Topic: Model Boats Magazine website is changing (Read 11859 times)

TheLongBuild · « **Reply #25 on:** October 15, 2023, 10:08:03 pm »

It is what it is..

ChrisF · « **Reply #26 on:** October 16, 2023, 06:20:58 pm »

Colin - sounds as though it was a bloomin' good job that Model Boats moved from MTM!

As regards the relationship between the magazine and forum my thinking was that they could mutually benefit though take your point as regards the importance of the magazine taking priority for Mortons. Under MTM the forum understandably had references to the next months magazine and links to subscribe etc. but it was basically a one way street. I don't remember that there (without checking) was much mention, if any, in the magazine of the forum?

Obviously at the moment there won't be any mention of the forum in the magazine.

Perhaps, if access to the new forum is via Mortons web-site, then those taking out subscriptions will see the forum and start using it.

Apart from yourself, Richard and Ray, no other magazine contributers frequent the forum, which is a pity, as on occasions I would have liked to ask a question or comment about an article. I'm not going to write in and wait at least a month for an answer! Even the editor doesn't visit the forum does she, she certainly doesn't post.

I know that the forum can't step on the toes of the magazine but still think there are opportunities for mutual benefit especially as Mortons are financing both. We shall see.

Chris

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #27 on:** October 16, 2023, 07:23:03 pm »

Chris,

The forum certainly did used to be promoted in the magazine but without checking I don't recall when this stopped. As far as mentioning upcoming issues on the forum is concerned there needn't be a problem there if I am still running it after the current fun and games. Of course it will be on the main website but I know some forum members use a direct link into the forum as you imply. Whether this method works in the future remains to be seen.

You missed off Ashley in your list of contributors!

It has always been the case that contributors to the magazine do not frequent the forum and indeed a lot of forum contributors, subscribers and readers just don't much use the internet which is why the re introduction of readers's letters seems to have promptd quite a few contributions. Just the way it is. I'm happy to use the forums but have no interest in Facebook, Twitter or other social media.

Colin

ChrisF · « **Reply #28 on:** October 16, 2023, 10:11:39 pm »

How could I have forgotten Ashley!

jaymac · « **Reply #29 on:** October 17, 2023, 10:38:53 am »

I thought he'd Defected to Toys R Us

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #30 on:** October 17, 2023, 11:36:13 am »

The site hs been released for further testing this morning. My initial thoughts are that the basics are working OK. There will still be a lot of bugs to be worked through, especially for the ME/MEW site but many won't affect the MB site where members have less complex requirements.

Some feature articles have come across OK but, as I rather expected, those which used album access to display images seem to have lost these.

Fingers crossed anyway.

Colin

Circlip · « **Reply #31 on:** October 17, 2023, 11:36:46 am »

I see escape date for M/E has now changed to ASAP.

Regards Ian.

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #32 on:** October 17, 2023, 11:49:30 am »

Colin
Is the intention to sort everything out before release or to realease & then titivate as issues arise?

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #33 on:** October 17, 2023, 12:10:06 pm »

The plan is to get all the essential basics right to make the site workable and sort out the minor bugs and nice to have bells and whistles afterwards.

No matter how much testing you do the users wiill find things that have been missed!

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #34 on:** October 18, 2023, 06:01:35 pm »

I am pleased to report that the new Forum has at last gone live!

Existing members should login with their original email address and password.

Please note that for technical reasons, any initial new posts will be subject to moderation after which you should be able to post as usual.

Do please read the 'Sticky' Topic which is displayed at the top of each main heading and which explains some of the changes and how to access the FAQ facility.

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #35 on:** October 18, 2023, 06:24:33 pm »

There are some reports of people not being able to gain access. This has been reported. If you are affected then have another go mid morning tomorrow.

Colin

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #36 on:** October 18, 2023, 06:34:31 pm »

Colin,
I will try again tomorrow but at this time I get the screen grabbed below and then taken to the holding message that we have had for the last 10 days or so.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #37 on:** October 18, 2023, 06:48:33 pm »

Yes, that is the problem! Hopefully they will fix it tomorrow.

Colin

Abandon Ship · « **Reply #38 on:** October 18, 2023, 07:23:06 pm »

Might just be a firewall rule issue, shouldn't take long to fix.
Hope not 'cos I need my ModelBoatsMag fix soon!

Dave.

jaymac · « **Reply #39 on:** October 18, 2023, 07:24:53 pm »

I just got that then got its secure and then got the one that has been there bout it being closed for maintenance.

and I'm on a Japanese server at the moment

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #40 on:** October 18, 2023, 07:52:59 pm »

Yes, you are both right, there are still some ongoing connection issues which will hopefully be resolved tomorrow. I will give an update when I have it.

The new forum seems to work pretty well as far as model boaters are concerned and I think it will be a good replacement subject to remaining minor issies being sorted out.

The gallery feature is a good place to display your models.

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #41 on:** October 19, 2023, 10:03:25 am »

There are still login issues this morning. The site was working earlier but is temporarily down again. Problem seems to be associated with the login security protocols. Mortons are working on it.

Colin

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #42 on:** October 19, 2023, 10:55:08 am »

It appears that the problems are due to crawler bots... Message from Mortons ust now:

Hi all,

Here's where we are...

Whenever we make the sites live, they are immediately hit by crawler bots which try to read every post and the database is falling over.

This isn't really a problem for Boats as the database is smaller, but for ME, it isn't coping and it brings both sites down.

So, the plan is to separate the sites for now and get Boats live in the next couple of hours.

ME maybe later today - and it may be slow for a while but we will takcle that as soon as we can get it to stay up.

There is sunshine on the horizon! Andy may say something different!

Thanks
Darren

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #43 on:** October 19, 2023, 02:18:54 pm »

Well, the site is now back up again having been moved to a different server. We shall have to see if this has fixed the problem.

Colin

yellow-bird · « **Reply #44 on:** October 19, 2023, 03:23:52 pm »

Can get in yet

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #45 on:** October 19, 2023, 03:44:51 pm »

What exactly is the problem.

Can you see the new home page?

You should be able to login with the email and password you used on the old forum.

(use lower case letters - not capitals)

Colin

jaymac · « **Reply #46 on:** October 19, 2023, 03:49:35 pm »

Same old site under maintenance

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #47 on:** October 19, 2023, 04:22:06 pm »

It's working OK for me but they have moved to another server so your device might be stuck on the old one. I had a problem with that.

Try going into Google, searching for Model Boats Magazine and clicking on that.

Colin

John W E · « **Reply #48 on:** October 19, 2023, 04:44:57 pm »

hi there

At first I had trouble gaining access to the site via the link which was sent to me on the emails - the way I gained access to the new forum was I went via Google Search. Then, when I was onto the Forum, everything seemed to be okay and I logged in no problems at all. Every now and then though I do have a warning saying 'Are you human' 'I am not a bot' and then it allows me onto the forum.

Colin, it was nice to see my 'old' messages from DM still there intact. Happy about that.

John

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #49 on:** October 19, 2023, 04:51:53 pm »

I have reported the issue Jaymac mentions. As John says, resetting the link by doing a search may well clear the problem.

These days, browsers seem to hold more information than we realise with logins, cookies and caches and it's not always helpful.

Colin

Here is an extract from the FAQ section.

I can’t remember or don’t know my username!

Don’t worry, you can log in with either your username or email address.
I don’t know my password!

Don’t worry, you can reset your password here, enter your email address and a password reset email will be sent to you. Don’t forget to check your Spam or Junk folder for this email.
Why can’t I change my username?

Once a username has been set this can’t be changed. If your username has been migrated over from our old forum (pre-September 2023) this may have changed due to incompatible characters on the new system.
Why won’t the registration form accept my username/password?

Usernames must be lowercase letters and numbers only. Capital letters, spaces and special characters are not allowed.
Passwords should be at least 10 characters containing a mix of letters, numbers, capitals, and special characters (@, #, *, etc.), some special characters are not allowed such as a backslash ( \ ).

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Author Topic: Model Boats Magazine website is changing (Read 11859 times)