[LtBadd]

It's approaching being nine years old, in todays tech that's almost forever.

[Metal_pig2001]

Hi LtBadd
other times I have seen system changes like that, historic material gets lost and I wouldn't want to see that occur.
Regards
Ralph

[ldbtx]

I'm a firm believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", and from what I see here, our existing software is doing the job well. I can't really see any advantage to upgrading, with the attendant chance of data loss, unless it actually fixes known problems.

[LtBadd]

Hi LtBadd
other times I have seen system changes like that, historic material gets lost and I wouldn't want to see that occur.
Regards
Ralph

I understand the sentiment, however any competent tech would have the database backed up. It's just a suggestion in the suggestion forum, I'd be surprised if it actually happened. Anyone still running Windows 98 SE?

[Otto Nobedder]

Richard,

I reluctantly participated in the upgrade of the IPR forum (yeah, Industrial Projects Report, the "hotsheet".)
I wound up presiding over it's funeral.

Yes, it still exists, but it's a mere shadow of it's former self. That was once a vibrant active forum. Now it's a dead-end road where a handful of people stop and turn around.

If it ain't broke....

Steve S

[LtBadd]

Richard,

I reluctantly participated in the upgrade of the IPR forum (yeah, Industrial Projects Report, the "hotsheet".)
I wound up presiding over it's funeral.

Yes, it still exists, but it's a mere shadow of it's former self. That was once a vibrant active forum. Now it's a dead-end road where a handful of people stop and turn around.

If it ain't broke....

Steve S

Hey Steve
I don't know any of the details about IPR or what happened. This is the suggestions forum so I made a suggestion. Having made the suggestion I'd would have been surprised it would ever happen.

I do belong to other forums, (not related to welding) that have upgraded successfully, I'm not dissatisfied with WTT forums and will continue to participate, I look forward to reading this forum everyday, and hope I can be a part in a positive way, still at some point, we will need to move forward. Just my opinion.

In todays (21 century) society, technology is moving forward at a quickening pace, as welders/fabricators we have to keep up if we are to be successful in our careers. More then ever if we can't navigate a computers file structure, use email and social media some may miss opportunities. I recently became employed with a worldwide company that uses email to inform their employees and to train us in company policy. I like technology and enjoy using it, some push back and refuse to learn, we are living in a time of transition but the employees of the future cannot afford to live in the past.

I look forward to any comments on this topic and hope we can all learn something.

[Metal_pig2001]

Hi Richard
working with IT environments is my daily work. I was not suggesting the loss of material due to carelessness but more the failure to transfer the content due to differing back-end structures. I have seen this loss occur in my own workplace due to political/time/cost priorities taking precedence.
Do you have any suggestions on other example "forums" that you like how they operate?
Regards
Ralph

[LtBadd]

Hi Richard
working with IT environments is my daily work. I was not suggesting the loss of material due to carelessness but more the failure to transfer the content due to differing back-end structures. I have seen this loss occur in my own workplace due to political/time/cost priorities taking precedence.
Do you have any suggestions on other example "forums" that you like how they operate?
Regards
Ralph

PM sent

[airrj]

Sorry, I don't have specific suggestions for software to use, but I would like to comment that allot of forums that I see that don't update regularly in small increments all of the sudden do a massive change and that is when I see people get mad and move away.

I moderate over at Team Chevelle and they switched software just this week. And it is a major update. I am not fluent in programming so I really don't know any of the specifics. I do know that one of the major reasons for the upgrade was to have a format that was much more comparable with handheld devices and be easier to use for a larger group of people. It wasn't stated, but I believe that the new software is easier for the company to format ads as well.

So my only suggestion is that if you upgrade the software, as much as possible, keep the format and feel of the site similar to the current. I think the big shock is what scares people away.

Good Luck.
R.J.

[Poland308]

Formatting Advertising. Dangerous words.

[cornmuse]

Other than 'hovering' the mouse over a thread to see a short bit about it, I would leave things alone. Change for improvement is fine, change for the sake of change is not. Plus, new progs are never right at the begining, and not for a long while after. These 'programmers' see it as "Theres always room for improvement", if theres no bugs to work out, there goes the job.

Leave things alone!

-c-

[Otto Nobedder]

Some may have forgotten, and the newer guys never saw it, but we did go through an upgrade here, about three years ago if I recall.

At that point, Jody's son came on board as the webmaster, and he is a programmer, who slowly tweaks the forum as it needs it.

[shady]

I'm so new here that I hope you leave it as it is at least long enough for me to learn my way around.

I'm with another forum on a different subject that just changed their software... not only did a lot of data not make the change the whole 'feel' of the site was lost.

You can't make changes and have it remain the same.

[Superiorwelding]

I'll throw my 2 cents in and leave it be. I like what we have and wouldn't want to see it change except for what is needed and those changes should be slow. There is so much info on here is would be terrible to loose the knowledge stored here. I often search here for info I have put here as well as from others.

With that said, I for one appreciate the suggestion for sure. We will see what happens I guess.
-Jonathan

[AKweldshop]

I don't see anything that needs changed.

[subwayrocket]

The newer forums are nice because they allow much better monetization , information gathering for marketing and better integration of Ad's within whatever page you are viewing. I prefer forums like that. Thumpertalk is a good example .

[Poland308]

Monetizeation for information defeats the purpose of this forum.

[subwayrocket]

haha my post was said jokingly .

[Hollywood1]

I agree with superior welding.