need forum script - which one to use?
 

I'm not trying to create another adult webmaster board lol
but I would like to offer my paysite members a nice forum
which script is the best out there? I never dealt with that before and have no idea whats hot or not.

I would like the script to be able to have urls in html
eg.
http://www.url.com/forum/thread245234.html
not like
https://gfy.com/showthread.php?threadid=245234&s=

any tips welcome :winkwink:

I always liked http://www.phpbb.com/

is it hard to install for a non-tech geek?

phpbb shouldn't be too hard to figure out. Use the readme file and you should do fine. Do you understand CHMOD and mysql stuff?

dont really even need to know mysql, just enough to create the database, phpbb does the rest for you :2 cents:

I think I would be able to install it... how long should that stuff take to install?

also what about VBulletin??

Vbulletin is the best forum software, there may be a mod which creates static HTML pages, trying checking out the vbulletin.com forums.

vbuliten is good, but someone without experience wouldnt be able to do a good skin/design on it.

plus it costs bucks $$$$$$

Right on but he still needs a few basic understandings of how to connect to the dbase through the script and the correct syntax to create the tables. That's all I was saying. Nothing too overly complicated but if he doesn't know what he is doing it's gonna be like trying to light a wet match.:1orglaugh

Vbulletin
And search on this board for mod rewrite board

Someone gave the url of a hack for Vbulletin for standar HTML

Vbulletin :thumbsup

Not that expensive. If you can do HTML you'll get the skin, just study it awhile.

Has all the features you'd want and then some.

vBulletin :thumbsup

vBulletin is widely accepted to be the best forum software.

i was able to install phpbb with no trouble at all and I have no knowledge at all about scripts. However, I now need to install a second board on the same host that only has one database and I can't figure out how to do it.

sarah_webinc (board tracker trap)

icq me i can hook you up, tis quite easy actually.

Ok
so I figure the html thing will not be a problem.. Can have my programmer do that (same with the installation).

Now which one is the best / securest when it comes to the features... ? is vb better than phpbb???

board tracker doesn't go that deep into a thread but luckily I am a self-guided board whore. I'll icq you.

yes

Not sure if any forums come with that default now? Possibly. Repetitive Monkey was working on a hack for a forum we run/ran a while back, not sure if he finished it. Basically a htaccess rewrite and some minor changes in the script code to make it link correctly.

ok... thanks so far
a last question before I decide
which one is easier to skin?

You wont have any trouble with phpbb2 although its crap for security.

What about invision board?

tell me about it please :)
never heard of it
any comments appreciated

phpbb offer an installation service

Well ...
I'm running phpBB which seems to be VERY stable.

I used to use the forum that came with phpNuke but it's modules as I soon discovered were buggy - and half the time not working. Eventually - I locked my self out of administrative functions by requesting my admin password.

What's a forum??? There are several "content" management systems out there that do the same types of things. ie: allow users to post live... I think the whole forum issue is blurred now that blogging is da' deal.

I would recommend searching for "content management" and doing some study before making up your mind.

Last week I decided to purchase the vBulletin script because I heard it was better than phpbbs. Now I need to find an inexpensive skin for it.

Never dealt with phpbb, though I take it you're talking about a custom skin? Go to somewhere like vbulletintemplates.com or vbulletin.org and you will get a decent designer to skin you one pretty cheap. Overall vbulletin is the best I think, though it is a bit too heavy resource wise. I like to slim the options, etc down a bit.

www.extremepixels.com (paid)

or

www.vbulletintemplates.com (free)

thanks odin for the comments / urls.

VB3 is the best I've seen.

Thanks for the URL. I was refering more to custom skins you get done like TGP templates. Designers that do them charge an harm and a leg for them, at least those that I know of....