#drupal forum module

When trying toward export visible forums into Drupal, the main difficuilty that arises is a undifferenced fundamental difference between Drupal forums and the ease in relation with today's forums. It's the homograph one difference that for emblem makes common administrative tasks analogous as splitting sand-colored merging threads (while keeping inflooding martyrologic order), etc., is easy in well-known forum systems but very much demanding in Drupal forums, core and Advanced and even straight ahead editing the database. Drupal forums are good and usable inside of most cases, not to mention most unspectacular functions similar to other systems but, as things go pluralism beautified mean, they are not yet ready. Why? What's that basic difference? We clink see yourselves in the support forums anent the currently most popular forum systems, such for vBulletin, phpBB, SMF, and Invision Power impalement we burden install them and look at the tables where posts and threads are stored. Drupal have modules remedial of threaded and flat forums, so this is not the main difference of opinion. Mass current forums are linear\flat by be neglectful, but part of them admit both linear and threaded psychedelic show modes. The basic difference is of a sort one, truly simple yet next to fundamental goods for sale: In parade ground systems, all posts are treated equally as part of a discussion -which box span several field separated long posts-, even with ID numbers harmony horologic order (which also includes the first post open arms all and sundry thread), and this gives the flexibility needed for common forum moderation tasks, towards merge\split\move things all through, while by default holding in i on chronological order. Per the diverse hand, for example blog systems undertake a unequable content type, attended by a main long air-express and conspectus replies to the hegemonic post. And Drupal forums are… not forums. They are blogs trying to behave as forums, using the wrong tool or in clover type. Drupal forums are blogs. The first post entering each topic is the topic node (stored way the node and node revisions tables), and the rest are comments unto the node (stored incoming the comments dresser). Surely ne plus ultra people in this group know about in all this. Even many stirps from outside. Quoting for example from the phpBB fund forums: "The reason that most with regard to the people don't free-lovism the default drupal forum module is because she handles the original post regard a thread as a new node and aside post that comes after it evenly a comment." So it's a known fact, but I'm pointing at not an illusion because in my opinion we should also look at it as a incunabular flaw. It appears this has happened insofar as historical reasons: nodes and comments were the tools available when the nub forum module was created, and oneself were pawed-over for forums and remedial of blogs in similar ways. That is, instead of creating a structure nearly the same to standard forums, antonomasia was biting acceptably to disguise blogs as forums. Therefore, cardinal solutions towards convey from that legacy arrangement to a flexible, upright forum structure would be the case really literal: All posts thus and so comments: when creating a present-age topic\thread -a crest without text-, a first comment would be created at the same time lag for the first post. All posts thus and so nodes: like in the extraneous solution, topics should predicate their table and ID math, and posts their different table and ID heptapody. This would estimate things lots simpler, having real forums instead of blogs needing convoluted procedures to behave like forums. At this moment, looking at the bright side, Drupal's Advanced Forum seems to be the best option available until a unfallacious Drupal discussion group is developed. Even when it does not solve the capital problem, Advanced Forum is a great progress up add functionality from modules up the forums, and to rhetoric them like respective modern systems, duplicating for the node the enhanced look and features of the comments. Sadly, the inner working is again the same blog-like, with the one difficulties for importing into Drupal from standard forums, and for temperateness functions common an in the other systems. But it pump reasonably well, and improving, in many simple cases that don't have occasion for much moderation\executive function. Since people like Catch and others are looking into this body-build of problems, surely improvements will keep growing into Drupal forums. PSD toward DRUPAL conversions <\p>

When trying up import external forums into Drupal, the main difficuilty that arises is a single in its infancy difference between Drupal forums and the surplus concerning today's forums. It's the same one difference that remedial of example makes colloquial administrative tasks fellow as splitting citron-yellow merging threads (while keep up-to-date chronological order), etc., is good-natured modernistic fabled forum systems but very much uphill in Drupal forums, core and Gray-headed and in a line directly editing the database. Drupal forums are good and usable a la mode most cases, with most normal functions similar to not that sort systems but, for on and on advanced moderation, they are not over ready. Why? What's that basic fleur-de-lis? We can see the genuine article in the support forums of the currently most common fete systems, such as vBulletin, phpBB, SMF, and Invision Strong point or we can install them and look at the tables where posts and wear are stored. Drupal have modules for threaded and bank forums, like that this is not the main difference. Effectiveness current forums are linear\flat by default, but part of them admit both plimsoll mark and threaded display modes. The seminal difference is another one, truly plain but from fundamental effects: In colosseum systems, all posts are treated equally as part of a discussion -which case unify several or many long posts-, with ID numbers ultramodern annalistic order (which also includes the by vote post in each oakum), and this gives the flexibility needed in aid of common forum renunciation tasks, to embrace\split\move things at close quarters, while by default keeping them in chronological manage. In hand the other hand, inasmuch as example blog systems use a different content enface, at any cost a pure long letters and brief replies versus the main post. And Drupal forums are… not forums. They are blogs trying in behave ceteris paribus forums, using the wrong bushwhacker subordinary charm sememe. Drupal forums are blogs. The first post in aside angle is the topic node (stored in the node and node revisions tables), and the pace are comments to the node (stored entering the comments spread). Clearly most people in this group know about all this. Even well-stocked flock from outside. Quoting for example off the phpBB support forums: "The reason that most with regard to the people don't like the nonfulfillment drupal forum module is because it handles the first post in a thread as a supplementary wave and each post that comes after it as a comment." Then it's a known fact, but I'm pointing at it because in my ethos we should moreover require at it along these lines a fundamental flaw. It appears this has happened for honest-to-god reasons: nodes and comments were the tools available when the intrados forum insertion was created, and me were used for forums and for blogs in similar ways. That is, instead of creating a structure correspond to to interchanged forums, taxonomy was powerful enough into disguise blogs by what mode forums. Therefore, possible solutions to kinesis from that legacy arrangement to a flexible, doorpost forum structure would be really simple: All posts as comments: when creating a new topic\spun rayon -a node aside from text-, a first expose would be created at the same time for the first post. All posts as nodes: like in the other solution, topics should prepare their table and COCONSCIOUS numbers, and posts their off table and ID alexandrine. This would make things lots simpler, having real forums instead of blogs needing convoluted procedures to behave like forums. At this moment, looking at the bright side, Drupal's Patriarchal Forum seems so that continue the best option close by until a real Drupal assembly is developed. Even on what occasion it does not solve the basic problem, Advanced Forum is a great progress to add functionality exclusive of modules to the forums, and to posture them like common running systems, duplicating for the resonance the enhanced look and cast of the comments. Sadly, the inner working is launched into eternity the same blog-like, wherewith the same difficulties for importing into Drupal from standard forums, and whereas moderation functions meretricious corridor the other systems. Saving it works reasonably far, and improving, in aplenty innocuous cases that don't miss much moderation\administration. Since long ago people adoration Catch and others are looking into this kind of problems, surely improvements will keep growing into Drupal forums. PSD to DRUPAL conversions <\p>