General Modification Question Regarding Upgrading 3.6

[j1mmy]

Im considering upgrading to vB 3.6 from 3.5.4. My only concern is the Mods that are already installed on the present version and the custom styles which I installed.

I presume many members have already made the upgrade with many mods already on their site.

Im asking now, becasue I just dont want to put myself in any more trouble. If it may help, I can list the mods which I have installed.

By the way, since all the mods I installed are for my current version, doesnt that mean it wont work on 3.6?

[Wired1]

It completely depends on each mod and how Jelsoft has changed the code that each mod may or may not depend on. Some hacks don't need to be changed at all for vB 3.6.0, some do. Some have already been upgraded, some haven't. Listing what hacks you have installed would be a good first step.

[j1mmy]

Well, its probaly better to upgrade now than do it later when the site possibily grows and things might get more complicated. Does that also mean, im restricted to '3.6' mods too? Or do most mods generally work on most versions?

Heres my currently installed modifications:

AboutToday AboutToday 2.0.1
Automatic Welcome PM 1.0.4
FlashChat Integration 2.60 (Not Currently Being Used)
Moderation Auto-PM 2.0.1
vB Web-Mail 1.00 (Not Currently Being Used)
vBadvanced CMPS 2.1.0
Welcome Headers 4.0.6

Those are the mods and their version. Some of them are being used and others arent. The ones that have '(Not Currently Being Used)' I dont mind installing them again on the new 3.6 if the upgrade isnt succesful.

[Kirk Y]

You don't have to upgrade to 3.6. The only thing you'll be getting from upgrading is added features. As far as security goes, a 3.5.4 board is just as secure as a 3.6 board. A lot of mods built for 3.5.4 work for 3.6.0. Of the ones you listed, I know for sure that these will work or have a 3.6.0 version of them available: Welcome Headers, vBAdvanced.

[Wired1]

As far as security's concerned, I'd at least update to 3.5.5.

[Kirk Y]

Oh yeah, forgot about 3.5.5. -- but between that and 3.6.0, the only differences are added features.

[Paul M]

Heres my currently installed modifications:

AboutToday AboutToday 2.0.1
Automatic Welcome PM 1.0.4
FlashChat Integration 2.60 (Not Currently Being Used)
Moderation Auto-PM 2.0.1
vB Web-Mail 1.00 (Not Currently Being Used)
vBadvanced CMPS 2.1.0
Welcome Headers 4.0.6
Some of those (in bold) have 3.6 versions released (in the 3.6 forums). The others may have as well, just that I'm not personally aware of them. There is also a VBA CMPS for 3.6 (2.2.0 I believe).

[j1mmy]

I see, thanks for the support.

Where can I find a list of new features?

I guess its better upgrading now than later, when more mods are installed and things might get a little more complicated.

[Kirk Y]

Check the announcements on vbulletin.com.

http://www.vbulletin.com/go/36features

[j1mmy]

Check the announcements on vbulletin.com.

http://www.vbulletin.com/go/36features

So are those ALL the new and improved features of vB then?

i think im going to install it...:cool:

[Kirk Y]

Indeed.

[j1mmy]

I want to upgrade, but im scared something terrible might go wrong and I would have wished not to upgrade in teh first place.

Ive seen the upgrade manual, one of the ways of upgrading is to overwrite the 'forum' folder on my server. But one thing i dont understand is the templates. Since ive installed some mods, the templates have obviously been modified. How will these modifications merge into the new upgraded templates?

[Kirk Y]

They won't merge. You'll either have to update your 3.5.4 template to be compatible with 3.6.0 or you'll have to download a new theme that's designed for 3.6.0.

If you're concerned about upgrading, the best thing to do is setup a Test Board and "test" upgrade. There's a tutorial on setting a Test Board up on your local PC or you could just duplicate your SQL DB and setup a new forum on your server.