Atlaua
May 22nd, 2007, 11:01 PM
MWD is about to go through a major overahall (again) hopefully this will be the last time.
Background:
MWD has quite a few customizations over the standard vBulletin software. This is necissary as the stock product is quite bland. The problem is that every time vBulletin comes out with a new release, I have to reapply many of the customizations, which is quite time consuming.
Right now MWD has 3 different styles (MWD, MWD 1024, and the old style). The old style is still around becaue many of you don't like the newer style (evidently on some systems it is unreadable, thought I've never been able to reproduce that).
In addition I have 2 other forums. So that makes 5 styles I have to update every time vBulletin makes so much as a security fix (there were 3 last week). So last week I had to reapply 15 different sets of customizations and 9 different upgrades.
That's a lot of work!
The Solution:
I'm going to move all three forums to a single look and feel. This means that when vBulletin releases a new version, I only have to do 3 upgrades and 1 customization, and then just copy to the rest.
The Changes:
I know, I sprung the last change on you, so I'm giving advanced warning this time. Right now the only change is the front page. It's been paired down to look right with the new skin (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=25).
I'm leaving the default to MWD at the moment, until the new skin (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=25) gets some testing. Soon I will make the new skin (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=25) the default. When vBulletin releases the next version, I will drop the old skins.
For now they can be found at:
MidwestDive (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=18)
MidwestDive 1024 (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=21)
Old Blue Style (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=4)
Other Changes:
I've dropped the Zoint's profiles...they were neat for a while but...
I've added TAG's. TAG's are a "Web 2.0" feature that shows popular discussions.
The board will appear to be part of SCUBAGuide.org. I want to make clear that it is NOT. The reason I started MWD is to have LOCAL discussions. MWD IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A SEPARATE FORUM. However, non forum parts of the board will move to a "global" scope.
We will no longer be pulling news, news will be in it's own separate category.
Articles will, like news, be moved to a global scope.
The links will be replaced by SG's links. This is a much larger links system.
The Dive Sites will be replaced by SG's dive sites. There are 114 sites here, all of which are at SG plus about 500 others.That leaves the gallery. The gallery software being used at MWD got forcefully stolen from the orignal author. Every time I do an upgrade I have to jump through hoops to make it work. I'd really like to save the gallery but it's major ongoing work. Instead I'll be merging the galleries. This would probably be easier if anyone who has pictures here would create an accoun on SG, but that is up to you.
I know that changes are unwelcome. I've been on the other side of changes in the past an fought them tooth and nail. I hope you will all be patient with the transition. Personally I think that the new look is much easier to read and much more professional looking.
James
Background:
MWD has quite a few customizations over the standard vBulletin software. This is necissary as the stock product is quite bland. The problem is that every time vBulletin comes out with a new release, I have to reapply many of the customizations, which is quite time consuming.
Right now MWD has 3 different styles (MWD, MWD 1024, and the old style). The old style is still around becaue many of you don't like the newer style (evidently on some systems it is unreadable, thought I've never been able to reproduce that).
In addition I have 2 other forums. So that makes 5 styles I have to update every time vBulletin makes so much as a security fix (there were 3 last week). So last week I had to reapply 15 different sets of customizations and 9 different upgrades.
That's a lot of work!
The Solution:
I'm going to move all three forums to a single look and feel. This means that when vBulletin releases a new version, I only have to do 3 upgrades and 1 customization, and then just copy to the rest.
The Changes:
I know, I sprung the last change on you, so I'm giving advanced warning this time. Right now the only change is the front page. It's been paired down to look right with the new skin (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=25).
I'm leaving the default to MWD at the moment, until the new skin (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=25) gets some testing. Soon I will make the new skin (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=25) the default. When vBulletin releases the next version, I will drop the old skins.
For now they can be found at:
MidwestDive (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=18)
MidwestDive 1024 (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=21)
Old Blue Style (http://www.midwestdive.com/?styleid=4)
Other Changes:
I've dropped the Zoint's profiles...they were neat for a while but...
I've added TAG's. TAG's are a "Web 2.0" feature that shows popular discussions.
The board will appear to be part of SCUBAGuide.org. I want to make clear that it is NOT. The reason I started MWD is to have LOCAL discussions. MWD IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A SEPARATE FORUM. However, non forum parts of the board will move to a "global" scope.
We will no longer be pulling news, news will be in it's own separate category.
Articles will, like news, be moved to a global scope.
The links will be replaced by SG's links. This is a much larger links system.
The Dive Sites will be replaced by SG's dive sites. There are 114 sites here, all of which are at SG plus about 500 others.That leaves the gallery. The gallery software being used at MWD got forcefully stolen from the orignal author. Every time I do an upgrade I have to jump through hoops to make it work. I'd really like to save the gallery but it's major ongoing work. Instead I'll be merging the galleries. This would probably be easier if anyone who has pictures here would create an accoun on SG, but that is up to you.
I know that changes are unwelcome. I've been on the other side of changes in the past an fought them tooth and nail. I hope you will all be patient with the transition. Personally I think that the new look is much easier to read and much more professional looking.
James