Few questions :)

[RedTrinity]

Hi VBulletin Team!

I have been running a PHPBB forum for the last 3 years (was BB2, currently BB3) but am very interested in taking the next big step up by upgrading to VBulletin instead.

I just have a couple of questions at the moment in advance, if anybody would be so kind to answer them!

1) How does the modification install process work with VB? Is it more complicated or simpler than PHPBB?

2) How reliable is the software support team when something goes wrong? One of the reasons for wanting to convert is because I am tiring of posting up for help on PHPBB support forums and having my topics go ignored/unanswered.

They are my main two at the moment, if I have any more I will add to this topic! But would love any responses to clear up my curiosity.

Many thanks,

GG27 :)

[SEOvB]

Has to be simplier, Most modifications are a product that takes 2-3 clicks to install. sometimes you'll have to upload files and make some template edits, but most the time those aren't even necassary anymore.

vBulletin support is top notch, most tickets are answered and solved within 24hrs within hours.

[RedTrinity]

Has to be simplier, Most modifications are a product that takes 2-3 clicks to install. sometimes you'll have to upload files and make some template edits, but most the time those aren't even necassary anymore.

Wow ok, so no more fiddling through long instructions and editing source code for forum files (FIND, BEFORE/AFTER, REPLACE, ADD etc) in order to install? That does sound a lot more appealing, especially if its a fast easy process. So I take it they are also kept track of in the ACP in order to be uninstalled just as quickly?

How reliable are the Modifications for VB, do they go through a similar verification process before being released?

If anything goes wrong with the Mods, is the support team able to help or only the Mod developers themselves? I know that is one thing that the PHPBB team refuse to do, provide any help for specific Modifications not related to the vanilla software.

Sorry for all the questions by the way, I have pretty much made up my mind that we are to upgrade to VB (we have a fundraiser in place at the moment, so its only a matter of weeks away) but just would like to become more familiar with everything beforehand :)

Thanks for what you have told me sofar and in advance for any further info!

Cheers :D

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Wow ok, so no more fiddling through long instructions and editing source code for forum files (FIND, BEFORE/AFTER, REPLACE, ADD etc) in order to install? That does sound a lot more appealing, especially if its a fast easy process. So I take it they are also kept track of in the ACP in order to be uninstalled just as quickly?

Most modifications released for vBulletin 3.5 or later will not require any manual editing of the PHP-files. Yes the AdminCP does have functions to install/uninstall/list/change products and plugins (plugin is a piece of coding that alters default behaviour, a product is a group of plugins that function together to provide the wanted functionality. You can read more about the plugin system in our manual: Plugin System (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/plugin_system)
How reliable are the Modifications for VB, do they go through a similar verification process before being released?
Modifications are member submitted. We do not verify modifications when they are released, but often other members will quickly provide valuable feedback on the modification. If a security vulnerability is reported in a modification, then it will be reviewed by staff and if needed acted upon. You can read more about our policy regarding vulnerable modifications at Mod Exploit Guidelines (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/info.php?do=security)
If anything goes wrong with the Mods, is the support team able to help or only the Mod developers themselves? I know that is one thing that the PHPBB team refuse to do, provide any help for specific Modifications not related to the vanilla software.

Support on standard vBulletin is given by professional support staff either on the vBulletin.com support forums (where other members can also provide help), or by our Ticket System in which case a support staff member will be assigned to your problem. There is no official company support for modifications.

Modification are submitted by members here on vBulletin.org. Most authors of modifications will support their work in the release thread of their modification. vBulletin.org is dealing with all Member to Member support on issues that go beyond the standard functionality of vBulletin.

[RedTrinity]

Wow, thanks for the extensive responses, Marco. I have no doubt whatsoever now that upgrading is the best choice we are making!

I must say I am loving the idea of being able to disconnect the plugin system so that if any Modifications go bad, then you are still able to salvage your forum if it breaks. Very good, that :) The ticket support system is very appealing too.

So I have noticed there is multiple versions of VB at the moment available (kind of like PHPBB2/PHPBB3 and their many versions I am sure), which would be suggested as being the best version to use when a licence is purchased? I'm not afraid to use RC products, but at the same time I am very eager to heavily customise our forum. So would it be suggested the current stable version be downloaded due to the amount of extra software available for it?

How long has the RC version of VB been in development, and will everybody be expected to upgrade when its finished? Is there many differences between it and the previous version?

One more question (sorry lol) - I noticed on one VB forum they had a 'gift/shop' system in place, where small graphic items could be purchased from a shop with virtual cash, and sent to other users with a message. These items collect in a member's profile along with the messages that display with a mouseover effect.

What Modification is this please, and for what VB version? Its something I would really love to implement :)

Thanks again for your help!

[King Kovifor]

Wow, thanks for the extensive responses, Marco. I have no doubt whatsoever now that upgrading is the best choice we are making!

I must say I am loving the idea of being able to disconnect the plugin system so that if any Modifications go bad, then you are still able to salvage your forum if it breaks. Very good, that :) The ticket support system is very appealing too.

So I have noticed there is multiple versions of VB at the moment available (kind of like PHPBB2/PHPBB3 and their many versions I am sure), which would be suggested as being the best version to use when a licence is purchased? I'm not afraid to use RC products, but at the same time I am very eager to heavily customise our forum. So would it be suggested the current stable version be downloaded due to the amount of extra software available for it?

How long has the RC version of VB been in development, and will everybody be expected to upgrade when its finished? Is there many differences between it and the previous version?

One more question (sorry lol) - I noticed on one VB forum they had a 'gift/shop' system in place, where small graphic items could be purchased from a shop with virtual cash, and sent to other users with a message. These items collect in a member's profile along with the messages that display with a mouseover effect.

What Modification is this please, and for what VB version? Its something I would really love to implement :)

Thanks again for your help!

The multiple versions are both legacy and current development releases. I believe with the release of vB 3.7, they have marked vB 2.x.x and vB 3.0.x as unsupported and "legacy". vBulletin 3.5.x and up is currently supported. And you are free to choose whichever version you like. If you want to download vB 3.5 and work with that, the developers have no say in whether or not you upgrade. :)

If you want to heavily customize your forum, you have a problem. If you go with vB 3.7, an RC upgrade may mess up a hack or something that you have to go in and change, then again, if you go with vB 3.6.8+ you will have to upgrade if you want all the amazing features being added into vB 3.7. So, customization is a hard one to answer.

And that modifications sounds like vBPlaza, but I believe you cannot get that anymore? At least not from vBulletin.org!