Can vBadvanced Dynamics replace my current plugins?

[trbothead]

Hi,

I've been using downloads II and GARS for several months now, but am looking at possibly replacing the two. I actually just looking at replacing GARS for a number of reasons but found that vBadvanced Dynamics might be able to replace both of them. I have quite a bit of experience with CMPS and I've been really happy with the experience and vBadvanced has always been really great with functionality, support and updates. Also, with the new vb 4.0 coming out (complete overhaul of the vbulletin software), I wanted to try and consilidate as much as possible, reducing the amount of problems I may run into during an upgrade and go with a company that I trust will work hard towards upgrading their software to be compatible with 4.0.

I've been through the product demos of Dynamics (still making my way through the admincp demo) and so far have been really impressed. Since I am doing an actual move from one plugin to another, I do have a number of questions though.

Where do I start...

First, here's a link to my site: http://tinyurl.com/dezkpr

Click on TRC Tutorials in the left navigation menu. These obviously are the community tutorials built using GARS. You can also click on Data Center, which is built using Downloads II. Off hand, can you think of anything I should be aware of that I can/cannot do to replicate the current architecture?

If I move over to Dynamics, would I be able to move these tutorials and product reviews over? What about the Data Center, how exactly would that work? Be honest, I know I'll probably have some grunt work to do, but if the end result will be a far better setup then what I currently have, it's worth it.

I'm sure I'll think of more, but I think that's all of the questions at least for now.

If the answer is yes (to the subject line question), I think I'm going to kick myself really hard for not looking deeper into vBadvanced Dynamics in the first place

[Brian]

The only things I'm noticing in your tutorial section that are not default vBa Dynamics features are the Bookmarks and Similar Threads sections.
For the Downloads section, about the only thing I'm seeing is the way 'Downloads' is shown when browsing a category. vBa Dynamics would show the number of times the page has been viewed in that spot instead, then the number of actual downloads would be shown next to the attachment when viewing the entry.
There is not currently an import script available, but if you decide to purchase vBa Dynamics and would not mind submitting a support ticket with your server info and access to phpMyAdmin then I'll be glad to create one for both products. Note that it might be a week or two before I would be able to get to it... Hopefully sooner, but I don't want to make any promises I might not be able to keep.

[trbothead]

The Bookmarks and Similar Threads sections are really just arbitrary and not really that neccessary. The 'Downloads' really isn't too big of a deal either. I guess my main concern is if it possible to move everything over to using vBa Dynamics. Since I'm running a downloads section along with a tutorials and product reviews section (forgot to post that link earlier but it's still using GARS so it shouldn't be much of a problem), I'll need to purchase the "multiple instances" license though, right?

If you're offering to create import scripts for the migration, that would be greatly appreciated and I think will be just enough to convince the "man upstairs" to approve the purchase Even if it does take a week or two, no worries. I'm sure it'd still be MUCH quicker than if I were to have to figure it all out myself, lol! The man is out of the office till Monday, so in the meantime I'll keep going through the demos and stuff to get more familar with the system and post more questions as they come up.

Thanks a ton Brian!! As always, you rock! I wish I could somehow copy the amazing support you provide over to other support areas that I deal with in my life

[trbothead]

okay, a few quick questions

When I add the search module, does it search only within that specific instance of vBa Dynamics?

Can I change the term "Article" to whatever we want on a per instance basis (ie. one instance called "Tutorials" one instance called "Product Review", etc.)?

How do I switch an instance of vBa Dynamics to File Sharing (probably just ignore this one, I haven't dug deep enough into it, lol)?

[Brian]

I've been meaning to make an import script for those who would like to switch from either of those products, but I don't think there have been many/any requests. I wasn't thinking about this earlier, but the vB import script available can be used to import GARS info since GARS just uses vB's tables for it's data. The only thing I'm aware of that it doesn't import is custom fields. If you have any of those in GARS let me know and it shouldn't be a problem to include those. Otherwise, the current vB import script should already be able to do the job.

Yes, running multiple versions like that would require the Multiple Instance license.

The search module only searches a single instance (the one you search from). There is an option to add additional search inputs in the vB 'Search' drop-down menu for each instance though.

Yes, the terms 'Article' (Entry by default) and 'Category' can be changed per instance.

Switching it to "file sharing" is basically just a matter of changing the settings (using the "simple" entrybit template, requiring attachments, etc). The install file gives you an option to choose what type of application you want to use the software for (Articles, Blogs, or File Sharing) toward the end and will pre-configure about a dozen settings so it'll behave more like the selected application. All of those settings can be changed at any time in the Admin CP as well.

[trbothead]

Thanks for the answers Brian! Great to hear about the search module. I didn't want it to search outside of that instance


New set of questions I think I'm getting towards the end of them though (I'll be PM'ing you shortly about the financial side of things):


I do have some custom fields, but they're only in the Tutorials section, not Product Reviews:

Difficulty - Text Field
Estimated Time - Text Field
Skills Required - Large Text Field (HTML Enabled)
Parts Required - Large Text Field (HTML Enabled)
Tools Required - Large Text Field (HTML Enabled)

You can see how all of these are displayed in the following tutorial in the right hand column:

http://tinyurl.com/d9qbms

These are all an integral part of the tutorials section. Would there be any issues moving these over and having them display as they are now? I see there are custom fields in vBa Dynamics, but I didn't see options for enabling HTML on them.

Just so that I understand how custom fields work: In order to display custom fields on a page in vBa Dyanamics, do I add the custom field(s) to a new module and then edit the page under "Edit Module Layouts" to display the module where I want?

If you look at the link above, you'll also see that I have a Tutorial Member Ratings module in the right hand column. Will this be a problem to add in?

Will keeping the current page breaks (and text headings for each new page) in each tutorial be an issue?

Will we still keep the comments that members added to tutorials?

And finally, what about attachments in tutorials? Will we still be able to 1) keep the attachments and 2) keep them embedded in the tutorials?


Sorry about all of the questions, but I wanted to make sure I have all the answers for the boss when he comes in on Monday.

[Brian]

The custom fields *shouldn't* be an issue to import. I haven't seen exactly how GARS handles those, but I can't imagine there would be anything too difficult about converting it.

If you go to Admin CP => vBa Dynamics => Manage Categories => {select category}, then you'll see the setting for 'Allow HTML' near the bottom there.

Just so that I understand how custom fields work: In order to display custom fields on a page in vBa Dyanamics, do I add the custom field(s) to a new module and then edit the page under "Edit Module Layouts" to display the module where I want?

No, custom fields do not have anything to do with the module system. They're basically the same as custom fields in vBa Links, though with a couple of extra options to control where the fields are displayed when submitting/viewing an entry.

There is not a 'Member rating' module included with vBa Dynamics by default, just the simple 5 star rating option that you see when viewing an entry. You could possibly alter that a bit to change the way it's displayed, but there are not any default options that would allow for ratings with different "categories" as you seem to have there.

The format of any entries, attachments, and comments that are imported should remain the same after the import.

[deathemperor]

brian
i want to use vba dyna also as download management
i use download II product wich have alot of missied features

i want import script to tranfer all entries in download II to vba dyna "new instance"

i have alittle small thing :
we use download II as download links not as attachement system but as using external link which is already feature in downlad II

so this specific field showld go to new custom filed that we made as field for external link

if this done it will be great thing because i use custom product that enable to use customfiled to count how many they click this links
and also with group permissions

thank u Brian
u r the best

[Brian]

If you wouldn't mind submitting a support ticket with your forum/server info, and phpMyAdmin access if possible then I'll see what I can do.

[trbothead]

I guess it's not too big of deal with loosing the member ratings. I'm sure our community members will understand once they see how much better the vBa Dynamics version of their new tutorials section is

Anywoo, I sent you a PM yesterday about pricing on everything.

[deathemperor]

Originally Posted by Brian

If you wouldn't mind submitting a support ticket with your forum/server info, and phpMyAdmin access if possible then I'll see what I can do.

give me time to finish some custom work on my site and i will provide u access to mysql