Suggested Features

OverDriveAdamJ · August 8, 2006

I would LOVE to see the following added.
I feel like IPB is falling behind in some ways.

You know, you really ought to bring back the ModeratorCP to like /modcp/ or modcp.php or mod.php or index.php?act=modcp. And it should include all of the moderation tools including announcements, thread pruning, unapproved posts, warned posts, hidden posts, posts that have warnings (clicking on post/topic shows warnings given in popup). Without removing the inline moderation.
Announcements should be controlled in the AdminCP too, not in the bottom off the stupid user profile. I've always found that placement very odd and confusing because it's really such an administrative function. I'd be curious to know why developers put it there in the first place.
Admins should be able to edit everything about a members profile like in vBulletin and PhpBB Olympus. Even dates just for the sheer fact you would have the control over your forums. In vBulletin you can even change users forum settings and that has its uses if a user is having trouble and you decide to just reset the value of the problematic setting.
The ability to use any variable in the software at any time in the forum skins. I'm talking gaps like the users age calculated by subtracting current year date('Y') from bday_year in ibf_members, any sort of forum setting the user may have should be able to be called throughout the skins.
A karma system of some sort that perhaps could be interchangable with the warning system. An either/or switch, or maybe both. I find that a karma system is sometimes far more useful than a postcount metric. i.e. AntiOnline.com (one of the originals, if not *THE* original forum karma system). Or simply similar to vBulletin / PhpBB Olympus.
The modules system is great but there is no error mode where if a plugin goes KABOOM! There's no way to just globally turn off plugins. Sometimes a plugin may be installed to the AdminCP itself, i.e. PM logging and if that doesn't work then sometimes entire sections of the ACP won't load and how is one to fix that? Perhaps a variable that is commented out by default in the configuration php file that disables all plugins and modules and components. That would be EXTREMELY useful.
The ability for modules to insert code into any section of the forum software. It would be cool if they even inserted segments into the skins to cut down on skin edits. This would have to come with a set of unified classes that skin developers used to ensure that their skins adapted to new plugins/modules/component. For example everyone uses a specific skin variable for the main header image, etc... I dont know if this already exists and perhaps it does and is just very underused. But you have such a wonderful components system it would be cool to see things decentralized so that you could turn off entire segments of the forums like the calendar or personal messenger, and then when the component/plugin/module is activated it would show its menu additions in the proper sections of the ACP. For example, the components I've seen are only capable of adding menu items/categories in the components section of the ACP. I realize this one especially is outlandish, but I'd like to build on it if others had ideas.
Currently when you set a user as a staff user group such as moderators, super moderators or administrators and they can act like the staff member (duck), walk like the staff member (duck), use all the powers of the staff member (duck), they do not have the user image of the staff group. I realize that this is by design as stated by Stewart Campbell but I would like to see a checkbox to override that user image.
Error messages have got to go. The way they are is just a nuisance. The "you have no access to such and such" pages. Be gone with the "This menu has been disabled" and the rough appearance of the errors. "Useful Links" are way at the bottom and therefore not useful in the least. They are seperated from the error page and do not lend themselves to the user. Less tables, more text. Explain they dont have access to a section of the site, name the section of the site, and then list common ways that this error is encountered / avoided. And right below that, then you can place your error page login form, but it should use the standard login form (i'll rant on that later). Get rid of the "Board Error" and make it more personalized to the site. Replace "Board" with the site name. Redo the skin style for the error pages. Get rid of the table row after table row/dividers. It takes FAR TOO MUCH scrolling to get to the point of an error page. There are far too many different error pages. Opt instead for a unified error page that can be edited via the skins. And make it much more user friendly. As it stands it is just very ungainly and unfriendly. Other forum systems I have seen have made it even seem inviting, which would be a good thing for an error message.
Get rid of the multiple login forms and use one single login form. The login form you throw into the forum is turned off, there is another login form you use for "you dont have access" -- and im sure there is one for each of those you dont have access pages, the index.php?act=Login should be the only one.
An administrative option to remove that redundent login for admin.php. Turn it off by default, that is perfectly fine with me. However, I would like to see an option to use the same exact session that the main forums use. And expire in the same amount of time. I get so freaking sick of seeing a new login every single time I open it when my main user session is still in tact. Perhaps even merge the authentication systems. I dont know. I just would like to see the option to use the same sessionid.
In general LOTS more admin control panel options.

OverDriveAdamJ · August 8, 2006

More suggestions.

The WYSIWYG editor in the UserCP for signature, etc...
Better birthday options. Allow user to set what information they wish to be displayed. An example would be to allow them to have only their birthyear shown, or not their birthyear and just the month and day, or to show only the age and not their birthyear/month/day.
The ability to limit private messages so that you can ignore PMs coming from people on your ignore list, but naturally excluding administrators. When the PM is ignored the sending user gets notified their PM was not accepted (this should be configurable in the ACP whether a notify is sent back).
Empty Folder links in PM folders with a notification that this is unable to be undone.
Easier ability to download the contents of a PM folder into XML, CSV, Text, and HTML. Admin configurable again as to whether it's enabled and who can access it and what formats they can export.
A reminder system for personal upcoming events in the User CP. Sometimes it can be very difficult to sift through the calendar provided, so a section in the UserCP for your own events that just lists the next 20 or so events regardless of span of timeframe would be very nice. Again configurable in the ACP.
The ability to move the AdminCP to another location without breaking anything. I realize it is merely security by obscurity but in the case of forum software it's running on a remote server and there is no way, barring a systematic DDoS attack whereby they use a pseudorandom character / word generator and then appending *.php to the end of it and executing the HTTP request that they could find the Admin.php file. And it may even be /blahblahblah/index.php for all they know. If you take my suggestion and readd the moderator CP, that also should be afforded the same protection.
The Help section of the forum software has been sorely lacking updates. I've upgraded the forums many many times and I've never seen a tidbit in the upgrade script that a new section of help has been added or that an article updated for clarity. It's very much the same that it was in IPB 1.x.x and that is just pretty unfitting considering how vastly the system has changed.
An admin help section that gets updated in very much the same way as #8. And there should be big obvious links next to all of the settings that explain what they are, how they affect your forums, possible drawbacks to doing it that way, and the proper input method. I know you explain it in a short segment right below the settings title but it just can be very oddly confusing at times and that is disconcerting to some administrators. I'd like to think I know the control panel to IPB very well and I can tell you where almost anything is but I get confused at times and help should be provided. Especially for people who are just starting to use your product or are recently added administrators!
Start using the Lo-Fi Archive mode for what I believed it was originally designed for. Search engines! Give administrators the ability to make search engines view only lofi mode/archive mode so that they are indexing the text and content of your forums posts, and not the images that may one day become out of date as a user edits their attachments or administrators change their emoticons. And the ability so configure this archive version of your forums. What forums get archived and when, and what is shown on this archive. Such as emoticons, or avatars or whatever.
The ability to automatically lock topics that are inactive for a given period of time, say two months. But obviously configurable in the ACP. And do it in a way that you aren't adding replies to the topic, and hence bumping an unnecessary topic to the top of the forums. That would only serve to confuse members, so perhaps just lock the topic and show an alert at the top above where you would usually see "add reply" etc... that this topic has been automatically locked due to its age. Allow the thread starter to reopen the topic if they feel it was prematurely closed or they went on an extended vacation. And have them type a reason why when they reopen it.
When making a new post or reply its nice to have all those options below the post box available, but heavens sake it makes the page SOOOOO LONG. Can we have the javascript minimize option for that so its minimized until I decide that I need that. Configurable in the UserCP, and therefore in the User editing of the ACP. The same for the last 10 posts in the topic when replying. And any other options that have "drop down/raise up" javascript functionality. The ability to set default values for that javascript to minimized/maximized in Board Settings of UserCP.
More options for editing the user profile in the view profile view of the main forums. And the ability for the admin to select what options are shown there for staff below administrative level. Anything extra not chosen to be shown there by the administrator should be editable in the ACP. And then a link to that specific section of the ACP that automatically loads that users profile if the admin should choose to edit it further.
When removing avatars/user images in that area, why not have a link next to "Yes/No" bo to open a popup window with the image in question. Sometimes you simply get sidetracked and then you need to go backwards to see the image in question. Just a more logical flow of events to have the javascript link right there.
The ability to set a maximum value for moderators and super moderators ability to ban/suspend a user. And furthermore the ability to PERMANENTLY suspend a user via a handy link in the AdminCP. And make it available to the super moderators/moderators should the administrator deem it a necessary feature. It would also be nice to have the option to make it a drop down rather than a text field. SO that they have common ban times in a dropdown list that you configure. For example, my forum uses a 14 day suspension, then 28, and so on. So the ability to edit the options available would be wonderful. The same for forced post moderation.
User notes. The ability to add notes to a user without incrementing the warn level or seeing the confusion of the warn panel should be added. Let administration communicate with their forum staff that much more efficiently by having user notes system with timestamps, author information and severity. Highlight severity by changing the background color of that divider cell to red, yellow and blue, green, whatever. Standard cautionary colors. Make the user notes viewable to the user being noted unless the admins choose not to allow the user to view that specific note or no notes at all to the user. If a user is indeed notified by choice of staff, then send that notification as a special PM to the user, and indicate that its special with a different background color notifying its importance in the UserCP and in the PM popup. If its a user note, then ignore their preference for seeing PM popups as it will be a one time notification.

SnowBlower · August 8, 2006

I also have a suggestion to input, it's probably been suggested already but I think it's very important to limit users from guessing passwords and log the ip address and usernames they tried logging into after the 5th failed attempt and prevent them from continuing for a set amount of time.

OverDriveAdamJ · August 8, 2006

I also have a suggestion to input, it's probably been suggested already but I think it's very important to limit users from guessing passwords and log the ip address and usernames they tried logging into after the 5th failed attempt and prevent them from continuing for a set amount of time.

That can be defeated by removing the cookies, but it will stop the common ones. I agree.

Strange_Will · August 8, 2006

That can be defeated by removing the cookies, but it will stop the common ones. I agree.

Use the database to track IPs and lock them out for like 5 minutes.

Mark · August 8, 2006

You know, you really ought to bring back the ModeratorCP to like /modcp/ or modcp.php or mod.php or index.php?act=modcp. And it should include all of the moderation tools including announcements, thread pruning, unapproved posts, warned posts, hidden posts, posts that have warnings (clicking on post/topic shows warnings given in popup). Without removing the inline moderation.

And reported posts :thumbsup: Every mod getting a PM is foolish.

Announcements should be controlled in the AdminCP too, not in the bottom off the stupid user profile. I've always found that placement very odd and confusing because it's really such an administrative function. I'd be curious to know why developers put it there in the first place.

In my opinion - bad idea. What is wrong with the modcp you requested above?

Admins should be able to edit everything about a members profile like in vBulletin and PhpBB Olympus. Even dates just for the sheer fact you would have the control over your forums. In vBulletin you can even change users forum settings and that has its uses if a user is having trouble and you decide to just reset the value of the problematic setting.

+1 - you can in the ACP, why not the actual profile?

The ability to use any variable in the software at any time in the forum skins. I'm talking gaps like the users age calculated by subtracting current year date('Y') from bday_year in ibf_members, any sort of forum setting the user may have should be able to be called throughout the skins.

That would be useful but would take quite a bit to implement, lol. Why not just call it in the template data variables?

A karma system of some sort that perhaps could be interchangable with the warning system. An either/or switch, or maybe both. I find that a karma system is sometimes far more useful than a postcount metric. i.e. AntiOnline.com (one of the originals, if not *THE* original forum karma system). Or simply similar to vBulletin / PhpBB Olympus.

I personally don't like the idea, but seeing as everyone suggests it, maybe IPB should just implement one with a setting in the ACP to turn it off.

The modules system is great but there is no error mode where if a plugin goes KABOOM! There's no way to just globally turn off plugins. Sometimes a plugin may be installed to the AdminCP itself, i.e. PM logging and if that doesn't work then sometimes entire sections of the ACP won't load and how is one to fix that? Perhaps a variable that is commented out by default in the configuration php file that disables all plugins and modules and components. That would be EXTREMELY useful.

Yes there is. Have a look at some of the variables at the top of init.php - one of them disables modules.

The ability for modules to insert code into any section of the forum software. It would be cool if they even inserted segments into the skins to cut down on skin edits. This would have to come with a set of unified classes that skin developers used to ensure that their skins adapted to new plugins/modules/component. For example everyone uses a specific skin variable for the main header image, etc... I dont know if this already exists and perhaps it does and is just very underused. But you have such a wonderful components system it would be cool to see things decentralized so that you could turn off entire segments of the forums like the calendar or personal messenger, and then when the component/plugin/module is activated it would show its menu additions in the proper sections of the ACP. For example, the components I've seen are only capable of adding menu items/categories in the components section of the ACP. I realize this one especially is outlandish, but I'd like to build on it if others had ideas.

This would screw up the code and make it slow and ugly. Though I think I remember an IPSBeyond staff member (I think it was Dan or Digi, though not sure) saying that IPB are doing something like this

Currently when you set a user as a staff user group such as moderators, super moderators or administrators and they can act like the staff member (duck), walk like the staff member (duck), use all the powers of the staff member (duck), they do not have the user image of the staff group. I realize that this is by design as stated by Stewart Campbell but I would like to see a checkbox to override that user image.

I am not sure what you mean but Stewart seems to so it doesn't matter. There is a group image option as well as a secondary user group option which may help with whatever it is you're trying to do

Error messages have got to go. The way they are is just a nuisance. The "you have no access to such and such" pages. Be gone with the "This menu has been disabled" and the rough appearance of the errors. "Useful Links" are way at the bottom and therefore not useful in the least. They are seperated from the error page and do not lend themselves to the user. Less tables, more text. Explain they dont have access to a section of the site, name the section of the site, and then list common ways that this error is encountered / avoided. And right below that, then you can place your error page login form, but it should use the standard login form (i'll rant on that later). Get rid of the "Board Error" and make it more personalized to the site. Replace "Board" with the site name. Redo the skin style for the error pages. Get rid of the table row after table row/dividers. It takes FAR TOO MUCH scrolling to get to the point of an error page. There are far too many different error pages. Opt instead for a unified error page that can be edited via the skins. And make it much more user friendly. As it stands it is just very ungainly and unfriendly. Other forum systems I have seen have made it even seem inviting, which would be a good thing for an error message.

I have heard it said (by Matt I think) 3.0 will have a new error system.

Get rid of the multiple login forms and use one single login form. The login form you throw into the forum is turned off, there is another login form you use for "you dont have access" -- and im sure there is one for each of those you dont have access pages, the index.php?act=Login should be the only one.

I have to say I do use all of them. vBulletin has the quick log in and standard log in. Sometimes you will have your browser store your un and pw so you just have to click "Go" on the quick log in, other times you might click on a topic, then log in using the error pages login to view it, etc.

An administrative option to remove that redundent login for admin.php. Turn it off by default, that is perfectly fine with me. However, I would like to see an option to use the same exact session that the main forums use. And expire in the same amount of time. I get so freaking sick of seeing a new login every single time I open it when my main user session is still in tact. Perhaps even merge the authentication systems. I dont know. I just would like to see the option to use the same sessionid.

That's a HUGE security risk and causes problems for people who do not have cookies enabled as it would have to add another session ID in the URL.

In general LOTS more admin control panel options.

OK, IPS, got that? Good.

The WYSIWYG editor in the UserCP for signature, etc...

It already is. I know in 2.2 it will be in the ACP as well.

Better birthday options. Allow user to set what information they wish to be displayed. An example would be to allow them to have only their birthyear shown, or not their birthyear and just the month and day, or to show only the age and not their birthyear/month/day.

+1

The ability to limit private messages so that you can ignore PMs coming from people on your ignore list, but naturally excluding administrators. When the PM is ignored the sending user gets notified their PM was not accepted (this should be configurable in the ACP whether a notify is sent back).

If it doesn't already exist (which I think it does) +1

Empty Folder links in PM folders with a notification that this is unable to be undone.

+1

Easier ability to download the contents of a PM folder into XML, CSV, Text, and HTML. Admin configurable again as to whether it's enabled and who can access it and what formats they can export.

What do you mean by "easier"?

A reminder system for personal upcoming events in the User CP. Sometimes it can be very difficult to sift through the calendar provided, so a section in the UserCP for your own events that just lists the next 20 or so events regardless of span of timeframe would be very nice. Again configurable in the ACP.

It is at the bottom of the index :thumbsup: though +1 there should be some calendar options in the UCP.

The ability to move the AdminCP to another location without breaking anything. I realize it is merely security by obscurity but in the case of forum software it's running on a remote server and there is no way, barring a systematic DDoS attack whereby they use a pseudorandom character / word generator and then appending *.php to the end of it and executing the HTTP request that they could find the Admin.php file. And it may even be /blahblahblah/index.php for all they know. If you take my suggestion and readd the moderator CP, that also should be afforded the same protection.

There is a very small mod for this, again +1 though

The Help section of the forum software has been sorely lacking updates. I've upgraded the forums many many times and I've never seen a tidbit in the upgrade script that a new section of help has been added or that an article updated for clarity. It's very much the same that it was in IPB 1.x.x and that is just pretty unfitting considering how vastly the system has changed.

+100000000000000000
And I would like to see "the board administrator may have" removed and replaced with what is actaully going on.

An admin help section that gets updated in very much the same way as #8. And there should be big obvious links next to all of the settings that explain what they are, how they affect your forums, possible drawbacks to doing it that way, and the proper input method. I know you explain it in a short segment right below the settings title but it just can be very oddly confusing at times and that is disconcerting to some administrators. I'd like to think I know the control panel to IPB very well and I can tell you where almost anything is but I get confused at times and help should be provided. Especially for people who are just starting to use your product or are recently added administrators!

It's in 2.2

Start using the Lo-Fi Archive mode for what I believed it was originally designed for. Search engines! Give administrators the ability to make search engines view only lofi mode/archive mode so that they are indexing the text and content of your forums posts, and not the images that may one day become out of date as a user edits their attachments or administrators change their emoticons. And the ability so configure this archive version of your forums. What forums get archived and when, and what is shown on this archive. Such as emoticons, or avatars or whatever.

I disagree, I like search engines to grab my actual; forums. Perhaps you would be interested in the friendly URL mod which I made available on IPSBeyond, this makes your forums just as search friendly as your lo-fi, AND google won't like it being treated differently to standard guests and only allowed to see the lo-fi.

The ability to automatically lock topics that are inactive for a given period of time, say two months. But obviously configurable in the ACP. And do it in a way that you aren't adding replies to the topic, and hence bumping an unnecessary topic to the top of the forums. That would only serve to confuse members, so perhaps just lock the topic and show an alert at the top above where you would usually see "add reply" etc... that this topic has been automatically locked due to its age. Allow the thread starter to reopen the topic if they feel it was prematurely closed or they went on an extended vacation. And have them type a reason why when they reopen it.

+1

I also have a suggestion to input, it's probably been suggested already but I think it's very important to limit users from guessing passwords and log the ip address and usernames they tried logging into after the 5th failed attempt and prevent them from continuing for a set amount of time.

I believe this is also in 2.2

OverDriveAdamJ · August 8, 2006

Use the database to track IPs and lock them out for like 5 minutes.

Yes, that is a very good solution. And set the time of limiting in the AdminCP. Default of say 30 minutes.

Professor Piggy, Since the number of quotes is so limited. I'll use a new format. To all of the, "coming in 2.2, 3.0, etc...: Yah, all they usually ever say is "Oh, that's a 3.0 feature....but when they were saying that with 1.x.x the feature didn't arrive until late 2.1 development cycle. Sometimes it is just a "I don't wish to deal with it so I will push it back 3 versions which translates into a year plus. Meanwhile the slowest developed software on the planet (PhpBB) even has it working and stable.

To my statement: Currently when you set a user as a staff user group such as moderators, super moderators or administrators and they can act like the staff member (duck), walk like the staff member (duck), use all the powers of the staff member (duck), they do not have the user image of the staff group. I realize that this is by design as stated by Stewart Campbell but I would like to see a checkbox to override that user image. You said: I am not sure what you mean but Stewart seems to so it doesn't matter. There is a group image option as well as a secondary user group option which may help with whatever it is you're My reply: Because when you user the secondary user groups they dont get the user image. And there should be a checkbox to give them said user image.

To my statement: Get rid of the multiple login forms and use one single login form. The login form you throw into the forum is turned off, there is another login form you use for "you dont have access" -- and im sure there is one for each of those you dont have access pages, the index.php?act=Login should be the only one. You said: I have to say I do use all of them. vBulletin has the quick log in and standard log in. Sometimes you will have your browser store your un and pw so you just have to click "Go" on the quick log in, other times you might click on a topic, then log in using the error pages login to view it, etc. My reply: What I am saying is use more consistency... make it easier to use, more useful and informative. It's just broken, broken, broken, broken in IPB. vBulletin has a very well thought out one and even if you do not like the idea of copying them, it's worthy of study.

To my statement: An administrative option to remove that redundent login for admin.php. Turn it off by default, that is perfectly fine with me. However, I would like to see an option to use the same exact session that the main forums use. And expire in the same amount of time. I get so freaking sick of seeing a new login every single time I open it when my main user session is still in tact. Perhaps even merge the authentication systems. I dont know. I just would like to see the option to use the same sessionid.You said: That's a HUGE security risk and causes problems for people who do not have cookies enabled as it would have to add another session ID in the URL. My reply: That is why I suggested it be admin configurable on whether or not they want it on. Users like me who have excessively long passwords that are pseudo randomly generated and contain ALpHaNuMeRiC 1234567890 pRoPeRtIeS for EXTRA zing and resilliance to MD5 brute force cracking and in general tedious process of a user trying to guess it would surely enjoy the option.

To my statement: In general LOTS more admin control panel options. You said: OK, IPS, got that? Good. My reply: It really doesn't. IPS has the far superior laid out ACP. It's very nicely designed but it lacks the oomph and configurability of their competition now. They have a wonderful ACP and its very well designed and the framework appears to be rock solid now, why not start adding features to it. They're sorely needed. More than half of what I've suggested is missing admin features that even PhpBB Olympus have now.

To my statement: Easier ability to download the contents of a PM folder into XML, CSV, Text, and HTML. Admin configurable again as to whether it's enabled and who can access it and what formats they can export. You said: What do you mean by "easier"? My reply: It's obscure to say the least.

To my statement: Start using the Lo-Fi Archive mode for what I believed it was originally designed for. Search engines! Give administrators the ability to make search engines view only lofi mode/archive mode so that they are indexing the text and content of your forums posts, and not the images that may one day become out of date as a user edits their attachments or administrators change their emoticons. And the ability so configure this archive version of your forums. What forums get archived and when, and what is shown on this archive. Such as emoticons, or avatars or whatever.You said: I disagree, I like search engines to grab my actual; forums. Perhaps you would be interested in the friendly URL mod which I made available on IPSBeyond, this makes your forums just as search friendly as your lo-fi, AND google won't like it being treated differently to standard guests and only allowed to see the lo-fi. My reply: Yah, I see what you mean with google penalties but it needs to be much more configurable and there are definetly many improvements that can be made. If it no longer serves the purpose for search engines what exactly is it doing and accomplishing in the forum software? Does anyone have any real use for it? I was suggesting giving it it's original use back.

Dlf · August 8, 2006

Wow your as good as me, of thinking of ideas. I can sometimes think of ideas, very quickly, and sometimes I can think of lots of ideas, see other topics (made by made), in this forum. Oh and you think PHPBB is slow? They have a "working" beta of their software (3), unlike Zetaboards (InvisionFree), no shots, nothing of it, except some 'features' (have to know where to look), and a "graphic" (banner). That's it. And that's been in devlopment for 2+ years:

About 2-2.5 years.

- Brandon, the "only" coder of the software.

OverDriveAdamJ · August 8, 2006

Wow your as good as me, of thinking of ideas. I can sometimes think of ideas, very quickly, and sometimes I can think of
lots
of ideas, see other topics (made by made), in this forum.

And if IPB hadn't deleted the posts just before they went Free --> Corporate you'd see that A LOT of the topics that others made where I replied to tremendously with feedback and additions, but the culture at IPS seems different. A lot of features merely get brushed aside because "well, we're IPS!" while at other places they will investigate it or the modding community releases something in a couple days. Perhaps vBulletin is a tad more friendly codewise to modification. I don't know. But I love IPB and I want to see it succeed but it's falling behind in this past year.

ANOTHER feature suggestion: Finanlly, please, once and for all fix that javascript bug in the post editor where you see ZERO indication of where the cursor is in Firefox. I don't use Internet Explorer, or Opera so I cannot comment whether it is a bug there too, but it doesn't seem to exist in Safari as far as I can see.

Dlf · August 8, 2006

Since I already posted in here, and it already has suggestions I'll post my "better" ideas.

NOTE - LONG POSTS AHEAD!

Dlf · August 8, 2006

Abilitly to hide forum but not sub-forums, picture should explain better:
Dragable and drop componets, either admin or comp(onets) tab. Both would be fine
Ability to manager TMM (topic-mutli-mod) better, arrange them by 'type' (like pin, pin and close, keep)
1. CLOSED
  - Closed by request
  - Closed because of Violation of rules
  - Closed because {reason} (besides the two above)
2. MOVED
  - Moved by request
  - Moved becasue of violation
  - Moving to correct forum
  - Moved/Moving becase of (reason)
Hidden or not visable categories - Just was on my board and though that without going to the permissions or settings you can't see weather the category is able to be seen (or without going to the board). idea: Some way in the ACP be able to tell on the forum page page (with all the forums/sub forums/categories) be able to tell weather the category/orum/subforum is visable. [or something].
Clickable categories - Like forums and sub forums (etc) it would be nice to be able to click on the categories within the ACP to just deal with them instead of seeing all the others.
XML exportable files - Currently for like manage ban filters you can't export an file (xml I think) to save to your computer. Would it be probabble, nay, possible to do that for some of the thigns we can't currently right now? So we could say upload some where else?
- Manage ban filters
- custom profile management (custom profile fields)
Clickable links:In ACP->MANAGEMENT->PERMISSION MARKS->(GROUP)->EDIT who would like for the forum name (links) to be clickable so you can be taken to that forum in the same window/tab/new window/tab? I would it probably make admining a bit eaier.
"More" topic options (like last post was made by (user)
1. ORDER (OBJECT):
2. ORDER: Last post was made by (member)(s)
3. ORDER: Last poster was {mname}
4. ORDER: Topic Starter is (mname)
5. ORDER: Topic Started (mdate)
6. ORDER: ATTACHMENTS*
7. ORDER: REPLIES (mamount)
8. ORDER: VIEWS (mamount)TOPICS (THING)
9. OPEN &
  - HOT
  - POLL
  - LOCKED
  - MOVED
  - I STARTED
  - I REPLIED TO
10. HOT &
  - POLLS
  - LOCKED
  - MOVED
  - I STARTED
  - I REPLIED TO
11. POLL &
  - LOCKED
  - MOVED
  - I STARTED/REPLIED TO
12. LOCKED &
  - MOVED
  - I STARTED/REPLIED TO
13. MOVED &
  - I STARTED
  - REPLIED TO
Attachment color - JPEG gets rid, BMP, gets yellow (settable in ACP)
Colors in color section chnage of topic (near ~~strike though)~~. This would REALLY help those that ARE color-blind. For example ME! It's not my fault i'm "partialy" color-blind, it would help. And it would make IPB diffrent.
Extra Screen for custom-profile-fields. Normally (right now) it makes the page way to log. Also would it be possible to collpase sections?
Sub Poll options. (do I ned to explain?)
Revert all settings = Has anyone changed lots of settings in the view all general settings in TOOLS & SETTING, and wanted to revert all of them with one or so mouse clicks? Idea: Some way in the categories (when you click VAGS) (or when you click a "category" like topics, posts, and polls) to revert every setting to the default.
More user choose settings = Would anyone think a good idea for the My Controls part of the board would be user can choose settings? Like say the admin turns on (max) 40 posts and topics per forum, yet I want more. (I actually do) with the choose of choosing more settings my self I could.
Basic and Advanced UCP (User Control Panel) = With [these|this] idea there'd be two types of UCP. Basic and Advanced. Basic would be for the new admins, and members, they'd have every settings advanced has except they have a "piciture" to show what the settings does (if possible), more like a guided mode of the UCP. Advanced would be for more advanced users that don't need a "guide".
Mass manage = For admins
- ACP->MANGEMENT->ATTACHEMENTS->ATTACHEMENT STATS
  - Ability to check more than one "image" at a time (so you can "mass" mange them)
- ACP->MANAGEMENT->FORUM CONTROL->MANAGE FORUMS
  - Ability to check forums faster (so you can add forum mods faster, etc)
- ACP->MANAGEMENT->USERS AND GROUPS->CUSTOM PROFILE FIELDS
  - Admin can mass manage them. like they can "mass delete' them, mass edit them, etc
Live HTML (or bbcode) prewview". If you go to various sections within the ACP like ACP->MANGEMENT->CREATE NEW FORUM->FORUM DESCRIPTION it says you can use HTML, but untill you go to the forum you can't see if the HTML does, yes you might know what like: , <STRIKE> {or <s>}, etc does but say you leave a start or end tag (< >) than you'd have to reopen and get to the descrip again. Suggestion: A live preview, or a "error" (above) (message) that says like you have left a (tag) open, would you want the forum to (re)add in the tag so the (tag(s)) work?
Remove ALL redirects from the ACP (setting?). I asked compguy11 (see his forum) to make a mod, it works great.
Ability to remove just changes to like the CSS, HTML templates, etc THAT DAY. So say (for example) I change some of the HTML in like GLOBAL_BOARD_HEADER, all this week (mods) {I am not really} then today, I add something and it "scriews" up the board, insteaad of reverting the entire thing back, I can just have an "undo" option for "today".
Show custom made user groups "apart" from the premade.
More searchable characters ( [ ] &$%@%()%^ ). Topic search, forum (index.php?act=search), or the search on index.
Calendar import - Unless im mistaken right now a admin can not import calendar data into the calendar. With this this feature they can.
Color event based on event - Actually someone else came up with idea but the main thought is say you have a ranged event, those would be (say) blue while one day events would be like green.
From what I can see you can check from the day the forum was made, daily, weekly, monthly and sort up or down. But what about option to see what time of the day (say) topics got the most views? PM's, replies, new accounts? Also what about other graphs lie PIE, CHART, BAR {is that what's used now?}, etc? Wouldn't you want more variation in types of graphs you see?
Register->IP->weekday - This would limit how many times a IP could register per hour (like between 4->6 PM only 10 accounts could be made). Also could be per week day.
After posting... Option picked by each member. Go to forum or go to topic.
Copy Topic. Moderator tool.
More PM notifcations - This would send the admin (if they choose it) to get more PM'S then e-mails. (They couild even be put in a speical folder so the admin doesn't 'skip' over them and delete/not notice them 'accidently')
Visible warning level but the reason is not visible.
Birthday Icon. The calendar displays an icon if there are birthdays for that day. This leaves extra space for actual events.

More in a later post. Sorry for the double+ posting.

Enhanced IP Ban. The current IP ban often blocks good visitors to your board. This new ban will allow you to delete or disable the offending users account and then ban his IP as strictly as needed. Any new registrations that match that IP ban will have to be approved first, thus blocking out the bad user will letting other good people that share the same IP range to still visit
Colored 'who posted'. Usernames have group colors applied.
Log login failures for password protected forums
New Group Promotion Option You can choose to promote a user once they have been registered for x days (instead of basing promtoions off posts which leads to spamming).
Pin PM - Does what it sounds like again, the person can PIN a PM like mods can pin a topic. These "pined' pm's would like topics be above all the others, and no matter how many 'pms' you get they won't disspear
Annoument PM's - Like the mods and admins can do to topics, it would be the same for PM's, admins and mods (if admin allows it) can have 'annoument' pm's in the inbox of the group(s)/people they choose
1. Like topics, these annoument PM's could also be "TIMED',
Editors more like Microsoft word - By this I mean more features of Microsoft word into the post screen. LIke FIND AND REPLACE, SEARCH, ETC.
Split code tags - By This I mean, right now if you click the code tags you just get [ code]
Mass attach - Ability for people to mass attach things to there posts [instead of one by one]).
Send PM at (time) - This would send a PM to a person at a time you specify, it is optional. So say I wanted to send a PM to SSS 9/24/2005 at 6:46 AM (time zone you choose {I guess}) but you'll be on vaction the week of 9/20/2005 untill 10/2/05. i wont' have internet access. This would send a PM to him at the time/day you tell it to.
Send PM to group at - About the same as above, but the diffrence is it's groups instead of one member. So you could send a PM to all the members at 7:52 PM on 4/18/2005 and a(n) another batch to your (global) moderators like 3 hours after the members get their PM's. This would probley be convient to tell them in advance that the boards going offline like 18 hours after the global mods get their PM (yes going "bacK" to the turn board offline at )
Disable registration for x amount of days - Does exactly like it sounds like. You can disable making of accounts of the amount of days you want. Could be userful incase of a spammer and you have to disable registration. But then have to go on vaction and can't access a computer but want more accounts to be made.
Turn forum offline for x amount of mins, hours, days, or weeks - Does what it sounds like again. It turns the forum offline for x amount of time. (sorry if comming. I swere I saw this comming some where
Report post to (group) - This would allow you to choose which groups get the "reported posts". {admin opt]
Board-offline by forum - This would allow you to disable only certain forums from view. The message would be the same at the message you'd put globaly. (global would still be an option)
Disable people from seeing changes - This would allow you to disable people to see skin changes, and or banner changes if the forum (global) or (one/more forums) are offline.
disallow topics but not polls - This would be like the disable poll in this forum? option except for topics. This would allow the forum to ONLY have polls posted instead of topics.
PM flood control - This would 'control' the limit of PM's someone can send a day. Could also be group and member by G/M bais.
Post control - With this, people would be able to control how many posts groups, and members can post in x time.
Edit limt - This would control how many times a group, or member could edit their posts in a forum. Like some Spammer edit their 'against' the rules post so the admin can't "break" them (couldn't think of a better term)
Sub Forum indicator - A little image next to sub forums that show when a new post has been made in that sub forum.Admin option to disble it.
Staff notes in topics - This is designed to alow staff members who modreate forums to make nesassary notes in topics for other staff members. These reasons could range from the purpose of closing/opening the topic, to making note of a possible ussue surrounding the ontent in the topic. replaces the need for moderators to make unapproved posts in topics to cmmunicate with others regarding things of the topic.
Member notes - Similar to above, but for members. And only THAT member may see it
Split open / close topics in groups - An admin (ACP) option to split weather a group can open and or close a topic.
Diffrent ranks for diffrent groups - Should be self-explantory. admin can have diffrrent then say global mods and other groups.
Save post - Be able to save a post to countiune later
Bump topic without a mod.
Boxes for pming automatically checked
PM at '"x" amount of post. - This would PM a memember after they get x amount of post(s). The admin can decide what the PM will say, and this will be optional (yes|no)
Suggestions from: http://forums.invisionpower.com/index.php?showtopic=119368. Implemented (added)

Mark · August 8, 2006

To all of the, "coming in 2.2, 3.0, etc...: Yah, all they usually ever say is "Oh, that's a 3.0 feature....but when they were saying that with 1.x.x the feature didn't arrive until late 2.1 development cycle. Sometimes it is just a "I don't wish to deal with it so I will push it back 3 versions which translates into a year plus. Meanwhile the slowest developed software on the planet (PhpBB) even has it working and stable.
All the ones I said are in 2.2 are - trust me. I can't say for 3.0 as I haven't seen that.

Because when you user the secondary user groups they dont get the user image. And there should be a checkbox to give them said user image.
Ah right, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have this, but why not just set it as their primary group?

What I am saying is use more consistency... make it easier to use, more useful and informative. It's just broken, broken, broken, broken in IPB. vBulletin has a very well thought out one and even if you do not like the idea of copying them, it's worthy of study
I agree parts of IPB are flaky as they have added features but kept the old versions of these. Perhaps the log-in system should be looked over.

That is why I suggested it be admin configurable on whether or not they want it on. Users like me who have excessively long passwords that are pseudo randomly generated and contain ALpHaNuMeRiC 1234567890 pRoPeRtIeS for EXTRA zing and resilliance to MD5 brute force cracking and in general tedious process of a user trying to guess it would surely enjoy the option.
I think it would just end up with more hacking tickets, you could of course modify the source code to add in such a setting yourself :thumbsup:

It really doesn't. IPS has the far superior laid out ACP. It's very nicely designed but it lacks the oomph and configurability of their competition now. They have a wonderful ACP and its very well designed and the framework appears to be rock solid now, why not start adding features to it. They're sorely needed. More than half of what I've suggested is missing admin features that even PhpBB Olympus have now.
I meant IPS as the company I was being sarcastic as the suggestion was very vague. I agree that IPB should look at the competition and perhaps tweak certain parts.

It's obscure to say the least.
Yes, perhaps it should be downloaded rather than EMailed - or an option for either.

Yah, I see what you mean with google penalties but it needs to be much more configurable and there are definetly many improvements that can be made. If it no longer serves the purpose for search engines what exactly is it doing and accomplishing in the forum software? Does anyone have any real use for it? I was suggesting giving it it's original use back.
I don't think it ever was for search engines, it's just an easier way to view the board, maybe if you're on a mobile phone or PDA. Again, I reccomend my FURL mod for propper SEO.

And if IPB hadn't deleted the posts just before they went Free --> Corporate you'd see that A LOT of the topics that others made where I replied to tremendously with feedback and additions, but the culture at IPS seems different. A lot of features merely get brushed aside because "well, we're IPS!" while at other places they will investigate it or the modding community releases something in a couple days. Perhaps vBulletin is a tad more friendly codewise to modification. I don't know. But I love IPB and I want to see it succeed but it's falling behind in this past year.
bfarber looks at this forum every day. I know this because he does it in the morning, which is the afternoon for me (when I am online) so I see him in the "active in this forum" section.
You have to remember that IPS does not only make IPB, there is Blog, Gallery, Nexus, Vectura, Dynamic and Converge to think about to, and with only *does quick count* about 22 developers, I'd say that they're doing pretty well.
Of course the culture here is different, IPS is a company, with an office (a nice big office, there was pictures in the community chat at one point) - this isn't PHPBB where the developers work from home in their basements, this is these people's jobs. IPB is a brilliant piece of software, cut them some slack.

Finanlly, please, once and for all fix that javascript bug in the post editor where you see ZERO indication of where the cursor is in Firefox. I don't use Internet Explorer, or Opera so I cannot comment whether it is a bug there too, but it doesn't seem to exist in Safari as far as I can see.
It's in 2.2 :thumbsup:

Dlf · August 8, 2006

No "comments" on "my" ideas? :cry: ( :roll: [kidding]).

bfarber · August 9, 2006

I'll forewarn you - when you make extremely long posts like the one above, believe it or not most readers (myself included) their eyes start glazing over as they get further and further down the list.

Many I disagree with, many I am neutral on, and some I agree with. But there are always priorities, and the most important things get done first. :)

That said, I can't comment on what and when any of the suggestions will get added at this time.

Dlf · August 9, 2006

I was going to make it longer (like all in one, like above, but not "split"). I choose 30 to stop at, then made a new post but the merge concurrent posts kick(ed) in so "triple" post became double.

OverDriveAdamJ · August 9, 2006

I'll forewarn you - when you make extremely long posts like the one above, believe it or not most readers (myself included) their eyes start glazing over as they get further and further down the list.

Many I disagree with, many I am neutral on, and some I agree with. But there are always priorities, and the most important things get done first. :)

That said, I can't comment on what and when any of the suggestions will get added at this time.

I hope that they (my suggestions and dlf's suggestions) considered seriously nonetheless. Most of them are small changes that I don't think would take very much time to implement. Others are much more complex but are much needed features.

MasumX · August 9, 2006

Some suggestion are REAL GOOD IN HERE.....

IPS, should get their pen and papers ready for notes.......

Abilitly to hide forum but not sub-forums, picture should explain better:
comp(CLOSED

Closed by request

Closed because of Violation of rules

Closed because {reason} (besides the two above)

MOVED

[*]Dragable and drop componets, either admin or

onets) tab. Both would be fine [*]Ability to manager TMM (topic-mutli-mod) better, arrange them by 'type' (like pin, pin and close, keep)[list=1] [*]

[*]

[list] [*]Moved by request [*]Moved becasue of violation [*]Moving to correct forum [*]Moved/Moving becase of (reason)

I just wanted to point out something..-Moved, Closed -- Some how show which mod/admin moved or closed the topic and post.... This option can be available to mod and admin only so we can keep track of who did what in some way if someone has complaints about the topic or the post being deleted or moved.*wait is it available by the acp...forgot lol........i think mods moved action shows..not closed by whom..

Dlf · August 9, 2006

What I mean is ability to rearrange them. Say you have a lot of Topic-multi-mods which involve moving becuase of:

Against the forums rules
By request (topic-creator)
Incorrect forum
another reason.

Closing becuase of:

Request
Violation of Board rules
Another reason

It would look strange to have:

move
closed
closed
move
closed
move

Wouldn't it be better to have All the close(s) together, and all the 'move' in one bunch? That's one thing I'm suggesting.

Dlf · August 9, 2006

What would be some of the "bloat" requests? Some are needed, like the 'color' (near strike through). That WOULD be helpful to others like me that are color-blind. I'd probably code it my self into both editors (for 2.1.x) but I am horrible at JS (more so than PHP). I'd request it, but all my requests always get rejected (not done).

August 9, 2006

that's quite a list you pulled together :P

I disagree on the announcements suggestion, I think it would be better if you could control it from within the forum just like a regular post. (not from within usercp like it is currently)

Dlf · August 9, 2006

What about PM announcements? Could be 'somewhat' similar to topic announcements. Just "general" notes.
Could group controlled (only (group) can see it.
Time based (like topic announcements)
And like topics, can not be meddled with (or replied to).

Actually, group x group doesn't sound to bad for topic announcements. Also What about replying to topic announcements. For more "notes"

Both just thought of right now, a couple minutes after typing this message (this being bought to you by the use of quick edit).

OverDriveAdamJ · August 10, 2006

Any word from IPS developers if they have read this at all? ;)

Dlf · August 10, 2006

Brandon has read and replied, he works on the software along with Matthew Mecham. So yes a developer has read thsi topic.

Dlf · August 10, 2006

One (or possibly more, you know i'll probably come up with lots . . .) thing i'd like to see for 2.2:

1. How many poll choices are for question question, count down. from like 25->24->23->22->21->20-->1->0)
2. Count-Down of flood control
3. Fast Reply has the 'enlarge' buttons like the standard addreply editors do.
4. Mod options after you make a post (fast reply)

That's all for now! Told you, i'd come up with some ideas besides #1.

Wow. Over 270 views! ROCK ON!

ellawella · August 10, 2006

2. Count-Down of flood control

Even better might be a more vBesque system where it says "please wait 14 seconds" or however long it is. Basically, it tells you exactly how long you need to wait, it doesn't just spit out the flood control variable.

Five Invision Community 5 features your team will love

Five Invision Community 5 features your members will love

Invision Community 4: SEO, prepare for v5 and dormant account notifications

Invision Community 5: Beta testing and latest updates

Suggested Features

Recommended Posts

OverDriveAdamJ

OverDriveAdamJ

SnowBlower

OverDriveAdamJ

Strange_Will

Mark

OverDriveAdamJ

Dlf

OverDriveAdamJ

Dlf

Dlf

Mark

Dlf

bfarber

Dlf

OverDriveAdamJ

MasumX

Dlf

Dlf

Guest

Dlf

OverDriveAdamJ

Dlf

Dlf

ellawella

Archived

Recently Browsing 0 members

More