Current Version: 2.1.9

Elite Bulletin Board

Offical Elite Bulletin Board Manual


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Ch 2: Installing/Upgrading Elite Bulletin Board

Last Updated: 11/8/07
Section 2.1 - Installing Elite Bulletin Board

Installing Elite Bulletin Board is a quick & easy process.

Step 1: If you haven't already extract(move) the files from the zip file and onto your server. You may upload the files by FTP or if your host has it by broswer upload or even shell. When uploaded to the server you have to give file permissions to /board/ , /board/config.php , /board/uploads/ , and /board/install/(replace board with actual name of folder). they must be either 777 or 755(ask your provider which is which) Also in case you don't know you'll need some kind of compressed folder software. I recommend 7-zip but if you use Windows XP theres a built in system for you that will work as well.

Step 2: In order to install the board, you have to run the install file by browser. just type in the path to the installer on the address bar and the installer will pop-up if you entered the correct path. Click Begin Install.

Step 3: First thing you do is create the config file. This will be where you setup the database settings and also where the installer will give you your password encryption salt. Never ever edit this value, changing the salt will result in a total lockout of your board.

Step 4: After the tables and default data are in, it's time to setup the settings for your board. Below are the fields you have to modify and how you modify those fields:

  • Board Name - The name of your Board
  • Site Address - The address to your main website(EX: http://mysite.com)
  • Board Address - The path to the board(EX: http://mysite.com/board)
  • Board Email - the email address that will be used for the board, can be any one you have/use(EX:forum@mysite.com)
  • Announcement Status - This is to set if you want a announcement section on the index page or not, if you do in the textbox below add each new announcement on a new line.
  • Default Style - This the style that guests will see when they enter the board, users may chose another style if you have another one available.
  • Default Language - This is the language that guests will see when they enter the board, user may chose another language uif another one of available.
  • Term Status - This to set if you want Rules(or a TOS) to your board. If you want this enabled you have to enter each new rule on it's own line.
  • GZIP Compression - If your host doesn't already compress your pages, checking this to On will compress your pages for you to make loading time faster.
  • CAPTCHA Verify - This option allows you to place an image that users MUST enter correctly in order to become a user. This is a way to greatly reduce spam users, nut in order to use it you must have GD 2 installed. If you host supports free type select High Setting otherwise set it to Low Setting.
  • Spell Checker - This is a way to let users check their spelling before posting a topic or reply. but in order to use it you MUST have Pspell installed.
  • PM Quota - This is to limit the number of Private Messages a user can post/have. 100 is the default value but you make that amount higher or lower, setting it to 0 will disable the use of it completly until you raise the quota.
  • Registration Status - This allows you to close registration or allow users to join the board.
  • Disallow users on a proxy connection from registering - Setting will disable users trying to register with a proxy IP address.
  • Activation Type - This is where you can set whether you want users to be accepted automatically(None) or if you wish to have them verify their account by email(User). You can also verify the account yourself first(Admin).
  • Warning Threshold - This is how you set an automatic ban based on the user's warning level.
  • Maximum Size user can upload - This sets a cap on how big of a file users can upload to a topic/post.(when setting this make sure it does not go beyond what is set on php itself)
  • Can Guest Download the attachments - This set whether or not guests can download the attachments.
  • Default Time Zone - This the default time zone that guests will see when entering the board. Users may set their own time zone setting in their account.
  • Default Time format - This the format used to output the date, currently the syntax used is the same one used for the date() function in php. A link on how to set the time as you want to see it is included on the install & anywhere else that ask about the program ask about it.
  • Cookie Domain - This is the domain of your site. that means no http://, just your domain name(ex:mysite.com)
  • Cookie Path - This the the folder that board resides in(EX:/Board/)
  • Cookie Secure - This is to set whether or not you want secure logins. remember that in order to enable secure logins you MUST have SSL enabled.
  • Mail Type - Select if you want to use SMTP or just plain mail().
  • SMTP Host - if using SMTP, enter in the host address to the smtp server, your host will have this information for you.
  • SMTP Port - if using SMTP, enter in the port number to the smtp server, your host will have this information for you, usually it's 25 but some ISP's block that port so they might use a different number.
  • SMTP Username - if using SMTP, enter in the username to the smtp server, your host will have this information for you, usually it's your email address.
  • SMTP Password - if using SMTP, enter in the password to the smtp server, your host will have this information for you.
the cookie settings are very important so set it up correctly, failing to setup the cookie values correctly will cause login problems when users login by cookies.

Step 5: The next step in the install is to create an administrative account. This is the the account that will have the power to control everything on the board.

Step 6: The next step is to create your first category for the board.

Step 7: This step is where you create your first board. Now there are special settings for the board to give it some rules:

  • Who can read this board - You may set it to allow everyone to read it, only admins & moderators can read it or no one can read it.
  • Who can post in this board - Same as above it controls who can post in the board.
  • Who can Reply to topics - Controls who can reply to topics.
  • Who can vote on the polls - Controls who can vote on the polls.
  • Who can create new polls - Controls who can create new polls.
  • Who can edit topics - Controls to see if users can edit their own posts.
  • Who can delete topics - Controls to see if users can delete their own posts.
  • Who can post Important Topics - Controls who can post important topics.
  • Who can post Attachments - Controls who can upload attachments.
  • Allow post in board count towards user's post count - If set to On the user would not get any post points for posting on the board.
  • BBcode - Some boards you may not want BBcode to work so you can that off for that board here.
  • Smiles - same as above you may not want to have smiles work, that can be disabled.
  • img tag - this will set whether or not you want to allow images on the topics.
please understand each board can have different rules and they don't have to be same.

Step 8: The install will delete the install files(if you chmoded the install files 777 or 755) it will then have a link to your board to allow you to start setting it up.
Section 2.2 - Upgrading Elite Bulletin Board

If you already installed Elite Bulletin Board, you will not have to reinstall it in order to upgrade. just follow the instructions below:

NOTE: please be aware that any modifying done to the board will be removed when you upgrade so it would be best if you back-up the current version so that you can add the mods back on. It is also recommended that you back up the files & the database in case something happens during the upgrade.

Step 1: If you haven't yet, get a updated copy of the bulletin board program and place all the files in the same folder your current board is in. now it will ask you if you wish to overwrite, say yes everytime it ask. now there are plans to have a list in the zip file that will tel you which files are different and which are not to quicken the uploading time for you.

Step 2: In your address bar, enter your url path to the install file, the install file has both the clean install & upgrade. To upgrade, click on the upgrade link.

Step 3: When you get to the upgrade section of the install file it will ask you for your administrative account. also while in the upgrade, the install file will disable your board until the upgrade is complete.

Step 4: After you punch in your login info the upgrade will add the new tables and will also modify the current ones. it will also adjust current settings to better match the new version.

Step 5: The next steps will be different than the install. in this step, it will show you your current setup and then you'll be asked to fill in any blank spots that are meant to be defined.

Step 6: Like the above step, it will display the items you haven't defined yet for your profile.

Step 7: The install files will get deleted(if chmoded to 777) and you will be able to then run the new version of Elite Bulletin Board.

Note: the upgrade will only upgrade from a previous version. Meaning if your running 0.9 and you want to use 2.0 you'll have to upgrade to 1.0 then upgrade to 2.0

This rule will NOT apply for patch upgrades. if your running for example 2.0.8 and 3.0 is out, as long as your using the main previous version it'll be upgradable.