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System updates

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 12:43 am
by elc32955
OK, I"m going to start this topic and sticky it so I can keep everyone updated on changes & upgrades I'm making to the system. First and foremost I'm a radio guy, not a programmer. I can work with HTML but I like to take things a little slow to prevent from hosing the works up. So far I've done OK. The system might be somewhat more basic then one running Joomla, Facebook integration, and all the latest twidgets, but it's also inherently more reliable. I can also be somewhat of a procrastinator, so if I'm taking too long on getting something working that I've promised everyone, please nudge me a little. Not a "throw me under the bus" kind of nudge, but maybe a little "clip his head with the shiny chrome mirror as the bus passes". :)

Anyway, you can see the progress being made here as we do development. This is also the place to check if things start acting weird, if I know of a problem or issue I'll post it up.

Thanks
Eric

Re: System updates

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 12:47 am
by storm9c1
I like to keep it simple, so basic is fine with me. No worries here!

As far as Joomla is concerned, it's overrated, and according to the FBI, many of the major web attacks going on nowadays are exploiting Joomla (and Facebook). No surprise there. In fact, I refuse to use Facebook. I'm not missing anything. :mrgreen:

I appreciate the effort and hope this forum is around for many years to come.

Re: System updates

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 1:08 am
by elc32955
3/28/2013 - Update #1

Earlier this week I asked our developer (Rob from FVC) to take a look at the issue on the front page of the system with displaying pictures correctly in the photo slider. For whatever reason, even though the resolutions are set correctly on the pics, the photos keep coming out with the Caprice looking like a stretched hot-dog limo. More work needed. When it's all over with I can change the pictures on the front page just by loading a set. The current art is only temporary to get us started.

Today I fixed some obsolete code on the legal page and the not yet ready page off the front page menu. The buttons were not displaying correctly so I deleted them, we didn't need them there anyway.

Over the next few days I'm going to work on getting a limited file section on-line from the front page menu. My goal is for system users to be able to pull down the public Caprice reference material such as ordering and upfit guides, also some of the sales literature. Uploads to the file section will be only through me for right now so the content can be managed. GM only usually has current model year literature available on their fleet site, most users here have either 2011 or 2012 cars.

There's a topic posted in the general section about photo hosting and galleries. I don't have a problem setting a menu link up to a off-site host where we can store pictures (Photobucket, etc etc...) if this is the consensus of the group. If there's no more interest, I'll act accordingly. If anyone wants to comment, please do so in the topic soon. In my book silence equals consent after an appropriate waiting period.

We also need to finalize what we want to do for our suggested technical write-up format. Bill (NavyLifer) made some very good suggestions early on, but I didn't hear any comments back from you folks. Again, this will be closed out soon so please comment now if you've got ideas/suggestions, etc etc...

So much for the first system update, it's now time for bed. Enjoy!!

Eric

Re: System updates

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 1:58 am
by storm9c1
elc32955 wrote:3/28/2013 - Update #1
We also need to finalize what we want to do for our suggested technical write-up format. Bill (NavyLifer) made some very good suggestions early on, but I didn't hear any comments back from you folks. Again, this will be closed out soon so please comment now if you've got ideas/suggestions, etc etc...
Just noticed it now that you mentioned it. Had to set active topics to see older stuff (setting it to 1 month exposed it). Now that I replied, it should reactivate it for everyone now. Maybe more will chime in.

Re: System updates

Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:52 pm
by elc32955
4/8/2013 - Update #2

Worked with our developer to fix a few things this evening. For some reason the Global Moderator settings had me locked out so I couldn't move posts among other things. This is now fixed along with another access rights issue.

Also I bumped up the settings for avatars a little, max pixels are now 100 x 100, 20kb max file size. This should help a bit for people that want avatars. Gave the chat system a little workout this evening and it seems to be functioning normally, no more problems with repeated posts.

Thanks
Eric

Re: System updates

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 10:12 am
by elc32955
4/12/2013 - Update #3

Just a system status update, we've noticed some intermittent slowness in the forum system and we've discussed the same with our web host. There will be a server swap scheduled for sometime in the next two weeks to address the issue, exactly when this will happen right now is TBD. If we have any extended downtime planned I'll let everyone know in this section. Please bear with us until this can be resolved.

Thanks
Eric

Re: System updates

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:33 pm
by elc32955
4/16/2013 - Update # 4

This really isn't a system status update per se, but is an important announcement for our members. I'm not a person that believes in having all the eggs in one basket, and I've always maintained member involvement is vital in any forum system. To this end, I've appointed Bill (Navy Lifer) as our Primary Moderator and as the backup system administrator for the New Caprice system. Bill has been instrumental in bringing the group together on the system and is a dedicated Caprice owner in addition to having excellent technical knowledge. Bill, my sincere thanks for being willing to assist with the system functions and with forum operations as we move forward.

Eric

Re: System updates

Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:01 pm
by elc32955
4/20/2013 - Update #5

I modified one of the topics in the main forum index today and created a section where we could discuss upfitting done to the cars and OEM and aftermarket police equipment & options. It occurred to me that many of our cars are upfitted and we didn't provide for a section to specifically discuss the special service & police options.

***Edit 4/21/2013 - 9:30 PM*** Update #5A

I finally became motivated and worked on the front page of the site this evening. We now have both a links and a files section working off the main menu. If anyone has useful links they'd like to see added to the front page, please EMAIL me with the info and I'll review & post.

Enjoy!
Eric

Re: System updates

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:08 pm
by elc32955
4/24/2013 - Update #6

More work on the front page today. I finally got fed up and ditched the picture slider. I tried and tried to get it to work correctly and it just kept our cars looking stretched out like hot dogs no matter how I set the picture sizes/resolutions. Since this board is not run or subsidized by Oscar Meyer, it's now history :)

I updated the front page art/pictures as well. You'll notice a few member car pics on the front page now, I'll change out the pictures out every so often to keep things fresh. We have some very nice member rides here, so it's time to show them off a little :)

Re: System updates

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 6:43 pm
by elc32955
4/28/2013 - Update #7

At my request, our developer made a small change in the forum code today. I've implemented a redirector feature to make sure people see what we're posting as a system annoucement. If you have not logged in since an announcement was posted by an admin, you will be directed first to the announcement so you can read it, then you can go to the main forum index.

Just trying to make sure people don't miss anything... :)

Eric