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Doc
Keeper of the Scrolls
2010 Posts
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 Posted -
11/09/2010
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20:18
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My initial thoughts back in March 2004 when I set up the OGFB website for the first time was to give the Barnoldswick community its own website, the other offerings available at the time for the town were sparse to say the least. I had been experimenting with various software Content Management Systems (CMS) and settled on a CMS developed by MaxWebPortal (Which later became SkyPortal). I taught myself to program in Classic ASP Script and got involved in the future development of the SkyPortal CMS software suite and ended up with what you see here today.
Earlier this year, the webmaster that hosted SkyPortal.net went AWOL never to be heard of again and the continuing development of the software package subsequently ceased and so did the rest of the Skyportal community. This meant that the future development of our own site was limited to my own skills as a programmer taking on the development of the entire package which due to the technicalities of the Skyportal software licencing agreement would not be possible.
Therefore in light of the above I now need an alternative route to safegaurd the future of the OGFB website and its community. For the last six months I have been investigating other offerings from CMS software providers and trying to decide which package would be the most suitable to transfer the existing data into. I have looked at Joomla, DotNetNuke, Drupal amongst many others and have recently come into contact with other webmasters who were/are running the Skyportal CMS system and are in the same predicament as ourselves. The general concensus of the webmasters is that Drupal offers the most flexibility in what we are looking for, to this end we (the webmasters) have created another website dedicated to this issue in migrating a SkyPortal website over to another more flexible and future proof system. The Drupal membership covers many thousands of webmasters throughout the world and has a lot stronger development team.
The main aims of this transition project are: - To migrate the current OGFB website off the dedicated MS server (Currently costing £70 a month) which runs IIS, ASP and MSSQL onto a lower cost Linux server running PHP and MySQL
- To safegaurd the majority if not all of the exsiting OGFB data and Images, a conciderable technically difficult task in itself.
- To have the flexibility to allow us to customise and manage our own individual websites
- To conform to the recognised industry standards for websites.
- To ensure that the future of the OGFB website will be secured.
Talking of the future, my own priorities have changed these last few years and my wife and I are now planning on selling our farmhouse, buying a smaller terrace house together with a capable sailboat and over the next few years circumnavigating the planet Earth and enjoying all that she has to offer - while we still can.
But before that happens I want to ensure that all the technicalities of the website migration have been completed and that the site is up and running succesfully before I hand over the administrative reigns as webmaster to Stephen Taylforth better known as our exsisting OGFB member - Pluggy. I expect the transition will take some time before all the migration issues have been resolved, but in the meantime the current OGFB website will not change and will remain available until the big day comes to switch them over. I will be getting Pluggy more involved in the website administration once we have something to administer on the new server setup, until then watch this space for updates and news on the project.
May I take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support and contributions over the last six years.
Best regards
Doc - (Current) Webmaster - OneGuyFromBarlick
TTFN - Doc
Due to the current economic climate, the light at the end of the tunnel has now been switched off.
Click here to make a donation and help support this site and keep it advert free 
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Anni
Regular Member
634 Posts
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Posted - 12/09/2010 : 23:33
While I was thinking what to write everybody wrote it and said it.
Some American friends did a round the world trip after retirement a few years back and reading their updates was fascinating. I hope you will share some of your adventures with us.
Just stay away from the East African coast please otherwise OGFB will have to mobilise and now I have this "Dad's Army" type vision.
Thanks to you for giving us OGFB and thanks to Pluggy for picking up the ball and running with it.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 13/09/2010 : 07:23
Belle, I knew what you meant as well but was thinking about any gusts just popping in and getting the wrong end of the stick. I could have worded it better and I apologise for seeming to argue with you.
DOC! All this is very well but get your brain in gear and sort out inserting pics, Tiz is having the same problem, could it be a Linux issue? I've asked other members to try inserting and to say what their OS is. (On Publishingand Oneguy)
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 13/09/2010 : 11:18
Well Doc, it would appear that you are not only a Sailor but an architect as well, for you have created a superb digital stage upon which many can show off thier hidden talents. You have also created a gladitorial arena where people can debate or simply "let off steam", and a library, a helpline and a digital tourist attraction. Many thanks for all of this, and my best wishes for your future endeavours. "A tall ship and a star to steer her by", I will echo Anni's sentiments and say give Somalia a wide berth, or sail in convoy. Good luck doc, and the same to you "Pluggy".
thomo |
Tizer
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Posted - 13/09/2010 : 11:27
Is Doc's house shown on the RightMove web site?
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moh
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Posted - 13/09/2010 : 13:25
Anni's comments about a dad's army mobilisation made me smile - I could just imagine it!!
Say only a little but say it well |
gus
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Posted - 13/09/2010 : 17:28
Thanks Doc, good luck and good health to both you and the Missus, "Bon Voyage"
Gus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angusbrennan/
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Doc
Keeper of the Scrolls
2010 Posts
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Posted - 14/09/2010 : 01:20
quote:
Tizer wrote:
Is Doc's house shown on the RightMove web site?
Yes tizer
Link HERE
TTFN - Doc
Due to the current economic climate, the light at the end of the tunnel has now been switched off.
Click here to make a donation and help support this site and keep it advert free
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Tizer
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Posted - 14/09/2010 : 09:48
A lovely house in an ideal spot for someone who wants to be away from the built up areas and have good views but not too far away from shops. A man can survey his empire from up there!
Good luck with finding a buyer, we hope it sells quickly and smoothly for you.
By the way, Doc, did you get the message that Janet tried to donate some more cash to OGFB through our usual route - credit card payment to Paypal - but Paypal rejected the card even though she used it for the last two payments and there is nothing wrong with it. Is there another way we can pay, e.g. bank transfer or cheque? We don't have a Paypal account (and don't want one).
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 14/09/2010 : 16:30
I agree totally about Paypal......
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
melteaser
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Posted - 18/09/2010 : 20:09
Good luck Doc on the next phase of lifes big adventure. Hope the house sells soon.
Good luck Pluggy when you take the reins.
Mel
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk |
Cathy
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Posted - 19/09/2010 : 10:55
Oh Folly Lane! We used to walk up there a lot on the week-ends (early '60's), from Back Colne Rd. Good memories. (  )
I'm fine 
All thru the fields and meadows gay .... Enjoy
Take Care...Cathy |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 20/09/2010 : 07:18
Not a nag, just a request. An update on progress would be nice for us tecchies.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 20/09/2010 : 11:18
I mentioned somewhere that our latest credit card payment to OGFB via the Paypal system failed. Doc sent me his address details and we are sending by cheque now instead. And the banks want to do away with cheques...
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moh
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Posted - 20/09/2010 : 13:26
I don't see how they can, not everyone you pay uses a credit card system and it is not safe to carry or send cash.
Say only a little but say it well |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 21/09/2010 : 09:55
That won't stop them Moh. Small customers aren't worth worrying about.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Future Road Map For The OGFB Website
