Planning my website - trying to choose a board
 

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!

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

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