System Maintenance...

[Eddy Matthews]

Starting on monday 21st January 2008, at 9:00am GMT, the Paddleducks message forum (and some other areas of the website) will be going offline for maintenance.

During this time you will have very limited access to the website, and may even experience the odd system error.

We hope the major part of this work will be completed within 24 hours, so please tell any other users who may be wondering what is going on, and we'll be back even bigger and better than before!

[Eddy Matthews]

Okay the forum is up and seems fairly stable.....

The next job is working my way through the photo gallery and getting all the photos online - I've made a start, but it will probably still take a couple of days...

After that I have the Downloads and the Links to sort - So still LOTS to do, but I'm getting there!

[oldie]

Eddie, you`re doing a grand job, thanks.   Oldie

[Eddy Matthews]

Cheers Oldie, it's always nice to know someone appreciates all the effort! 

[Eddy Matthews]

I've spent the last 4 days sorting the photo gallery - It's almost there now (you can see it by clicking on the "Gallery" tab at the top of the forum).

I still have two main areas to sort - All the descriptions for the Paddler Day last year, and thewharfonline's (Sean's) albums..... Sean has a LOT of albums, so it's going to take me a while to wade through them all and transfer his photos. But don't worry Sean it will be done soon!! But for now I need a break from the gallery, so I'll be moving onto the "Links" or the "Downloads" next.... Probably the Downloads as they are the most popular area after the forum.

Someone also mentioned the smilies (bogstandard I think?) - They will be added to in due course, but to me it's a minor issue, so it isn't a top priority right now.... I need to get the basic functionality back before I add the finishing touches...

[Eddy Matthews]

Okay, a slight change of plan.....

Sean's albums are now online in the Photo Gallery, and the Links are back.......

Next is the Downloads section - But that will probably take a good few days to sort!

[Eddy Matthews]

Just a quick warning....

On sunday 3rd or monday 4th February, I'll be making more changes to the website - This involves the addition of a front-end "Portal" which everything will run under, including the message forum.

So there will be (hopefully) short periods when you may get an error when trying to access the website - Don't worry, it shouldn't take too long to get it sorted, and once I've got that accomplished, I can then start to add the "Downloads" section back onto the site.

You may need to refresh your browsers cache once this work is completed so you can view everything properly - And you may find you have to manually login the first time you access it.

The new front-end will allow a lot more flexibility and control over what appears and who can access it.

[oldie]

Eddie, seen the new front end already this morning.   Very smart and impressive.   Many thanks for your hard work.   Oldie

[Eddy Matthews]

Eddie, seen the new front end already this morning.   Very smart and impressive.   Many thanks for your hard work.   Oldie

Thanks Oldie..... Still lots to do yet, but we're getting there!

[Bob Golder]

Brilliant!!

[Eddy Matthews]

I've made a start on restoring the "Downloads" section today -200 plus files uploaded and descriptions added etc, but still more than 500 files to go!

Sadly it's one of the areas where I have to do everything manually, no easy way of simply upgrading from our previous software

[Eddy Matthews]

What I've been busy with today.....

Changed the text in the header - hopefully it's easier to read for everyone now?

Added more smilies - when posting a message, click on "More" at the end of the smiles that are shown, and a window will open with more to choose from. As most of them are animated, they are quite large files - so it's better if they are in a popup window or they slow things down for those that aren't interested in them.

Added nearly 400 more files to the "Downloads" section - less than a hundred left to go now!

That's enough for today - time for a few  and then off to bed....

[derekwarner_decoy]

 Hi PD's....that's better Eddy    ...I though my eyes were playing up or the PC monitor needed

[Eddy Matthews]

Finished uploading all the files into the "Downloads" area - they still need a bit of tidying, but they are all there....

Started to restore the "Books database" - Hopefully the last major part that I need to work on!

Once that is done I'll take abreak for a week or so, and then I have dozens of new items to scan for the "Downloads" area, so look out for lots of new stuff in the near future!

[Eddy Matthews]

The final part of the changeover is now sorted - the Books database is now back online.....

Time for a break from all this madness for a few days!