sheryltoo Posted October 30, 2008 Posted October 30, 2008 Quite some time ago, I set up a message board using SMF (simple machines) and was able to do it because of information I received from Total choice. I never really did much with my message board but now I'm thinking of using it on a daily bases only I wanted to see if I could change the name of the board or add a new message board using a different name. In checking the FAQ page at Total Choice, I see SMF isn't listed. I'm assuming it must have been listed when I originally set it up because I don't know where else I could have discovered that board but can I set up a new message board using what's listed on the FAQ page? The two choices are PhpBB and Invision. It looks as if Invision isn't free and I'm totally confused as to how to go about installing PhpBB. I am pretty clueless when it comes to using PhpBB. I believe it's a language on the idea of HTML or CSS but I don't know how to use it. I've looked at some tutorials for PhpBB but they sound so Greek. Could someone help me figure out where I need to start in order to set up another message board? And what's the difference between setting up a message board verses setting up a blog? I'm thinking there's more options with a message board. I'm not really a blogger. Sheryl Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 30, 2008 Posted October 30, 2008 The current offering for a forum (message board) here at TotalChoice using Fantastico is SMF (Simple Machine Forum). phpBB and Invision can be installed but you would have to do so manually. The difference between a forum and blog is, a forum is more or less for open discussion where as a blog you post something and then a dialog is started using commenting. As for changing the name, I'm not sure what you are asking? The name of the forum or blog is set in the administration panel of either software. Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 30, 2008 Author Posted October 30, 2008 The current offering for a forum (message board) here at TotalChoice using Fantastico is SMF (Simple Machine Forum). phpBB and Invision can be installed but you would have to do so manually. The difference between a forum and blog is, a forum is more or less for open discussion where as a blog you post something and then a dialog is started using commenting. As for changing the name, I'm not sure what you are asking? The name of the forum or blog is set in the administration panel of either software. Thanks for explaining the difference between message board and blog. I think message board is what I want to stick with. As to the name, perhaps I could have changed the name of my message board when I originally set it up but didn't realize it. Right now my message board has the exact same name as my website but I wanted to set up another board with a different name. Can I install SMF a second time with a different name or would installing it override my original installation? And if I wanted to set up an entirely different message board like PhpBB, would they be the ones who'd have to help me with the install? One more question, although maybe this isn't the right place to ask. How do I find out how many databases I can use on my SQL? Sheryl Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 30, 2008 Posted October 30, 2008 I'll answer your last question first. You can have as many SQL databases as you need and that fit within your hosting account. If you wanted to install phpBB they offer installation services if you cannot do it yourself. But yes, you can install another instance of SMF using Fantastico. Just install it into another folder in your web account. You can give the database a different name as well as give the board a different name. Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 30, 2008 Author Posted October 30, 2008 Thanks Bruce. I'm sorry if this sounds like dumb questions. Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 I thought I just added another message to this thread but I don't see it, so I'm not sure I hit the right button. If it shows up twice, I'm sorry about that. In any event, I've been looking further into using the SMF message boards and see you can have a spell checker. It won't work on my board so I asked for some help from the SMF help site and they said if it's not working, my host may not have installed it or may not have set it up correctly. Since my message board was installed into my SQL database, I assume Total Choice is my host. Is there someone I have to notify about this or is there something I should have done when setting up the message board using Fantastico? Sheryl Quote
TCH-Thomas Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Do you know the name of the spell checker? Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 Do you know the name of the spell checker? No. I'll have to ask the people at the SMF support site it's name. Sheryl Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 I haven't gotten a reply from the help desk yet but in doing some more searching, I think the name is Aspell and or Pspell. I found some old messages where others had the same problem and they were told the host needed to install those two programs so I'm assuming this hasn't changed. Hopefully I'll be able to get this confirmed shortly. Sheryl Quote
TCH-Thomas Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 If it´s Aspell, it has been removed according to Bills post here. But you can always open a ticket and ask the techs how the situation is now. Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Or you can use and request your users use Firefox as their browser as it has a built-in spell checker. Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 I still haven't heard back from the help desk but Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 I still haven't heard back from the help desk but it sounds like I'm out of luck for a having a spell checker on the board. Sheryl Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted October 31, 2008 Posted October 31, 2008 Aspell and Pspell are the two server side spell checkers. I know they were discontinued because they cause heavy loads on server which in turn slows down everyone on that server. Quote
sheryltoo Posted October 31, 2008 Author Posted October 31, 2008 I can see why they're not allowed then. If I were to set up a PhpBB message board is it possible they might have a different spell checker that can be used or do all spell checkers slow down the servers? Sheryl Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted November 1, 2008 Posted November 1, 2008 All spell checks that run on the server side will slow down the servers. It's doubtful that phpBB would have one built in. Quote
sheryltoo Posted November 1, 2008 Author Posted November 1, 2008 I guess I'll cross spell checker off of my list of things to investigate, lol. I never realized they created a problem for servers. Sheryl Quote
sheryltoo Posted November 13, 2008 Author Posted November 13, 2008 If you wanted to install phpBB they offer installation services if you cannot do it yourself. But yes, you can install another instance of SMF using Fantastico. Just install it into another folder in your web account. You can give the database a different name as well as give the board a different name. I decided I wanted to set up a second smf message board but I'm confused on how to go about doing that. You guys helped me out a lot when I set up the first message board but that was awhile ago and I don't remember the steps I had to take to do it. First of all, I see I need to put this second message board in a new folder with a different name. Is this something I need to set up first before having Fantastico install the software? And where do I set up this folder? I have a folder under File manager for SMF. Do I set up my folder there with the new name? I'm assuming if that's the case, I would install the software for smf and then direct it to that folder? I don't want to click the install button until I'm sure what I'm doing. Well sort of sure what I'm doing since I really have no idea what I'm even talking about, lol. With that being said, I hope I'm asking the right questions and someone will understand what I'm trying to accomplish. Thanks. Sheryl Quote
TCH-Thomas Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 If you want to create a second SMF forum through Fantastico look for "Install in directory" in the SMF part of Fantastico. In there enter a name for the folder in which Fantastico will install it and you can create a second SMf without messing up anything concerning files and databases for the current SMF installation. Ie if current SMF forum is located in folder "SMF1" and you want new installation in "SMF2", enter "SMF2" in the "Install in directory". Quote
sheryltoo Posted November 13, 2008 Author Posted November 13, 2008 If you want to create a second SMF forum through Fantastico look for "Install in directory" in the SMF part of Fantastico.In there enter a name for the folder in which Fantastico will install it and you can create a second SMf without messing up anything concerning files and databases for the current SMF installation. Ie if current SMF forum is located in folder "SMF1" and you want new installation in "SMF2", enter "SMF2" in the "Install in directory". OK, thanks. I got that part and I'm starting to install it. Can I make it so it has a different url then my original smf message board? Do I need to do this when installing the software using Fantastico or is that something I should have done first? If I should have done that first, where or how do I do it? Sheryl Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 If you want to access the installation as a sub-domain (myboard.mysite.com) create the sub-domain first through cPanel and then install into the folder name you used to create the sub-domain. Otherwise you will have to create a redirect or access the board with mysite.com/myboard Using the create a sub-domain in cPanel it will create the folder for you. Do not create the folder first. Just an FYI. Quote
sheryltoo Posted November 13, 2008 Author Posted November 13, 2008 If you want to access the installation as a sub-domain (myboard.mysite.com) create the sub-domain first through cPanel and then install into the folder name you used to create the sub-domain. Otherwise you will have to create a redirect or access the board with mysite.com/myboard Using the create a sub-domain in cPanel it will create the folder for you. Do not create the folder first. Just an FYI. Thanks. After I asked this question, I was thinking I might need to set up a sub domain for it so I've been looking into doing that. I think I've got it figured out. I'll let you know if it worked. Thanks so much for the quite replies. If I had to wait too long to try this out, I might forget the steps I needed to take. If I don't finish this at the time I'm thinking about it, my brain will have to start all over again. Sheryl Quote
sheryltoo Posted November 13, 2008 Author Posted November 13, 2008 It worked! Thanks again. I can't believe how easy it was. When you don't understand anything, it always seems so much harder. Ssehryl Quote
TCH-Thomas Posted November 13, 2008 Posted November 13, 2008 I´m glad it works the way you want it. Quote
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