Let us discuss the new board software. Skins (how it looks), features (how it works), all aspects of the board operation beside the content. Much can be changed, added or removed. You think about a must-have feature you have seen in another board? Let me know and you probably will get it.
This is where we are so far:
Latest board software phpbb 3.3.10 with php 8.2.0. Uncounted improvements after 12 years with the old software. Find out for yourself by clicking everything you can get hold of. Most important is the responsive design, which allows you to view the site on any device from PC to smartphone. And then the ease of uploading pictures by simply dragging them on the post.
Extensions are optional modules to improve user experience:
- MChat - a chat window for realtime communication. It was available in the old board and so is in the new. No idea if anyone will use it. Maybe I will offer chat sessions where I will be present for discussing TDesk or Paycheck. We will see. If nobody will be using it, it will get removed.
- Pages - allows us to add links to static pages in the navigation bar. "Subscriptions" and "Rules" links were done with this. Very useful to provide important information to you.
- Board Announcements and News Scroll - allows us to post news as running text or colored box below the navigation bar so you never miss anything important.
- Scroll Quoted Text - have you ever been annoyed by members requoting and requoting creating huge quote boxes in messages? From now, quote boxes have a maximum size and scroll bars, if the content is longer than the box.
- Spam Secure - disables posting links or non-latin characters in posts. Very useful, if I will ever get it to work properly.
- Google Translator - Dropdown box at upper right lets you translate the page in various languages. Might be helpful for foreign members, but never even think of posting in another language than English.
- Large Fonts - down in your board preferences settings you find the option to permanently increase the font size for separate devices.
- Prosilver is the default style coming with phpBB. This is the blueish one you have seen at the beginning. It is compatible with all extensions and thus the most stable and reliable one.
- Proglass is a derived style of the above with a more greyish look. I like it very much and as it comes very close to our old board, I have made it the default for new users.
- Flat Style is available in three different colors and brings a very clean, simple look. Probably very good suited for devices with smaller screens.
- Damaio is for the enthusiast wanting to tweak colors. It has a color selection button and a day/night mode switch. Try it, it's fun.
Have fun.
