NEW Screen Used Forum and other forum updates

[RPF Staff]

As many have noticed, we are tweaking a number of the options within the vBulletin platform, working to ensure we are getting the most out of the software. We are creating this thread to keep a log of these changes from here on out to keep you up to date.

- We have enabled the social bookmarking feature which adds a small bar at the bottom of a thread, allowing members to add posts to digg, stumbleupon, google or delicious. If you see a thread you think is particularly cool or think should be shared with the world, be sure to bookmark it with one of the provided links!

- We have moved image attachments out of the database and into a filesystem which should result in a more responsive site.

- We have made and are continuing to make slight changes to the descriptions and names of a number of forums. In the coming days there will be a number of rearrangements of forums to better organize the site.

On 12/14 we enabled three new features in the User Profile section; visitor messaging, member albums, and friendslist.

-visitor messaging allows other members to leave public messages in a member's profile. The member has full control of these messages and can delete them as he/she sees fit.

-friendslist allows members to submit friend requests, much like facebook. This is a publicly viewable list.

-member albums allows you to create up to 5 albums which can contain up to 50 images (total, not per album) which total 50Mb. Images are limited to 800X800 and 1Mb each. This gives you an opportunity to show off pieces of your collection or just images of yourself in your profile.

12-15-2009 - We are moving and reorganizing a number of threads so if you see one missing, especially from the prop or costume forum over the next few days, don't worry, it has not been deleted and will be back! If you have any questions about a missing thread, please PM a member of the staff.

12/16/2009 - We will be rearranging a couple of forums tonight as well as performing a minor patch upgrade to the board. The board will be down for about 30 mins to an hour starting at approx 10pm central time.

Forum Updates -

We apologize for tonight's downtime. In that time, we performed a minor software upgrade, made some tweaks to the forum layout and have added a new forum!

The new Screen Used prop and Wardrobe Forum is now located in the Props Costumes and Models section of the site. Many of our members collect both original and replica props. We feel this will be a community builder and something that will help unite the screen used and replica prop communities and provide an area for fans of screen used props to discuss research and show off their collections.

In order to differentiate between replicas and screen used props, we have renamed the Prop Forum as the Replica Movie Props forum and the Costumes Forum as the Replica Movie Costumes forum. The content in these forums remains unchanged and posts about replicas from film, tv and other media are welcome in each.

The Paper Props forum can now be found as a sub-forum of Replica Movie Props. This was done because paper props is a subcategory of movie props and the forum does not get enough activity to warrant its own slot on the main page and header, but we are committed to maintaining this forum in an effort to protect these props from those who would to reproduce and sell them without permission.

The Off-Topic forum is a vibrant part of our community and is now in the General category. It remains accessible via the quick links at the top of the forum for anyone who is logged in.

Finally, the Junkyard is joining the OT and Paper Props as a forum only our members can view. Several members requested this change and we feel it's appropriate. The Junkyard is now located in section called "Classifieds and Affiliates" and this forum also remains in the quick links at the top of the board for anyone who is logged in.

Thank you for your patience and we hope you enjoy these updates!