As a real 'newbie' to all things 'Forum' I have a couple of observations I would like to make...<br /><br />As a non-techie potential 'user' I don't really mind what drives the programme, be it Perl or PHP. I would also ideally like it to work with the minimum of configuration, and look drop dead gorgeous 'Out of the Box' (Figuratively speaking of course)<br />W3T has some really neat and useful features, and from browsing this forum, some really good support and loyal and dedicated users. The licensing is also suitable for my needs.<br /><br />In comparison vBulletin seems to lack some of the nice features present in W3T, and the Licensing isn't quite as friendly as I would like. I also *tend* to like the idea of PHP3, but where VBulletin REALLY blows me away is that it LOOKS so darn good when you play with the demo site! I just KNOW that my customers will love it, even though it may not have all the nice features of W3T.<br /><br />I have checked as many sites as I can using each programme, and ALL the VBulletin sites LOOK GOOD. <br />I hate to say it, but the W3T sites look, well, not as 'sexy', - DOSy even. Why doesn't YOUR demo site, by default, look gorgeous? Even some of the 'customised' sites don't do your programme any favours. Others are quite interesting and lively, yet they still lack the 'finish and polish' of the vBulletin demo site.<br /><br />Why do you do this? W3T has everything I want, except the gorgeous interface that I need to impress my clients. <br />You have put Rolls Royce quality and engineering, satnav, minibar, leather seats and CD quad surround sound into a Ford Prefect bodyshell!<br /><br />My clients only see the bodyshell and a competent piece of engineering that they can use. I don't have the time or patience to build a Rolls Royce bodyshell around your chassis and engine. If my customer wants a pink RR, then I'll paint it pink, but that's all...<br />BUT, I still want the satnav and minibar, leather seats etc.<br /><br /> Having worked hard to hook my clients with the Bodyshell, I want to delight and suprise them with all the 'hidden' extras. That way they'll stay with me...<br /><br />As you can guess, I like the features of W3T, but the front end lets you down. This is the major reason for my serious consideration of vBulletin.<br />If you could marry the quality look of vBulletin with your Rolls Royce engine, then you wouldn't have any real opposition...<br /><br />Any plans in this direction?<br /><br />

This is a fairly common point. It used to be UBB, now it seems to be a new one. Believe me, I have never had the intention of making WWWThreads unappealing[]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/]. But I am not one to go and copy the look of another program either. If anyone makes some suggestions on an interface improvement I am all for it, but I don't want this program to end up looking like a clone.<br /><br />So, I'm open to any and all suggestions. What can be done to improve the visual attractiveness of this product? If anyone is handy with an html editor, or whatever and you have some suggestions, make some sample changes. <br /><br />---<br />Scream<br /><A HREF="http://www.wcsoft.net" target="_new">http://www.wcsoft.net</A>

On a side note, maybe a nice stylesheet would be a good starting point. So, if anyone is a color genius and you think you have a nice professional style sheet that works with 5.1, send me a link so I can have a look see.<br /><br />---<br />Scream<br /><A HREF="http://www.wcsoft.net" target="_new">http://www.wcsoft.net</A>

my point of view:<br /><br />From running wwwthreads for about 1 1/2 years my users love it.<br /><br />They came from a UBB forum and they all say they love the wwwthreads forum.<br /><br />Style sheets are cool as you can set up different ones and the visitors can pick the one they like. I hope to work on a way to allow users to upload their own styles sheets when Scream gets the PHP version done. (Since I am a PHP programmer and not a perl guy)<br /><br />You can NOT beat the supportive community here and Scream is great and swiftly fixes any problem you run into. (which are very few)<br /><br /><br /><A HREF="http://www.clickteam.com" target="_new">http://www.clickteam.com</A>

So why are you posting a link to a UBB forum with every post you make?<br /><br />[]http://www.amdragon.com/images/eileensig.gif[/]

opps sorry.<br /><br />Yes that site does have a UBB while I tweak on wwwthreads 5.1b.<br /><br />I ran another site for the past 1 1/2 years with wwwthreads 4.01 PRO and those users were converted from UBB. (that site now closed and I am going to use the forum for Clickteam)<br /><br />When I am happy with the way I have wwwthreads setup Clickteam will use it full time. I got "stuck" with that UBB from the last guy. Right now I just have some of the regular forum user testing it out and giving me their feedback. While the graphics people work on some colors and such.<br /><br />UBB is killing our server -- at least that is what the hosting company tells me.<br />We are running a Cobalt server and the UBB causes the CPU to overload when the forum gets busy.<br /><br />Please do not think this link is meant as UBB ad -- its not.<br />It is an advertisment for Clickteam soon to convert over to wwwthreads.<br /><br />Sorry for any confusion as wwwthreads is the best forum package. People who know me know how much I love the wwwthreads package.<br /><br /><A HREF="http://www.clickteam.com" target="_new">http://www.clickteam.com</A>

Can't say fairer than that! I'm glad I asked. []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/]<br /><br />[]http://www.amdragon.com/images/eileensig.gif[/]

I am impressed by Scream's response...<br />Most of my clients are Professionals in some sphere or another, but are mostly NOT web savvy. They go by what they SEE, ease of use, does it do the job, and what does it cost. That's all they're really interested in.<br />Viewer selectable style sheets are a GREAT idea. How about establishing a Library of styles for people to d/l?<br />Perhaps the same with the front end?<br /><br />Thanks for your prompt, and positive response.<br /><br />

A stylesheet library will be going into the resource center shortly where users can contribute their stylesheets for others to download.<br /><br />As for the look of the program, do you or does anybody have any suggestions on what can be done to improve it? Obviously there needs to be some interface tweaks, and I'm open to any serious suggestions.<br /><br />---<br />Scream<br /><A HREF="http://www.wcsoft.net" target="_new">http://www.wcsoft.net</A>

Any webdesigner in the house?<br /><br />I think webprogramer should work side by side with webdesigner.<br /><br />-santanablank-

Yes, I'd have to agree.... as a designer. But this forum is pretty good... some of the others (complex and simple) are simply disastrous. Sure, more could be done along the lines of making the forum more pleasing aesthetically, but it really isn't bad in my eyes... it is simple, which works well for me. Sure, it could use some tricks, but I don't think it's so bad. []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/] Well not after the table borders were introduced, anyway. []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/] []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]<br /><br />Muhammad Chishti<br />Creative dIRECTOR<br />[:white]<A HREF="http://www.imcuniverse.com" target="_new">http://www.imcuniverse.com</A></font color=white>

I believe one of the biggest turn offs of the WWWThreads Demo is the ugly header in plain text. People want you to prove them that their forum can look nice. If you give them an ugly front page, they will probably leave.<br />I´ve made a little "something" to give you an idea of what to do, or to use it if you like. []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/]<br />See attached file.<br /><br />Mateo Byler<br /><A HREF="http://crucedecaminos.com" target="_new">CruceDeCaminos.com</A>

Woups! Forgot to attach the file! []/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/]<br />There it goes...<br /><br />Mateo Byler<br /><A HREF="http://crucedecaminos.com" target="_new">CruceDeCaminos.com</A>

Hey, I like that. That's the type of suggestions I am looking for. I realize the look is good enough for some, but I think you are correct in that the demo site needs to be more appealing.<br /><br />---<br />Scream<br /><A HREF="http://www.wcsoft.net" target="_new">http://www.wcsoft.net</A>

Just noticed that you do have a NEW header. Looks great.<br /><br />[:red]D</font color=red>[:orange]a</font color=orange>[:blue]v</font color=blue>[:green]e</font color=green>[:purple]A</font color=purple>

Would ya look at that! Didn't take him long... []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]<br /><br />Muhammad Chishti<br />Creative dIRECTOR<br />[:white]<A HREF="http://www.imcuniverse.com" target="_new">http://www.imcuniverse.com</A></font color=white>

Cool!<br />Now something should probably be done to the footer. Those 3 links at the bottom look really lost in a table structured page.<br /><br />Mateo Byler<br /><A HREF="http://crucedecaminos.com" target="_new">CruceDeCaminos.com</A>

Here is a suggestion for the footer in w3t.pm (attached).<br /><br /><br />Mateo Byler<br /><A HREF="http://crucedecaminos.com" target="_new">CruceDeCaminos.com</A>

Haha! Looks terrible outside the CSS pages. Just realized the %s need to be changed to what ever they have set up.<br /><br />Mateo Byler<br /><A HREF="http://crucedecaminos.com" target="_new">CruceDeCaminos.com</A>

There. (attached).<br /><br />Mateo Byler<br /><A HREF="http://crucedecaminos.com" target="_new">CruceDeCaminos.com</A>