Tyled Forum Suggestions?

[dirtvoyles]

I am about to setup a new domain for a local organization and need to setup a forum that will have a "commons area", and 3-7 locked sub-forums.

 

Does anyone have a suggestion on which one is easiest to use/customize? I'm decent at following directions, but this is my first real foray into setting up a certain scheme. It is VERY important that these subs be locked.

 

Thanks for reading guys!

 

[TCH-Bruce]

I am only familiar with IPB (Invision) but I am sure most other forum software packages work the same way.

 

You just adjust the forum permissions accordingly. Take this board for example. There is a staff section to this forum but regular members cannot see those forums. Only moderators and staff can see them. You create member groups and adjust the forum permissions to show or not show based on their member status. You can also control whether or not they can only read and/or post new threads. As well as read and/or post replies in threads.

 

You can see how that works with the server forums. Members are not able to start new threads in that area but are allowed to post replies in open topics.

 

In addition to that most forum software packages allow you assign passwords to forums. Just like the Family Only and Reseller forums.

[dirtvoyles]

Any thoughts on SMF? I'd like to stick to things that are (hopefully) supported around here.

 

Is it possible to install IPB on a shared server?

[TCH-Bruce]

IPB can be installed on a shared server but it is no longer free. We have plenty of SMF forum users here. I'm sure they can answer if it is possible to set permissions like I described. I am pretty sure it does since I know for a fact that phpBB can do it.

[dirtvoyles]

Don't you just love when free stuff goes paid?

 

I'll chill for a minute and wait for some SMF'ers to come out and play. Perhaps I'll have a smoke.

[TCH-Bruce]

To answer whether or not SMF can do it I just checked the docs and yes it is possible. More info here.

[TCH-Don]

As with most forums SMF can have forums that are hidden to most but revel to a designated group when they log in.

I would set up one on your domain as a test bed where you can learn and later try mods and updates on first.

[dirtvoyles]

Thanks guys. I've made the "invisible" forums for now. I'll get a couple of guys using them and see how it goes.

 

In the meantime I'll read up on the links you provided, Bruce. Thank you both for your help and if you or anyone else finds something of interest, please let me know!

 

[TCH-Bruce]

Dan, both links I provided are to the SMF manual. You should be able to find all the information you need in the rest of the manual.

[TCH-Don]

You can see how the forum looks to others by using IE without logging in,

and FireFox with logging in to see the hidden forums.