-= Gametoast.com =-

I may in the near future host my own website. But to me, it's not complete without forums.

I understand that php is integrated into the html, but would like to avoid php if possible

So lets get straight to the point: Is there an easy way to create an html based forum opposed to a php based forum?

If not, is there an easy way to create a php based forum?

I know basic html (enough to create a decent website), but have no knowledge of how php works. I also understand a little C.

html is static and crappy , for people to able to interact you will want php or cgi (which is old technology). There are piles of free php forums online, this site uses pnphpbb2 and postnuke. Happy luck to your site!

I am definately inclined to agree with Guru. Other free standalone forums out there are phpbb2 (which both postnuke, as mentioned, and php-nuke CMSs have ported modules for them) and Simple Machines Forum. vBulletin is (from what I heard) a good one, but it is a commercial product which means you pay.

As far as you understanding C somewhat, you should be able to pick up on php fairly easily. Command structure is fairly similar.

Would I have to write the code myself for the forums, or am I correct in understanding that there are pre-made templates I could use for forums?

Let me explain, A friend of mine hopes to launch a site, as do I. We both want the homepage to be html based with links to the php based forums. He is very picky in the fact that he wants to understand exactly what is going on with the site as to how it works. I obviously will understand the html side, but I am not as picky when it comes to the structures of the forums (in other words, I do not mind if I do not completely understand the forums' structure, he does mind)

So, back to my first question: Are there pre-made templates for forums, or do I have to write them all myself?

EDIT: Whoops! I guess I didn't realize that those were pre-compiled templates, sorry for my temporary confusion

Yes. There are. http://www.phpbb.com
PhpBB is very good. And it's really quick to set up. I usually get PhpBB, get a template for it, add the quick reply mod, and edit the template to my liking

For PhpBB, do i have to upload it to a server, or can I set up a personal temporary server on my computer? (to get the hang of how it works)


So to my understanding, PhpBB will just 'work'? as in no url linking required?

EDIT: Is there any free hosting sites that support PHP? I want to get some firsthand experience with linking and uploading a website before I pay for one. Call it practice

www.110mb.com is good and free hosting. For a full list of their features see : Web features

It's got all the doobry whatsits you'll probably initially need. Setup your MySQL Database, they use phpminiadmin to do so, it sounds more complex than it really is. It basically just involves uploading some script to the root directory and then running it. Next download PostNuke, v. 0764 is the latest stable release, you want that one. Upload the unzipped files to your root directory and start the installer, PN will pretty much do the rest. Ok well now you've got your dynamic site up and running, although no forums as yet though. Go to www.pnphpbb.com and download the PNphpBB2 module for your site, again it sounds more complex than it really is plus there's a simple install guide. Once that's up and running you're pretty much done. To make your site look fancy you'll want to play around with "themes" (a selection come with PN). There are loads of places to get themes, basically "do a google", the PostNuke community forum has some free ones as does www.autothemes.com, dev-postnuke has some good ones, check out dpXanAkodarkgemV2 see if it looks familiar . You can always start from scratch and write your own .css for PN of course. PN makes the whole process and workings of the site really easy to manage for the non technically inclined but also flexible for the more advaced user, so it should be fine for the purposes of you and your friend. I Hope that all makes sense, good luck!

It basically just involves uploading some script to the root directory and then running it

Exactly What Scripts are you talking about? I mean, are they included with the PHPBB download or do I need to go find them separately?

I looked at the MySQL Server yesterday and found it a little confusing

Thank you for your help

they're all included. you download a zip file from postnuke, unzip it and then FTP the whole thing to your online root directory. once you've done that run install.php and it'll take you step by step through the process (5 steps I think) once it's finished your dynamic site is done. The process is almost identical for the PNphpBB2 module. all scripts are included and are pretty much all sorted by the installer.

Being as we're talking about forums and websites and stuff like that, Guru, what's the bandwith limit for this site?

Ooh. Most likely quite high, considering the amount of people who come here daily.
@CarbineImpulse - You don't need PostNuke to use PhpBB, though. You can download PhpBB by itself.

@CarbineImpulse - You don't need PostNuke to use PhpBB, though. You can download PhpBB by itself

well aware of that, however going by the things he said he was after in his posts and Guru's mention of PostNuke then I thought I'd give it to him in a bit more detail

So then, what exactly does post-nuke do? does it have to do with user changeable themes or something?

Update: 110mb.com is not letting me access the 'phpminiadmin.php' that they told me to upload in order to use their sql/phpadmin tools. Any Thoughts on how to fix this?

If this doesn't clear up, I may have to find a new site to host for now.

As I have said, right now is practice; I plan to purchase a domain as well as a paid web host after I get the hang of it.

PostNuke is a Content Management System (CMS), and its for your site itself, not for the forums. But you can add PhpBB in with it. It's what GameToast uses. The website itself is PostNuke, not the forums.

So basically what you guys have told me so far would let me build an identical gametoast-structured site? (obviously without the same theme)

Oh, and I still need help with the questions in my previous post

Adreniline wrote: So basically what you guys have told me so far would let me build an identical gametoast-structured site? (obviously without the same theme)

yep

In your 110mb control panel click on "Create/delete MySQL database" create the database, give it a name, a user, a password and then set the permissions, (sounds complicated but it's basically a tick box form). Once that's done your database is sorted. Download the phpminiadmin.zip from their site and unzip it. Upload the contents (via FTP) it's better than using "File Manager" up to your online root folder. Running http://whateveryoucalled it.110mb.com/phpminiadmin.php will let you see and select your database. If it's there then simply move on to the next stage of things. Download PostNuke. Unzip the file and then FTP the whole lot up to your 110mb root folder. Once it's all uploaded run http://whateveryoucalled it.110mb.com/install.php that'll install PostNuke for you. It'll ask you for the database details, ie name, password etc... so you'll need to remember them. Once it's finished you'll have a fully functioning CMS. If you want forums then download PNphpBB2 unzip the file, upload to your root folder and follow their instructions to install it. That's pretty much all you need to do, you can jiggle about and explore stuff and site structure later to make it more complex. If you want the GT Theme then click here the site's called Dev-PostNuke.com and you want the dpXanAkodarkgemV2 theme you may have to register but the theme is free. Unzip the file and upload the entire dpXanAkodarkgemV2 folder up and into the "themes" folder in your site. Select that theme from the admin section of your site and bingo! you're well on your way.

if Im not to busy i'll code you a forum

Adreniline wrote:So basically what you guys have told me so far would let me build an identical gametoast-structured site? (obviously without the same theme)

By "structure", you mean basically the same stuff? Then, yes.
But, I still like HTML

First I want to thank everyone who has helped me so far, especially for their patience.

Ok, I understand the ftp stuff enough; I already uploaded all of the files i need for what you have listed to this point. And I have uploaded the PHPminiadmin, earlier i couldn't access it at all....now the problem is that the 'apply' button you see in this picture below, is not there


@swbf_lase: I don't want some one else doing this for me, I want to learn it myself so I can do it repeatedly if needed. But thanks for offering.

@CarbineImpulse: I don't want to make my site a 'GT Look Alike' necessarily, maybe I will later, but I found some other themes I also like. and when you say '"themes" folder in your site', I assume this folder is in the PHPBB folder?

I've never used PostNuke, but I'm guessing that theres a themes or templates folder in your PostNuke folder too.