The key to streamlining the forums = groups = forums path is to remove the groups metaphor, at least for users. There are two BP metaphors that get the most user attention: profiles and forums. From profiles, people can interact with other users: friending and joining groups. From forums, people can interact with other users: reading and writing topical posts. Having groups as a separate metaphor, which is sort of like forums and sort of like profiles creates confusion.
A quick solution would be creating a separate bbpress installation, integrating it with the bp forums and deactivating the bp groups.
In the same vein, it might be a good idea to create a theme designers forum, if for no reason other than to hold all of the theme-related questions. Putting more emphasis on buddypress theme development might also spur release of new 1.1 designs.
From one design novice to another, to replace the <h1> title with your logo, open the header.php file of your child theme. Look for the #logo div and use an <img src=> tag that points to your logo that you’ve uploaded the your theme’s image directory.
(I’m looking forward to the day BP adds an admin page to the themes, allowing you to simply specify such common changes.
Chouf1: I have wp_, bb_ and bp_ tables inside the same database.
DJ: Yes. I prefer the way BB handles forums to BP’s – plus it is easier to modify a BB theme to mesh with BP than it is to modify the groups and forums.
As to my original question, I moved my original BB forums to a defunct category, then re-created the themes from inside BP. I’m now able to post to those BB forums from within BP.
I read your example. I need something with a wider net. First off, the robot registration never leave an e-mail address. Unlike WP comment spam, WPMU registration robots appear able to bypass required fields, including e-mail address.
I receive e-mails announcing new registrations that contain only IP addresses. Meaning I would need to include hundreds of IP addresses in your code.
The real solution is somehow create a bullet-proof required registration field or move the registration page behind a firewall. I’ve seen single-user WordPress installations that move the wp-admin or wp-signup pages to avoid robot attacks using the default name and location of these pages.
Askimet does great catching spammers comments on regular WordPress installations, but WordPress MU is commonly the target of spam registrations, which is my problem. I tried reCaptcha and the same day had to delete spammers.
I’m hoping a future version of BuddyPress or WPMU will include finer security, allowing admins to block access to only humanly-registered users, rather than either shut off all registrations. Another possibility would be to follow the example of WordPress and allow admins to relocate or rename the registration component.
Adding replies (as well as pruning the verbiage) would make the activity stream useful. It is like telling your wife you went to the bank, but omitting the fact someone deposited $1 million in your account.
I suggest something along the lines of :
“You created forum topic Using Custom Userbar.php: 100 replies.”
Done. What do I do for php files within directories, such as bp-xprofile? (Do I recreate that directory in my child theme or somehow call a custom .php file?
I’ll add a ticket, but I thought the problem was corrected. It seems spammers are targeting BP installations. In the meantime, I’ve installed BPDev’s NoSpam plugin, which uses a captcha.
This loop, which is part of the profile, seems to indicate (in pseudo-code) the following is happening: if there is a group, display the group name and then the group field contents. I still don’t see why all of my groups – but just base – are displayed.
I have removed the optionsbar. I’m currently looking for the code to move the vcard image from the main profile content area into the userbar and widening the width of #main-column.
@allenweiss – The lack of stickies (as well as a directory) on the forum’s front page does need attention in future updates. I understand both items could create a cluttered forums area, but they should be options (perhaps in the forums setup area) available to site administrators.
Currently, forums appear to be an after-thought tacked onto groups, when actually, user behavior makes me think the focus should be reversed; the majority of users, once logged in, head to the forums area, not a group.
Thank you, John James Jacob. I know it is small, but it would be akin to a coder seeing a missing “endif” or an absent “;” — stands out like a sore thumb.
@stwc — I use the Welcome Pack to automatically add new members to an “Announcements” group. This group includes topics such as system rules, FAQs and other information new members need to know. My first “sticky” subject: how the forums work.
