Planning my website - trying to choose a board

[BrianB]

In order for me to make a decision, I need to try to assess some features and capabilities. I have not worked with vB before, so I honestly do no know how to integrate a website with it...

I understand that vB3 will have multiple calendars, and vB currently supports unlimited forum depth. Big plus for vB!

I asked this at vB.com, and got the feeling that this is a better place to ask...

I do not plan on using an existing portal product, as I want to have my own look and feel... so, are scripts available to pull posts from various sections and display the way I want them to display on my various web pages?

example:
I want to grab the last 10 posts (total, not each) from forums 1,2, and 3 and display in one section of a web page.
Then in another section, display last 5 posts from forum 4.
Then in another section display the next 5 upcoming events from Calendar categegory X

and so on...

How easy is that to do in vB? are there SSI scripts to make these requests? As a reference, I know how this is done on InvisionBoard... they have an ssi.php file, and a hack is available for an enhanced ssi.php system. Is there something similar here?


Next,

I would also like to integrate a review system like the one found at www.bosdev.com called BOSMarket. The nested category, drill down, post links, vendors, product, review, etc. is one thing I am seeking. Is such a hack available here? I did a search for "review", but got too many results to answer this question.


Finally, and again, I have seen a few posts here and there about recommended skiners... but is there one designer that stands out for custom skins?

Thanks!

[BrianB]

Just reading the sticky in this thread, and noticed there is a list of available hacks... checking that out now...

[BrianB]

Folks, sorry to repeatedly ask this question...

I have been looking in the forums here for a few days now... looking to see what modifications exist that may suit my needs. Its difficult to get a feel for this when you are not a customer of vB yet though as so many screenshots are hidden.

I have found the following modifications:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=43310
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=21875

Can someone tell me if one of those will do what I want? Again, this is:

One one web page at my site, take the titles from the last X posts from forum 1, and display on a section of the page. In another section of the page, post the last X posts from forums, 2, 3, and 4 combined, etc. etc. Is that the intended use of one of the mods I have shown above?

I also want to display a mini calendar on a page at my site, and filter to show the titles for the next 5 events from a specific calendar (assuming vB3)

Is Syndication possible at a forum level rather than the entire board?

Also, the "Service Request" forum has no posts in it... is this because it is new, or just not used, or I can't see them because I am not a customer? I will likely need a small code or two made for me...

I understand that vB3 hacks are not supported yet, but just to get an idea, how many of you are getting your hacks ready for vB3?

Just trying to make a decision here, and before I pay out the $, I want to be sure that this will provide me with what I need.

Thanks in advance!

[Zachery]

Folks, sorry to repeatedly ask this question...

I have been looking in the forums here for a few days now... looking to see what modifications exist that may suit my needs. Its difficult to get a feel for this when you are not a customer of vB yet though as so many screenshots are hidden.

I have found the following modifications:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=43310
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=21875

Can someone tell me if one of those will do what I want? Again, this is:

One one web page at my site, take the titles from the last X posts from forum 1, and display on a section of the page. In another section of the page, post the last X posts from forums, 2, 3, and 4 combined, etc. etc. Is that the intended use of one of the mods I have shown above?

I also want to display a mini calendar on a page at my site, and filter to show the titles for the next 5 events from a specific calendar (assuming vB3)

Is Syndication possible at a forum level rather than the entire board?

Also, the "Service Request" forum has no posts in it... is this because it is new, or just not used, or I can't see them because I am not a customer? I will likely need a small code or two made for me...

I understand that vB3 hacks are not supported yet, but just to get an idea, how many of you are getting your hacks ready for vB3?

Just trying to make a decision here, and before I pay out the $, I want to be sure that this will provide me with what I need.

Thanks in advance!
there are already vb3 hacks released at vbulletin.nl

and one is a news script and part of that news script could be used to develop the latest topics as it generates it on the fourm page :)

i belive you cannot see service reuqests as your not a member :)

i can honestly tell you that IMO there is no better forum system out there today. vb3 is very powerfull and i know many hackers who have been geared up for vb3 for a long and and they are waiting for the gates to open :D