TheFactoryFiveForum.com Version 2.0

[AC Bill]

Well... I tried to sign in to the new forum, to make a comment and test drive it, but that didn't work. I was curious if a photo could be simply pasted to a post, rather than having to attach it using a file. I really like that aspect on some other forums I belong to.

The instructions were "Sign in using your factory five forums account", but it's asking for an e-mail address? I always have just used my screen name, not an e-mail address to sign in. So anyways I tried putting in my g-mail address and it still didn't work.. Hmmm..

I personally have no issues with the current forum whatsoever, and kind of hope it remains as is. I have happily used it since it's inception, spurned on by rumors that the original FFCars.com forum was going to shut down.. Turns out that never happened, but it has become heavily politicized, which I hope this forum never does..

Interestingly, two popular Facebook groups who's subjects are about Cobras, posted by, and for, replica builders/owners, recently did a survey on ages of the owners. The response was quite significant.. I'm really curious to know what the average age would turn out to be, but it seems there was a very large number in the over 55 age group, in both surveys. I was amazed at the large number of owners in their 70's and even 80's.
It's commonly known older people are resistant to, and dislike, change.. Me too.
If this new forum is not very similar in it's layout and workings to this current one, it risks ending up being a real bomb, especially with our..lets say,.. mature forum members.

Right away I see the classified section is showing that a service fee will be charged for cars and parts.. I hope that is a joke.

[David Hodgkins]

Time for an update.

POM's and Build Logs are live

Login issues for the 10 folks caught behind a migration have been corrected and folks should be able to log in with their current password from here

Bill I can switch up the login, give me a few to deal with higher priority stuff at the moment.

re: the former classifieds, future marketplace. We are setting up Marketplace to be safe, with escrowed payments until both parties are satisfied and then money is released. This will stop scammers. There is a cost involved with that, a price for that security. More on that in a bit.

I've got the forum and post data on my local pc. I'm waiting for the images to be swapped out for their new cloud-based home

RE: Build logs. I have made it easy to replace the broken image. There is also a way to experiment with converting your flat build thread into a build log. You can switch between the two to get a feel for where replies live in both scenarios.

Build logs now have build galleries you can use to set your "Build Log All Star" images that will go in your build carousel and you can choose your cover photo from your build all star pics. The build gallery is built automatically from all the pics in YOUR build posts.

It's a lot easier than it sounds. Check out my TROJAN build (USE THE SEARCH!) for how an extensive build log can look when converted from a flat style to build log entries;

Here's the url to my Build Log, but TRY THE SEARCH: https://thefactoryfiveforum-bkhxambg...ild-logs/14958

[Jeff33Ford]

That really looks great and organized. As someone who looks through build post quite often for ideas and suggestions on a specific topic, this will be fantastic! Thanks for going the extra mile David.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Good news: I was finally able to log in again!

Bad news: All attempts to post a reply in the "test anything thread" result in a Failed to post reply message.

Jeff

[Papa]

Dave,

I'm prepared to move forward with the new forum. Looking at how my current build thread ported over, I'm likely going to just try to start from scratch with the new format. When will we be able to start creating content and making posts? Like Jeff, any attempt to create or reply results in an error for me.

Thank you for all your hard work,
Dave

[myjones]

Hey Hodgkins! I got your PM but couldn't respond because your mailbox is full so I'll just reply here:

My answer is YES! Don't forget though that I'm old, cranky and ordinarily resistant to change

Jeff

YES
I will sign up as a charter member in Jeff's OCRC club
Finally found something on here I have the skill set for ;}

[Papa]

Dave,

I'm prepared to move forward with the new forum. Looking at how my current build thread ported over, I'm likely going to just try to start from scratch with the new format. When will we be able to start creating content and making posts? Like Jeff, any attempt to create or reply results in an error for me.

Thank you for all your hard work,
Dave

Dave,

Taking a bit more time to see how the comments came in once on my PC vs. phone, starting over isn't a consideration any longer. I'm seeing the full thread come in with pictures and it looks pretty clean except for external links, which I believe you said you'd be working later.

I do have a few recommendations for you when you're ready to look at them:

1. On the Build Logs page, it would be nice to have a way to sort the logs in a couple of ways like by most recent activity, etc.

2. In the Comments area, could the page navigation be added to the bottom of the page so you don't have to scroll back to the top to go to the next page?

3. We need a way to edit the main entry text. My old thread used BB Code tables for an index, which don't seem to be supported, and I'd want to edit that garbage out.

Thank you,
Dave

[Jeff Kleiner]

So.....
When I go to build threads there seems to be little rhyme or reason to their arrangement, such as by date, etc. For example I went looking for Papa's Coupe build thread and couldn't find it. Every thread is authored by "Unknown" and every reply is from "Deleted user" so we don't know who we're talking to, asking or answering. Even though I hit the tab for Coupe while looking for Dave's build thread builds some of the content that came up was for roadsters and was some was random questions that may or may not be part of a build thread...hard to know because you can't see whether there is some other text preceding. When I do open a full build thread (Lugnut Mark's) there are no photos displayed. I assume that will be resolved.

I still can't make a reply. In the meantime I think I'll just wait until you tell us that it is done, up and running because currently I'm not finding that it is not functional enough to critique.

Jeff

[Papa]

So.....
When I go to build threads there seems to be little rhyme or reason to their arrangement, such as by date, etc. For example I went looking for Papa's Coupe build thread and couldn't find it. Every thread is authored by "Unknown" and every reply is from "Deleted user" so we don't know who we're talking to, asking or answering. Even though I hit the tab for Coupe while looking for Dave's build thread builds some of the content that came up was for roadsters and was some was random questions that may or may not be part of a build thread...hard to know because you can't see whether there is some other text preceding. When I do open a full build thread (Lugnut Mark's) there are no photos displayed. I assume that will be resolved.

I still can't make a reply. In the meantime I think I'll just wait until you tell us that it is done, up and running because currently I'm not finding that it is not functional enough to critique.

Jeff

Jeff,

Try the Search bar to find build threads:



I really want to like the new platform, but for now, I think I just need to wait and see once it is up and running for real. Right now, I can only view what's been pulled in. I can't post anything.

This site is super glitchy now, which I assume is due to the heavy data migration work Dave is doing.

Dave

[David Hodgkins]

The issues we all were having - yes, me too - were related to the set up, and that has been remedied.

Hot fixes are coming in repeatedly while I finish basic setup. I hope you like it better now.

[David Hodgkins]

Forums, threads and posts now moved over! The last 4 days not included.

A detailed post is coming soon, Welcome to your new forum!

[mrmustang]

Forums, threads and posts now moved over! The last 4 days not included.

A detailed post is coming soon, Welcome to your new forum!

So is the main platform running the back end then, or are you going to switch to the new format overnight?


A lot of work, more than most know............You need to take a week off the web and decompress.

Bill S.

[Blitzboy54]

So I logged in and found my build threads but only less than half of it is there (maybe the first page or two). I am getting kind of stressed out about it. I spent a LOT of time building and maintaining them (like hours a week over years). Is there more to come? I don't see a page 2 it just stops.

Would there be a way perhaps to let individuals import their threads over? I can see how migrating all this data can be a lot. I just want to say the build thread a HUGE part of why I do this. Like I am getting anxious, really really anxious.

Sorry, I realize this is free and your only one person. I appreciate what is happening here but I can't lose my builds.

[Papa]

So I logged in and found my build threads but only less than half of it is there (maybe the first page or two). I am getting kind of stressed out about it. I spent a LOT of time building and maintaining them (like hours a week over years). Is there more to come? I don't see a page 2 it just stops.

Would there be a way perhaps to let individuals import their threads over? I can see how migrating all this data can be a lot. I just want to say the build thread a HUGE part of why I do this. Like I am getting anxious, really really anxious.

Sorry, I realize this is free and your only one person. I appreciate what is happening here but I can't lose my builds.

Jesse,

I'm seeing all your build threads on the new site and they look pretty complete to me with hundreds of posts over multiple pages each.

Dave

[Blitzboy54]

Jesse,

I'm seeing all your build threads on the new site and they look pretty complete to me with hundreds of posts over multiple pages each.

Dave

Papa, you are right. Thank you! I didn't see that the page selector under the first post (or what would have been your first post on this forum). I feel better lol. I didn't really think about how connected I am to this forum before this process started. I spend more time with all you guys than my actual friends

Question is should I now update both sites? I would assume the migration happened once and it is up to us to update it from here. Speaking of which how long do you think both sites will exist before fully migrating to the new version?

[Papa]

Papa, you are right. Thank you! I didn't see that the page selector under the first post (or what would have been your first post on this forum). I feel better lol. I didn't really think about how connected I am to this forum before this process started. I spend more time with all you guys than my actual friends

Question is should I now update both sites? I would assume the migration happened once and it is up to us to update it from here. Speaking of which how long do you think both sites will exist before fully migrating to the new version?

I'll defer to Dave Hodgkins, but my understanding is that this site will become read-only at some point and there likely won't be any more migration of data than what's already been done. I am now using the new site for all build thread/log activity on my Coupe build. My last post in my thread on this site is a link to the new site Build Log.

[peterh226]

We all appreciate your efforts. I'm like several others; I've been in the middle of migration and software projects. Your first migration should not be your production migration! You have time, we are in no hurry, and you have time to really determine the users and the requirements for today's audience.

Take your time.
Get Feedback.
Iterate on the solution.
Then role is all out.
You've got a team of people that will be happy to help.

Good luck!

[weendoggy]

Not spending a lot of time, but not user friendly for me. Click on Forums at the top and you get just recent posts. Then you have to scroll down to past Build Logs, POM"s, etc. (rather large real estate) and click Forums again (faintly highlighted icon) to get the "other" forums. Seems most of the attention is on Build Logs/POM's, which is the first thing I see, along with Vendors (which should be there) supporting. The subtle icons for the Latest Forum Activity, Site Activity and Forums should be a little more "proud" for attention getting. The post listing is blah to me with just regular font color. Maybe it's the older forum "bling" that has me spoiled, but it's not up to me. I know you'll work out the bugs and I'll get used to the new version. I haven't been able to make my selection for recent posts stay beyond the 10 per page. Another extra step. jmo

[Skuzzy]

One of the things I just realized; I have many shortcuts in my browser to threads I use for reference. I hope the URL stays the same for this forum and the new forum gets a new URL or I will lose those links.

[THUNDERSTRUCK]

how do you get to new site just starting and would like my build thread all there

[Blitzboy54]

how do you get to new site just starting and would like my build thread all there

https://thefactoryfiveforum-bkhxambg...ild-logs/14958

My work computer blocks the new URL. Bummer, I waist a lot of time at work over here. lol

[Railroad]

I would guess about 44", LOL

[Skuzzy]

https://thefactoryfiveforum-bkhxambg...ild-logs/14958

My work computer blocks the new URL. Bummer, I waist a lot of time at work over here. lol

As I understand it, this new URL is just temporary until the site goes live.

[Papa]

I've been playing with the new platform quite a bit and I'm really liking how easy it is to work with. I converted my build thread that was imported to the "Timeline" format and like how this format keeps the discussion organized. I've posted a couple of new entries and the simplicity of creating posts with images is very nice. Dave added Rich Text Editing, so now I just type my text and drag and drop an image where I want it to appear and that's it. Dave is also working on a lot of little details as well as some infrastructure items like backups, etc..

Dave

[David Hodgkins]

Thank You Papa for volunteering to take a look around and give feedback!

The site is almost ready. There is some infrastructure hardening to do and I'd like to patch the last weeks worth of data but everything else is there.

Barring major hurdles, I'm planning on switching over Thursday. Last major piece of work is rout mapping. I'd like to make it so those with saved links don't lose those.



I am not bringing over PMs. They will be accessible here read only.

[gbranham]

Thanks so much for grinding on this, David. As you might remember, I also work in IT (have for 30 years), so I can appreciate the work that goes into this. And thanks so much for preserving our build threads. As an aside, I see you're 'open for work' on LinkedIn. Maybe we should talk. I recently assumed the role as Head of IT for one of the nation's bigger law firms.

Greg

[PNWTim]

Thank You Papa for volunteering to take a look around and give feedback!

The site is almost ready. There is some infrastructure hardening to do and I'd like to patch the last weeks worth of data but everything else is there.

Barring major hurdles, I'm planning on switching over Thursday. Last major piece of work is rout mapping. I'd like to make it so those with saved links don't lose those.



I am not bringing over PMs. They will be accessible here read only.

Hi David - I can't wait to see the finished or mostly finished product! Your comment jogged a thought I had a couple of weeks ago about PMing. Will the new platform allow the same amount of versatility with a PM, i.e. pasting photos and video within the message and a broader range of editing? Looking forward to Thursday.

[David Hodgkins]

Right now pms support images. Video will be supported soon I know the storage will handle it I just left it out on the first iteration