Well it’s a little hard to relate Xenforo to a train forum, but it looks pretty straight forward. I could go for that as long as there aren’t too many knicks and crannies to get lost in. I’m like nscaler44 there are some forums that I just don’t go to because it’s just too hard to follow along. For me it’s especially hard when the thread can be divided into many branches like in the yahoo forums. How do you follow that? I’ve seen threads spread out into so many branches on the JMRI forum that I just give up trying to follow along.
No matter what, change is difficult sometimes. But if you take the time to understand things it won't be long before things are second nature. xF is great forum software. Other than that I would have stuck with vB 3.x...but that's just me. Too many bugs that I've seen with vB 4.x. So TB has decided on vB 4.x. It's OK...I won't have a problem dealing with the few things that will sure to be different. That doesn't translate into "bad" ... just different and we'll all adapt to quirks and most people won't have a problem either. As Charlie said some people will complain no matter what. All this is being done to keep things up-to-date and as modern as possible. Keep an open mind. It'll be fine. That doesn't mean things will be the same...but they'll be fine.
These quoted posts appear to relate to the TrainStore function of TrainBoard. This post, and the upgrade, have nothing to do with TrainStore at all. Charlie
I'm lost. I have no idea what this is in relation to. Please explain. Our forum structure is not changing at all. Charlie
Any piece of forum software can be used for a train forum. All colors can be customized, forums customized, etc. It makes no difference at all what something looks like out of the box and that is what you are looking at. Folks, please listen. This is not directed at any one person but you need to understand. Have you ever watched a channel like Home and Garden and seen people looking at houses and they say they don't like a house because of the light fixture in the dining room, or the color of carpet in the den, or the paint color in the kids rooms? If you watch those shows, you will see that kind of stuff all the time. People focus on insignificant details that can be changed in moments. It's human nature. If you are confused about what this thread is about it is simple: TrainBoard is upgrading the software that drives the FORUM to the next generation of the same brand of software. In other words, we owned a 2008 Cadillac and we are trading it in for the 2012 model. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. This has nothing to do with the TrainStore function of the site which somehow got mixed in here. The software that drives TrainStore was broken so we opened a TEMPORARY FORUM for people to buy and sell. The TrainStore software has been fixed and is functioning again exactly as it did in the past. This has nothing to do with the upcoming forum upgrade. Charlie
Charlie, I'm not sure you following this correctly. I think those of us who have mentioned that probably won't care for a change to this format example you gave: 'First, what will it look like? Here's an example of the look of the next generation of the software: Saint Louis - San Francisco Railway Historical and Modeling Society Forums' I'm pretty sure I have a grasp on model railroad websites to say that to go to your example of the new look above that many folks are going to be put off. This looks like a copy of Railwire. Can't get more boring than that site. Railwire started hard and fast but folks have disappear from it because they basically couldn't find anything or follow discussion. I would just hate to see that happen here. While I can understand the reasons to upgrade I'm just not comfortable with proposed businesslike approach of the new software. Model railroading is a hobby and an art form. I'm just not comfortable with seeing this present formate change much. I think this a fair summary, that I know more than a few may share. I'll still pay my money every August however. Jim
Can you possibly tell me what exactly you don't like about it? BTW, I believe the other forum is driven by a free software package. Charlie
We do have quite a few members who tend to "hunker down" in one specific subcategory, which IMO really closes those folks off to other ideas seen in the other subfora. Not everybody is in one specific subforum, as you assert- we have folks in other scales in other subfora. I have no problem taking time to look in other sections such as the Inspection Pit, Ready Track, Railfanning, and Cattle Car. I'm sorry you didn't get your question answered in anywhere else but in N scale, but don't be so fast to write off the rest of the forum. We have all of these subcategories for a diverse audience. And judging by the popularity of Trainboard, it has worked quite well.
Methinks too many people are complaining too much over something that hasn't happened yet. Why not wait until the upgrade is done, then make comments? As for Trainstore (which is a whole 'nuther topic), it looks good to me. What's all the fuss about?:tb-wacky:
I rarely miss any topic as long as I visit via the 24 Hours of TrainBoard link on my shortcuts within a 24 hour timespan. If daily is your normal site visit routine, I suggest you try this.
That’s interesting. I didn’t realize you could do that. I always go straight to N-scale and have no idea what’s going on in the other forums unless I just happened to post in one or get moved. Well this solves that problem.biggrin:
For that matter, wherever you are on TrainBoard, a simple click of the logo at the top of the page will bring you to the "Forum Home" which is the top most directory in the hierarchy of forums. From the Forum Home, you can navigate to any individual forum or sub-forum on TB. These features are the foundation of the site and will not be changed with the new upgrade (other than by appearance).
Well that was my original problem. I didn’t want to have to navigate thru each subdirectory. I like just scrolling down a list. If I don’t see a title or subject that pops out at me, I’m out a here and on to something else. I suppose when I’m retired and have lots of time, I might venture into some of those isolated subdirectories, but for now my time is limited. Oh and I can care less about appearance and colors as long as I can see it. biggrin:
2 Great Functions to take FULL atvantage of TB <-- Post that have occurred anywhere on TB in the last 24 Hours <-- Post that have occurred anywhere on TB since you were last here :tb-nerd: :tb-nerd:
When I come here, this is the first thing I click on: This will show me everything that has happened here since I was last here. Charlie
Is there a similar button which can show the recent updates/posts to your groups? Today, besides using "New Posts", I always also have to click on Trainboard Groups.
I believe the new version of the software will allow us to blend the group posts into the new activity page. I am not sure but I think that is the case. Stay tuned for that... Charlie
Morale to this story is that an awful lot of members don't know the proper ways to navigate the forums to best advantage. Subscribing to important or interesting threads is a powerful tool. Using MyTrainboard as a bookmark shows you immediately upon coming to the forum if there has been activity in any of your subscribed threads Using MyTrainboard to subscribe to "Forums" (e.g. N Scale) shows you immediately if there are new posts in N Scale or any other forum you subscribe to. So, rather than bookmarking the main TrainBoard URL try bookmarking your MyTainboard URL and subscribe to Forums and threads of interest to you. In addition to doing that after visiting MyTrainboard you can visit the New Post Link to see if any other new activity interests you. Saves a lot of frustration and you really can't miss anything doing it this way. You can thank me latter.
