vBulletin 6.0.8 is now available for download

[Shawn Gossman]

In case you didn't know...

vBulletin 6.0.8 has been released!

[Gaz]

We have the data migration scheduled for tomorrow so are moving from 4.2.5 to 6.0.8. Fingers crossed 🤞

[Shawn Gossman]

Do tell us how it goes!!

[Wayne]

We have the data migration scheduled for tomorrow so are moving from 4.2.5 to 6.0.8. Fingers crossed 🤞

How did this turn out? Any bumps in the road?

[Gaz]

How did this turn out? Any bumps in the road?

We are working through some minor ones now but all in all it's been okay
The bigger issue was the hosting company that I've used for 14 years took 5 hours to respond to some tickets raised so we had to delay the upgrade by a day.
I've got some minor technical gaps I need to work out how to fix and at the moment it's more about checking in with the members.
It's been up for 3 hours and I've had 7 new members join after I announced on X the upgraded site was now working. I've got close to 1,700 followers on X.
Like always, the challenge is turning the lurkers into contributors. I have some content that the vast majority of new members crave for so it does incentivize a few of them to start posting.
I might have to reach out for some VB6 expertise if that's okay?

[Shawn Gossman]

We are working through some minor ones now but all in all it's been okay
The bigger issue was the hosting company that I've used for 14 years took 5 hours to respond to some tickets raised so we had to delay the upgrade by a day.
I've got some minor technical gaps I need to work out how to fix and at the moment it's more about checking in with the members.
It's been up for 3 hours and I've had 7 new members join after I announced on X the upgraded site was now working. I've got close to 1,700 followers on X.
Like always, the challenge is turning the lurkers into contributors. I have some content that the vast majority of new members crave for so it does incentivize a few of them to start posting.
I might have to reach out for some VB6 expertise if that's okay?

Feel free to add your forum link to your signature here

[Gaz]

My site is primarily a site focused on the Western Bulldogs who are a team in the Australian Football League.
We talk about other teams as well and a couple of other international sports and also music, movies etc

I've had a couple of members ask what is the best way they could opt out of the international sports and music boards so they can just focus on the football?
Any suggestions on an efficient way that might be achieved?

[Wayne]

If I’m understanding the question correctly, this could be handled by setting up special permissions for users who want to opt out of other discussions. You can use these permissions to control what they’re able to access.

For example, you could create a usergroup called “Limited” (or any name you prefer) and configure it so members can only see the Football forums. Does that make sense?

I believe this would also require you to remove them from other groups, such as Registered User. Thoughts, Shawn Gossman?

[Gaz]

If I’m understanding the question correctly, this could be handled by setting up special permissions for users who want to opt out of other discussions. You can use these permissions to control what they’re able to access.

For example, you could create a usergroup called “Limited” (or any name you prefer) and configure it so members can only see the Football forums. Does that make sense?

I believe this would also require you to remove them from other groups, such as Registered User. Thoughts, Shawn Gossman?

Yep, you've nailed it. I'll have a look at that option.

[Gaz]

While the feedback from the vast majority of members has been positive with the upgrade a few members are struggling with the different options after moving from 4.2.5 to 6.0.8
It's a big adjustment for some and a couple of them seem to need to be really coached along.
I'd hate to lose them given some have been active members for 17 years so I''ll do what I can to assist.
I've done some tips and screenshots for them but then thought we can't be the only site that has had this challenge.
Is there any really simple documentation that I might be able to share with the members for the VB6 experience that I could share with them?
I've written step by step instructions for a system implementation years ago so I can probably knock something up but I'd prefer not to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to

[Wayne]

The best place to find what they need is the help section. If you haven’t customized the footer, you’ll find it at the bottom of any of your pages. It’s user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for those new to forum software. You can share links to any topic from the help section. That said, change can be challenging—especially if you’ve been accustomed to a certain setup for a long time. Even small adjustments, like minor rearrangements, used to frustrate some of my former forum members.

What difficulties are your members experiencing exactly?

[Shawn Gossman]

I think the vBulletin help page (on your forum) is one of the most detailed help pages I've ever seen on a forum software.

https://vbadmins.com/help

Some people don't like change. It can be difficult to please them. I'd ask what you can do to help them, but emphasize that reverting back to 4.x is not an option. Explain it's outdated and that there could be security concerns with that.

Some people are never going to be pleased, though.

Unfortunately.

[Gaz]

I think the vBulletin help page (on your forum) is one of the most detailed help pages I've ever seen on a forum software.

https://vbadmins.com/help

Some people don't like change. It can be difficult to please them. I'd ask what you can do to help them, but emphasize that reverting back to 4.x is not an option. Explain it's outdated and that there could be security concerns with that.

Some people are never going to be pleased, though.

Unfortunately.

While I agree 100% with you the help screens are done at a slightly more technical level and I think for members that have used the older VB3 and then 4 for something like 15 years + they need to see screenshots with explanations and arrows pointing to certain fields and symbols explaining what they do rather than text book explanations they need to navigate through.
A couple of my 'older members' have described it like moving from an old Nokia android to the latest Apple iPhone without having detailed instructions on how to navigate around it.
Yes they can make calls and receive text messages but it's not as intuitive for them at the moment.
There is a big difference in something being functionally correct and being genuinely user friendly.
The documentation is certainly a positive, in fact excellent, but is it the most intuitive for long term members moving from 4.2.5 to 6.0.8? Based on the feedback I've had it could be a bit better.

Yes they all know that we can't and won't be reverting back to the 'Good Old Days' and in the shorter term we will win the vast majority of them over.
I'm 100% behind the change and I see my admin role at the moment as trying to bring as many of them along the journey as I can. Some are going to fight it, that's expected though, but most have given it a big tick.

We've had 25 new members join in the last week or so and about 18 of them have mentioned how they like the look of the forum and especially how easy the mobile app is for them to check content.

[Gaz]

Here is one little thing for one of my better members

I'm still not able to click on notifications/messages/username options at the top of page, when viewing on my Google pixel in portrait mode (Chrome browser and on the 'app'). If I rotate my screen to landscape I can click on them.

Does anyone have any suggestions for this?

[Shawn Gossman]

Here is one little thing for one of my better members

I'm still not able to click on notifications/messages/username options at the top of page, when viewing on my Google pixel in portrait mode (Chrome browser and on the 'app'). If I rotate my screen to landscape I can click on them.

Does anyone have any suggestions for this?

I'm not sure about this one. It might be a question for the vb support folks. I've never used a pixel, so I'm not even sure how it works.