How to create a forum?

cwalter · 24th May 2003, 04:01 PM

???Can any1 offer me any advice about how to create a forum on my webpage. I am not an expert at web design so as simple as possible would be good, or even a link to a 'how to' would be good

Thanks

Chris 8)

red-defender · 24th May 2003, 07:21 PM

Forums using php/MySQL are relatively easy to set up these days, as in most cases there is a simple install procedure to follow. This forum runs on Yabb SE which you will find at www.yabbse.org but I prefer phpBB wich is at www.phpbb.com and is really easy to set up.

There are plenty of others out there which people here use, such as Invision. In most cases you do not need to be able to program in php to get a forum to work.

jon · 25th May 2003, 06:28 AM

Hi Chris,

www.phpbb.com is really easy to install and packed full of features. I had one up on UH the other day in about 10 minutes.

If you need a hand give me a shout.

Jon

Petestack · 26th May 2003, 12:02 AM

[quote author=red-defender link=board=4;threadid=1015;start=0#msg6315 date=1053804074]
This forum runs on Yabb SE which you will find at www.yabbse.org but I prefer phpBB wich is at www.phpbb.com and is really easy to set up.[/quote]

Just had to add (as a member of the YaBB SE Support Team) that I prefer YaBB SE, which is really easy to set up!

UH-Matt · 26th May 2003, 02:04 PM

Hi cwalter,

All the forums mentioned above are free and easy to setup.

Mostly you just need to upload all the files to your webspace and run an install script which they come with.

It will ask you a couple of questions and install the forum for you.

goodyear · 26th May 2003, 04:27 PM

I have just installed a phpBB2 form today, and it went without a hitch. Took about half an hour from download to set-up complete.

And I've never done this before.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to skin it!

Goodyear

jon · 26th May 2003, 08:52 PM

Changing the design takes a little more time but is just as easy. It's actually a very customisable forum. (I too have only just started using it).

There's plenty of information on their site about doing this.

I've just spent the whole of today converting a snitz forum (that used MS SQL) to phpBB (MySQL). Not an easy task, but finally successful!

Regards,

Jon

void · 26th May 2003, 08:52 PM

[quote author=goodyear link=board=4;threadid=1015;start=0#msg6354 date=1053966439]
I have just installed a phpBB2 form today, and it went without a hitch. Took about half an hour from download to set-up complete.

And I've never done this before.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to skin it!

Goodyear
[/quote]

a good way is to examine an already made theme (skin).

Also there are mods (go through phpbb downloads and mods section on the forum) available to replace logo and add custom headers. I usually just modify existing default theme [it is easy so there is no need to install unnecessary mods]

examine this file (it is the header file that contains the logo. usually you would want to add your site's header there [menu, logo and etc]):
[forum_dir]/templates/subSilver/overall_header.tpl

if you are just starting with phpbb then my advice is to browse through the themes and find one you like (i.e. colours and graphics). install it and modify it:

[forum_dir]/templates/[theme_you_chose]/overall_header.tpl

goodyear · 26th May 2003, 10:15 PM

Yeah.

I'm not expecting it to be difficult, just time-consuming with a lot of trial and error.

It's not using a WYSIWYG editor that scares me ;D I've no trouble with hand-coding (ie I know what I'm doing), but I design better with DWMX!

kislam · 28th May 2003, 01:22 AM

invision board..!!

try it its free.

kt28 · 28th May 2003, 02:45 PM

[quote author=kislam link=board=4;threadid=1015;start=0#msg6405 date=1054084946]
invision board..!!

try it its free.
[/quote]

i second that... ;D they're releasing a newer version of it soon in June, version 1.2 more info here: http://forums.invisionpower.com/inde...howtopic=64841

Devintown · 7th May 2009, 02:55 PM

I have a Forumotion forum. All I did was use a skin, off of hitskinz. I was able to customize it a lot easier. I found this method easier than starting from scratch.

Nicky · 28th August 2009, 06:32 PM

Simple Machines LLC have my vote. Easy to install, admin and upgrade as-and-when. It's not so much creating a forum that's time-consuming, it's controlling the spam. I use Stop Forum Spam - Forum Banlist as a reference if I am in any doubt (and many thanks to them and their contributors for maintaining their website and database).

m_c · 8th September 2009, 05:36 PM

SMF(Simple Machines Forum) gets my vote - Home of SMF: Free PHP and MySQL forum software

I run numerous sites using SMF as a base, and compared with phpBB I find it far simpler/easier to use.
I also run a vBulletin site, but unless you need the extra features/complexity (the complexity can be a real problem when trying to change settings), I wouldn't recommend it.
In fact, I'd much rather customise SMF if I was to rebuild the site.

johnmark2 · 8th April 2010, 07:53 AM

I suggest punbb its a very nice php forum (opensource) PunBB and may be you can go to SourceForge.net: Find and Develop Open Source Software there i think you can find the Usebb, phpbb, Bmforum they are all good you can just select them.

Vger · 8th April 2010, 04:12 PM

Forums are okay if:

1. You have a large user base, and
2. They are active on the forums, and
3. You moderate the forums every day, several times a day.

If not then you're better off with a Blog.

Vger

John23 · 26th May 2010, 10:37 AM

You can try forumation.com to create your own forum.