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 | What's New in InstantForum.NET |  |
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A brief list of enhancements, optimizations and new features within each release of InstantForum.NET can be found below.
InstantForum.NET v4.1
InstantForum.NET v4.1 is our first release to start taking advantage of Ajax technology.
v4.1 now allows moderators to edit topic titles and descriptions directly in-line within a forum. An auto-complete username textbox also now offers user suggestions as you type. This is useful when composing private messages, searching for member posts or as an administrator associating users as moderators within forums.
Demonstrations of these features can be found below. These will require Macromedia Flash Player. We would suggest a minimum screen resolution of 1280x1024.
- Demonstration of the new Ajax in-line moderator editing features
- Demonstration of the new Ajax auto-complete username feature
This release also fixes over 35 issues identified within our previous v4.0 release. A complete list of resolved defects can be found here.
InstantForum.NET v4.0
InstantForum.NET v4.0 has been rewritten from the ground-up over several months to improve on performance, admin & moderation control, scalability, security and user features.
A brief list of the new & improved key features within v4.0 can be found below.
- Comprehensive revision of the administration control panel & available admin options
- New localization features allow every aspect of the forum to be easily translated
- New innovative overrideable "Permission Sets" provide comprehensive control over available features
- New In-line moderation with configurable moderation permissions for each moderator within each forum
- New optional SQL Server Full-Text Search (both FreeTextTable & ContainsTable are supported)
- New poll & calendar features with support for multiple choice polls and recurring calendar events
- New schedule tasks feature allows developers to create automated scheduled scripts
- New bulk message feature allows administrators to send bulk emails or private messages
- New standard IFCode editor (based on browser or permission settings)
- Improved more responsive Word® like WYSIWYG editor for MSHTML compliant browsers
- Improved performance with data caching, page compression, typed objects & collections
- Improved skinning architecture (unique layout and feel between skins, associate skins with forums)
- Improved architecture (more defined presentation, application & data layers)
- Improved member groups now supporting multiple secondary member groups
- Improved private messaging features now supports custom folders, storage limits & multiple recipients
InstantForum.NET v3.4
- Added spell checking to posts, private messages and e-mail's
- Added email confirmation stage to registration process
- Added image resizing for avatar and photograph uploads
- Added error checking to malformed URL's within the forum
- Members passwords are now encrypted within the database going forward
- Added new required Awaiting Activation member group
- Added license agreement as required stage during installation process
- Added local database setup to installation wizard
- Disabled ability to edit post HTML for standard forum members
- Added script to protect against doPostBack bug within ASP.NET v1.1
- Added new forum skin
- RSS syndication option for each forum and private messages
- Attachments for posts and private messages. Limited by mime-type
- Ability to manage attachments within admin and when editing a post
- Link to last post within the last post column on the home page
- Search forum and recent posts option for each forum
- Forum subscription - receive email notifications upon new forum posts
- Email topic feature allows members to send a topic via email to a friend
- Rate this topic feature to allow users to indicate how helpful a topic was
- Drop down menu with contact options when clicking author name in topic
- Added abstract of message to tooltip when hovering over topic within forum
- JavaScript image pre-loading for various drop down menus
- Added [Sticky] label on messages.aspx
- Updated the classic forum skin with new buttons and forum header
- if_menus.js now holds all the menu strings
- if_global.js now holds all menu functions and various helper functions
- Admin's can now assign moderators to un-moderated forums
- Further centralized API's for login and registration system
- Will now refer members to action being performed before registration
- Moved the send member email option behind forum registration
- Moved add buddy option behind forum registration
- Fixed small problem with PM reply button when PM linked from email
- Updated if_UserExists stored procedure based on small bug within 3.2
- General visual and code enhancements / optimizations
- Added expandable and collapsible cookie based forum groups
- Added a buddies list and ignore member list options
- Added DHTML search, control panel and recent posts menu
- Added ability to email members within the forums
- Greatly improved the members control panel area
- After posting a reply you are now taken back to the correct topic page
- Added extendable forum skinning options
- Admin can set default forum skin - users can choose default skin
- Added ability for admin to globally disable WYSIWYG editor
- Each member can now customize or disable the WYSIWYG
- Added ability for user to customize default time zone for the board
- Added active posts, popular posts and posts today displays
- Added ability to set a auto-moderate level for each forum
- Added delete options to private messages
- Added search and login option to homepage
- Renamed all forum images and created master layered PhotoShop files
- Documented cascading style sheet to allow for easier modifications
- Moderators can now also edit live posts within their assigned forums
- Improved the process when replying to private messages
- Added descriptive comments for each form field within profile and registration
- Admin's can now use the edit link to modify or delete posts in the front-end
- Replaced signature textarea with WYSIWYG server control
- Fixed ASP.NET form validation problem for some older Mozilla browsers
- Removed asp:panel server controls because of problems with some browsers
- Improved Netscape and Opera support
- Fixed minor problem with logon.ascx.vb
- Permissions introduced based on associated member group
- Assign members or groups of members as moderators for forums
- Ability to send private messages to members with email notifications
- Forum search greatly improved with basic and advanced options
- Users can now search for posts based on member name or member group
- Improved thread paging for shwmessage.aspx
- New paging introduced on messages.aspx for long threads
- Added individual page links for long threads on messages.aspx
- Now lists how many guests and which members are viewing specific forums
- Ban members from posting any further messages
- Ban IP addresses from registering on forums
- Added member rank graphic and improved member ranking system
- Enhanced WYSIWYG editor and now a 100% self-contained server control
- Added ability to assign a new topic a dedicated message icon
- Admin and moderator posts are now automatically approved
- Printer-friendly version of threads available
- Added remove all subscriptions option to the manage subscriptions page
- Extended IM contact and email information below each post for author
- Improved instructions within e-mail's sent to users and moderators
- Delete message option now available within admin/editpost.aspx
- Forum and moderator posts are now approved automatically
- Removed password protect option. Permissions should now be used
- Advanced and basic forum search options
- WYSIWYG now encapsulated within server control
- Multiple forum searches. Search by member or group, sort & display options
- Forum moderators are now listed for each forum
- Added prompt when logging out to confirm action
- MSI based installation wizard now available
- Improved referential integrity when deleting members, groups or forums
- Moved to 100% code-behind architecture
- Improved application namespacing and class structure
- Visual Studio.NET 2003 solution file now available
- Optimized all SQL Server stored procedures
- Various style sheet optimizations
- Fixed issue with maximum post length
- Message Field within InstantForum_Messages datatype changed to nText
- Moved to encrypted cookies to increase security
- Added ability for members to manage subscriptions within profile
- Paging support added to the repeater control on shwmessage.aspx
- Member status based on number of posts introduced
- Option to delete replies added to "Edit Post" page
- Quotes now display in post preview
- Improved design and layout of shwmessage.aspx
- Minor email and administration related bug fixes
- Web-based administration & moderation
- Application & database table statistics
- Easily assign forum members administration or moderation rights
- Create, sort or delete forum groups / categories
- Create, sort or delete forums
- Categorize forums within forum categories
- Posts awaiting moderation alert on homepage
- Specify pinned posts, moved posts and announcements
- Set default date range and sort order when creating forums
- Lock replies, new threads or both within forums
- Edit or remove forum members
- Email alerts for posts to moderated forums
- Members can edit previous posts within the forums
- Enhanced Malicious JavaScript and VBScript protection
- Filter forums by date range or change sort order of messages
- Improved DataGrid paging
- Added forum jump DropDownList
- Forum and Message Key Icons
- WYSIWYG editor is now browser dependent
- Message signatures will now update on all previous posts
- Minor additional to web.config to disable validationRequests (.NET 1.1)
- Minor bug with session check on userinfo.aspx
- Minor bug with forum members sorting options
- Improved XML based language filter
- Quote replies feature
- Enhanced User Profiles with Avatar & Photograph Upload Ability
- Fixed problem with duplicate member names