How often do you upgrade?

[North Auckland]

I used to pay a web guy to install and upgrade my vBulletin but now I am broke so I have for the first time uploaded and installed vBulletin 3.7 and a dozen or so modifications too. All went well :)

Now that I have installed 3.7 and got everything working sweat I see that 3.8 beta is out :confused:

So my question is "How often do you upgrade?"

Also when you do an upgrade do you have to re-install all the modification and template changes again?

Many thanks

[1996 328ti]

I upgrade with every gold version.
Templates need to be reverted and edited.
I have a comment at the top of each template that needs to be edited so I don't forget.

None of my plugins require any changes to php files.
YMMV.

[North Auckland]

I upgrade with every gold version.
Is that something like vBulletin 3 or vBulletin 4 without the 3.7.3 or 4.6.3 kind of thing?



Templates need to be reverted and edited.
I have a comment at the top of each template that needs to be edited so I don't forget. I have created a new Style which as modified templates (because of plugin's) can I keep these?


None of my plugins require any changes to php files.
YMMV.
For example: I have the Arcade plugin which adds a php file to the forum directory will I have to re-install this or does the upgrade kind of merge with the old one?

Sorry for the dumb questions but like I said I am very new to this thing :o

Thanks

[Lenni]

I upgrade always to the newest version and newest version no.

[1996 328ti]

Is that something like vBulletin 3 or vBulletin 4 without the 3.7.3 or 4.6.3 kind of thing?
What I mean is I generally don't install betas. I'll update 3.7.0, 3.7.1 and subsequent patches in between.


I have created a new Style which as modified templates (because of plugin's) can I keep these?You can keep them but you may loose some functionality of the latest release.

For example: I have the Arcade plugin which adds a php file to the forum directory will I have to re-install this or does the upgrade kind of merge with the old one?You would not need to reinstall that file. Some addons require editing of vB files. But check to be sure the plugin is still compatible with the latest version.


Sorry for the dumb questions but like I said I am very new to this thing :o

ThanksI just hope I didn't give any dumb answers. :)

[cheat-master30]

I upgrade pretty much with every single version, gold, release candidate, beta, alpha, etc. It's not always massively conveniant because of the amount of styles used and quite a few template edits, but hey, I like new features and providing users on my forum with new features whenever available. And most modifications don't need a reinstall, only some of the template changes, since most use the product/plugin system and external files.

[NegativeSmoke]

For the most part, I stay away from Betas, I'll update from gold to gold, meaning 3.7.0-3.7.3-3.8.0-4.0.0

I add the patches inbetween, I haven't upgraded my forums, only patched, since 3.7.3 was released. Prior to that i've used: 3.7.2,3.7.1,3.7.0,3.6.10(skipped .11 cuz by the time that was out, so was 3.7.0), 3.6.9.

I update every version number unless it's alpha, beta or RC.

[North Auckland]

Many thanks for replies :)

No dumb answers there either just me being thick :o

[North Auckland]

OK here's another stupid question which will have a real simple answer I am sure :o

Why bother going through the 'upgrade' route?

Would it not be as simple to backup your database, uninstall vBulletin from your server, re-install a fresh up to date vBulletin and then restore your database?

[Dilly]

No. It doesn't work like that. The upgrade script makes the required changes to the database.

If you were to take your route, you would still be using an unchanged database, and it would not function until you ran the upgrade script.

[North Auckland]

No. It doesn't work like that. The upgrade script makes the required changes to the database.

If you were to take your route, you would still be using an unchanged database, and it would not function until you ran the upgrade script.

See I knew it would be a simple answer ;)

Many thanks Dilly :)

[Mazinger]

Usually when I decides to create a new style and start from the default templates. I upgrade to the latest stable.

[MRGTB]

Usually when I decides to create a new style and start from the default templates. I upgrade to the latest stable.

That's fine while it's lasts, but sooner or later another new version WILL come out, which means your then in the same boat as the rest.

And that's the problem, I used to enjoy making edits and getting the forum exactly how I wanted it. But in the back of my mind I always knew it would cause major headaches when upgrade time came around. So much so - in the end I just gave up!

And the problem is, you just can't ignore the upgrades. For example, I read posts where people are having hacking problems with certain earlier versions of vbulletin used, or bot problems. And these are fixed in later versions. But most likely, they have hacked there board to death that much. They don't even remember what they have to un-do to upgrade anymore.