I have made my decision for the Gallery software to use.  The 'Gallery' Menu link will take you there.

I've finally figured out how to incorporate the Gallery into the website.  We will be using Gallery 2 software, which is an extremely powerful gallery package.  There are more options than anybody would ever need!


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It wasn't easy, but it is possible! 

Today I converted all of the data from the Forums are the current woodburner.com to the new format this site is running. 

The previous system used the forum from the mpn CMS.  That CMS can be had at

This system is running the e107 CMS.  It can be obtained at

If you go to the mpn nuke site, you'll see why I changed programs.  The latest released version is what I was running, which was released several years ago.  There have been no updates since.  Also, there is a message on their site of a security nature, which got my attention.  If they are no longer interested in updating their software, then I'm not interested in using it.  I know they have other things to do, but who doesn't.

So, the forum is up a running with most of the data from woodburner.com.  When I officially transfer this software to the Woodburner website, I'll add the remainder of the forum posts.  I've saved the program I wrote to do this, so it'll be easier to add the rest of them later.

Looks like things are coming together.  Next I have to convert the Gallery and Albums data.  That can be both easy and very difficult.  Converting the data is easy.  Getting the gallery software to work as it did on Woodburner will be difficult.

Have a good day!

Ralph

Moving the Links (Resources on The Woodburner.com menu) was relatively easy.  That's why I did it first.  All of the necessary data was in the WB database, and some that wasn't needed (ratings, etc).

On this site, if a link is really good, a Member can make a comment to that effect.  Usually you get good information with comments.  I feel that ratings are overused, and most of the time do not accurately reflect the true worth of what is being rated.

So, comments are in!

Today I'm going to see if I can move the Members Users database.  I must move this in order for the Albums or Forums to work once I move them.  So, here goes ....

Welcome to the new Woodburner Testing website! Well, at least the new Woodburner Test Site

I have been looking for new software for The Woodburner for at least a year now, and I think I may have found it.  The software currently being used is no longer supported and due to potential security rishs, although we have not had a problem, it is not a good idea to keep using it.  I always here about new security exploits being found for the various pieces of the system, so from a security standpoint it is not wise to keep using it if it is not supported.

This new CMS is being supported and it appears from the user base that it will continue to be supported for a long time.  So far, from what I've seen, it will do what is needed.  There are a few modifications I will need to make, but it looks like this software will lend itself to making changes quite easily.

If you stop by and have comments, please leave them.  You may also register if you feel so inclined.

The most difficult part is to transfer the data from the old database to the new one.  The formats are completely different.

I know I'll transfer the Membership data.  That should be relatively easy.  The hardest part is transferring the Album data and the Forum data.  It's not because there's a huge amount of data, but rather because it is formatted differently.  At this point, however, I'm not sure HOW difficult it will be.

I'm also thinking about removing a lot of very old information.  The reason would be to lighten the load on the server, and make the site faster.  I'm still up in the air about how much the old information gets used.

I'll keep updating as things progress.

Have a good day!

Ralph

You may have noticed that there are two galleries/albums in the main menu.  I can't decide which one to use.

The first one is a full gallery, giving the user ennumerable options.  It can be embedded into this site, but it's not working well if I do that.

The second gallery IS fully embedded into this site, but it's missing one crucial function:  Allowing members to comment of individual pictures.  I can fix that, but it means more work on my part - I would have to write the code to allow comments for the individual pics.  I know I can do it, I'm just not sure yet if it's worth it.

So, I won't move any of the gallery/album items until I decide which way to go.  If you, members of woodburner.com, have a comment one way or another, I'd like to know.  As I've always said, 'it's your site', so I want to ensure it's what the members want.

Have a good day!

Ralph


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It was not easy, but I got the member database moved here.  It took a while to determine the conversions necessary for the data to be useable.  It came from 2 files, and went into 2 files here, but of course not neatly pre-sorted.

But I managed to do it.  I also need to pick up a few of the members who registered in the past few days since I copied the database.

The next step is to see if the Gallery/Album data can be moved.  Once I do that, then the forums need to be converted.  That will take some doing.  There are 3 or 4 files in the old database for the forum, and only 2 in this database, so it'll be interesting.  I know what I need to do, it's just a matter of finding the time to do it.

It's looking better.

BTW, if you find this site, and are registered at The Woodburner, feel free to login and see how it works.  Don't expect any additions to be permanent, but it'll give you a heads-up when the move happens later.

Ralph

Yesterday I wasn't so sure, but today I'm beginning to believe this may actually work out as the CMS for The Woodburner

Today I looked at the structure of both the Woodburner database and the one for this CMS, and there are enough similarities that I may get it to work.  Oh, it won't be easy, but I think I can get most of the data transferred.

The Member information is not in question (data currently on your User Info page).  I even think I can move the Albums over fairly easily.  It'll still be work, but it can be done.

The Forum data is still in doubt.  I'm not sure that'll make the transition.  The two systems are very, very different.  I need to play around with the Forum here more before I can make a final determination. 

But, even if I can't move the Forum, I still may do it - that other CMS software is really old and, although the website still exists for it, there is nobody who actively supports the software.  I've got the latest version, and it hasn't been updated in 3 or 4 years.  That's scary!! That's almost made my decision for me. 

The only thing that we may lose is the ability to make comments on individual pictures.  That's a big deal - I may need to change the software a bit so that we can comment on each pic.  And making the change is also a big deal, due to the way the software for the Gallery is done.  The pics are not in the database - no mention of them at all - so pointing a comment to an individual pic could be very difficult.  I need to give it some thought.

I'm also going to do away with the Main Gallery.  It has outlived its usefulness.  Members mainly post to both the Gallery, AND their Albums - I have gotten no pics from non-members in many, many years.  So I don't feel bad about losing the Gallery.  I may put it up, but make it so that no new pics can be added.

Have a good day!

Ralph