The Geek Crew - Forum Upgrade & E-Mail

b0b

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Forum Upgrade & E-Mail - Static IP Working!
Dec 6^th, 2006 at 9:06am

As noted in the Random Stupidity thread, I upgraded the forum yesterday to YaBB 2.1. What does this mean to you?

Absolutely nothing!

It adds some behind-the-scenes features and a bunch of bug fixes and enhancements, but nothing all that impressive in the way of useful features for the forum itself. The full list of changes is at the bottom of the screen.

However, I have finally figured out a way to get the forum to communicate properly with my mail server. As such, e-mail functionality is slowly being enabled on the forum. If you reply to this post, you'll see an option that can be selected "to be notified of replies to this topic." It looks like this...

As the name suggests, selecting this option will send you an e-mail when someone has replied to your topic. This might be useful for some of you guys that only post occasionally that want to keep an eye on a particular thread. I'm also adding an e-mail component to the forum registration process to cut down on the ridiculous number of fake registrations that are popping up. I've been deleting 15-20 false registrations a week, which is rather annoying.

-b0b
(...points to the useless forum upgrades below.)

Quote:

Additions/Improvements:
- Added rebuild member post history log Admin function
- Added rebuild member post history log to Converter
- Added notification.png to menu to differentiate from post display's notify.png in translations
- Added multibyte character support to category names
- Changed profile DST setting to a checkbox
- Made message icon on each post link to the individual replies
- Restricted signature height if there are more than 15 new lines in it
- Added last modified date to .htaccess when written with the Guardian
- Moved MD5 Perl module lower and added HMAC_MD5 module
- Added rel="nofollow" to all viewprofile links to prevent bot spidering
- New SMTP engine to add more options and support more standards, such as EHLO/HELO handshake selection
- Added admin activation of account registration
- Made the saved CSS file from the WYSIWYG editor a little more "YaBB"-like
- Added conversion of members' last login, reply, and PM if a .ll file exists
- Converted Help files to HTML from YaBBC
- Changed password reminder to show new password in a read-only input field so it's easier to copy
- Added hidesticky.gif, hidelock.gif, hidestickylock.gif icons to show more topic status'
- Increased length of email input field
- Changed forum start date to select boxes
- Made Mail Members only overwrite "re-used" mails, not all subject-matching mails
- Changed select box for moving topics sort properly and use option groups for better readability

Bug Fixes:
- Disabled board picture filed if the board is an announcement or recycle bin board
- Removed mark unread button for guests
- Fixed reply and quote buttons in members' most recent posts
- Allowed admin to change the first page of their profile
- Allow guests to search hidden topics if "show to all" is checked
- Fixed linebreak bug when quoting older posts
- Placed proper error message when adding polls
- Fixed bug with CSS and template preview in FireFox
- Registration date/time and timezone settings fixed
- Fixed many time-to-string date issues
- Updates/Fixes to instructions in Quick Guide
- Fix to prevent nesting conflicts with "Glow" and "Shadow" bold tags
- Made converter change all [size=xx] tags in signature to size in pixels to prevent very small text
- Fixed additional membergroups conflict with position when saving profile
- Fixed multibyte characters in PM notification
- Fixed bug causing repeated "topic" text in notification mails
- Fixed bug when moving a topic while someone is replying to it
- Changed double quote marks to " in category names to prevent broken input fields
- Fixed problem with " in category descriptions
- Made deleting posts remove entries from members' history logs
- Re-added ability to auto-link URLs with national characters
- Fixed bug with additional member groups when rebuilding the memberlist
- Fixed problems with links with http:// prefix and auto-link at the start of tables
- Fixed Subs.pl to allow it to pass Perl -C
- Fixed XHTML errors throughout source code
- Added check for existence of message file when converting message index to prevent blank screen
- Fixed delete link so it disappears in pre-registered entries after time expiration
- Fixed character set bug when changing language on the register page
- Fixed HTML characters displaying in polls
- Fixed extra space added to username link in quotes
- Fixed an unclear activation message
- Fixed a pixel in grin.gif
- Made [table] tag validate XHTML
- Made image tag check if an image already has a title attribute before adding another
- Fixed invalid ID in forgotten passwords reminder
- Fixed Admin Cneter "remove server not available" when yabbforum.com is not available
- Removed unused menu_im.png
- Fixed wrong text used in forum statistics
- Made hidden sticky topics appear in the Important Topics area
- Removed useless "moderator" option in board/category permission section
- Fixed issue with _ in profile names on edit profile page
- Fixed reversed View Members by registration date
- Made sure member post history is deleted when member is deleted
- Added missing "navbarcontainer" CSS style
- Fixed showing guest email address instead of name when a reply is deleted
- Fixed JS bug if random passwordemail is enabled or hide email is disabled
- Fixed admin edit bug with input of spaces or non-digits
- Fixed bug in "moveto" that created a bad browser title
- Fixed a problem in forum.contro when boards are moved to another category
- Made converter cut signatures off at the length of the longest signature found
- Fixed bug in autolink modifying the flash location when flash-parsing is disabled
- Made deleting a post not create a "ghost" member in memberinfo.txt
- Made editing board notfiications not create a "ghost" notification

Security Enhancements:
- Fixed bug enabling members/guests to load an empty PM screen from an outside link
- Fixed the Guardian re-adding existing text in .htaccess when it modifies its contents
- Made sure Gmods cannot edit Administrator or Gmod profiles
- Added .gif header test to all images attached to posts for malformed or incorrect content

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« Last Edit: Dec 12^th, 2006 at 10:44pm by b0b »

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b0b GeekCrew Administrator FTP Server Offline The revolution will not be televised. Posts: 7464 Battle Creek, Michigan Gender:	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #1 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 9:07am Test reply. You'll see a lot of these while I tinker with the e-mail thing. -b0b (...apologizes profusely.)
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b0b GeekCrew Administrator FTP Server Offline The revolution will not be televised. Posts: 7464 Battle Creek, Michigan Gender:	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #2 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 9:09am Replyyyyy. -b0b (...tests more.)
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b0b

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The revolution will not
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Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail
Reply #3 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 9:53am

Comcast finally started offering static IP addresses in St. Joseph County, so I ordered one today. That's an extra $5.00 a month I'm spending on you guys, so Merry Freakin' Christmas!

Even though my dynamic IP address has never changed in the two and a half years I've had Comcast service, the address is blacklisted by some spam filters because it's part of a dynamic range. This change to a static address should fix that, which is increasingly important now that forum registration relies on e-mail.

The changeover will supposedly take place in 3-5 days. When the change is done, the forum will go off-line until Comcast calls me with the new static IP address, which I will then update with InterNIC. This change will propagate to DNS servers around the world within 24-32 hours and will allow the TWNCommunications.Net and GeekCrew.Net domains to start functioning again.

I am also thinking about re-enabling the FTP server with a slimmed-down security gateway (i.e. no lame IP restrictions, just a user name and password). The problem with running an FTP is that both of my FTP drives are full (a measly 0.5TB these days) and much of my stuff is hosted on my personal system now. If the FTP is popular, I'll find a place for an "Upload" directory and spend some money buying a new drive array.

I will also make web-based e-mail accounts available to you guys if you want them. You'll have as much storage space as you want and can have as many e-mail aliases as you want (for instance, I have JRogers@, Meta4@, James@, and others) at both domains (TWNCommunications.Net and GeekCrew.Net). The nifty part is that you can use one logon and password for both the FTP and your e-mail. Isn't that cool?

Let me know what you guys think!

-b0b
(...w00t!)

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X

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Truth Is Treason, In The
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Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail
Reply #4 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 12:37pm

The new improvements sounds good. I'll be using the email feature even though I check this about every half hour.

Starting up the FTP the way you were talking about sounds hot. I will have to upload a list of my movies, TV shows, audio books, and the misc stuff I have so that you guys can get in on my sweet sweet action. In fact if anyone wants any or all those lists I can post them or send them...just let me know.

X

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In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king. - Max Payne

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b0b

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The revolution will not
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Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail
Reply #5 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 1:54pm

X wrote on Dec 6^th, 2006 at 12:37pm:

I will have to upload a list of my movies, TV shows, audio books, and the misc stuff I have so that you guys can get in on my sweet sweet action.

Pat, I would love to get in on your sweet, sweet action!

If you want a raw listing of everything I have available, you can find it here...

FTP Drive 1 - Music, Movies, TV Shows, Programs, Games, and More
FTP Drive 2 - Anime
Bob's PC - Random crap that won't fit and isn't sorted/renamed.

My collection is rather meager after the great hard drive crash of October 2005, but it's steadily regaining ground. I really need to save up for a new drive array (4x350GB maybe?) in February/March so I can put everything together on a redundant array again.

-b0b
(...can dream, can't he?)

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The_Fat_Man Wootzor von Leetenhaxor FTP Server Offline Grand High Overlard Posts: 910 Colorado Springs, Colorado Gender:	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #6 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 2:13pm B0b Pat wants me to inform you that while upgrading his profile the forum logged him out and will not let him log back in. He is not sure what the problem is. I tried logging out and back in and was fine. So I have no clue here. Let him know Posting your -email would be nice too.
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X Post Whore FTP Server Offline Truth Is Treason, In The Empire Of Lies Posts: 3903 Gender:	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #7 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 2:30pm Thanks Wes and Bob for the help. I will be soon uploading my lists of my media so stay tuned...same bat-time same bat-channel! X
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b0b

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The revolution will not
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Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail
Reply #8 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 2:34pm

I think I figured out what caused Stevie's problem. One of the forum options requires the board to reset a user's password whenever they change their e-mail address and mail it to their new address. This prevents spamming by requiring a user to access the new e-mail address they entered before they can access the forum again.

Since Stewie used a major e-mail provider (Yahoo.com), the new password e-mail was rejected because it came from a server with a dynamic address. This will no longer happen once the static IP is activated later this week (or early next week).

In the meantime, I deactivated the option that required a new password to be mailed to the new e-mail address.

-b0b
(...crosses his fingers.)

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b0b GeekCrew Administrator FTP Server Offline The revolution will not be televised. Posts: 7464 Battle Creek, Michigan Gender:	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #9 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 4:03pm The forum was using my e-mail address by default, so I created a new e-mail address for forum e-mails (GeekCrew@GeekCrew.Net). This is a test response. -b0b (...testing 123.)
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b0b GeekCrew Administrator FTP Server Offline The revolution will not be televised. Posts: 7464 Battle Creek, Michigan Gender:	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #10 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 4:06pm Reply test. -b0b (...#2)
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Test Ex Member	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #11 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 4:16pm test
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b0b GeekCrew Administrator FTP Server Offline The revolution will not be televised. Posts: 7464 Battle Creek, Michigan Gender:	Re: Forum Upgrade & E-Mail Reply #12 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 4:26pm Testes. -b0b (...last one?)
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Test Ex Member	BAM! Reply #13 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 4:28pm Test!
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Test Ex Member	Bamtastic! Reply #14 - Dec 6^th, 2006 at 4:39pm I've created a new e-mail address and changed the sender of the e-mail from my personal name to "The Geek Crew" which should make things a little bit friendlier. -b0b (...in hiding.)
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