Forum Module

[sakyant]

I see that this forum is an SMF forum - which i use on many sites.. i just started using website baker (i usually use xoops which has a phpbb3 forum module). I have been looking for a forum module to insert in the WebsiteBaker cms but it seems there is no forum modules to be found in the rep[ositiry!
I see that this here is an smf forum and wondered why WebsiteBaker doesn't have a forum??
It is terrible if oyu have to log in once with one account for the website baker then log in again with a separate account  for the forum...
we need a forum module more than any of the little gimmicks and gadgets such as calendar etc.. a forum is the heart of a community..

are there any modules in development for a forum plugin?

[kweitzel]

There are a couple of bridge scripts available. Please search the forum for them. If I remember correctly it was phpBB and SMF.



cheers

Klaus

[Luckyluke]

Hi,

Sorry to ask, but what is a bridge script?   
Is this something to import a SMF forum into a WB page?
I have a new site with a SMF forum and I open the site on a new page.

Grtz,
Luc

[Stefek]

Sorry to ask, but what is a bridge script?

With a Bridge you are able to build a bridge with your Site.
It almost requires, that your Forum installation is at the same Data-Base.
The purpose of a bridge is, to allow you to have the same users on your site as on your forum.

All the "bridges" we have to forum software has stopped developement because there seems no one to be able (or dedicated) to ensure, that the user needs to log-in once.
This is the only problem with all the "bridges".

As I remember there was a good one for the SMF Forum before they changed they License from GPL to another, more restrictible on.

But I see no problem to get in Contact with SMF or start a thread there in order to restart the developement.
For as I know, they have also bridges for xoomla (what's that name?) ah.. joomla.

See here:
http://www.simplemachines.org/download/?bridges

I think there should be some more attempt from our side in order to create one.
WB CMS is a great CMS and a good Combination for a running Froum.

My guess. 

Best Regards,
Stefek

[Luckyluke]

Hi,

Thanks for the explanation!
On my site, the users don't have to log in. But they must do it for the forum. So in my case a bridge is not necessary.

But I see no problem to get in Contact with SMF or start a thread there in order to restart the developement.
See here:
http://www.simplemachines.org/download/?bridges
I think there should be some more attempt from our side in order to create one.
WB CMS is a great CMS and a good Combination for a running Froum.

Maybe we can look for a bridge with WB 3.0 ?

Grtz,
Luc

[Stefek]

On my site, the users don't have to log in. But they must do it for the forum. So in my case a bridge is not necessary.

Thats why you are Lucky(Luke) 

Maybe we can look for a bridge with WB 3.0 ?

There was an attempt to build a bridge for 2.6.7/2.7.0 and in the past we had a functioning one.
I don't know what really happend or who stopped the creation.
Maybe some fear about the licenses - but hey: there is allways an official way to do things. The Bridges List has some CMS so there should be no problem to have one for WB.
As I remember "somone told that we are not allowed to give access to download files of the SMF Forum".
Heloooo? We don't need to.
We just need to make the package and let the SMF guys know.
I think they would be Lucky because it's a step forward in their "dissemination".

Why wait for the WB 3.0.
I Love the 2.7.x "Family"

Best Regards,
Stefek

[vyni]

Hi,

I think I remember something of "forum-module was stopped because of licence problem with redistributing the forum."

By luck a found a Forum-software (not only me -Mr. pcwacht found it 5 month ago!) with a licence, where redistribution is permitted. Read this..

And there is a documentation of "how to connect to CMS" aswell available. (If someone is interested, just use the search for phorum, You will find pcwacht´s post with link)

So maybe the idea of making a module gets a new impulse?

It looks quite good. And maybe it´s a good forum for WB.

Someone, who is able to, should have a look and try. - But this is definitly not me.

regards from Himberg, almost Vienna.

[Stefek]

Hello Vyni.

This Forum Software has no internal PM System, for that it's not really a "Forum".
It's a nice discussion board, I guess.

Why don't think about a bridge for SMF an go the "legal way" on their page in order to distribute "their core files".

For the SMF Community is pretty big, it will also be good for WB CMS to be on their completed bridges list.
And if someone is running a forum, he often needs a CMS too.
And guess what? He will never get one which is easier as WB 

So everybody wins.

Regards,
Stefek

[pcwacht]

Phorum does has personal messages...

Did use phorum once, it is very light, very well documented, even db layout.
It would be easy to integrate phorum within wb whilst running phorum as own package - thus updating phorum or wb wouldn't break stuff

As I see it.
If you need a full fetched forum look elsewhere

Since Phorum is very light and very well documented it could be a nice project to make it work very well alongside wb without too much hazzle, allso the license is nice for wb

John

[Stefek]

Phorum does has personal messages...

Thank you for correction, John.

Regards,
Stefek

[Hoco]

Hello fans of WB,

Just like all of you, we're all enthousiastic users of websitebaker, but are surprised because there isn't a forum module.

This would make it a perfect CMS (especcially for the non-pro-webmasters).

So...... does this discussion get a fairytale ending.....

Hoco

[mahalleday]

There was some good work done by rudd i think on linking phpbb with wb.  I haven't looked at the proess in a while but last time I swa it it appeared to be about 75% there. 

If someone is interested you may wont to look there and perhaps pick up where it has been left off (not sure) if development continues or not.  phorum and vanill alaso have had some work done with regards to bridgin them to wb, and the phorum forums have instructions on how to make a bridge.  Unfortunatley I am too weak with oo php to tackelt this at this time but it's on my to do list.

[Argos]

I'm in need of a forum bridge as well. It should share accounts with WB and it should synchronize logins. There are several attempts being made, but none is finished as far as I know...

[sesom]

The Vanilla bridge works quite well (use search-function), but Vanilla is not a very sophisticated forum software, you can't compare it with phpBB or SMF. But for a small forum it is OK. Runs very nice on my website.

The only drawback is, that you have to login a second time to enter the forum. But passwords are syncronized in both ways.


Klaus

[vyni]

You know this one ?

[Argos]

As far as I can see user have to log in separately in both apps. What I would like to see is that not only accounts are syncrhonized, but also logins. I am no programmer, but is this too hard to do?

[4nthony]

hi guys i think a mod for website baker and smf would be amazing realy do.

just reading over some of the stuff i remember they had a simaler problem bridging joomla with smf because of licesence and there for couldent continue the bridge.

being a part of the smf community for some time i have found that people are looking for a new cms system.

the bridge would have to be posted on the smf site i think obviosly colaberation between smf and WB in order. website baker would be a much bigger cms than it already is

Anyway i for one would love to see it

Anthony

[Stefek]

being a part of the smf community for some time i have found that people are looking for a new cms system.

Yes, they do.

the bridge would have to be posted on the smf site i think obviosly colaberation between smf and WB in order. website baker would be a much bigger cms than it already is

Anyway i for one would love to see it

I agree.

Regards,
Stefek

[sare]

http://www.rockurchin.com/blog/2008/04/phorum-a-forum-that-is-actually-easy-to-integrate/

That document was very helpful.

Takes a bit of coding know-how but less than other solutions i'd suspect (i tried a couple others too). Just follow the tutorial. Changing 'framework/class.login.php' and the userauth module in Phorum is all that it takes to get it syncing and sessionhandling wb and phorum together.

[Argos]

http://www.rockurchin.com/blog/2008/04/phorum-a-forum-that-is-actually-easy-to-integrate/

That document was very helpful.

Takes a bit of coding know-how but less than other solutions i'd suspect (i tried a couple others too). Just follow the tutorial. Changing 'framework/class.login.php' and the userauth module in Phorum is all that it takes to get it syncing and sessionhandling wb and phorum together.

Well, that sounds great, but do I understand you've got it done already? Could you share it with us? I'm no coder, so I'm afraid I have to depend on someone else to do the work, like many other WB users... 

[Hoco]

Hello Sare,

I've looked at your link and although I´m not a developer (former cobol-programmer so Out of date), I think that a handy WB-programmer could create a nice solution.

Especially as I see the last phrase on that page:

Extensive developer and API docs are available at http:/www.phorum.org/docs/html/

A question to Sare, can you post a link to your forum, so that we can wonder your work. If that is a cool, quick an legitimite sollution, maybe a good WB-programmer takes the challenge, we hope for.

Hoco

[sare]

The forum is hidden so can't currently link you to it, but yes, it works though it's quick and dirty. Here's a short explanation.

I used a Code section to embed the forum in an iframe. The iframe's contents can't see the session WB is using, and this forces the use of GET variables (passing variables in the url) to pass knowledge of the WB session state to your Phorum iframe.

What ensues when you login from WB, is that the WB user id gets passed to the iframe along with an md5 hash containing the WB username/password, or a logout flag if WB session isn't there (not logged in). The Phorum userauth mod then checks the validity of the info, and acts accordingly. (The user tables of WB and Phorum are in sync, since the WB login script is set to ensure that!)

PM me and I'll email you the necessary php files.

Someone with time should write something similar into a class.

Cheers,

sare

[Hoco]

Hello  Sare,

Thanks for the explanation and the possibility to get the sources, but I´m not a programmer (any more).

So I´ll have to wait and be patient  until someone makes a WB-module for me and hundreds of other WB-webmasters who are waiting for a Forum-module.

Who can help (you yourselve Sare ??)

I'll check this thread regurlarly in good hope,

Hoco

[sare]

Hello Hoco,

there's already some effort to make this into a module. It'll probably take some time though.

In the mean time, if you want it working now, and don't mind a non-module solution, PM me. I'll send you a link with the necessary files (all three of them) plus instructions. No serious coding ability needed (this is WB, what did you think?)

It's a one-way syncing solution: WB updates Phorum's user table.

sare