K2 / Proflex Riders Group

General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: GrimJack on January 04, 2012, 10:42:02 pm

Title: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 04, 2012, 10:42:02 pm: First off, I realize that this is likely less than exciting news for most of you. :)

That said, I am working through upgrading the forum software. Some features may not work quite the way you expect, or may not work at all. This level of mayhem is to be expected. I'll dedicate whatever time I can pry away from my pesky kids and demanding wife, however, sometimes that isn't much.

Hopefully this will allow us to drop the hammer on the recurring spam asshats we've been seeing recently - although we haven't had to put up with the spam for very long, I'll note, as the guys on the staff seem to take spam as a personal affront, and quash it in record time. Still, be nice if they could get a bit of their life back. Maybe they can get out and ride some more!

PS: Questions... smoke 'em if you've got 'em. I'll be around more than average for the next little while, weather sucks locally anyway, it's raining so damn much here I'm considering trading the bike in on a boat.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 04, 2012, 11:16:14 pm: i thought i had somehow come to the wrong place! :'(
But then recognised the posts etc.No worries Dave most of these sort of things are very similar.Thanks for your patience and perserverance
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 04, 2012, 11:16:38 pm: Another note... one of the additional, rather draconian, anti-spam steps I have taken is to disallow new accounts with an email address from gmail, yahoo, or hotmail.

This is rather like killing flies using a wrecking ball, however I'm hoping it will prove more discouraging to the spammers than it does to the actual users. If you know of anyone that cannot register because of this, let me know and I'll get them set up manually.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 04, 2012, 11:20:54 pm: Quote from: kiwi on January 04, 2012, 11:16:14 pm
i thought i had somehow come to the wrong place! :'(
But then recognised the posts etc.No worries Dave most of these sort of things are very similar.Thanks for your patience and perserverance
Don't worry, the look and feel will come back eventually. Just dealing with some of the underlying framework first. :)
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 04, 2012, 11:40:19 pm: Another update... deleted 800 members. Nobody who has posted, and 95% of those haven't logged in for 6+ months. A bunch of the rest look to be the leftover accounts from the spamming asshat group previously mentioned.

It's quite possible that I've tossed out a few babies with the bathwater... if you're one of those, please forgive me, re-register, and post at least once. Then I won't axe you again. Promise.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Old Proflexer on January 05, 2012, 06:26:03 am: Wow - very impressive.

Thank you for all of your efforts and concerns for our group and our hobbie/sport.

(weather here in southern california is 85 degrees, clear and sunny - sorry 8) )
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: petes97857 on January 05, 2012, 09:21:20 am: Hi and a BIG THANKS
The new format looks good and I hope the spammers are held at bay for a while
I hope the next time I try to upload some Proflex porn I can that was my bugbear with previous format
Happy new year Proflexers
Pete
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 05, 2012, 07:15:16 pm: how come my avatar is broken(ii cant seem to upload a new one either :'(
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 05, 2012, 11:43:46 pm: Quote from: kiwi on January 05, 2012, 07:15:16 pm
how come my avatar is broken(ii cant seem to upload a new one either :'(
Oops... guess you found a setting that wasn't properly converted to the new software.

Fixed now, though. Should be able to upload attachments again, too. There's also a menu item at the top called 'media' - it allows member specific uploads again... hopefully! I was really hoping to transfer all our stuff from the old coppermine setup, however, this doesn't look possible. Now I'm looking into whether I can mass upload the files on the server.

I think I'm going to do some quick(ish) graphic customizations first though, this white and blue really isn't doing it for me.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: orange on January 06, 2012, 01:57:00 am: whoah! Out of the blue - I like it :)

Keep up the great work Dave.

Yes the spammers have been at it a lot lately - been trying to keep up with them (have faithful members who flag them up for me when I don't log in), prob missed quite a few though.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 06, 2012, 02:49:24 am: oops this brown aint doing it for me maties
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Spokes on January 06, 2012, 10:31:19 am: Actually I love this colour. Very 1970's feel to it, lol. Same colour as the velour seats in my mums old Allegro. Come to think of it ive got a pair of VANS in this colour too. ;D. Keep it coming Grimjack im loving it!
Chris
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 06, 2012, 12:54:53 pm: The brown is temporary... well, kind of, anyway.

The forum software we are using is light on documentation that explains themes, or how to mess with the colour schemes. So, in order to work on it, I have to make a change, refresh, screenshot, search for what has actually changed, then go back and re-edit to what I actually wanted. Often I use 'magic pink - colour code #FF00FF' if I'm looking to change just a single colour, however, in a case like this I try to edit 5 or 6 colours at once, so I used several slightly different browns.

Cliffs: A bunch of the colours that you have been seeing since yesterday evening, my time zone, are just placeholders. If you keep refreshing, you'll see the colours slowly devolve back into what you are used to.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 06, 2012, 02:13:04 pm: Quote from: Spokes on January 06, 2012, 10:31:19 am
Actually I love this colour. Very 1970's feel to it, lol. Same colour as the velour seats in my mums old Allegro. Come to think of it ive got a pair of VANS in this colour too. ;D. Keep it coming Grimjack im loving it!
Chris
Austin Allegro!
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 06, 2012, 03:53:08 pm: Just looked in the ban log for the last few days... few things make me smile as much as the size of that list, and how much frustration that signifies for the spammers.

22 attempts yesterday that failed.
6 more today.

I wonder if they'll give up eventually? Nah... prolly not that smart.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: shovelon on January 06, 2012, 09:55:37 pm: I can get used to this! 8)

Terry
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 07, 2012, 02:06:29 am: starting to look real good Dave!
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 07, 2012, 02:08:32 am: Quote from: GrimJack on January 06, 2012, 03:53:08 pm
Just looked in the ban log for the last few days... few things make me smile as much as the size of that list, and how much frustration that signifies for the spammers.

22 attempts yesterday that failed.
6 more today.

I wonder if they'll give up eventually? Nah... prolly not that smart.

lollossy
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Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Spokes on January 07, 2012, 11:37:06 am: Yes London Escorts?? I was wondering aswell? Male, female or possibly car? ??? I dont think I want to know.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Spokes on January 07, 2012, 11:50:10 am: Quote from: kiwi on January 06, 2012, 02:13:04 pm
Quote from: Spokes on January 06, 2012, 10:31:19 am
Actually I love this colour. Very 1970's feel to it, lol. Same colour as the velour seats in my mums old Allegro. Come to think of it ive got a pair of VANS in this colour too. ;D. Keep it coming Grimjack im loving it!
Chris
Austin Allegro!

Oh yes! In brown with a darker brown vinyl roof and a two tone brown velour interior! More brown than Cadburys! So 1970's.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 07, 2012, 01:50:53 pm: I'm reasonably sure that lollossy is either a spammer or a bot... however, I figure I can afford to give him enough rope to hang himself. If he posts, and it's spam, I'll wipe him. If he *doesn't* post, I'll clean him out along with the rest of the zero poster guys in about a year.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 07, 2012, 02:01:13 pm: Quote from: GrimJack on January 06, 2012, 03:53:08 pm
Just looked in the ban log for the last few days... few things make me smile as much as the size of that list, and how much frustration that signifies for the spammers.

22 attempts yesterday that failed.
6 more today.

I wonder if they'll give up eventually? Nah... prolly not that smart.
Update... it gets better.

Yesterday they tried to register 30 spam accounts, and were denied on all attempts.

They also tried to login using 6 accounts that have already been banned for spam.

I'm *really* liking these new anti-spam features.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Willie_B on January 07, 2012, 03:24:37 pm: I like checking back to try and spot the changes. Of course that depends on my memory that I even remember from the day before. Looking good. :)
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 07, 2012, 03:46:31 pm: Hey, can someone check to see if there is a 'Media' link in the top menu, and if so, can you upload a photo, and let me know? I suspect I may have some permissions issues to work out there still...
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 07, 2012, 04:18:35 pm: cant see a media link in top menu but will try a pic from the web

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6561128979_0cf2d7b0f7_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 07, 2012, 04:50:14 pm: Damn... I was afraid of that. Ok, off to mess with some stuff... let me know if it suddenly shows up.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Willie_B on January 07, 2012, 05:16:17 pm: I see the Media link. I just created an album so it will have to be approved before I can try to upload to it.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 07, 2012, 05:44:11 pm: Approved your album... wonder if I can get rid of that step somehow...
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Willie_B on January 07, 2012, 06:11:55 pm: I cannot figure out how to put anything in the album. No obvious away at least.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 07, 2012, 06:47:49 pm: I found another security setting buried in it's own menu... can you see the upload items now?
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Willie_B on January 08, 2012, 12:03:37 am: That got it. Just uploaded an image from home computer of a cruiser bike with a vector fork to my album.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 08, 2012, 12:43:44 am: Yes! That worked. :)
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Spokes on January 09, 2012, 02:32:43 pm: Quote from: kiwi on January 07, 2012, 04:18:35 pm
cant see a media link in top menu but will try a pic from the web

([url]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6561128979_0cf2d7b0f7_z.jpg[/url])

Is this you Kiwi and is that your GS? Very cool. Nice jacket, were you on your way to a Micheal Jackson tribute ;)

Chris
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Thunderchild on January 09, 2012, 07:42:05 pm: Thanks for all your work. Make this site "Grim" for those a$$whole spammers!

Thunderchild
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 09, 2012, 10:42:27 pm: Ok, quick request.

I've been going through and converting the picture / document folders from the last software to the new format. Unfortunately there isn't a script to do so, meaning I have to do them manually one at a time. Anyway, the theory is that I can create each one so that it is still 'owned' by the member who created it, however I'm a suspicious bastard, so I'd like to test that.

So, if you had a bunch of pictures uploaded before, and you don't mind running a test or two, post back here, and I'll convert yours ahead of the queue. Then if you could try to edit / upload to it, and verify that the system allows you to, we should be golden.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: kiwi on January 09, 2012, 11:52:22 pm: Quote from: Spokes on January 09, 2012, 02:32:43 pm

Is this you Kiwi and is that your GS? Very cool. Nice jacket, were you on your way to a Micheal Jackson tribute ;)

Chris

tis me and tis my bike.Its a custom made jacket I had made years ago i had to get i altered.The uv shrinks leather ya know!
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 11, 2012, 09:24:13 pm: Ok, theoretically all the picture albums have been converted to the new system. If yours is missing, let me know, and I'll see what I can do.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Spokes on January 12, 2012, 11:58:56 am: Just checked my file and it seems to work just fine. All pictures are there. Great work!

Chris
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: Colin on January 13, 2012, 01:30:01 am: Just checked my picture file and they're all there, but just all in one big folder rather than the seperate folders I had saved them in.
No big deal if this can't be easily rectified, I can probably sort them out sometime.

Col.
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 13, 2012, 11:30:21 am: Quote from: Colin on January 13, 2012, 01:30:01 am
Just checked my picture file and they're all there, but just all in one big folder rather than the seperate folders I had saved them in.
No big deal if this can't be easily rectified, I can probably sort them out sometime.

Col.
Sorry about that - the last software package used virtual folders, but still stores them all in the same folder. Without doing some rather painful database digging, there isn't any way for me to see the previous structure.

Hopefully the folders isn't something that was widely used!
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: orange on January 13, 2012, 03:35:15 pm: sorry, bit late to this party. Anything i can do/should be doing on an ongoing basis?
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: GrimJack on January 13, 2012, 05:01:11 pm: Quote from: orange on January 13, 2012, 03:35:15 pm
sorry, bit late to this party. Anything i can do/should be doing on an ongoing basis?
At this point, everything should be working properly. There are a few theme related issues - like the background colours on the quick reply box, for instance - and some text is difficult to read because it's over the desert texture without a background.

So, if you find anything else that's borked, let me know.

PS: The spammers must be frustrated beyond belief. I've actually removed most of the old restrictions in favour of the new spam database system, and they appear to still be running a ZERO percent success rate. There are few things in life that present me with this level of joy... how I love frustrating low life scum. :)
Title: Re: Forum software upgrades
Post by: orange on January 14, 2012, 11:16:31 am: I'm loving the new look anyway 8)