It would seem possible to have forums separate from groups, but have the group be able to create a “category” of forum posts that could be displayed within the group and separately. Not sure if bbPress supports this, but when I messed around with PHPBB it would. Simply about filtering and display.
Frankly, that’s what I thought was in BP until I did some digging.
If one uses both a separate standalone, and the built-in Buddypress forum, then does not one adds is yet another complication/confusion as regards searchability … or rather the lack of searchability … typical of WPMU/BP installs!?!
And is left faces the uphill struggle of skinning it all to match?
Let’s face it … the universal consensus or feedback is that it would be better to allow the creation of forums independent of groups.
I have not read one voice in support of enforcing groups for forums and cannot see the purpose in doing so.
Although I must reserve the right to ask for help with the BBpress component of BP, for those in the know, in the future. From people who might be willing offer it. 
Let me ask you though: what is the single most-used, most-trafficked, important element of this very site we’re on right now for most of us?
Hint: it’s this (relatively feature-poor) forum.
Different people have different needs, and the forum component of BBpress is an essential one for many users of BP. My thinking was that this thread could be about not just possible plugins for that area, but things that people would love to see in plugin form for any area of BP. I’ve tried over the last 6 or 8 months to give as much back to this community here by helping others as I’ve taken or solicited help from them. I’m not asking for help with BBpress. A wishlist is just that — nobody gives a good goddamn, mostly, but occasionally somebody plays the angel.
I find that the greatest gaps in functionality for the new site I’m putting together is in the integrated BBpress forums
BBpress is not part of Buddypress -> BBpress forums
When I ask about core BP issues here, I’m often referred to the WP or WPMU forums. But questions about BBpress are apparently OK. Why? I don’t get it. Personally I don’t see what forums have to do with a social network. You don’t see Facebook and LinkedIn integrating an oldfashioned linear forum.
So my wishlist? Remove forum integration so I don’t have to comment stuff out or have one more item in an already way too cluttered admin area.
And things like adding (parts of) TinyMCE to textareas you can do yourself if you know some basics of theme customization and read the instructions in the TinyMCE documentation.
(Edited by r-a-y to stay on topic)
im currently using buddypress and phpbb…actually still testing buddypress at this point. the problem is that users need to log into both separately, there is no bridge built in. ive tried several different plugins and bridges but they havent worked right with the 1.2 buddypress version yet. i would actually switch to bbpress if i could integrate my current phpbb forum into it.
BuddyPress utilizes bbPress only for the groups component.
This doesn’t limit you from using using phpBB or vBulletin!
There are a few scripts out there that can integrate phpBB and vBulletin into WordPress.
I’d suggest checking those out.
stwc – I spent some time when I first ported that plugin to make inline images work, but I couldn’t manage to do it in the same way that the original bbPress plugin does. I kept coming up against problems with the way headers are sent to the browser, which is, to put it mildly, not my area of expertise 
I have literally not even glanced at the plugin on BP 1.2+. I’ll have to do so soon, though, as not having forum attachments will be a stumbling block for me to upgrade my production site from BP 1.1.3.
As always, I’ll keep everyone updated via these forums and http://teleogistic.net.
1. Which version of WP/MU are you running? version 2.9.2
2. Did you install WP/MU as a directory or subdomain install? directory
3. If a directory install, is it in root or in a subdirectory? root
4. Did you upgraded from a previous version of WP/MU? If so, from which version?2.9.1
5. Was WP/MU functioning properly before installing/upgrading BuddyPress (BP)? Yes. register do not wok since i installed BuddyPress
6. Which version of BP are you running? Version 1.2.1
7. Did you upgraded from a previous version of BP? NO
8. Do you have any plugins other than BuddyPress installed and activated? Yes, but I have deactivated them all and the problem persists.
9. Are you using the standard BuddyPress themes or customized themes? customized theme = furry-family
10. Have you modified the core files in any way? no
11. Do you have any custom functions in bp-custom.php? no
12. If running bbPress, which version? Or did your BuddyPress install come with a copy of bbPress built-in? Must be built in, i dont know what bbpress is.
13. Please provide a list of any errors in your server’s log files. The register page (www.gaysurfers.net/register) is broken
It comes up with a white page with my register.jpg
14. Which company provides your hosting? OVH
We are running SimplePress not bbPress. We found bbPress to not be up to our needs.
Integration with buddypress is really good, though the template system leaves a lot to be desired.
Looks great! Did it take a lot of work getting Simplepress forums integrated? I’m running up against the limitations of bbpress out-of-the-box and it’s giving me some minor headaches.
Have you gone through the bbPress installation process in your wp-admin yet?
Nice work.
Are you running bbPress within BP and external to BP?
@Landshark check out group and friend markers modification on this plugin here…’http://dev.benoitgreant.be/bbpress/topic/expanding-the-plugin‘. I’m real excited about having this functionality!
Thank you all. Thank you itoube for the link, it gave me more idea on de-activating plugins.
.
If anyone has trouble wit the sql check the following:
SELECT * FROM wp_options WHERE option_name = 'active_plugins';
Yes the problem was with a plugin – Postie
I had kept this one enabled all the time. When I again re-checked with my local installation I found the issue.
I apologize for being hasty 
Well, it works cool now.
Steps followed:
- Disabled all plugins (inlcuding Postie)
- Installed Bbpress
- Applied bbpress theme
- Enabled (postie)
Thank you all for your time..
OK, now I know what’s possible. Given the NUMEROUS topics on this issue, it seems there is sufficient demand for the capability/convenience of an easy way to set this up. Probably plugin territory, someone who knows bbpress well could really help the BP community.
It does not work to use a standalone forum because then you lose all the group making aspects of Buddypress.
You do not lose all group making aspects by using this approach.
You can use both BP group forums and your external version of bbPress at the same time.
There will be some duplication in your external version of bbPress. You’ll need to find a way to address this issue. One way is to hide the group forums in your external bbPress. I did a writeup on this a few weeks ago; I’ll provide the link to those who want to read it.
It does not work to use a standalone forum because then you lose all the group making aspects of Buddypress.
• BBpress does not skin to match Buddypress easily or well
• They do not integrate together deeply.
• You end up with two admin backends.
• Plugins do not work across the board etc.
In short, the skin approach is just faking it. It is not real. It is just a facade. I know because I have done it for years and it goes against my sense of integrity. It looks like a real website but it isn’t. And it is just all held by rubber bands behind the scenes.
There are numerous threads on this.
The basic steps are:
1) install an external version of bbPress
2) integrate it with WP(MU)
3) setup your forum categories in this external bbPress
3) theme it to match your site
… or sell them them something they know they don’t want.
Yes, I think you need to do more idiot testing … you are forgetting that as a techie you see and get things newcomers dont.
• Its about clarity and simplicity.
We plan to use Buddypress for a national NPO. It has local ‘groups’. Fine, a forum for each local group work well.
People think of “groups” as ‘Groups’.
We make a group for “tech support” … everyone wanting tech support has to join it where it would make more sense for only the ‘tech support group’ to be members giving advice to others (like groups or ranks in most forums).
A non-tech person just wants to post to a general forum … you start forcing them to have to decide one forum or another and then they don’t know where to post when they have something that does not fit.
We make a group for “newcomers” … people make their first post and then get stuck with the label for the rest of their membership.
Each time any activity happens, it all pops up in the ‘activity’.
Why does the limitation need to exist?
Yes, partly it is nomenclature. But, partly, it is an unnecessary rigidity or encumbrance. Being forced to do it this way.
Yes, it may not be a problem for developers to get but, yes, it is a problem for non-techie users. I know that. I have tested it. They don’t get it. it puts them off.
As with the removal of the admin interface and plugin ability, effort has gone in to *downgrade* BBpress not enhance it and that goes against the grain.
“Groups” are groups … not sub-forums.
I’ve just updated this plugin to work in BP 1.2.1 and bbP 1.0.3.
Available here:
http://www.deadlyhifi.com/downloads/buddybar-in-bbpress.1.0.4.zip
I’ve now deleted the register pages inside the bbpress folders, and that seems to have halted the spam registrations for now. Fingers crossed
Yes, it does. The groups & forums use bbpress. The MU part only manages additional blogs.
