vbulletin: Run an Invision

[Forum Dude]

Some qestions I had, to see if I should convert..

1. Are old version still able to be used?
2. Are any versions currently free, but are more powerful than an InvisionFree board that's current?
3. On the Admin Demos, you can't acess SQL query, and something right below it. Why is that, and what do they do?
4. What are the codes for the vbulletin site/forum? I'm trying to start a personal web page/forum type thing.
5. Finally, to host a domain (EX. www.elaugh.com (http://www.elaugh.com)) you need to purchase it? And I mean a domain, totally up to you. And can you do this with vbulletin?

I'm new to vbulletin-like running one-but I am a member of a vb forum and wanted to find these out.

[Floris]

Hello,

1- When you buy a license you currently still get access to download the latest version 2.x, 3.0.x and 3.5.x

2- No, we have no discounted or free versions. The only discount I can offer you is if you purchase multiple licenses at the same time. Our script costs money because it is written by professional developers for professional web site owners. That's what makes it so powerful.

3- This is done to prevent hackers to try and abuse the system. When you are the owner of your own license you will have full access to all the features and options of the software.

4- What codes are you referring to? vBulletin is written in PHP - www.php.net and stores the data in a MySQL database - www.mysql.com

5- Yes, we only offer the bulletin board system software we call vBulletin. We currently do not offer domain name registration or hosting solution services. You can use any domain you want with vBulletin license. You can also change it at any point. Upon purchase a domain name is not required. No, you can not register a domain with vBulletin.

Welcome to the vB community and using the admin demo and our pre-sales forum should give you a pretty good impression how it will work on your own web site. Adding a community to your personal web site is a great way for your visitors to give you feedback and to communicate with you. vBulletin is the solution you're looking for if you want your own forum.

[Forum Dude]

4- What codes are you referring to? vBulletin is written in PHP - www.php.net (http://www.php.net) and stores the data in a MySQL database - www.mysql.com (http://www.mysql.com)
Yeah, I guess that helps. Thanks, And one more question. I was thinking on creating a forum, as powerful as possible, but for personal use. I was partly hoping to use vBulletin as a beginning start, Since I have minimal experience in web making. But I would only be able to do that, legally, by getting a License? I'm, well young compared to others here, and liek broke. But getting a license would be the only way?

[KingSpade]

You will only be able to use the software once it is purchased, it is not offered free of charge to anyone or at a discounted rate to anyone beyond those that purchase multiple licenses (this includes viewing the source of the software, or otherwise editing it).

If you wish to use the software, you will need to process your order like the rest of us :).

[Forum Dude]

Yeah, I kind-of figured. And a few final questions, before I make up my mind. Getting it from someone else is illegal, correct? And, is there like a list of servers that have never been used? And, one license equals one board, so if you buy one license you may only have one board?

[Steve Machol]

1. The only legal way to get vBulletin is to purchase it directly from us, or have a legal license transferred to you by the legitimate owner.

2. Each license is good for one installation of vBulletin, i.e., one set of vB files on one domain with one set of vB database tables. As per the license agreement:

"vBulletin license grants you the right to run one instance (a single installation) of the Software on one web server and one web site for each license purchased. Each license may power one instance of the Software on one domain. For each installed instance of the Software, a separate license is required. Modifications to the software or database to circumvent the one-license-one-board rule are prohibited."

You can view the license agreement here:

http://www.vbulletin.com/order/license_agreement.php

[Forum Dude]

Thanks for the link. And finally, hopeing that this will be answered, Copying, editing, running the software is against the law, unless the edits are completely re-done?

[ManagerJosh]

What exactly do you mean by "Cutting, editing, running the software"?

[Forum Dude]

What exactly do you mean by "Cutting, editing, running the software"?
1. Coping-not cutting

2. I mean like..
-Copy the php
-Edit it for your own ideas for your forum
-Using it afterwards

[ManagerJosh]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that you just because you buy a vBulletin license, the license does not grant you exclusive rights to use the code for another platform other than vBulletin here.

I might be wrong.

[Steve Machol]

You cannot use vB code - modified or not - in other applications.

[Sovereign]

You could modify vB and build another app on top of it (vBAdvanced CMPS is an example. www.vbadvanced.com) Note the other app was built ON TOP of vB, not vB being twisted into something else. And with plugins it's easier than ever to make vB totally the way you want it.

[whitetigergrowl]

Man did I misunderstand the title to this thread..lol

[Floris]

As a licensed owner you are free to edit the source code to your needs of your running instance. But you can't rebrand the software or rewrite it and sell it as if it is your own.

[Forum Dude]

Yeah, ok. Wondering on that thought. And one more final question. WHat codes are used on the baords? I mean likea code to allow someone to post, a smily code, etc. NOt the actual writing, but how many and what types? I know there's the welcome code, but like what others?

[ManagerJosh]

I'm not sure what do you mean by code.... could you clarify? Like text code or do you mean physical php code?

[Forum Dude]

Well, not actual php code, unless I can get it without going illegal, but like..

________________________________
Welcome, Forum Dude.
You last visited: Yesterday at 8:35pm
Private Messages: Unread 0, Total 2.
_______________________________

I know that's a php code, and what others are there, that's what I mean.

[ManagerJosh]

I think you mean forum layout right?

[Forum Dude]

Yeah, I believe so.

[ManagerJosh]

well if it is HTML, there really isn't a set HTML. Basically smilies are set by whatever you want them to be.

So :) becomes :) and so forth. You can set them to whatever you want.

[Forum Dude]

Yeah, but the like Forum layout, what parts are set by PHP? That's what i was getting at.-

[Zachery]

Nothing but some debug code that only ever shows in debug mode is hard coded into the files.

[mykuhl]

If by code you mean stuff to make bold or italicised text, vbulletin uses bb code.

[Forum Dude]

I feel lost....
PHP Coding...
What is used to make a forum, in basic. vBulletin uses what exactly? No, not the specific code to show everything. I mean the codes as in like the code to make a forum showing, make the Wlecome bo...
Nevermind, I guess this can be locked.

EDIT: Actually, does anybody know how to like search for boards that haven't been used in a while, search the latest activity of boards?

[Zachery]

vBulletin is writen in php, and mysql.

[Forum Dude]

FIne, FIne FIne....Here's what I do know...
-vBulletin: Written in PHP, Stored in MySQL
-Illegal: COpying from someone else
-Legal: Buying A License
-Some Stuff are BBC Codes
-Permissions are set, and limited capability of a query or such

I run an InvisionFree forum, adn have read about vBulletin, which parked my intrest, one of the few reason considering...

What I want to know...
-How many PHP Codes were used to make the vBulletin Forum
-What codes are they? (EX. Welcome Box, User CP/Bar at top)
-Is it possible to view boards that aren't active?
-Is there a specific code to make a message board have a category/forum?

[Zachery]

PHP is a programing language.
BB CODE (not BBC code) are tags like
vBulletin is written in php as in the language, so is invision, and invision free, if you want to learn to more about php, you can do so at www.php.net (http://www.php.net)

To add another forum you'd use the forum manager.

http://www.vbulletin.com/admindemo I highly suggest you try it out, because I think you are confused on a few things.

[Forum Dude]

Yeah, not to sound rude, this is really just stuff I want to know out of courisity.

-How many PHP Codes were used to make the vBulletin Forum
-What codes are they? (EX. Welcome Box, User CP/Bar at top)
-Is it possible to view boards that aren't active?
-Is there a PHP code to make/have a forum?

O, and I have used the Demo multiple times. If you can't answer these straight forward, because they are like unable to be answered that way, then please say so.

[Zachery]

Thousands and thousands of lines
There is no specific "codes" we wrote many of our own functions to do lots of things. THe welcome box and usercp bar, is a mix of php code executed and html code to display it.
I don't understand.
I don't understand

Did you TRY my suggestion of making an admin demo and looking at the software though an administrators view first hand?

[Forum Dude]

Yes, I looked throughout the Admin CP, but that's not my first ime. Maybe my 4th...

-Can I vew Boards that haven't had activity in over X time Period? Like a list of all the boards made, such as a vBulletin Directory.

-You Answered, so no specific codes that any board creator(VB, Invision, IF) has to have to make a board? As you stated though, thousands of them, correct?

[Zachery]

I don't think you are understanding how programing works.


<?php

echo hello world;
?>

that is a php program, albeit small, it is a php program.

vBulletin, like other php applications is programed in php, we create functions though php functions, that allows us to write our own code.

There is no php codes to write this, or that.

If you've never worked with a php application before I suggest looking at a php forum package like phpBB so you can see how things might work. But phpBB is not programed in the same manner that vBulletin is, but it does use php.

[Steve Machol]

Forgive me, but you sound like you want us to tell you how to code your own BB system. And that ain't gonna happen. :)

Are you seriously considering purchasing a license for vB? If so, what exactly do you need to know in order to make up your mind?

[Forum Dude]

Forgive me, but you sound like you want us to tell you how to code your own BB system. And that ain't gonna happen. :)

Are you seriously considering purchasing a license for vB? If so, what exactly do you need to know in order to make up your mind?
-Not really, but I guess I Do sound like it.
-I still am thinking about it. The things that vBulletin offer, that InvisionFree Doesn't. And still, wondering does vBulletin have a Directory of all it's boards?

[Zachery]

No, we don not have a directory of "all" of our forums, some people may wish to remain anonmoyous.

You can vew the active directory though, http://www.vbulletin.com/links

[Forum Dude]

Thanks, and one final, hopefully, thing before I make up my mind.
What features does vBulletin hav that InvisionFree doesn't? Not the lists, but like in the Admin CP, and the forum itself. Featurs that make vBulletin the better of the two. Like a Welcome Box, etc.

[feldon23]

Welcome Box is not a built in feature of InvisionFree or vBulletin so why even bring it up? If you want this feature in vBulletin, you can add it in 5 minutes by downloading a Plug-in. There are many Plugins which give you capabilities not included in the product.

InvisionFree is dead-end, unsupported software that is no longer developed. It's also a 'hosted' forum which means you do not have access to the source code and not modify the inner workings of the forum at all. You cannot install Plugins or other code modifications. I would imagine that there are many limitations to how you can change the appearance of the forum as well.

vBulletin has a robust Plugin and Template system which allow you to change 99% of the HTML, translate everything into other languages, and non-destructively modify PHP code in over 500 places throughout the code. vBulletin has hundreds if not thousands of features that InvisionFree does not have. That's what you get when you buy software.

Please actually login to the admin demo at vBulletin, create a forum, and use the AdminCP. It sounds like you are glancing at it and trying to make a determination by reading the names of the buttons. You can't judge it until you actually use it.

Also, I get the impression that you are alluding to wanting to host forums. In other words you want users to be able to sign up on your website and create their own forum. This is strictly against the license agreement/usage policies of Invision Power Board, vBulletin, and most other forum software in this price range. If you want that functionality, you're looking at some kind of site license which would cost thousands. Jelsoft/vBulletin offers no such site license for sale (yet).

[Forum Dude]

Well, thanks for the post. It's exactly what I'm looking for. No, I don't want people to be able to make their own forum, like nobody visits my forum, and it's only for like kids. I came here to see if at one point, should i transfer over o a vBulletin form so that members would have more acess and options, instead of just the ones I set for them.And I have looked through the Admin Demo. Whenever I go into it, I browse throughtout the pages, few at a time. Though, I'll spend an Hour+ looking at it if that makes me seem smarter when I post about questions.

[Floris]

Guys, with the code he means features.

vBulletin has a lot of features, .. that's why we offer the admin demo so you can take a look and try out the features.

A handful of features:
* quick reply box
* wysiyg editor
* threaded view
* user control panel
* admin control panel
* calendar
* faq + faq manager
* contact members (email/pm/im)
* etc etc.

[Forum Dude]

Guys, with the code he means features.

vBulletin has a lot of features, .. that's why we offer the admin demo so you can take a look and try out the features.

A handful of features:
* quick reply box
* wysiyg editor
* threaded view
* user control panel
* admin control panel
* calendar
* faq + faq manager
* contact members (email/pm/im)
* etc etc.
Yeah, partly What I want. What featuers though make vBulletin stand out with phpbb/Invision/others. I'm guessing mainly the ability to fully edit the board to personal preferences?

[Floris]

They all stand out. They are fully implemented, enhanced, come with global and end-user options. Are balanced against performance, and optimized to run well and to be secure. And come with forum and/or usergroup permissions if needed.

If you want a forum: Buy vBulletin.
If you want to write a new forum: Do the R&D yourself on a whiteboard and come up with some innovating ideas.

Good luck with whatever choice you make.