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BIG NEWS, Forum move and downtime Friday the 8th November

BIG NEWS, Forum move and downtime Friday the 8th November

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20K2,260

    Nov 03, 2019#1

    Song of the Paddle is on the move. Everything is changing and nothing is changing. This coming Friday (8th November) we will be moving host and to a different forum software.

    14 years ago when I started the forum I took advice and constructed it on the VBulletin forum software. This was considered the best at the time and although costly served us well. During the years I have updated it and bought newer versions when they were released. Over time it has not been able to do everything we wanted. We have had real issues with being able to add pictures natively. Last year I paid to upgrade the server to a much faster and better spec of server to allow for adding pictures but unfortunately that didn’t work out.

    Long story short we are moving to a hosting solution provided by TapaTalk the forum specialists. This will of course mean the forum works really well with the Tapatalk app but that is not compulsory. The forum will remain in it’s web form accessible from the same web address as always, www.SongofthePaddle.co.uk During the transfer I will provide a link to a temporary address to access the forum while the domain moves over and repopulates.

    As I eluded to in the opening transfer this changes everything. The whole back end of the forum is different. The look of the forum will change slightly but still very much be recognisable. The Admins, Moderators and myself will have a learning curve as we get used to all the different controls behind the scenes. However, the front end of the forum, the bit you are interested in should be very similar. While some things will be different they should be easy to work out.

    So for you the user nothing at the core of Song of the Paddle will change. The core values and ethos of the forum will remain. The move should only improve the user experience with robust and secure hosting providing stability and the new forum software allowing improved features like image hosting etc. Once the move has taken place we will have threads explaining what the new features are and how to use them.

    It is worth highlighting that we are not being bought over by Tapatalk and they are not taking ownership of the forum. I still own the forum and the domains etc. Tapatalk are simply providing a hosting solution. we have full access to forum backups and can leave Tapatalk and go back to a self hosted solution at any time if we wish.

    I have always said I am want Song of the Paddle to be advertising free. I am paying for the premium service from Tapatalk which means for members there will be no advertising on the site. However guests looking at the web site, or for members who are not logged in, adverts will be served up by the Tapatalk service. The “revinue” from these adverts will go toward the cost of the premium service and the eliminating of adverts for the actual members. It may be possible for me to fund the whole site advert free from members contributions but until we get a few months of the visitor numbers, server load, etc I don’t know for sure the cost of this would be.

    During the transition period there will be plenty of bugs and settings to be sorted out. Please bare with us during the process as it is all to make the member experience better. I already have a few I am chasing up to be resolved from the Beta transfer we did.

    I’m going to send out a newsletter email covering the basics of this that will point to this thread fro more details. Also this thread will be of use to those who don’t get the email newsletters I send out every year or two ;)
    John

    Every time a canoe trip is not blogged on SotP, God makes a new kayaker.  SMopencanoe

    1,27381
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    1,27381

      Nov 03, 2019#2

      Great news!

      Hope it goes well, then you can all go for a paddle... SMopencanoe

      4,681574
      Contributing Member
      4,681574

        Nov 03, 2019#3

        Don't ya just hate moving!............good luck.........and try not to break anything :D
        All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

        6,0511,094
        Contributing Member
        6,0511,094

          Nov 03, 2019#4

          Excellent news. Good luck folks, hope you don't have to many headaches.
          Big Al.

          Only when the last tree has died
          and the last river been poisoned
          and the last fish been caught
          will we realise we cannot eat money.
          ~Cree Indian Proverb

          276
          Member
          276

            Nov 03, 2019#5

            Don't get anything wet during the changeover ;-)
            _________________________________________
            Trying to find sense in an often bewildering world.

            5,020718
            Contributing Member
            5,020718

              Nov 03, 2019#6

              I'm away next week and back on the 9th, so hopefully you'll have it all done and dusted by then SMwhistle
              Nin Wanakiwidee Tchiman :canoe:

              7401
              Member
              7401

                Nov 03, 2019#7

                Great news and good luck with the move ��
                Kazbunny
                Don't dream it... DO IT!

                2

                  Nov 03, 2019#8

                  Good luck for a smooth transition

                  8234
                  Member
                  8234

                    Nov 03, 2019#9

                    "However guests looking at the web site, or for members who are not logged in, adverts will be served up by the Tapatalk service."

                    ... So keep logged in / reading ... :swimmer:

                    30
                    Member
                    30

                      Nov 03, 2019#10

                      good luck with the move hope it goes smoothly

                      132
                      Member
                      132

                        Nov 03, 2019#11

                        Hope your move goes smoothly
                        Chris

                        3
                        Member
                        3

                          Nov 03, 2019#12

                          Remember, in I.T., things only go wrong when it's funny!
                          Careful planning is the key, and always have a roll back option!
                          Best of luck
                          I was brought up to question everything. I've asked many, and now only the stupid ones remain, so please be patient with me.

                          27K3,045
                          Contributing Member
                          27K3,045

                            Nov 03, 2019#13

                            I'm sure it will only make things even better.

                            If you need anybody extra to check/test things, depending on timing, shout.
                            SMopencanoePaddler,blogger,camper,pyromaniac:

                            Blog: Wilderness is a State of Mind

                            Paddle Points - where to paddle

                            20K2,260
                            Administrator
                            20K2,260

                              Nov 03, 2019#14

                              philipoakley wrote:"However guests looking at the web site, or for members who are not logged in, adverts will be served up by the Tapatalk service."

                              ... So keep logged in / reading ... :swimmer:
                              Once you log in, as long as you have cookies enabled, you should automatically be logged in. Just as happens currently. Certainly on the Beta version we are testing that is what happens. So many members will never even know there are adverts appearing in the outside site ;)

                                Nov 03, 2019#15

                                aDub wrote:Remember, in I.T., things only go wrong when it's funny!
                                Careful planning is the key, and always have a roll back option!
                                Best of luck
                                We have fresh backups and the current server is paid up till early December so we have four weeks where we can just change our minds and go back to how we are now. Hopefully not an option we will need but part of the reason we are moving slightly earlier than I would have normally to allow for a longer period where we can roll back.
                                John

                                Every time a canoe trip is not blogged on SotP, God makes a new kayaker.  SMopencanoe

                                1022
                                Member
                                1022

                                  Nov 03, 2019#16

                                  John
                                  Are you going to transfer existing users, or do we have to re-register after the move?

                                  best of luck
                                  Simon
                                  (who is in the throes of re-porting a yahoo-group)

                                  1,0752
                                  Member
                                  1,0752

                                    Nov 03, 2019#17

                                    Good news posting pics natively . Thanks for all the hard graft over the past 14 years ,John ,Admins and mods.. Hopefully the archives will transfer ok and be easily accessible .:).
                                    :Smilie_tent:

                                    20K2,260
                                    Administrator
                                    20K2,260

                                      Nov 03, 2019#18

                                      fishwics wrote:John
                                      Are you going to transfer existing users, or do we have to re-register after the move?

                                      best of luck
                                      Simon
                                      (who is in the throes of re-porting a yahoo-group)
                                      Users, their posts, avatars, private messages etc should all be moved across. You may have to re confirm your account when you log in but once you do that everything should have been transferred. Once the Domain is moved over to match all the old thread links should work too.
                                      John

                                      Every time a canoe trip is not blogged on SotP, God makes a new kayaker.  SMopencanoe

                                      2,365333
                                      Admin
                                      2,365333

                                        Nov 03, 2019#19

                                        Interesting Times. Kinda nice timing - much deserved and long overdue award celebrating the last 14 years, just as the forum enters its next stage. Here's to the next 14+ years.

                                        2,4056
                                        Member
                                        2,4056

                                          Nov 04, 2019#20

                                          Tapatalk should be proud to host SotP . Quality site this is. .....A credit to you John ....and all involved.

                                          Lets hope the transition is smoother than the last server move! ;)

                                          71
                                          Member
                                          71

                                            Nov 04, 2019#21

                                            Thanks for the heads up :)

                                            4
                                            Member
                                            4

                                              Hello all!

                                              Nov 04, 2019#22

                                              matt_outandabout wrote:Great news!

                                              Hope it goes well, then you can all go for a paddle... SMopencanoe
                                              Been utterly inactive as a paddler the last few years, my left shoulder acting up again, and the wifeäs balance gets worse, year for year.

                                              Now living part of the year in Thailand, by the way, a part of the world where the son has decided to establish himself, and since a little over a year I am now grandfather to two buys, twins!

                                              Tord
                                              Retired busdriver (the articulated kind). Klepper XXL owner.

                                              Enthusiast of everything that flies, not least seabirds, raptors, and flying fleas.
                                              Camera nut. Sadly, busted left shoulder.

                                              20K2,260
                                              Administrator
                                              20K2,260

                                                Nov 04, 2019#23

                                                Tord55 wrote:Been utterly inactive as a paddler the last few years, my left shoulder acting up again, and the wifeäs balance gets worse, year for year.

                                                Now living part of the year in Thailand, by the way, a part of the world where the son has decided to establish himself, and since a little over a year I am now grandfather to two buys, twins!

                                                Tord
                                                I thought it sounded like you had been a member before. I’ve found your old account and merged into the new one you’ve created so as to keep everything together.
                                                John

                                                Every time a canoe trip is not blogged on SotP, God makes a new kayaker.  SMopencanoe

                                                4
                                                Member
                                                4

                                                  Nov 04, 2019#24

                                                  Thanks a lot, John!

                                                  I've gained a lot expertize in cameras in the passing years, and hope to electrify my canoe, soon! Should be an excellent camera platform!
                                                  Retired busdriver (the articulated kind). Klepper XXL owner.

                                                  Enthusiast of everything that flies, not least seabirds, raptors, and flying fleas.
                                                  Camera nut. Sadly, busted left shoulder.

                                                  4,16791
                                                  Moderator
                                                  4,16791

                                                    Nov 07, 2019#25

                                                    Not long now.

                                                    When is zero hour?
                                                    Chris

                                                    SMhappy99:Smilie_tent:SMopencanoe:sailing:

                                                    20K2,260
                                                    Administrator
                                                    20K2,260

                                                      Nov 07, 2019#26

                                                      I’ve literally just come online to close the forum. The migration should take place between midnight and say 6am. Then I should be sorting out settings on the new forum which could take any amount of time but I’m hoping will be done by lunchtime. I’ll then post the url on here and Facebook of where the forum can be accessed while the domain changes over. Of course that’s the plan. Reality may differ substantially.
                                                      John

                                                      Every time a canoe trip is not blogged on SotP, God makes a new kayaker.  SMopencanoe

                                                      1,695594
                                                      Member
                                                      1,695594

                                                        Nov 08, 2019#27

                                                        I can't find the 'new posts' function so I can just display stuff I haven't read yet.

                                                        Can anyone help?
                                                        Lacking common sense

                                                        27K3,045
                                                        Contributing Member
                                                        27K3,045

                                                          Nov 08, 2019#28

                                                          Can't get on at all now yet can somehow see this post, but the closest seemed to be the "discussions" tab. Couldn't find a direct New Posts thing, mentioned to John already
                                                          SMopencanoePaddler,blogger,camper,pyromaniac:

                                                          Blog: Wilderness is a State of Mind

                                                          Paddle Points - where to paddle

                                                          1,683287
                                                          Contributing Member
                                                          1,683287

                                                            Nov 08, 2019#29

                                                            Bonefish Blues wrote:
                                                            Nov 08, 2019
                                                            I can't find the 'new posts' function so I can just display stuff I haven't read yet.

                                                            Can anyone help?

                                                            Yep, go to Discussions (middle of top bar), then Unread appears directly below - sorted ;)
                                                            Life's too short not to!

                                                            5,0788
                                                            Member
                                                            5,0788

                                                              Nov 08, 2019#30

                                                              Not sure where to post this, so I'll just put it here. I'm afraid I'm old and mostly tech-illiterate, so I'll apologize in advance. 

                                                              I don't really know what 'tapatalk' is. It seems to be an Application for 'smart' phones. I got a message when I signed in today, saying essentially that my 'Username' - sk8r - is already being used an that Application, so I need to open a Tapatalk account with a different User name. I don't have a 'smart' phone - I still use by old flip-phone - so I can't use 'Tapatalk' anyway, so I don't want to provide information to an Application which is unknown to me, and obviously inaccessible because I don't have any 'mobile' devices. 

                                                              My question is simply whether or not I can just continue as I am (as I did today) or will I ultimately be refused access here because I don't set up a Tapatalk account (which I am not doing) ? 

                                                              27K3,045
                                                              Contributing Member
                                                              27K3,045

                                                                Nov 08, 2019#31

                                                                sk8r wrote:
                                                                Nov 08, 2019
                                                                Not sure where to post this, so I'll just put it here. I'm afraid I'm old and mostly tech-illiterate, so I'll apologize in advance. 

                                                                I don't really know what 'tapatalk' is. It seems to be an Application for 'smart' phones. I got a message when I signed in today, saying essentially that my 'Username' - sk8r - is already being used an that Application, so I need to open a Tapatalk account with a different User name. I don't have a 'smart' phone - I still use by old flip-phone - so I can't use 'Tapatalk' anyway, so I don't want to provide information to an Application which is unknown to me, and obviously inaccessible because I don't have any 'mobile' devices. 

                                                                My question is simply whether or not I can just continue as I am (as I did today) or will I ultimately be refused access here because I don't set up a Tapatalk account (which I am not doing) ? 
                                                                John will correct me if I'm wrong here, but as a fellow cynic I was suspicious of Tapatalk accounts too. After a couple of Beta test plays before it went live, I now seem to be free of Tapatalk. You also seem to have managed to post, so must, by default, be a member without having to set up any other accounts? You will, though, have some sort of background Tapatalk account but this is just the new host account. I think! 
                                                                If you do get any Tapatalk interference/ads/attempts to get you to join things etc, report to John as he's very much not wanting that!!!
                                                                SMopencanoePaddler,blogger,camper,pyromaniac:

                                                                Blog: Wilderness is a State of Mind

                                                                Paddle Points - where to paddle

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                                                                22

                                                                  Nov 08, 2019#32

                                                                  I have simply logged in with my old forum account info and all seems to be fine ..... well done 👍

                                                                  Best wishes
                                                                  Mike 

                                                                  6,0511,094
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                                                                  6,0511,094

                                                                    Nov 08, 2019#33

                                                                    I like the size of the avatars. I see we also have a like button now too.
                                                                    Big Al.

                                                                    Only when the last tree has died
                                                                    and the last river been poisoned
                                                                    and the last fish been caught
                                                                    will we realise we cannot eat money.
                                                                    ~Cree Indian Proverb

                                                                    5,0788
                                                                    Member
                                                                    5,0788

                                                                      Nov 08, 2019#34

                                                                      Thanks Mal - so I will adopt my usual fallback position for tech issues - do nothing & see what happens. 🤔

                                                                      20K2,260
                                                                      Administrator
                                                                      20K2,260

                                                                        Nov 08, 2019#35

                                                                        Yup what Mal said. You don’t need a smart phone or the like. You can just use the website like before except picture posting will be easier. Tapatalk will manage hosting in the background but should be essentially invisible once we have ironed out some bugs.

                                                                        And there will be multiple bugs over the next few days while I test and break stuff :-)
                                                                        John

                                                                        Every time a canoe trip is not blogged on SotP, God makes a new kayaker.  SMopencanoe

                                                                        5,320577
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                                                                        5,320577

                                                                          Nov 08, 2019#36

                                                                          Looking good so far John ... well done to you and all your elves 😀
                                                                          DCUK
                                                                          Can't ytpe or roopf read

                                                                          2,4056
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                                                                          2,4056

                                                                            Nov 08, 2019#37

                                                                            IHello! ...hooray a 'like' button....  I think thats a really thing good to have... ;) 

                                                                            As for tapatalk hosting pics... I've been doing that for some time on here and on forums without tapatalk!  

                                                                            20K2,260
                                                                            Administrator
                                                                            20K2,260

                                                                              Nov 08, 2019#38

                                                                              I do think the “Like” button can be a good thing, my only concern is if it makes people actually comment less. There was an option for a “dislike” button but there was no way I was having that.
                                                                              John

                                                                              Every time a canoe trip is not blogged on SotP, God makes a new kayaker.  SMopencanoe

                                                                              2,4056
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                                                                              2,4056

                                                                                Nov 08, 2019#39

                                                                                MagiKelly wrote:I do think the “Like” button can be a good thing, my only concern is if it makes people actually comment less. There was an option for a “dislike” button but there was no way I was having that.
                                                                                Lets see... ;)


                                                                                Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

                                                                                27K3,045
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                                                                                27K3,045

                                                                                  Nov 08, 2019#40

                                                                                  MagiKelly wrote:
                                                                                  Nov 08, 2019
                                                                                  I do think the “Like” button can be a good thing, my only concern is if it makes people actually comment less. There was an option for a “dislike” button but there was no way I was having that.
                                                                                  Tend to agree, though I am as guilty as anyone of taking the quick "Like" option when busy. I hope that the members of SOTP continue to be a bit different than other forum posters, and keep the brilliant level of actual human response and good humoured chat that we've enjoyed for so long.
                                                                                  SMopencanoePaddler,blogger,camper,pyromaniac:

                                                                                  Blog: Wilderness is a State of Mind

                                                                                  Paddle Points - where to paddle

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