Santa is coming to Scuba Board (well we’re doing an upgrade but it’s almost as good)!

[Ted S]

We're Upgrading on 12/17!!!

ScubaBoard is pleased to inform you that on December 17th, the board will be moving to a brand new server and upgrading to a better forum system. In order to make this move as smooth as possible we will be wiping our current layout and templates and implementing a default theme to keep things fast, clean and bug free. Because this move is such a big upgrade we are expecting it to take several hours to complete. If all goes according to plan the board will close at approximately 7pm PST on the 17th and open back up on the morning of the 18th.

What will the upgrade do?
Besides fixing many of the bugs, browser compatibility issues and other problems with the current version, the upgrade will feature numerous new features:

• Completely [red]revamped templates[/red] and ScubaBoard layout
• User Control panel updated to include [red]personal photo uploading[/red], buddylist upgrades, enhanced profile viewing page
• User ratings & revised rankings
• WYSIWYG editor for new posts and replies
• Increased attachment features including multiple attachments
• New thread & post viewing:
  * linear (current) view
  * threaded view
  * threaded/ linear hybrid view
• Upgraded calendar utilities including weekly, daily and monthly viewing
• [red]Daily digest email[/red] notification (track new posts in a specific category)
• Enhanced post subscription tools
• Login/ Logout features (and cookies) redeveloped
• PM settings updated (tracking, preview, export, multiple recipients, read/unread)
• More powerful polls (public vote viewing, sorting, etc…)
• Redeveloped searching features including in-page search box, search by category, limit to username, ignored words, subscribed thread searches and faster results!
• [red]Quick Reply[/red] box for same-page replies
• Updated documentation and site FAQ
• A complete [red]photo gallery system[/red] will also be added to the board during the upgrade or shortly there after.

Overall the new ScubaBoard system will be faster, easier to use and overall a more powerful forum.

How will it all work?
The upgrade will require us to close down the current board at 7pm on the 17th and transfer the entire database to our new host. Once the database is moved we will complete a software upgrade and then proceed to rebuild all indexes and counters. After this is completed our new templates will be implemented, new settings and options will be turned on and the board will open up sometime on the morning of the 18th. During the transition www.scubaboard.com will redirect to a detailed page explaining this move with updates posted throughout the process. Because of the massive changes we are expecting some minor bugs with user accounts and posts. Users will be able to view the upgrade status via AIM and it is expected to take around 15 hours to complete the move, upgrade and index rebuilding. We encourage you to take the evening off from ScubaBoard as this is a large undertaking, although you are welcome to sit at your computer and reload www.scubaboard.com until the board comes up or the sun rises.

Got Questions?
Any questions about the upgrade may be posted here or you can pm me directly. For the next week I will not be addressing any minor bugs with the current system in anticipation of the upgrade.

Please bewared, our user interface will be a great deal different so expect to be shocked, awed and amazed!

 

[GSmith]

Thanks for all the effort that has gone into the board! It is truly an amazing resource that has exposed me to view points and ideas I would not have otherwise.

Thanks to all of you that have made it happen!
Greg Smith

 

[Big-t-2538]

What...no beer order form???

Great work you guys...and we do appreciate all that you do !!

 

[WileEDiver]

Tech Admin once bubbled...
The upgrade will require us to close down the current board at 7pm on the 17th ....

Thanks giuys, and thanks for the heads-up.

A couple of time related questions:

• 7pm, where? Which time zone?
  
• I didn't see this one the list, but any chance that on the new server the board clock will be right somewhere in the world?

As a veteran of many an upgrade, I wish you Godspeed in this endeavor.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I can't think of a better place to put my 1000th post. Thanks for giving me a place to talk about scuba. This place is special.

 

[WileEDiver]

Congrats, Tim, on your millennium post!

I guess that means, that as of now, you're twice the man that I am (or at least twice the poster).

 

[DivemasterSteve]

WileEDiver once bubbled...

Thanks giuys, and thanks for the heads-up.

A couple of time related questions:

• 7pm, where? Which time zone?
  

• 
  
  If all goes according to plan the board will close at approximately 7pm PST on the 17th and open back up on the morning of the 18th.
  
  that was from the first of his post.
  
  steve

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Good luck on the move.. and while the board is down, maybe I can do something besides sit in front of the computer, like do that Christmas shopping, or cleaning, or maybe even go diving!

Good luck, look forward to the new interface and improved usability.

 

[Natasha]

For all the Lord of the Rings fans.. (Like me)
'The Return of the King' opens the night of Dec.17th in the US.
I know that's what I'll be doing.

 

[DiverBuoy]

This is great news.