** Quick Status Report **

[TimK]

As I write this, the forums look a bit different than they have in recent months. I've changed the "style" or template of the forums to one of the defaults bundled with the vBulletin software due to some incompatibilities between the old format and a recent software update.

One of the challenges that we constantly face is keeping all of the moving parts of the site working well together. DVCNews.com is made up of two different core software platforms plus dozens of add-ons designed to add features to the core.

All of the core systems and add-ons are subject to updates from developers. Some of those updates will add new features but many are designed to fix bugs or address security holes which have been discovered. Those darn hackers never let us sleep for long.

The problem comes when an upgrade to one system or add-on leaves it incompatible with another.

Last night I updated the vBulletin software to version 4.1.11. Turns out that the VB developers made changes to the template system, resulting in our familiar blue and yellow forum skin style no longer being compatible with the forum software.

I do make some effort to test updates before they are applied and after the upgrade is complete but that isn't a foolproof process. Adding more testing time typically means that the site is longer exposed to whatever security bugs the update was designed to patch. (Unfortunately the site has been hacked a couple of times so this is a concern.)

Most updates cause no negative fallout whatsoever.

There is no simple solution other than to ask that readers keep me appraised of any issues they encounter. Most importantly, if something worked yesterday and is broken today (or tomorrow, or next week), let me know about that. Generally speaking, I cannot do much to satisfy personal wish lists (i.e. "I don't like ____ and really wish that ____") but if an apparent bug has crept into the system, feel free to send me a PM or post on the Tech Support board.

Thanks!
Tim

[DisneyGeek]

Thanks for the update & all you do Tim; I'm really curious about what things will look like next time I'm in a browser instead of Tapatalk!

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk

[athenna]

Thanks, Tim for all your work in keeping this place ship shape Looks good!

[denlo]

I again with the others, Tim, thanks for all your hard work keeping the forum up to date, virus and near spam free.

The new looks is more stylized, sort of reminds me of using tapatalk or mobile on the iPad but so far everything seems to be there and is working.

[wdrl]

I just noticed that "My DVC Home" and "Member Since" info on my posts no longer appears. The info is still in my User Profile, but its not propagating to the online posts.

[TimK]

I just noticed that "My DVC Home" and "Member Since" info on my posts no longer appears. The info is still in my User Profile, but its not propagating to the online posts.

That's to be expected for the time being.

I didn't do a very good job of explaining this but the current (silver) template on the forum is vBulletin's default and it's only temporary. I just wanted to get something up that was functional since the old template wasn't working correctly following the last software update.

The template will change again to something unique in the next few days and I'll be sure to add some of our custom modifications like the DVC profile info.

Tim

[KNWVIKING 2.0]

When logging out, instead of returning to the forum, white screen with this message appears : Fatal error: Class 'JRequest' not found in /home/dvcnews/public_html/libraries/joomla/import.php on line 33

I use Win 7, Home Premium, 64 bit with IE 9.

[sharonuk]

Thanks Tim for all your hard work at keeping this great forum going; we all appreciate it and understand that occasionally changes are needed to keep the site safe

[bakerworld]

So this is why I see this Blu Sense.jpg instead of the DVCNews Logo?

[idratherbeinwdw]

Ever since the changes I have trouble staying on this site. I often get an error message "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage". If I keep reloading eventually I get on, but it can be a bit frustrating.