Forum software has been updated

[Eric]

All of the associated software is now up to date. Everything appears to be functioning as before, but let me know if you see something missing or if something isn't working.

There are more changes on the way, but those are for another time (hopefully tomorrow). The majority of which will involve the front page, but I'll also be shuffling around some of the forums.

ER

[comtech]

I get redirected to squad engine if I dont click on something immediatly

[Eric]

I get redirected to squad engine if I dont click on something immediatly
Does this happen on a specific page or on all pages?

[jeeepguy]

Same for me...

I tried logging in and it sent me to squad engine... I backed out and tried again and got here...

[Big Dave]

Eric, how'd you get the style to transfer over? We've had ZERO luck getting old styles to work with 3.5.x!

[longboy]

No problems here, Eric. Thanks for all your hard work--

[Alpine Spirit]

Yep... works fine for me too.

[Eric]

Same for me...

I tried logging in and it sent me to squad engine... I backed out and tried again and got here...
What page were you logging in on? Within the forums or on the front page?

[Eric]

Eric, how'd you get the style to transfer over? We've had ZERO luck getting old styles to work with 3.5.x!
I didn't do anything at all. The CO4x4 style is a child of one of the vB styles, it's not a "top level" style. I read a while ago that this was the recommended approach for dealing with upgrades. vB will always replace the default top-level style, so any children of that style are auto-upgraded. If your custom style is a top-level style then upgrades become a pain. That's what I remember reading anyway, so I've always placed the CO4x4 style as a child of the built-in style and left it there. No problems so far. I don't know if it works to make it a child right before you upgrade or not, but if so then you can still have it as a top-level style before and after the upgrade. :shrug: I'll look into that because I'm going to enable alternate styles shortly.

[Jeep'O'Struttin]

go to squad engine as well ..if I don't click on something immediately

[al24]

go to squad engine as well ..if I don't click on something immediately
User error. :flipoff2:

[Eric]

go to squad engine as well ..if I don't click on something immediately
If nobody is going to provide some details for me then I can't help. :shrug: What page(s) does this happen on? Is it once and done or is this repeatable? What happens after you click on something, does the problem go away? Please post a link to the the squadengine page that you're seeing (probably an error page?). Are you running the latest version of your browser? Are your browser cache settings set to check for page updates on every visit?

Fwiw I'm using IE6SP2 and Firefox1.0.6 (updating to 1.0.7 in a sec) without any issues.

[Jason's CJ5]

If nobody is going to provide some details for me then I can't help. :shrug: What page(s) does this happen on? Is it once and done or is this repeatable? What happens after you click on something, does the problem go away? Please post a link to the the squadengine page that you're seeing (probably an error page?). Are you running the latest version of your browser? Are your browser cache settings set to check for page updates on every visit?

Fwiw I'm using IE6SP2 and Firefox1.0.6 (updating to 1.0.7 in a sec) without any issues.

When I go to www.colorado4x4.org , and do not hit the stop button it sends me to http://www.squadengine.com/errordoc404.php.
I am using IE 6.0

It only happens when I first load the page. If I use the navigation on the site it works fine.

[comtech]

Eric, it was happening on the front page, it seems to be fine now.

[Jason's CJ5]

I am still having the problem.

[Cresso]

It happens to me, too. I'm using Firefox. I'm going to http://colorado4x4.org. If I click on something immediately, I can get to the rest of the website. With any portion of the website open, I can reach the front page in another window without being redirected. If I go to http://colorado4x4.org and get redirected to the squad engine page, I can then type the exact same URL in the address bar and it'll take me to the front page without redirection. If I type in the URL to go straight to the forums, there is no redirection.

Seems to me like it happens when the session is first initiated. If an open session exists, there is no redirection.

EDIT: cached DNS? I dunno. After making it redirect about a dozen times in a row, I can't get it to do it at all. Fixed for me...

[PHiSH]

I get redirected to the squad engine page whenever I go www.colorado4x4.org. I'm on a Mac using Safari 2.0.1 :)

[Eric]

OK, so it sounds like this is limited to the front page. I made a change in the settings, let me know if it fixed it or not.

[1973CJ5]

No problems getting to the site, but twice today I got logged out.

No, I did not hit the log out button. Is there a new auto-log out after a certain amount of time with no activity?

[Eric]

No problems getting to the site, but twice today I got logged out.

No, I did not hit the log out button. Is there a new auto-log out after a certain amount of time with no activity?
No new auto-logout feature that I'm aware of. If it's a corrupt cookie issue you can try going here:

Delete Cookies (http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/mycookies.php)

Select everything that appears and click "Delete My Cookies". This will remove ALL CO4x4 cookies (more thorough than the method used in the FAQ). Then try logging in again.

[1973CJ5]

Thanks Eric, I will give that a shot.

[Jason's CJ5]

Eric,

I just entered the site and was redirected to that other site again.

Also can you change the time on the site to reflect the correct time

JP

[ZJbrandon]

hmm, i made a new post in the infamous BF2 thread, and it shows, but the thread did/does not show in the "new posts" search...

[Eric]

hmm, i made a new post in the infamous BF2 thread, and it shows, but the thread did/does not show in the "new posts" search...
The one posted at 7:49pm? Shows up fine now, you may have checked before the list was updated. I believe this happens at timed intervals, it's not updated instantaneously.

[Big Dave]

Eric,
The same thing happened to Pam when she just tried to get on the main site, I haven't had it happen to me though. Are you using this squad engine thing in any way? I know Tiff and I each had issues with vbadvanced sending people to www.forumurl.com/profile.php and it was a pretty simple fix.

[j5]

I just had it happen 3 times on the front page before it finally let me in. IE 6.0

[j5]

I went out and back in and it did it again. If I don't instantly hit refresh while the CO4x4 board flashes across the screen I get kicked to the 404 page of your host.

[Eric]

Are you using this squad engine thing in any way?

Squadengine is the host for CO4x4. Any errors bring up the server error page which is the squadengine error page.

I know Tiff and I each had issues with vbadvanced sending people to www.forumurl.com/profile.php (http://www.forumurl.com/profile.php) and it was a pretty simple fix.

Might be related, send me the details if you don't mind.

If I don't instantly hit refresh while the CO4x4 board flashes across the screen I get kicked to the 404 page of your host. It's an interesting problem, because I don't know what your browser is looking for. I suspect it's a browser cache issue as Cresso suggested, but I'll keep looking for an explanation. I've tried it from my home PC and from my work PC, with IE and with Firefox. I can't replicate this issue.

[Eric]

Eric,
Also can you change the time on the site to reflect the correct time


Timezone settings can be found in your UserCP under Edit Options.

[Big Dave]

Eric,
Here's the fix that worked for Tiff and I. If you need any help with it let me know, I can be on AIM today at work and help ya out.

For those still having this problem, just add profile.php to the list of filenames in your Footer Replacements option under your main CMPS options and that should take care of things.

[Eric]

Eric,
Here's the fix that worked for Tiff and I. If you need any help with it let me know, I can be on AIM today at work and help ya out.
Done, lemme know if it changes anything. Thanks!

[Big Dave]

Done, lemme know if it changes anything. Thanks!


I was never able to duplicate the problem at home, and tried just now at work and didn't have a problem. How about anybody else???

[Big Dave]

hmm, i made a new post in the infamous BF2 thread, and it shows, but the thread did/does not show in the "new posts" search...


Eric,
I'm experiencing the same thing. It seems as if when someone replies to a thread, and they are still the last to post in the thread, it will not show up in the "Search for new posts." That's a new one for me . . . .

[Eric]

Eric,
I'm experiencing the same thing. It seems as if when someone replies to a thread, and they are still the last to post in the thread, it will not show up in the "Search for new posts." That's a new one for me . . . .
I think I have this one figured out now. I've switched the "Thread/Forum Read Marking Type" to the database versus the old style which used a browser cookie. Since you're the last person to post in that thread, you've obviously read it so it no longer appears on the "new posts" summary. Only new posts which you haven't read yet will appear on that summary.

With the new method you'll also notice that forums will show as containing unread posts until you've read ALL posts within that forum. There is still a timeout feature, at which time all forums will appear as "read", but this is set to 10 days where the cookie used to expire after 30 minutes or so. If you leave for a week you can come back and pick up exactly where you left off. The new approach is a true reflection of "new posts" and "forums with unread topics".

To mark all forums as "read" (ie. catch up), simply click the link at the bottom of the forum summary page.

It's something new that I wanted to try. At first I didn't care for it, but it's starting to grow on me.

Edit: For those running their own vB3.5.1 boards, the setting I'm referring to can be found in the admincp/vBulletin Options/General Settings.

[Big Dave]

Gotcha!

But wouldn't searching for every unread post in the last 10 days create a larger load on the server than the old way?

[Eric]

Gotcha!

But wouldn't searching for every unread post in the last 10 days create a larger load on the server than the old way?
It is more processor intensive, but it's allows the accurate reflection of read/unread posts across browser sessions.

I took another look at the 10 day limit, here's the setting description:
Database Read Marking Limit
With "database read marking", the unread markers on threads and forums are persistent across forum sessions. If a user does not read a thread that is marked as unread, then that thread will remain unread every time the user visits the forum.

This setting allows you to force unread markers to switch to "read" after a so many days. This would be the amount of time after which the user probably has no interest in reading that thread and therefore does not need to know that it contains unread posts.

10 days seems excessive, so I've cut this to 1 day. Day old posts are usually a page or so deep, so anyone looking for what they've missed already knows to dig thru the pages. An indication of new/old for the past 24 hours seems more appropriate than the last week and a half.

[Big Dave]

I get what it does, I'm just not sure I'm too fond of it (although I have my own forum where I can set the rules, so it is of course your call Eric). It may just be that I'm not used to it, or that every other board I'm on does it differently, but I don't care for it too much. It makes a little trickier to go back and find a thread after reading it if nobody has posted. I really saw no fault in the other way of doing it, and I think that's what most people are used to. Plus, not everybody is on here everyday, so if someone only visits say, ever 3 days, when they search for new posts they will only get information from the last 24 hours, rather than what they really haven't seen.

[Colorado 5.9]

So far I've logged on & off a few times & when I come back It still shows posts I havn't read back ten days. I only want to be able to tell want's new since I was last on. The only way to do that is to look at the date & time. Sure liked it the way it was.:(

[Eric]

I only want to be able to tell want's new since I was last on.

Click "Mark Forums Read" at the bottom of the Forum Summary page (http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/index.php)before leaving the site.

Edit: This is also available from the "Quick Links" menu above.

[Eric]

I get what it does, I'm just not sure I'm too fond of it
Me either at first, but I wanted to at least give it a try. It's growing on me and IMO this is the way it should have been done. I think the inactivity-based approach was a result of the limitations of browser cookies.

The database approach allows the forum to behave like any email client. Unread emails remain unread until you actually read them. Likewise unread forums/threads/posts remain unread until you actually read them. However as you mentioned there needs to be a limit in this case because we're dealing with thousands of users versus just one for the email client. So forums/threads/posts need to be marked as read after a set time period. One day is still longer than the previous cookie timeout.

If someone wants to do a search for all posts beyond that time period, they can do so using the existing Search function:

Go to the Advanced Search page
Set the "Find Threads with" setting to "At Most" and specify a large number for replies (ex. 1000 replies)
Set the "Find Posts from" setting to reflect how far back you want to go.
Select the forums of interest and run the search.Plus, not everybody is on here everyday, so if someone only visits say, ever 3 days, when they search for new posts they will only get information from the last 24 hours, rather than what they really haven't seen. What you're describing is in favor of the new approach. Now you can allow them to see as far back as you want them to. Before you were limited by the cookie timeout which was less than 24 hrs. Now it's independent of the cookie so no matter what machine they use to logon they'll see what is new and unread. However, IMO the "New Posts" feature is cumbersome after a long period of time. If you've really been away for a few days then you're likely only interested in looking back over specific forums versus the entire site. The advanced search described above would work for both cases (if you haven't been here for a month, then every post within the last month is new and unread).

[Big Dave]

I think I may have misunderstood the 24 hour thing. Let's say I've never logged in before. I log in at 1:00pm today and read some posts, but not all. If I don't log in before 1:00pm tomorrow, all the posts between 1:00pm yesteday and 1:00pm will be assumed read? But if I don't log in again until 1:00pm Friday, I will still be able to get all new posts from 1:00pm today to 1:00pm Friday?

[Eric]

Perhaps there should be a link provided for this somewhere:

Posts from the Last Day (http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/search.php?searchid=319749)

If you mark the forums read and immediately click "New Posts" you'll find that link, but I'm sure some would find it useful otherwise.

Edit: As Longboy pointed out, this link is already available in the Quick Links menu above.

[Tiffany]

x2 what Dave said. There are threads that I would never read and it used to be within an hour they would go unbold and not be sitting there in my face.

Now everything is bold and it never changes.

ARGHH!!!!

(Thanks for all the hard work Eric ;) )

[Eric]

I think I may have misunderstood the 24 hour thing. Let's say I've never logged in before. I log in at 1:00pm today and read some posts, but not all. If I don't log in before 1:00pm tomorrow, all the posts between 1:00pm yesteday and 1:00pm will be assumed read?

Sorry, you confused me with the yesterday, today, and tomorrow bit. Following your scenario, when you log in for the first time everything is marked as "unread". As you read posts they are individually marked as "read", but everything else remains "unread" no matter how many times you log on and off or from how many different computers. After 24 hours, all "unread" markers are considered "read". It isn't clear what happens if you wait more than the time limit (a day in this example) to log back in. It could show only posts within the past 24 hours as "unread" and the older stuff as "unread", but I think a post needs to be labeled as "unread" first before it can be automatically switched to "read". If I'm right, then when you login on Friday you'll see everything that you missed over the past several days, and you have one day to read them before they're considered no longer of interest and automatically labeled as "read".

[Eric]

x2 what Dave said. There are threads that I would never read and it used to be within an hour they would go unbold and not be sitting there in my face.

Now everything is bold and it never changes.

ARGHH!!!!

(Thanks for all the hard work Eric ;) )

They haven't changed because you haven't read them yet :) Before they were expiring much more quickly, so if you didn't read it within your current session then when you came back it was considered "read" even though you never read it. Now you have a full day before this happens. If you've read everything you're interested in, then simply mark the forums read (http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/forumdisplay.php?do=markread) before you leave. Then when you return you'll see what is new since your last visit. This was always an option btw, all that has changed is

You now have more time to read something before it is automatically considered "read".
The "read" and "unread" markers are stored in the database instead of in the browser cookie. The read/unread info will be accurate across browser sessions and even across completely different PC's.

[Rk Crlr]

I just tried and got the Squad engine again. FYI.

[MMIXJ]

I just tried and got the Squad engine again. FYI.


same here... last night and just now.

this setup is kinda legacy i know, but: MacOS9, IE5.

seems to work fine on my other machine: OSX, firefox.

[MMIXJ]

eric,

got your PM...

seems fine now (though i never tried a second time last night afterwards to see if it was repeatable in the same session).

in any event i can stay on the front page now.

thanks.

terry

[Eric]

seems fine now (though i never tried a second time last night afterwards to see if it was repeatable in the same session).

in any event i can stay on the front page now.


That's good to hear, hopefully that fixed it. Can anyone else confirm?

[PHiSH]

It still redirects me to squad engine :)

[Eric]

It still redirects me to squad engine :)
Sent a PM but no response. What are your browser's cache settings? Is it set to check for new pages at every visit?

Can anyone else confirm the issue still exists? I've spent the past 45 minutes trying to find someone to help me troubleshoot this thing. I need your eyes because I have no way to replicate this issue.

[al24]

Timezone settings can be found in your UserCP under Edit Options.
I've got to use Pacific to get the correct time, Just fyi.

[Jeep'O'Struttin]

deleted cookies... had to relog in tonight same issue so far!!!

[Jeep'O'Struttin]

log off the net relogged in no problems besides the" thankyou page for signing in" took for ever to redirect me.. not sure if a server issue but seems to take alot longer to load pages now.. running on comcast cable..

[al24]

log off the net relogged in no problems besides the" thankyou page for signing in" took for ever to redirect me.. not sure if a server issue but seems to take alot longer to load pages now.. running on comcast cable..
Running Opera. No issues besides the time being an hour off.

[Eric]

Running Opera. No issues besides the time being an hour off.
Strange, I have mine set to Mountain time (GMT -7hrs) and it's spot on. Posting this at 7:08pm

Edit: Do you also have it set to automatically detect DST? This option is right below the timezone setting.

[j5]

Squadengine is the host for CO4x4. Any errors bring up the server error page which is the squadengine error page.



Might be related, send me the details if you don't mind.

It's an interesting problem, because I don't know what your browser is looking for. I suspect it's a browser cache issue as Cresso suggested, but I'll keep looking for an explanation. I've tried it from my home PC and from my work PC, with IE and with Firefox. I can't replicate this issue.

I figured it out. If I pull the drop down menu and click the colorado4x4.com/ from the previously visited list I get the error page. If I type it in manually it's fine. Why I don't know.

[al24]

Strange, I have mine set to Mountain time (GMT -7hrs) and it's spot on. Posting this at 7:08pm

Edit: Do you also have it set to automatically detect DST? This option is right below the timezone setting.
Yep dst is on.

[longboy]

Yep dst is on.

Al, do you have it set to 'ON', or 'automatically detect DST settings'?

You need to have it set to 'OFF', or 'automatically detect DST settings' for it to show the accurate time.

[Yucca-Man]

This was always an option btw, all that has changed is

You now have more time to read something before it is automatically considered "read".
The "read" and "unread" markers are stored in the database instead of in the browser cookie. The read/unread info will be accurate across browser sessions and even across completely different PC's.I like #1 - there are times that I can't hit all of my commonly-read CO4x4 forums in one session, and hated getting off the computer because finding the recently-discussed items later always seemed to be a PITA.

More importantly, I've noticed with most vBulletin forums that if you "get distracted" for awhile and have to leave the window, it automatically marks everything as read. That's not the case now; I left the window for nearly 40 minutes last night to work on job-hunting and when I came back all was still well in CO4x4 world. Err, as well as can be with this batch of loonies.

Thanks Eric!

[al24]

Al, do you have it set to 'ON', or 'automatically detect DST settings'?

You need to have it set to 'OFF', or 'automatically detect DST settings' for it to show the accurate time.
Automatically detect.
Maybe the f'ng software thinks I'm too old to stay up late and play on the 'puter.:flipoff2:

[longboy]

One problem I just encountered, or maybe it's supposed to be that way:

I went to upload a new avatar, and got this error:
"vBulletin Message

You may not upload animated images."

But I currently have an animated image, does that mean we're not allowed to have animated GIFs, even if they fit the 5k size restraint? Just curious-

[Comfortably Numb]

I also get the Squad Engine redirect. For the last several days I've noticed that when I go to the main pagefrom my Favorites list I always get the redirect the first time, but if I click on the CO4X4 link in my Favorites again it takes me right to the main page. I just came here looking for info about this to siee if it was just me, at least now I know it isn't just me.

The only other thing I've noticed, and it's probably just that I need to get used to it, the Quick Reply doesn't work the same as before. Now I have a greyed out message in the Quick Reply box that tells me to click on one of the Quick Reply buttons in the message first. I, personally, find it a little annoying to have to do this.

On the read/unread thing, is there a way each individual user could set it up to mark all threads as read upon leaving the site, if they choose to? I would prefer that everything be marked as read whenever I leave the site than to have threads stay marked unread that I will never read anyway.

[PHiSH]

Sent a PM but no response. What are your browser's cache settings? Is it set to check for new pages at every visit?

Can anyone else confirm the issue still exists? I've spent the past 45 minutes trying to find someone to help me troubleshoot this thing. I need your eyes because I have no way to replicate this issue.


That's really strange because I sent you a PM right back. If you need anything else, just IM me on AOL IM. The name is RallyRedEvoVIII. Anyway, I cleared the cache in Safari and it didn't redirect me this time. If it start doing it again, I'll let you know. :beer:
Ryan

[Eric]

One problem I just encountered, or maybe it's supposed to be that way:

I went to upload a new avatar, and got this error:
"vBulletin Message

You may not upload animated images."

But I currently have an animated image, does that mean we're not allowed to have animated GIFs, even if they fit the 5k size restraint? Just curious-

It's a new feature that I wasn't aware of actually. I've enabled this for Premium Members, so you should be able to upload that avatar now.

[longboy]

Thanks Eric, it's working now.

[Eric]

Thanks Eric, it's working now.
Wow that's an annoying avatar :flipoff2:

[longboy]

I do my best :flipoff2:

[Hippie]

I keep getting logged out if I let it sit dormant for very long - is it supposed to do that?

[Eric]

I also get the Squad Engine redirect.

Still working this.

The only other thing I've noticed, and it's probably just that I need to get used to it, the Quick Reply doesn't work the same as before. Now I have a greyed out message in the Quick Reply box that tells me to click on one of the Quick Reply buttons in the message first. I, personally, find it a little annoying to have to do this.

This was necessary to support alternate viewing methods. I briefly had "Threaded" views enabled as an option, but I just don't think it works well. We'll stick with the Linear mode for now which means you don't need to select which post you're replying to.

If you're quoting someone and using the the Quick Reply box you'll still need to click the button so the software knows who to quote.

On the read/unread thing, is there a way each individual user could set it up to mark all threads as read upon leaving the site, if they choose to? I would prefer that everything be marked as read whenever I leave the site than to have threads stay marked unread that I will never read anyway.
I'm not aware of an automated way to do this, but you can mark the forums read by clicking the link at the bottom of the forum summary or by selecting it in your Quick Links at the top.

[Eric]

I keep getting logged out if I let it sit dormant for very long - is it supposed to do that?
Possibly a cookie issue, see Post #20 (http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showpost.php?p=324821&postcount=20).

[Eric]

That's really strange because I sent you a PM right back. If you need anything else, just IM me on AOL IM. The name is RallyRedEvoVIII. Anyway, I cleared the cache in Safari and it didn't redirect me this time. If it start doing it again, I'll let you know. :beer:
Ryan
No worries, I PM'd you at 4:35 and then left at 5pm. I just missed your reply. Let me know if the problem resurfaces.

[rockjox]

When I go wot www.colorado4x4.org the main page comes up and then automatically redirects to Squad Engine. If I hit the "Back" button it and then quickly click on the page it stays. If I set the favorites to the forum page it does not redirect.

[Jeep'O'Struttin]

No problems ...now Thanks Eric...and al24 these 2 are for you:flipoff2:

[Comfortably Numb]

I don't know what you did, but the SE redirect hasn't happened to me today & the Quick Reply issue is solved. Great job!