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Thread: How to make a Web Forum

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    How to make a Web Forum

    Hi all

    Just wanted to know how or where i would create a web forum.
    What i want is something similar to this forum. ( wont be competition for here ) Its for a client to accompany their new online game they are making.

    What options are there, and what costs are involved.
    Any free options ?

  2. #2
    only the finest beef
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    http://www.webwizguide.info/web_wiz_forums/default.asp

    Seemed easy enough to set up (I had a domain a while back to play with - www.mtbozzy.co.uk I don't think it'll be around much longer as it's almost two years since I bought it) It's free, but you can buy a key to remove the links to the forum author

    It is in ASP though - I don't know what server you're on you might want a PHP forum if you're on Unix/Linux

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    Junior Senior Member Aaron's Avatar
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    There's lots of different forum software packages available. Some are free, some are not.

    The main thing you need is a website with mySQL database support. If you don't have this then your options become very limited.

    I beleive Hexus uses vBulletin. I don't know if it's free or not but there's probably a trial version available.

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    Kirstie Allsopp Theo's Avatar
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    phpbb and yabb are what comes to mind in terms of decent free forums. I run a phpbb and MySQL on my home webserver. Easy as daddy or chips

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    '~'+'~' Enverex's Avatar
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    Big free ones are - phpBB, YaBB, YaBB SE, Invision Power Board.

    The main one most sites use (including here) and the one you have to pay for is VBullitin.

    I use phpBB myself. Quite easy to set-up and customise, but takes hours to install most the mods, which sucks.

    NS

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    www.phpbb.com for the forum
    just follow the instructions and you can set it up in about 10mins. easy
    Twigman

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    If you looking for free boards then my favourites are :

    Ikonboard (Perl)

    Invision Power Board (PHP)

    RenaultSport Clio 172

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    phpBB gets my vote
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    Thanks for the info guys, will have a serious look when i get back from holiday

  10. #10
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    I have been really really happy with Megabbs from PD9soft.

    http://www.pd9soft.com/

    It is for Windows servers using access and is written in .ASP, a little different than the others mentioned but it's easy to configure, very feature rich, free, and even more importantly the support is always helpful.

    Good Luck,

    -Beer

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    HEXUS.social member Agent's Avatar
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    Another vote for PHPbb if using PHP based hosting
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

  12. #12
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    i reccomend phpbb too, tis easy to set up, admin panel is easy to navigate and fairly powerfull and most importantly its free. alternativly you could write some forums in php

    Col

  13. #13
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    Yes, Hexus uses vBulletin and no, it isn't free.

    You can either get a one-off lifetime licence for US$160 (about UK £90), or pay a US$85 (£47) annually. Be aware, though, that the lifetime licence only includes product upgrades for the FIRST year. So, effectively, your choices are :-

    -$160 in year one, plus $30/year from year 2 onwards (for product upgrades)

    -$160 and no product upgrades

    -$85 per year.

    The product upgrades fee includes major new versions as well as regualr bugfixes. Hexus uses vBulletin 2.3.0 but vBulletin 3 is due for release VERY soon.


    As for what you need, it varies some from forum package to forum package, but the basic requirement for MOST packages is a webhosting account supporting PHP and a MySQL database - and the necessary diskspace and bandwidth.

    vBulletin only requires a asingle MySQL database, but you DO either need to be able to create the database, or you need the necessary parameters (username, password, servername, etc) if it is created for you.

    Check with the forum software support website to ensure the necessary revisions of PHP and MySQL are available from your host.

    Installing forum software is pretty easy (though a bit fiddly the first time), but that is where the fun starts. From there, it can be as simple or as complex as you choose to make it. If you want to change the appearance, it CAN get very tricky. Simple colour changes are easy enough, but many packages (including vBuletin) use a template system that means you can dramatically change the appearance, (and even the functionality) if your skills are up to the job.

    Changing the templates will change the appearance of Bulletin. That might be something simple, like including an advert, or it might be a total workover making the product almost unrecognisable. The PHP code is also open to you to change, so you can add or change functionality. This is one area where vBulletin scores over competitive products - there is such a vast community of vBB users that there is massive support for this, and a wide variety of 'hacks' already wirtten and available for download. Just be aware that using them can make supporting the product over the long term MUCH more tricky - subsequent product upgrades may invalidate your patches. Some patches change the underlying database structure and can cause upgrading nightmares.

    vBulletin is generally recognised as the premium product, for a variety of reasons - not least of which is [b]relatively[/b[ good security. If your client is using this to provide customer support, you REALLY don't want to recomment a product that leaves them open to getting hacked from the outside and losing their forums. Some of the free products are pretty good, but it's up to you to determine if they are good enough for you clients needs

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    I use Snitz Forums 2000. Need asp, and can use a variety of database formats. Only problem is that Chill!soft ASP which is sometimes installed on Linux servers doesn't run that well, so a Windows based server is really needed.

    Also, tried to keep a forum running on a free or cheap webhosting proved very difficult for me as the bandwidth provided wasn't enough to make the forums run very well. Lost a load of posts and users because of that....so now use a paid service of £49.00 + VAT a year and no problems....

    If you wanna ask any questions, mail me ade at 3dcandy.co.uk

    Snitz Communications
    Last edited by 3dcandy; 05-01-2004 at 08:36 AM.
    Old puter - still good enuff till I save some pennies!

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