t worth it it’s like switching to an Azerty keyboard instead of Qwerty all it is different not better.

Pretty much all the benefits revolve around the fact that ZetaBoards is more or less the new version of InvisionFree. So it would have more support as far as security goes, more support for modding and coding, faster tech support, upgrades, etc. It would be an adjustment, but a worthwhile one I think. I've scoured the internet and I have yet to hear of anyone who lost anything at all in the transition, just a few people who have questions on how to use some of the new features. Otherwise, the majority of both members and admins prefer ZetaBoards, from what I've heard.

If it's any consolation, one of my other forums transitioned in November, and it went smooth as silk. It didn't loose anything, and it brought some bug fixes to.

...I guess that's a... sort-of endorsement?

Hmz, test board hasn't been converted yet. Does anyone know how long it takes before the conversion sets in?

Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

A few weeks? Oi, that's long!

They do conversions in batches, so at the next scheduled set of conversions they'll convert our test board. The actual conversion process is pretty quick.

Ok, well, just have to be patient than!

I can do that. *sits back and relaxes*

I voted not to move because, honestly - the new board is totally laggy for me.
I am using Debian Lenny with FireFox and some plugins and this board just lags for me, I cannot even scroll properly.
I remember a similar thing happening when there was this other community and they changed to a new, fancy board.
Everything became laggy.

Sad days, cause it's definitely way faster for me. And using the ZB support forum, previews and posting and everything are super quick. What's Debian Lenny? Maybe a plugin or two is lagging it a bit...

Well we'll sit tight until our test board gets converted, then we'll see what we're thinking. I'm personally still pulling for a switch, but who knows.

Is it just this Zetaboard? Or all zetaboards, cause that might be a reason not to move...

Anywho, I think the best thing to do is wait for the testboard conversion results. I'll try tweaking our Zeta test one in the meanwhile. That way, I is all accustomed to it! :B

Yeah definitely, if that turns out to be a consistent problem. I think ZB is at least a little faster for most people, but we'll see. I know this board is often horribly slow when I'm at the school computer labs.

This board's never lagged for me. Which is odd, because I seem to lag a lot in other sites. DevArt and one of my online browser games particularly.

I haven't fooled around with Zeta enough yet, but the few times I looked into it, it seemed normal.

Yep, the test forum results are our best bet :welldone:

This particular board doesn't lag for me but the new one, which we are voting over about, is pretty laggy - so I don't think the problem lies with all boards of that type.

Still no conversion... what's taking so long? Or does the old forum still exist after conversion?

I'm talking about the Beyond Codes & Tests site which I opted for conversion like a month ago. Still nothing though.

I do not particularly want to move. I think change is respectable and there is absolutely nothing wrong with variety. I would suggest a combination or an option, that would provide variety without compromising the other aspect which I am about to bring up, and that is:

This forum works. The new forum could very well not work, or work in a way we don't have control over. The only thing I would significantly change is the smilies which are old and need updating. Apart from that, I like this format. I'm amenable if everyone else REALLY wants it, but I think it's a silly risk for no reason.

Ok, I officialy vote against conversion. At least for now.

Take a look what happened to Beyond tests & codes.

Exactly. Nothing good, they just took the Zeta-standard look, meaning that I'd have to re-implement every single piece of skin.

Which is not that much fun.

I might want to do it in the future, but as the disadvantages are this high and the start-up work is a lot, I vote against.

Yes you are right. So no conversation pls. :)

I new it, my fear of change came through again. lol

Yeah, I know, it's terrible.

I kinda liked the testsite, but now I fear it's become quite useless as it has turned evil Zetaboard on our asses. Kinda makes me wish I would have made another invisionboard just for the conversion...

Also:

Glad to see we got a converter! :P

I don't think we should have an "Ok either way" poll option, it doesn't solve anything. You should decide whether you want the board to convert or not, it's too big of a decision to have an ambiguous choice.

Me?

Well, thanks but no thanks. I know you guys will help, but it's too much work. I might work on the test forum from time to time, but that's it.

The only fear I have is that invisionfree might want to convert everything for the sake of better administration or something. So, I'll make occasional adjustments to the test site, so that may we have to convert, we're ready.

Also, I, the superspecial admin, don't have ZE POWER to convert this board, even if I wanted to. That power is reserved for member no. 1.

Edit: Ok, made a few slight changes in the Beyond Tests & Codes site, but nothing I haven't tried in the Zeta test board. But since I want to do it right, it will be small steps at a time. If any at all, but I do like to restore the test board.

Edit2: Oh crap, I accidentally copied the zeta stuff to the beyond test & codes site, and now it's screwed up beyond recognition.

Oh well...

I don’t think it’ll happen it’s not like it makes any difference to them.

But preparing for it anyway is a good idea, but don’t spend too much effort on it.

Not planning too, but I like programming, so I might as well get my head in the right place when it comes to Zetaboards. And who knows, I might discover why it's so great.