Editor in Chief Bill | 21 Sep 2015 9:06 p.m. PST |
Well, this has been a rocky journey, with a lot of false starts as I've investigated this or that piece of technology, or other avenues have turned into dead ends. I don't like to make a lot of predictions, because frankly, we'll get there when we get there. However, here is the current status: I have found technology that I think will work for TMP 4.0. The prototype is up and running. There is a steep learning curve, but I am making progress almost every day. There has also been a substantial financial investment in this effort. I have been able to spend more time on TMP 4.0 lately, due to the editorial staff taking much of the load off my shoulders. However, I do sometimes get behind on my email and PMs, then I spend a day trying to catch up. The goal is to get the essentials of TMP up and running for the roll out of TMP 4.0. That means Hobby News, the main forum, memberships, the PM system, advertising, and the Manufacturers directory. Everything else will follow. (If you think something else is a priority, let me know.) Other things may fall into place simply because they are easy to do in the new technology, or come built into the basic framework we are using. For example, getting the Manufacturers Directory up and running means it would probably be trivial at that point to bring up all the other directories, too. We shall see. Right now, I am focusing on functionality. "Pretty" will come later, although I have invested in what is called a new website "theme" (design) – pretty close to the old look, but the sidebar will probably go away. I am told that this new technology scales well for tablets and cell phones, but have not begun testing for that yet. That's about it for now. Thanks for your support! |
napthyme | 21 Sep 2015 11:35 p.m. PST |
Were mostly web 1.0 guys here, so don't worry about pretty just make it run and be stable. |
GarrisonMiniatures | 21 Sep 2015 11:36 p.m. PST |
And without a couple of hours ever day dead time. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 22 Sep 2015 4:57 a.m. PST |
The dead time will definitely be a thing of the past. |
IronDuke596 | 22 Sep 2015 9:11 a.m. PST |
Thank you for the update. |
GarrisonMiniatures | 22 Sep 2015 10:38 a.m. PST |
As I've said in the past, two reasons for stopping supporting membership: inconvenient dead time and slow loading. Sort that, I'll renew. |
nsolomon99 | 22 Sep 2015 2:38 p.m. PST |
Good news, keep us posted. |
Gunfreak | 22 Sep 2015 3:20 p.m. PST |
I actually find this to be one of the faster forums to surf. And it much better to surf on this with a tablet or phone, then those modern ones, that force you to use those god awful "mobile friendly" things. |
alphus99 | 22 Sep 2015 3:39 p.m. PST |
Encouraging news, Bill. Which software did you plump for in the end? |
wrgmr1 | 22 Sep 2015 4:32 p.m. PST |
Thanks for your update Bill. Kudos! |
Fried Flintstone | 22 Sep 2015 4:38 p.m. PST |
Yes – please let us know which framework you found best suited the TMP 4 purpose. |
Editor in Chief Bill | 23 Sep 2015 10:02 a.m. PST |
please let us know which framework you found best suited the TMP 4 purpose. CMS called Concrete5 |
53Punisher | 23 Sep 2015 2:50 p.m. PST |
Will we be able to post pics from our home computers rather than having to use an online site as a host? |
Editor in Chief Bill | 23 Sep 2015 8:50 p.m. PST |
Will we be able to post pics from our home computers rather than having to use an online site as a host? I don't know yet. |
jpattern2 | 24 Sep 2015 5:49 a.m. PST |
Can you even dye my eyes to match my gown? |
alphus99 | 25 Sep 2015 9:29 a.m. PST |
Bill, just had a rather panicked thought – I save and archive TMP Message Board links to stuff Im researching or for future reference for projects, reviews, stuff I'm writing or will write in future – I can't underestimate the number I have of these – several hundred! Will the current system be archived with the links intact, or just moved to the new system with new addresses? NB if just the latter with a new URL format, you'll probably lose years and years of Google indexing. One option might be to freeze the old system in place, key it live on the same url but add some very prominent links to the new message boards on each page. |
Winston Smith | 25 Sep 2015 12:26 p.m. PST |
Will the poor OFM get a correct post count now? According to some, that's all that makes his life worth living. |
Tango01 | 26 Sep 2015 11:07 a.m. PST |
I have two questions… a) The Statistics (real ones) can return?. b) The tittles on each topic… can have more space? (avoiding to cut each one with have more than four words…) I also want to know as Winston/John my correct post account because in MY own statistics… maybe the first place is hotly contested! (smile) Amicalement Armand |
Editor in Chief Bill | 30 Sep 2015 6:23 p.m. PST |
I have two questions…a) The Statistics (real ones) can return?. Not one of my priorities right now, but yes, it should be easy to get stats out of the database. b) The titles on each topic… can have more space? (avoiding to cut each one with have more than four words…) I'll have to look that up and get back to you. |