EditNew Options, New Controls, New Possibilities!
Build 034
Release Date: TBA
EditNew New New Features
- Instant PM Notifications: The PM Notifications now use AJAX to check for new PMs every 60 seconds (or 1min).
- New Shoutbox! A shoutbox has been created. You can see an example at http://www.g-h-o-s-t.net (must be logged in to post).
- PortalCodes & PortalFormatCodes functions: A new "PortalCodes" & "PortalFormatCodes" function has been added. You can use this to add custom Forum Codes. Example: You can add YouTube, MetaCafe, etc forum tabs to format movie embeds. Example here
- New JavaScript Options. Along with the New JavaScript backend, you can easily add your own scripts. G-H-O-S-T.Net uses this new technique (thanks to them for helping test Build 034 Alpha) by adding a few "Ads" that pop into the page using a cool bounce effect. They also have a really cool Cams page that uses MooTools to do some neat effects. You can see some more ideas at the Code Snippets page.
- Image & Avatar Resize options. A new JavaScript based Image and Avatar resizing system has been coded into the portal. If any images or avatars have to be resized because they are to big, they are resized automatically. In the forum posts, the large images are sized down and if you click on them a full version is displayed.
- Banners: You can now select one banner for more than one spot. No more having to add the same banner over and over for different spots. Also new banner positions available.
- New Skins: New skinning method has been added to the portal. All the hard coded colors have been replaced with CSS so each skin is customized through a CSS file. Tables and modules are even easier to skin and it takes half the time to create skins!
- Easier Moding: Most parts of the portal have been recoded to allow easier moding without the fear of replacing your mods when each update. Custom Modules can also be automatically executed without having to add them to mods_inc.asp
EditImprovements, Bug Fixes, etc
- Setup: The Setup process has been made even easier! All the hard coded settings have been moved to the database so you no longer have to worry about replacing your settings. It also gives you more options such as adding new modules, resetting themes, and more.
- The Modules "Move and Short" feature has been recoded from scratch to use MooTools. The order is now saved into database (if logged in) or cookies if not logged in. It also uses AJAX to save the options in the users profile.
- Active Users has been improved to give more accurate of whos online.
- Improved Speed. Some more code has been optimized to improve the speed and stability of the portal. With all the features enabled, we are seeing awesome load times!
- Last Read topics have been updated slightly. The "Read" & "UnRead" topic images has been improved a little bit. It remembers what topics have been "Read" since your last visit better, and it updates the status to "UnRead" if someone posts in it while on your the site.
- Bug Fixes: These Bugs have been fixed.
EditToDo Before Release
A complete test of the new Setup script with a Fresh and Upgrade version using Access and MSSQL Database. Also need to test different server configurations (Write Permissions, Different directory configurations, etc). All settings are being moved from hard coded files to database so more error checking and coding is needed to prevent any kind of errors on updating from previous versions. CompletedFinish up new skin options.
Finish up new Image Gallery design
Finish up Directory recode (Links, Downloads, FAQs, etc).
A
BIG Thanks go to
G-H-O-S-T.Net for letting us use their site for the Build 034 test ground and get ALOT of the bugs worked out. Build 034 wouldn't be as cool if they didn't offer to help!
Some new AJAX controls and animations thanks to
MooToolsThis list may be incomplete. Alot of changes and improvements go into each release. We can not remember everything but we try :)