Forum upgrade - give me input!

[Jake]

This new MMsports.org site is coming along nicely and should be done soon. As part of the upgrade, I'm upgrading the forum software to version 3, which is current and adds some nice new features.

Only thing is, the current (version 2.x) forum 'theme' file - aka, what defines how the entire forum looks - will not transfer over, so I have to re-create the theme.

In the past, there have been grumblings about the butter yellow colors. For all the nay-sayers, this is your chance to speak up, give me input, and help choose colors for the new forum look.


This is the starting point, which phpBB calls "Pro Silver." I'm a fan of it - minus the blue everywhere. The top 'header' graphic that currently says phpBB will be replaced with our MM header, which I've redesigned slightly for the new site.

Colors used on the new site thus far are black, white, 'pure' yellow (like in the M's in our logo) and what I call 'cone orange' - hex code EE4E3E.

I know there are some phpBB gurus on our site, plus some other folks who have a decent eye for color and design. Give me some ideas for how to best design the forum, primarily color choice, and I'll see what I can do!

[WRXtranceformed]

I'm actually okay with the color of this site, but black white and yellow sounds good. What new features would the new version add?

[Evan]

Only thing is, the current (version 2.x) forum 'theme' file - aka, what defines how the entire forum looks - will not transfer over, so I have to re-create the theme.

my prayers have been answered!

I would request a white or light grey background with and a simple, clean layout without gradients and stuff, OR, if you would like to have a flashier regular layout then have user switchable skins (i think phpBB supports this?) so we could have a 'work' skin that doesnt have any pics or bright colors that would be more appropriate in a work setting.

[ScottyB]

user switchable skins (i think phpBB supports this?) so we could have a 'work' skin

i would love this

[Mike]

forum upgrade comes above any theme concerns i have. i would like to keep colors the way they are.

[Apoc]

I would request a white or light grey background with and a simple, clean layout without gradients and stuff

+1

Maybe yellow highlights if people want to keep the club's colors.

See: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://44cup.zeroforum.com">http://44cup.zeroforum.com</a><!-- m -->

[BLINGMW]

i would like to keep colors the way they are.

me too. If there's a better yellow sure go for it, sounds like you're on the right path. I like the idea of "cone orange" accents, though EE4E3E looks kinda red to me (don't give my eye for color much credit at all though)

[Goodspeed]

I would request a white or light grey background with and a simple, clean layout without gradients and stuff

+1

+2.

I'd either like this, or stick to the current colors. I know this sounds sacrilege, but MM bright yellow over black is just too much of a clashing eyesore if its used everywhere like in Apoc's link. I like how right now its kept to a purposeful minimum at the top.

For the rest of the page below our header (which IMO looks fine as is), I support a similar idea of light grays/gradients with for example:

What is currently white (surround) being light gray and the text area (butter) being a lighter gray, though dark enough for white font

OR

Vice versa.

[Apoc]

One thing I forgot... PLEASE get rid of the fixed width. We're all big boys and girls and can handle relative widths for the content.

[ViPER1313]

Talking about skinning the forum before worrying about the v2 to v3 upgrade is like talking about how badass our V8 Merkurs will be before we buy them from a dude's field.

Its CSS and HTML, and making a dropdown in user preferences to make the forum yellow / black / Miata pink per user preference is not a hard task.

[Jake]

As an update... the update is happening. phpBB 3, forum skinning, new home page, the works. I'm closing the forum to ease the database upgrade - it'll go down this Sunday around 3 PM and should return by Monday morning.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but I'm looking forward to the results! Obviously some things will need to be tweaked here and there after the big upgrade.

I will be skinning the "new" forum to match the new site - more white, less buttah, etc. If anyone else is interested in making skins for users to choose from, please feel free. I can give you a place to upload them, and I will add them to the choices for each user. If you do choose to make a skin, keep in mind it's for BB3, not BB2. Apparently the skins don't convert between the two versions.

Looking forward to Monday!

[.RJ]

it'll go down this Sunday around 3 PM and should return by Monday morning.

[Evan]

thanks for putting in the work Jake, I look forward to the new site

[Jake]

it'll go down this Sunday around 3 PM and should return by Monday morning.

I knew this would be the reaction from some of y'all... hence the message four days in advance :lol:

[REED]

it'll go down this Sunday around 3 PM and should return by Monday morning.

[HAULN-SS]

Talking about skinning the forum before worrying about the v2 to v3 upgrade is like talking about how badass our V8 Merkurs will be before we buy them from a dude's field.

haha..this makes me laugh and feel sad all at once

[ScottyB]

thanks Jake

[Apoc]

Just make sure it's back before I have to be at work Monday!

[Jake]

Just make sure it's back before I have to be at work Monday!

Haha, I'll try, but you may have to *gasp* do work for an hour or so on Monday :wink:

[G.Irish]

Good luck! Make sure you back everything up in case it goes horribly wrong.