Adding a forum to my site

What style would be best?

[TimmyMagic]

Hi,

I am setting up a website for a hobby of mine. We already have a site for a local club and this has an active forum on it already. But it is one of those basic types provided by Bravenet.

A couple of months ago this was changed to phpbb style forum. The people didn't like it and said it was to complicated. So it was changed back.

For the new site I am not sure what we should do. I personally prefer forums like phpbb because it allows for profiles, and can also be moderated. Plus of course when a reply is made it sends the thread back to the top.

However I don't think we would want lots of categories like here on WW. So is it possible to have phpbb but when they enter the forum they go straight into a category? Therefore there are no sections but a long stream of topics.

Also, other than phpbb is there some forum software like the stuff used by Bravenet but which is a bit better. i.e. simple for the user yet a few extra features.

I'd appreciate some input.

Thanks.

[encyclo]

You could try a simpler forum package - I particularly like MiniBB [minibb.net] (MiniBB can also be set to do what you want: just a list of subjects) - or you could simply "dumb-down" your current forum: phpBB is infinitely customiseable.

Basically, edit your template and get rid of all the extraneous stuff that just gets in the way and simplify the look and feel. It means you keep all the features you want, but it is easier for the members.

[kodaks]

Greetings,

You may get more results if you post in the Forum Community Builing page:
[webmasterworld.com...]

[smartcard]

If your hosting account is hosted by Cpanel, in most of the cases you will find such forums script already ready for instant setup [no need of download/upload] like CPSkins.com Script Auto-Installers. If not.. then you have to get one like phpbb, Invisionboard etc.,

You can find may free scripts at [hotscripts.com...]

[TimmyMagic]

Thanks for the advice. I'm checking them all out now!

Tim

[webmastertexas]

I've seen a lot of forums, but I've never heard anyone complain that phbb is difficult to use. (?)

[smartcard]

phpbb not difficult to use, got to their site and use the forum to check it yourself.

[mincklerstraat]

@encyclo: like the looks of minibb very much, 'default theme' looks more user-friendly than punbb, which also looks very promising. Ever looked at / used punbb, comparisons?

Note for other users: these more 'lightweight' boards are often attractive because of faster page return (less processor load) and SEO (less markup).

[TimmyMagic]

I agree that phpbb is not difficult to use. But when the forum was switched from a basic bravenet forum to phpbb then people didn't like it. I think the reason for this was that people didn't want to click into different topic areas and also because they didn't know how to login, etc. Some people just prefer the basic stuff and are not very web savey.

I think i will either give minibb a go or simplify phpbb so that it is as basic as it can be for the user. In my opinion anything is better than bravenet style forums, but I have to make it easy because we want a busy and active forum.

[SkyDog]

The most popular forum I've seen by far is vbulletin, it't not free, but not expensive either. A nice free one that's easy to use is phorum.org.