WE LOST ALL OUR PICS!

[MasterBlaster]

The reason we couldn't post any attachments was because the database was corrupt and because of that we lost all attachments. :(

Sorry everyone. Evidently this happened because I never pruned anything from the TreeHouse. I'm not sure what Funky set it to, but I think its gonna be 60 days. If a thread isn't bumped in that time it will be pruned. However, the Hall Of Fame forum will NOT be pruned. I'm not sure how I'll handle that, I'll play it by ear at this time.

And thanks to Funky for sorting all of this out! :rockon:

[sotc]

bummer!

[brendonv]

That's a bummer.

One of my favorite past times was going back and reading old posts.

Witnessing evolution.

[MasterBlaster]

The old TH is still there sans pics. :(

[Frans]

glad you figured it out. Too bad about the old attachments tho. I guess the TH has just gotten to big

[vharrison]

So we will loose threads if they are not bumped in 60 days?

[MasterBlaster]

Yes, unless they are in the Hall Of Fame forum.

That sounds bad at first, but actually it isn't.

I think.

[Dave Shepard]

What a bummer. There were so many good pictures here on the Treehouse.:(


Why does vBulletin require pruning? Every vBulletin I visit has pruning issues. Is it because of available storage space at your host?


Dave

[MasterBlaster]

I'm not sure how it works. My server (Ipowerweb) has tons of space. It's the database of the vBulletin software that has the problems. I need to look around for something better, maybe. Supposedly, THIS vBulletin crap was supposed to be the best.

[squisher]

Damn that sucks :( . I mean nothing you could do about it but man that still sucks.

[Dave Shepard]

From a user stand point, especially with dialup, vBulletin is not my first choice. If you are considering a switch, I can highly recommend SMF www.simplemachines.org I have two forums using SMF and find that it is very easy to setup and maintain, and it's free, with tons of support at the SMF forum. I don't know how hard it would be to convert, but it can be done. I am using a bridge to Coppermine for photos, which requires a couple more mouse clicks than an attachment, but offers good control of photo content. The Forestry Forum uses SMF as an example. It is has been customized a little though for appearences sake. Jeff is a real wizard when it comes to running the forum. Don't know if this helps at all. Thanks for all your efforts MB and Funky, the Treehouse stands out from the forum crowd.:thumbup:


Dave

[Paul B]

ouch, after my computer crashed this summer here is where I came to recover some of the pics I lost... thanks Funky for fixing the house!

[squisher]

Here is where I should have come after my computer crash to recover a bunch of my pics which are now gone forever :( . Dang man I'll be missing those old threads too.

[MasterBlaster]

From a user stand point, especially with dialup, vBulletin is not my first choice. If you are considering a switch, I can highly recommend SMF www.simplemachines.org


Their site has crashed. You sure it's good?

[Dave Shepard]

Hardware problems can happen to anybody. You wouldn't be hosting through them anyway. If you like your host, there's no reason you can't stay with them, should you wish to switch to a different software package.

I hate the idea of loosing old posts, some of them have a ton of great information in them. One of my favorite forum activities is to go back through a forum and read old topics.


Dave

[NickfromWI]

MB, vBulletin can't get the pics back? Those were a huge part of this site. I would refer people here to check out pics of splices and things like that.

Youch...this one hurts!

love
nick

[GASoline71]

Bummer... yes.

But... we are still here hangin' out. We will overcome! :)

Good luck Butch.

Gary

[MasterBlaster]

MB, vBulletin can't get the pics back? Those were a huge part of this site. I would refer people here to check out pics of splices and things like that.

Youch...this one hurts!

love
nick

It sure does. Starting a new thread is the only way to bounce back. I'm restarting the threads that are important that I can think of.

[NickfromWI]

Why is this all of a sudden being thrown on us now? Did vBulletin change their software recently? This website has been a wealth of knowledge and a great reference source on many an occasion. Now we're limited to what we've talked about in the last 60 days?

Is there such a thing as vBulletin PREMIUM where we don't have to deal with that? I know a lot of us pick on Treebuzz because you can only post one pic at a time. It seems it'd be better to go through that pain, just to know the pic will still be there in 2 months.

There's got to be a way!

love
nick

[MasterBlaster]

There IS a way, the HOF forum. Picture dependant threads will HAVE to go in that forum.

But really, think about it; If a thread hasn't been bumped in over two months, then (IMO) that thread has run it's course anyhow.

And I'm open to suggestions as to better forum software.

[GASoline71]

True... but it was cool to be able to show some of my friends and family threads like "Beranek's Big Tree" thread, or "Fallin' with D.Douglas Dent" whenever I wanted/needed to.

We'll recover though... Treehousers always do.

Gary

[squisher]

True Gary! Adversity is the true test of a mofo........or something like that.8)

[MasterBlaster]

It's not that hard to remember every two months to bump a thread, is it?

And if it's that important it can always be moved to the HOF.

Can you dig it?

[GASoline71]

Can you dig it?

I can bro! :thumbup:

maybe we can talk gerry and Burnham in to posting those pics again so we can move them into the HOF. :)

Gary

[Burnham]

There IS a way, the HOF forum. Picture dependant threads will HAVE to go in that forum.

But really, think about it; If a thread hasn't been bumped in over two months, then (IMO) that thread has run it's course anyhow.

And I'm open to suggestions as to better forum software.

I'm sure you are correct for many of the TH'ers. But for me it's a little different. The sole reason I am permitted to spend time on Internet tree climbing forums while in pay status, using Forest Service hardware, is my role as technical advisor to the FS Tree Climbing Program. I field questions from agencies all over: federal, state, municipal, Tribal, private sector, and even general public. The archives I most often turn to for research to refresh my memory to answer queries I receive are past threads here in the THouse. It's not just a pastime for me, it's part of my job. The accumulated expertise contained in past threads, available for me to draw on, is one reason my reputation as a TA is as good as it is, if I may be so vain as to say it.

Now I know you can't do anything about this, Butch, especially just for my specific needs. And I know that you wouldn't have chosen this outcome if you'd had a choice.

I'm really bummed, because one of the very best tools I had to serve my "customers" has just evaporated.
:whine:

[Al Smith]

Without going into the whole details,I recently found Vbullitin .org which evidently is a portion of VB that addresses problems that site owners are faced with.

I can only see a portion of it becauise I'm not a member,don't have a site ya know.Never the less there are some interesting topics covering many things. I don't doubt this is one that could be covered.

[MasterBlaster]

Don't get me wrong, I think it sucks that threads have to be pruned. The reality is sinking in as I see how all the forums have lost so many good threads.
The only thing I can see to do now is to really rely on the HOF forum and bumping.

[Chisel Tooth]

Man that's a real kick in the nuts Burnham. But the really bad thing is we lost the cheerleader thread:whine: That really hurts.
<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253F partner%253DZSzeb008%255FZNxpt141YYUS%2526i%253D36 %252F36%255F1%255F44%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_44.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252F nocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egi f%253Fi%253D36%252F36_1_44/image.gif"></a>

[squisher]

No doubt this is a blow, losing all those threads. But atleast if we're all still here participating then someone can always get current up to date advise/views on pretty much whatever they're wondering about. If anyone's got a question they're wondering about start a new thread, and then I guess if it's deemed worthy/important enough it'll make it into the HOF.

[Burnham]

No doubt this is a blow, losing all those threads. But atleast if we're all still here participating then someone can always get current up to date advise/views on pretty much whatever they're wondering about. If anyone's got a question they're wondering about start a new thread, and then I guess if it's deemed worthy/important enough it'll make it into the HOF.

Right you are, Justin...right you are.

Sure do think the search function is going to pretty soon have cowebs on it though. 60 days goes by quick.

[squisher]

Oh yah we all lost quite a resource that's for sure, some real classic unbeleivably valuable threads, poof gone.:( But we're still up and running. Hopefully the positive will be that old topics can be renewed and maybe new ideas, discussion, and techniques will come of it.:thumbup:

[Frans]

i bet ekkka is happy

[Werks 4 da Man]

The problem is partially the fact that the allowed images are so big.

Fred

[MasterBlaster]

Yes, they ARE allowed to be BIG.


i bet ekkka is happy


I don't think he will ever be happy.

[lumberjack]

Is there a way to archive the prunings? I would think the only reason they must be pruned is because of memory limits on the host's software. Backups would be a lovely thing, and huge external hard drives are fairly cheap.

I'm bummed also.

[Burnham]

Butch, I think you need to increase the time window we can edit our posts...it goes away real fast right now, I think.

[sotc]

The problem is partially the fact that the allowed images are so big.

Fred

i like em big

[MasterBlaster]

I set it to 10 minutes. That's not enough?


Butch, I think you need to increase the time window we can edit our posts...it goes away real fast right now, I think.

[NickfromWI]

I don't think threads HAVE to be pruned. That's a crappy service. We had this site for months/years before it happened. I'm not content moving on. This is not just a tavern style place where we come in and chat about what other people happen to be chatting about. This is also a library. I think of other websites where I will pull up pics that were posted YEARS ago to relate to current conversations/threads.

There HAS to be a way to have a normal site again. How do we do it?

love
nick

[MasterBlaster]

I would have to pay hundreds of dollars a month to have a dedicated server.

It's simple, actually.

[NickfromWI]

Any idea why it happened so all of a sudden? We should've had the opportunity to know about it before hand and make a decision on it.

Andy why does this not happen at other forums? I'm thinking there is another piece to the puzzle that we don't know about.

love
nick

[MasterBlaster]

This is how Funky explains it.


About pruning:

What happens is that your db gets so full of information that it lags. Your tables for searching and your cache get packed and it slows the response of your server as well. Your DB had over 4GB in it.

I sorta understand.

[Dave Shepard]

MB, does your host have an Elefante Free Scripts button, or something similar? Mine does, and it has a bunch of different forum and gallery software packages, and it will set up a forum on your host in a few clicks of the mouse. If it does, you could setup a sub database and play around with some different forum software and see which one you like. SMF is back online.

I agree with Burnham, the old information is valuable. This is not the kind of site that has people that are just looking for a chance to post a "+1" at every opportunity. There shouldn't really be a problem keeping the forum intact. I have visited sites that have a couple of million posts, and they run at the same speed as other much smaller forums. Perhaps Funky could set me straight, if I am not seeing this situation correctly.


Dave


PS, if you want to see what it's like behind the scense at an SMF, I will set up an admin account at my newest forum, and you can play around setting up some sample boards and play with member permissions to see if you like it.

[MasterBlaster]

I'm gonna purchase some actual vBulletin phone tech support and see if we can't get around this pruning thing. But they're 8 - 5 Mon - Fri so I guess I'll have to wait til monday.

Fear not the Pay Pal donate button. I'm kinda running on empty lately. :(

Once I solve the vbulletin problem I'm gonna switch servers from Ipowerweb to these guys. (http://icdsoft.com/)

Dave, my web host has a free forum with the software. That was the first incarnation if the TreeHouse. I nixed it because we couldn't post sttachments.

[Skwerl]

Just getting back into town and noticed the new forum, this thread explains why it's here now. But I noticed that some threads from the Elder's forum are in it. Is the HOF forum open to everyone or just Elders?

[MasterBlaster]

Everyone.

[Che]

I think anything that was in the Elders should stay private...

Or at least give us the option to delete posts that we don't want open to the world.

My thought is that there have been some posts that were intended to be 'among family'.

[MasterBlaster]

Che, your thread is the only Elder thread moved to the HOF.

[Skwerl]

Ditto. IMO that is not good stewardship of the forum by moving private topics out into the public domain after the fact.

And there's no excuse for deleting all threads over 60 days old just because you insist on allowing huge picture uploads. Let's try a little reasonableness like most other places using vBulletin, by limiting picture size to a reasonable limit and therefore allowing enough room for longer term storage. You're making the wrong changes IMO.

[Che]

I thought there was another one.....but the Intro thread is one that I was thinking of. It's ok by me if no one else minds.....I figure NOTHING is really 'private' in cyber space. But then again....I may be a bit paranoid...........:/:

I wonder if the 'way back' site could have archived any on the pics.

[Werks 4 da Man]

How about some SELF-POLICING!!!!

This forum has the best pics and I don't want us to lose them.

Everyone can use the Microsoft editor that comes on virtually every PC to compress the picture for websites without losing much quality or use photobucket that does not effect the database.

Eat up Photobucket's bandwidth not ours.

Fred

[squisher]

Hmm I posted all my pics on your thread which is a double post of this post before catching up in here. Interesting I've always enjoyed the size and quality of the pics on here, I guess I could learn to make them smaller if I have to.:(

[treesandsurf]

What about using photobucket or another similar storage site and then embedding the pics from there? That way the pics will always be stored for you?
I know it's more work but if you can save the pics for as long as needed, maybe it's worth it?

jp:D

[lumberjack]

I too enjoy large pictures of decent + quality. My internet connection is slower than most peoples on here (I'm assuming) although it should be faster (1.5Mbps) than it is (400kbs depending).

Anywho, I host all my pics on photobucket, and I greatly enjoy the large embedded pics on this sight. While one page is loading I go to another browswer window in the other monitor.

Tiny pics suck!

[pantheraba]

Tiny pics suck!

What you said!!!! Piney ticks suck!!!

[squisher]

All I'm worried about is if we have a bunch of restrictions on posting pics, then we'll see less pics.

[MasterBlaster]

No restrictions really, just no BMP's and who needs BMP's?

[squisher]

What's a BMP? My head is swimming from reading about all these megabytes, gigabytes, and computer business. I figured out how to navigate here quite well and to be able to post pics but I have zero idea of the mechanics behind it.

[MasterBlaster]

What's a BMP? (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&q=What%27s+a+BMP%3F)

[lumberjack]

BMP's suck.

[RIVERRAT]

I figured out how to navigate here quite well and to be able to post pics but I have zero idea of the mechanics behind it.
Me to dude. I learned everything I know about posting pics & stuff on a computer right here at the T-House.
I is probably a spetter beller because of coming here to 8)

[Bodean]

Oh Great Bum deal.

We'll be back.

[Burnham]

I don't even know if I want to suggest this, really...but here goes.

IF Butch can work it so that I or others could edit an old thread, would it be worthwhile to add the pics back in to some of the best ones we lost?

I'm thinking of the Felling with D. Douglas Dent thread...that one I could figure out without too much difficulty, I think.

But is it worth the effort? Will it just get lost eventually in an auto-prune?

[pantheraba]

But is it worth the effort? Will it just get lost eventually in an auto-prune?

" aye, there's the rub" It's a good idea but the "auto-prune" is looming out there at the present. I'll be curious to see what shakes out.

[MasterBlaster]

My plan is to stop the auto-prune.

[Burnham]

What about the edit capability, Butch? Is that doable?

[MasterBlaster]

Yeah, I think I can fix that part now. What's happened is in the admin function, I've lost all the descriptions (on the left) of all the parameters (on the right). I think I can fix it...

Lemme try...

[MasterBlaster]

Alright, somebody try to edit an old post!

[Burnham]

I just looked, no edit button in the Dent thread.

[Blinky]

We lost the CHEERLEADER Thread?!!! Holy sheepshit!

I have a couple of opinions about this...

This is a great site, bar and grill, place to hang out, but... it's a searchable resource with real value. Limiting thread life to 60 days limits the value of the resource. If we value the resource enough, perhaps a change of software is in order... and that would take time and effort, maybe paid, maybe volunteer, maybe both... but WE would need to kick in and help make it happen.

SMF is a solid forum package. The photography site I used to mod on switched to it from vBulletin. The image archive there is extensive, the files are large and it goes back over a year. SMF is worth looking into.

If you REALLY wanna post pictures without Butch incurring lots overhead, the ticket is to host the image files somewhere else and post using the code. It gives you more control of your images for one thing, it also means the Treehouse host runs faster because it's not constantly serving up big-ass image files. It can be one of those obstacles you just don't want to deal with because you don't know how but it's really pretty easy once you do it a few times. There are lots of free image hosting sites that allow hot-linking but some don't so you have to pick your host carefully. The best way is if you have some web space somewhere like for a personal website, that gives you complete control.

I can't believe we lost the Cheerleader thread! [img]http://www.arborcarolina.com/_Images/Smileys/aaf_cry.gif

[MasterBlaster]

Anybody else?

[Chisel Tooth]

No edit button in any of my old post.

[MasterBlaster]

We lost the CHEERLEADER Thread?!!! Holy sheepshit!


Not really. (http://www.gypoclimber.com/showthread.php?t=9479)

[MasterBlaster]

I just looked, no edit button in the Dent thread.



No edit button in any of my old post.


Well, I guess I didn't fix it. It'll have to wait 'til I've got the tech on the horn.

[Burnham]

OK, Butch. Thanks anyway.

I'm not even sure it's worth the effort to go back and do this, for the most part. I'd be curious to see if anyone is interested. It would be time-consuming, since posting pics is usually a long drawn-out hassle for me.

[Paul B]

checked the food thread, no edit for me.

[MasterBlaster]

OK, try again!

[Paul B]

negative.

[MasterBlaster]

Shitskis!

[MasterBlaster]

How about now???

[Skwerl]

I now have an edit button on a post I made 4 hours ago. Still no access to edit a post from several months ago.

I just checked another thread, no edit access on a post from 2 weeks ago.

[MasterBlaster]

Hmmmm. Thats kinda like being half pregnant.

[Chisel Tooth]

I have one on the thread I checked eariler, 22 hrs old.

[Burnham]

The Dent thread still is a no go.

[MasterBlaster]

It's quite strange how I half fixed it, it's the corrupt software I'm sure.