Topics

Hi ForumMate

Since the forums have returned I notice there is an erorr with accessing the APC in the normal way

I have found a way to get into the ACP by clicking on a users name > administrate user
This seems to be the only way that I can get access to the ACP and everything works fine from there except for clicking on the General tab, then the debug notice reappears. 

[Precise Similar Topics II]

phpBB3 members,

Tanduy has installed  Precise Similar Topics II on our phpBB3.Forums

You will need to do the last part of the install yourself if you wish to have this on your forum.




Go to ACP > .MODS

click on precise similar topics > in the green box click on click here to install

on the next page click submit > Install Precise Similar Topics II ..Are you ready to install Precise Similar Topics II? > click yes

Precise Similar Topics II - Success

click admin index

.MODS > click on precise similar topics >
Enable Similar Topics: = YES

Load Settings

it is not recommended you add to many Number of Similar Topics to display:...5 is default loading more will slow down your forum

Forum Settings

only change this if you do not want to display similar topics in certain forums

once you have altered the settings to your requirements click submit.

When you click on a topic you will now see similar topics displayed at the foot of the page

I don't want to sound like a killjoy but I have noticed just recently there are lots of requests for new mods and styles.


We do have one of the best pre-modded free forums with over 200 styles and we alway's like to fulfil members requests to add more...however I think we should hold off from requesting new mods and styles being added/customised, etc for the time being while we are having problems with the 504 error.

I think (and hope you agree) that tanduy's time would be better spent looking into what causes this and finding a solution to end it once and for all.

[click]

Go to ACP > ARCADE

You will see a green box and with in it click here to install....once you click this you will see this


click on install

The next page will be Installation compatibility page


click start install

After a short wait You should now see this page

After returning to the ACP you will need to click on the ARCADE tab
You will see the manage settings page, all settings on this page should not need changing at this stage.

Next click on manage arcade........you will now see this page where you need to add a category for the games you want to install as an example I just typed in games but you may want to add categories such as
Football
pool/snooker
card

once you have made the category click create new category
 

Once again this page should not need altering so click submit

The success box will show, in the geen section click add permissions


select the groups from the add group box (click on administrator and on your keyboard hold down Ctrl and Alt to select the other groups  

here you can add the appropriate permissions  

once you have done that you can click on add games (left of page)
again click on the first and use the keyboards Ctrl and Alt to add more


scroll to the bottom and click submit ....next you will get the success message of installed games in that category


go to your index page click arcade tab (in most styles under the main logo)
you should now see the games :dance:  

Once you have several categories for games you can install more to any of the categories
so all you need to do is repeat the add games stage but before clicking submit you will see a drop down box with category list ....select the category you want to add to then click submit


Earlier I said a couple of pages did not need to be changed
This was for keeping the tutorial as simple to follow, if you do require to make changes on those pages then that is fine to do so.

Hope this was helpful

[Admin index • Portal • Forum]

Here is a simple guide to adding the portal to your forum.

Your index page currently looks similar to this


scroll to the foot of the page and click admin cp

ACP > GENERAL > EXTRA SETTINGS

find the stargate portal info and click yes > press submit



now go to the STARGATE PORTAL tab

click enable block > submit



you will notice in the top right Admin index • Portal • Forum

click on portal ........you should now see  

in the site navigator box you can click on forum.......you should now see


If that worked you have successfully added the portal :smiley-cool:


You can now manage the blocks and how they display to suit your needs

ACP > STARGATE PORTAL > Blocks / manage blocks



Click on the green edit icon to make edits
It is advised you DO NOT delete these blocks, if you don't want them showing click on No where it say's block is active




If you want to change the welcome message to your own check out this guide
http://www.forummate.com/forums/phpbb3-manuals-guides/444401-how-change-welcome-message-portal.html

[admin cp]

When you first get your forum you will want to set up categories and forums
this simple to follow guide should help.

Once you are logged in scroll to  the foot of the page and click on admin cp

you will be taken to another log in page to log into your Administrators control panel (ACP)

This is the first view....it may look scary at first but once you get used to it you will have no problems



you will now want to click on the FORUMS tab

This is what you will see
in the box at the bottom type in the name of the category.....(for this example I have called it forum category) click submit.

the next page you will need to change some of the choices using the drop down box's
Forum type wants to be ....category
Parent forum ....No parent
Scroll to the foot of the page and click submit.
 


on the next page you will see click set permissions with in the green box



You will know need to add the user groups so permissions can be made
click on the first group name, using your keyboard press ctrl and Alt, and click on the remaining groups you want to give permissions to

Using the drop down box by each name to give pre-set permissions
at some point you may need to give advanced permissions but for this guide we won't go there at the moment
Click apply all permissions



now click on the FORUMS tab

you will now see this


click on the category name you just created

To install the Calendar mod go to APC > .Mods



After clicking install this page will appear



click submit > you will then be asked to confirm the installation

This page will appear



Next step is to change the usergroups permissions



Global permissions  > group permissions



After selecting the user group in the dropdown box > click advanced permissions



click calendar and click the desired permissions > submit


You will need to do this for each usergroup you have created.

On your main index page click calendar



To add an event click the little star on the date in the calendar



you will then see a page to add the event



after adding the event and desired options click submit

back on the calendar page you will now see the added event...the event is a clickable link



after clicking the link you will see the message for the event

Just a polite message to ask if you have already started a thread to show off your forum there is no need to start a fresh one when reminding us of your forum if it is the same.

Use the old thread you started to tell us of any changes etc

Thank you

There are some Inappropriate posts made by Estigocropcor who has now been Permanently Banned, unfortunately I am unable to remove these posts, but they will be removed as soon as possible.

We are sorry if you have been subjected to these posts and would like you to know we are a family friendly forum host and do not condone these sort of posts.


Apologies from myself and the forumate team if you have been offended by viewing its content.

Please remember this is a family friendly forum and such posts will result in a ban.

unfortunately I won't be around as much as I would like due to work commitments.
A big problem arose last week which now needs my full attention over the next month which means internet activity will be limited.

I will try my best to get on here if and when I can to help out, I hope you understand.

This will also mean the styles board I am working on will be delayed, I have all the styles now as thumbnails but won't have time to sort out.

See you when i can.
Paul

Just a couple of mods that I think will benefit our forum owners

The first is Forum background, which allows forum Admins to put a back ground image on each forum.
This mod would make all our forums look  unique from the normal boring styles.
phpBB • Forum Background for phpBB3 - Contribution Details

The next one is Moderator Needed

phpBB • Moderator Needed - Contribution Details

Please would all members replying to posts please keep it on topic.
When a member makes a post asking for support they are looking for support NOT off topic replies.

It only confuses matters when a subject does go off topic not only for the member trying to get support but also for staff members and members who are trying to help out.

We don't want to discourage any one from making a reply if they feel they are able to help, as all help and sharing of knowledge is appreciated.

When we make a new forum most of us will

1/ want new members to join
2/ want members to be active making regular posts
3/ will want our forums to be successful

All of the above does not happen straight away, it may take a couple of weeks, a month or even several months before this happens, it all depends on the type of forum you are hosting and what you put into it.

Making too many categories, and sub forums to start with is also a mistake if you don't add enough posts, this just makes your forum look empty, to start with make no more than 6 categoies and sub forums, once your forum starts to get busy you can then add more and move posts about into the right place.

Once you have made the categories and sub forums make sure that you add something to each one, this needs to be something that will get a reply rather than a bit of information people read where a reply isn't essential.

If you don't make any new posts then others won't make any, this illustrates to your members that your expecting them to do all the work while you sit back and watch it happen.

Try and visit your forum regularly each day and respond to posts that have been made even if it just means using the thanks button, letting members know you appreciate their efforts will encourage them to continue making new posts.

Take a look at other forums that are similar to yours and see what gets replies and what members like but don't steal or copy what they have wrote as they may join your forum and tell others what you are up to.

This may sound an odd thing to do but I have done this several times and it works, create a couple of imaginary members to (1) reply to your posts, (2)make new posts from these users and you reply to them yourself, this will make it look as if you have members posting and will then encourage people to do the same.

To make an imaginary member or two go to the ACP > General > users registration settings > Allow e-mail address re-use: > yes .........(remember to change back to No once you have registered again) log out of the forum and register again using a different name, unless you tell anyone (which I wouldn't do) no one will know its you.:smile:

Is it just me or do people start to annoy you ?

I'm going to stop banging my head as the wall seems to be winning.

I would like to inform all forum admins new & old  that the only support or help you need for your forum can be found here.

Recently I mentioned an e-mail going around offering help on all phpbb forums, these e-mails where sent to people on free hosts such as this one which suggests it is a scam to get user information and e-mail address's.

A new support forum has now appeared which offers giving 12 months free help on the condition they are made admin of your forum......No phpbb support will ever ask of this !

Sites like this should be avoided

 
     

If you are reading this as a guest and own your forum I suggest using an official phpbb support forum that has built up a good reputation over time.

This morning i received an e-mail which looked like this

From: "phpBB support"
To:
Sent:
Subject: phpBB 3.0.8 is available ..



Hello,

We stronglly recommend that you update your phpBB forum to the latest secure version 3.0.8

For any assisstance please reply to us , we will be very happy to assisst you .

Thank you

After checking out the e-mail address have found plenty of reports suggesting this is a scam.
One site who received one back in November 2010 was phpbb.com who have said "There's no way anyone from the phpBB development team would legitimately be sending out emails like this to board owners."

Please do not reply to e-mails like this or give any details of your forum, delete it straight away.

The support team here @ freeforum ca are the only people you need to contact if you have any problems regarding your forum.

I have made a new forum for all administrators who have a free forum @ freeforum ca  to help promote their forums.
It is a forum directory where you can add your forum to the list
you can give as much detail as you like, add a screen shot, updates or anything else to help get more members to your forum.
Everything is categorized so it will be easy for you to post and easy for people to find your forum.

Whilst i write this post there are currently 0ver 400 people viewing this support forum so imagine how many may see this post and visit the forum directory to find your forum, they could be your next newest member.

Help support forum directory and get more members to your forum.
http://forumdirectory.freeforum.ca/index.php
Paul

[Disclaimer]

Here's one that may appeal to a lot of users,
paypal buy it button
This code will allow users to sell an item on your forum, ideal if you have a community that has a specific interest.
eg: if the forums a camera club a member may have accessories that they want to sell to another user, or a gaming forum a member may have a game they want to sell.

bbcode

Code Select Expand

[buy_now={EMAIL},{SIMPLETEXT},{SIMPLETEXT1},{IDENTIFIER},{SIMPLETEXT2}][/buy_now]


Html replacement

Code Select Expand

   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

Helpline

Code Select Expand

Buy now : [buy_now=eamiladdress,item name,price,currency,postage][/buy_now] Example

Code Select Expand

[buy_now=emailname@?.com,camera,100.00,GBP,3.00][/buy_now]
Click display on posting page.

Additional information

1/ To sell anything , the person selling will need to have an account with paypal first
2/ From the example and helpline you will see how your users need to fill out the information needed
making sure to use the comer ([COLOR="Red],[/COLOR]) between the information.
3/It is always a good idea that the forum administrator makes a post  to add a disclaimer stating that you are not responsible for any item sold on your forum

Disclaimer

freeforum.ca and the author of this post are not responsible for any item sold on your forum or any information given through the use of this bbcode

[[COLOR=Blue]Text line 1[/COLOR]]

In your portal there is a welcome message from freeforum.ca,


 to change this message to your own go to
ACP > Stargate portal > modules > edit welcome message

The first thing you can do is change the name of the block
then delete the text in the information box and add your own message.

here you can see the edited page  


You will notice that i have used html in the message, this is so i have text on several lines but if you want just one line there is no need to use it.
If you like you can copy this code into the information box and replace the text in blue with your message.

Code Select Expand

[COLOR=Blue]Text line 1[/COLOR]

[COLOR=Blue]text in line2[/COLOR]

[COLOR=Blue]text in line 3[/COLOR]

Next you can click on manage blocks > find the block name (this should be "welcome to my board") > click the green edit symbol > now you can change the name of this block to one thats more suitable.  

Here is the finished result  

[Making the CAPTCHA easier]

One problem many have is their members struggle to register because the CAPTCHA is too hard to read, here we will explain how to make it easier.
Go to ACP > General > CAPTCHA module settings  

You will see on the page a preview of how the CAPTCHA currently looks

click configure

Making the CAPTCHA easier
1 click No
2 Keep both these to 25
You can click on preview to see how it will look before pressing submit.
 

the result, an easier to read CAPTCHA  
     



Making the CAPTCHA harder
This is not really advisable to make it too hard as you may loose new members as a result !
1 click Yes
2 increase the values
you can also use the lower case/ shapes to make it harder

Why can't i disable the CAPTCHA.

Although there is an option to disable the CAPTCHA  this is not possible to do.
For your forums safety from spam this feature can not be turned off.