How to setup a simple forum

[whs]

For the local computer club I am trying to setup a simple Forum. It would only be accessible by the 650 members. We are about 20 instructors who teach anything from XP for beginners (yes) to Power Point and System Concepts. But there are also such subjects as Photography and Genealogy.
The members are mostly retirees and a lot of single ladies who have to deal with the computer for the first time since they lost their husbands. These people are intimidated by forums like ours and would be better off if they had a simple tool within the confines of the club. The instructors (who they know in person) would then try to answer their questions.
I am looking for a simple engine to setup this forum - and it should not cost too much either. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello WHS.


I'm sure you know of this?

phpBB • Creating Communities Worldwide

 

[seekermeister]

I can not advise you on any details, but the current version of Opera had a web server function in what is called Opera Unite, integrated in the regular browser that permits anyone to setup a website on their own computer, so that there is no server fees or other problems that sometimes occur by using a remote server. The only thing that you would need then is a software program to aid in setting up the forum pages itself, and I think that is also available free, but I can't point to any particular program. If you are reasonably well versed in such things, you could use an opensource program called Amaya, but I imagine that there are simpler program available.

 

[valtonray]

i was going to recommend php as well

 

[whs]

Yeah, php was my "fallback" solution. But I wondered whether there was anything even simpler.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You may want to contact sergiogarcia9 he's had a play with a lot of different BBs lately.

 

[whs]

You may want to contact sergiogarcia9 he's had a play with a lot of different BBs lately.

Good idea. Thanks.

 

[sergiogarcia9]

If you want to offer the big money, Vbulletin would be the solution. Pretty simple, and also simple to add skins or mods to.

PhpBB is free, and pretty much as good as vbulletin. It is a bit harder adding mods and skins though. There's more template edits than on VB.

Both phpbb and vbulletin is easy to setup, but then again vbulletin is easier with a lot of things.

So, you gotta choose if you want to do the free solution phpbb, which is pretty easy to setup, or vbulletin which is 300 USD (i believe) and a bit easier, and less template editing that on phpbb

Also, if you need help setting it up, i can do it for you. I've setup both phpbb forums, vbulletin forums, wordpress sites etc.

 

[z3r010]

For the free option i'd go with SMF - Home of SMF: Free PHP and MySQL forum software

 

[sergiogarcia9]

That one looks pretty good actually Downloading it now, and i'm gonna have a try setting it up.

Thanks for the link, John

 

[z3r010]

Also if you want to set up a test site on a windows box, the web platform installer makes setting up the webserver & php very easy - Download the Microsoft Web Platform

 

[whs]

Thank you Sergio and John. I looked at Phb - but since I have never done this before, I have to get into the terminology. Will have a look at SMF. And thanks Sergio for offering help to set it up. Since this is a club, I will now have to discuss it with the club elders. But I first wanted to have an idea what to propose.

 

[Fantail]

whs; I would recomend phpbb phpBB • Creating Communities Worldwide

It has ongoing development and a huge support base. You can set up sub forums, private groups current release supports native rss feeds, it has themes etc. The set-up was a breeze. In your host if you have cpanel you probably have a pre-packaged set-up for phpbb. Although most phpbb support members and I would recomend the download and set-up option. Sure there are others, friend of mine uses simple machines. It's ok but I like the more custom options php offers. Granted once it's set-up getting everything the way your wanting may take a little time, but that is because you not tied down to any basic outline. I noticed from your site picture you have a few older members. You may be curious to know phpbb has a built in option for font adjustment so with a mouse click any post is easier to read. If you like I can pm you two links of active forums using phpbb and another with simple machines.

 

[sergiogarcia9]

Thank you Sergio and John. I looked at Phb - but since I have never done this before, I have to get into the terminology. Will have a look at SMF. And thanks Sergio for offering help to set it up. Since this is a club, I will now have to discuss it with the club elders. But I first wanted to have an idea what to propose.

Just let me know if you need anything

 

[whs]

Thanks for the input Fantail. My goal is to keep it simple for the setup, maintenance and use. Since I am not here during the summer, someone else will have to look after the server - and that is not obvious. And your observation is right. The average age in the club must be over 70 with a majority of nice little old ladies. I sometimes feel like one of the youngsters - and I am 72. LOL

PS: Sergio, I will, and thanks again.

 

[Little Darwin]

I run a private forum with PHPBB, and it is not very difficult to set up or run as long as you want to use the off the shelf functionality.

I have mine set up so that nobody sees any messages until they log in, so it is really private.

 

[seekermeister]

I remember that a friend of mine, who setup a forum, had a private board within the forum, that required an additional approval to enter. I think that was to keep me out, because he knew that my views wouldn't jive with his on certain subjects. I think that it was simply a place for him to chat with the female members of the forum. However, it did provide both a public and private environment which instead of barring the public, had sort of a "lobby" to his private environment.

 

[seekermeister]

Thanks for the input Fantail. My goal is to keep it simple for the setup, maintenance and use. Since I am not here during the summer, someone else will have to look after the server - and that is not obvious. And your observation is right. The average age in the club must be over 70 with a majority of nice little old ladies. I sometimes feel like one of the youngsters - and I am 72. LOL

PS: Sergio, I will, and thanks again.

Now, you make me feel like a child...I'm 62.

 

[whs]

I remember that a friend of mine, who setup a forum, had a private board within the forum, that required an additional approval to enter. I think that was to keep me out, because he knew that my views wouldn't jive with his on certain subjects. I think that it was simply a place for him to chat with the female members of the forum. However, it did provide both a public and private environment which instead of barring the public, had sort of a "lobby" to his private environment.

Well, we have a member file (with email address). My idea was to automatically sign up every member. This would exclude any outsiders.

 

[UrbanBounca]

MyBB is the closest you'll find to vBulletin, and it's completely free.