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gibbo 
Newbie
Joined: 09 January 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 9
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 Posted: 19 October 2006 at 6:34pm |
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One way that the scheduled tasks could be used is the same was that vBulletin does, in which there is an image placed in the footer of the document with its width and height set to 0px (or by positioning it offscreen) which links to a file that runs the scheduled tasks.
It is just one way out of many, and it works effectively with the vBulletin system.
Edited by gibbo - 19 October 2006 at 6:37pm
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WebWiz-Bruce
Admin Group
Web Wiz Developer
Joined: 03 September 2001
Location: Bournemouth
Status: Offline
Points: 9844
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Posted: 19 October 2006 at 7:17pm |
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I have thought about that type of approach myself, but the problem is that what if you have a quite board that is not accessed for a few days, the file wouldn't be run. There are also quite a few performance issues involved, like you wouldn't want the file run all the time, and how would you flag that the file has already been run, all these would use up valuable processing time and extra database hits, unless managed extremely well.
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dpyers
Senior Member
Joined: 12 May 2003
Status: Offline
Points: 3937
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Posted: 19 October 2006 at 7:23pm |
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Regarding post approval...
Many forums use post approval for more than just enforcement of forum rules. Some forums are built around subjects that are inherently difficult to keep on topic. I notice this particularly in forums concerned with science, history, and current events. Moderators use post approval as a thread editing function, not as a bad-user block.
The current post approval mechanism is cumbersome, but it does server multiple functions. I'd hate to see more automation introduced to control "bad users" at the expense of some of the other uses of post approval.
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Lead me not into temptation... I know the short cut, follow me.
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Mikey
Senior Member
1979
Joined: 06 October 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 839
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Posted: 19 October 2006 at 9:01pm |
I personally love and use the post approval system. It has cut the amount of crap in forums down as the posters no that no one but me will see it. that takes their fun away 
Edited by Mikey - 19 October 2006 at 9:02pm
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Handyman man?
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iSec
Senior Member
Joined: 13 February 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 1140
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Posted: 19 October 2006 at 9:05pm |
Admin Tip of The Day:-
It would be nice if a feature like "tip of the day" is implemented so that a the forum system can be used in a more useful way. Many admins don't know about all the features that the wwf include. For example, one tip of the day would be: ((Did you know that WWF has a 'admins notes' feature that you can use to leave hidden notes in a user's profile?...))
You can create a list of "tip of the day" and everytime the admin logins it shows somewhere on the page, either on the main forum page or in the control panel, or both. This list will grow as we go along. The admin can select to disable that feature from their admin area.
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"When it gets dark enough, you can see the stars"
-Charles A. Beard
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WebWiz-Bruce
Admin Group
Web Wiz Developer
Joined: 03 September 2001
Location: Bournemouth
Status: Offline
Points: 9844
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Posted: 20 October 2006 at 9:41am |
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Nice idea.
I have a new full-time member of staff starting in the office next week, and one of his first jobs will be to fully document how to install, run, and use the features in Web Wiz Forums.
This will include more help files within the software itself and as he doesn't know the system inside out, it should mean that the documentation will be allot more coherent for newbies than anything I could ever write.
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kiklop
Groupie
Joined: 14 July 2005
Status: Offline
Points: 137
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Posted: 20 October 2006 at 4:14pm |
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I didn't read all suggestions here, but i'm sure borg will make another excellent job with the future version of WWF.
Here are just some "small" suggestions i would like to see implemented and that were requested by our members (sorry for not being able to express myself in English very well);
- user bookmark; an option to "build" personal bookmarks of favourite threads / posts.
- print version of single posts
- option to enable / disable (show / hide) subscriptions to entire forums by user status. For example I would like to leave this option for admins and moderators but not for all users ( instead they would receive only notifications for threads where they are participating. Even better .. I would like to have this option for every forum and subforum.
- automated email notifications about birthdays for buddy lists.
- option to enable or disable PM on user level; each user would have the option to enable or disable PM communication .
- alternate default page.
Now this is something I will try to code myself, but I thought it may be worth sharing here and see if anyone is interested to see it as a core option
Our members aren't visiting all forums and subforums regularly, but at the same time they are asking for various option to filter posts. Beside active topics (which is displaying all forums) I needed to add filters like last XX post, last XX topic, my last XX posts ..
What I would like to have is the option where users would select forums (and subforums) they are interested to be displayed on this alternate display page. Forums (and subforums) selected would be separated in dedicated "boxes" with last XX topics for each of them.
**** about photo gallery
Since my website is devoted to photographers I'm particularly interested in photo gallery but most probably i would ask too much suggesting what i would like to have and I seen that not all here are too enthusiastic about powerful photo gallery option.
But first of all I do consider WWF a great forum application primary because is stable, secure and fast while providing many options. I do consider performance as a top priority and all new features should not affect performance a lot.
Photo gallery should be integrated as an OPTION and when disabled shouldn't affect forum application in any way. I'm well aware of the fact that many webites and forums don't need it and it would be a bad thing for them "suffering" performance for something they don't use.
On the other hand, photo galleries are getting highly popular with each single day and having them "integrated" will make WWF even more powerful and popular.
But, I honestly believe that "forum form" isn't adequate for this purpose and that while integrated with authentication system should be mostly coded as a "separate application" , with include pages for easier integration in existent forums and webpages.
Anyway .. borg .. I really appreciate all your efforts and I can bet that the next version will not disappoint in any way.
Thank you !
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wistex
Mod Builder Group
Joined: 30 August 2003
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 877
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Posted: 20 October 2006 at 5:13pm |
I think that the admin approval of posts feature and user point system / infraction system are different things and are used for different purposes. Perhaps there is a need for both.
Personally I would like a generalized point system that could be used both for infractions but also for rewards. Users could be rewarded for certain actions (add points), and fined for certain actions (subtract points).
If the points are high enough they get access to certain areas or forums or features, for example. If their points fall below a certain amount (such as being negative), then they are restricted in certain ways (cannot edit their own posts, cannot post, banned, etc.).
It would be nice if points could possibly have an expiration date, especially for penalities. This would result in a temporary ban or temporary penalty (locked out of a certain forum area) until the points expire.
Also, a generalized point system could be something that other developers interact with via their add-on apps. Example items that could be build by third-party developers:
- Certain forum & website features can only be accessed when a user has enough points. A user can either earn them or purchase them (i.e. via PayPal or something).
- An store can be developed where people can purchase items with points.
- Games could be developed that users get points for playing or winning. It could also cost points to play a game.
If the forum already has a points system tied to features in the forum, then third-party developers do not have to modify WWF at all to use it (i.e. they just update the database with the new points value).
For users without the add-ons, the point system can be used for infractions and penalties exclusively.
Example of one possible implementation:
- Users are given 100 points (or whatever defined by the admin) upon registering.
- Penalties are assessed by admin and moderators for certain infractions such as spam, bad language, etc. These penalties are assessed as fines against the users points (i.e. subtract).
- At certain point values, certain features of the forum can be turned on or off. Example, if a user falls under 50 points, all his posts must be approved by a moderator before appearing to other users. If below 20, he loses his right to post. If below 0, he is banned.
- Points can expire causing the penalty described in 3 to be reversed (unless they somehow got more points in that time).
- Users earn points for each post or they earn points every time they move up a ladder group (or both). This is optional. You can have it so users do not earn points for anything (i.e. they start will 100 and that's all they get). The admin should have a choice.
- Admin or moderators can reward points to users for having a good post, etc.
- If a reputation system is implemented, it could effect a users points as well (i.e. each complaint subtracts points, each reward adds points).
- Certain forum areas can be designated as only being open to people with X number of points.
- Certain features, such as having a signature, updating their user title, changing their avatar, etc. could require a certain number of points.
I think a generalized point system woudl be more flexible and allow for more creativity by third-party developers.
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Web Wiz Forums version 9 suggestions