First off, the formalities
WP v3.3.1
BP v1.5.4

I attempted to use the instructions in the codex here:
http://codex.buddypress.org/getting-started/installing-group-and-sitewide-forums/3/

Here’s the problem. I followed the instructions to the letter. I get to step e. – ‘Now go back to admin Dashboard > BuddyPress > Forums and click on “Install Sitewide Forums”

I get the following error: “An Unexpected HTTP Error occurred during the API request.”

Of interest, the sitewide forums at this point work flawlessly. The group forums are NOT. I get the “Sorry, there were no forum topics found.” which also generates an error entry in the server log.

Any ideas what might be wrong?
Thanks

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

Again- sitewide forums are working great, group forums don’t work at all. I even attempted the last section in the codex- ‘2. Change the Sitewide Forums page slug’- still not working. Please help.

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

bbPress v2.0.2

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

And the log entry showing an error occuring whenever I try to work with Group forums:
WordPress database error Table ‘wordpress.wp_bb_topics’ doesn’t exist for query SELECT t.*, g.id as object_id, g.name as object_name, g.slug as object_slug FROM wp_bb_topics AS t JOIN wp_12_bp_groups AS g LEFT JOIN wp_12_bp_groups_groupmeta AS gm ON g.id = gm.group_id WHERE (gm.meta_key = ‘forum_id’ AND gm.meta_value = t.forum_id) AND t.forum_id = ’16’ AND t.topic_status = ‘0’ ORDER BY t.topic_time DESC LIMIT 20 made by require, wp, WP->main, do_action_ref_array, call_user_func_array, bp_screens, do_action, call_user_func_array, groups_screen_group_forum, bp_core_load_template, load_template, require_once, locate_template, load_template, require_once, locate_template, load_template, require_once, bp_has_forum_topics, BP_Forums_Template_Forum->__construct, bp_forums_get_forum_topics, BB_Query->BB_Query, BB_Query->query

[@djpaul Keymaster 12 years, 6 months ago]

If you’ve done the ‘install group forums’ button in the backend.. create a new group with forum enabled. This should trigger the db install routine.

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

Thanks for the response Paul. I went ahead and created a test group with the group forums option selected as you recommended. I can see the forum option under the group as well. However when I attempt to create a new topic, I get the error, “There was an error when creating the topic” displayed in a red box (what looks like a styled div).

From that screen, I clicked the forum directory option where I can create a new topic, but now have the added option of a drop down box featuring all groups where forums were enabled. Problem is, no matter what group forum I highlight, I can’t seem to successfully create a topic.

Suggestions?

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

Help?

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

I hate to pester for help, but I’m coming up with deadline issues and need this resolved. Any recommendations on next steps?

Thanks

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

Hello?

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

Okay, I started from scratch.

BuddyPress upgraded to 1.5.6.
WordPress upgraded to 3.4.1.
bbPress v 2.0.3 (removed the old instance and rebuilt with this version to make sure and wiped out all old forums, topics and replies)
I’m using the BP Default theme for testing.
I deleted all my old pages so I had the bare bones pages to work with.
I deleted all old groups to make sure I also had a clean slate there.

I’ve followed the codex to the letter here:
https://codex.buddypress.org/getting-started/installing-group-and-sitewide-forums/

I attempted to create JUST group forums and NOTHING else, using an existing bbPress Installation. I confirmed that the following were created:
wp_bb_forums
wp_bb_meta
wp_bb_posts
wp_bb_terms
wp_bb_term_relationships
wp_bb_term_taxonomy
wp_bb_topics

Group forums failed. All I get is “Sorry, there were no forum topics found.” whenever I attempt to access forums from the (newly created, with forums enabled) groups page.

Then I went back to older postings about tricks other users have tried as noted here:
https://buddypress.org/community/groups/how-to-and-troubleshooting/forum/topic/this-group-does-not-have-a-forum-setup-yet-1/?topic_page=1&num=15

Post #7 was hailed as a the silver bullet by some users. Didn’t work for me. I went into my test group, edited it, removed forums, saved it. Renamed bb-config.php, reinstalled group forums. Went back in, re-enabled forums, saved again. Nothing.

I’ve performed about 4-5 different iterations and combinations of everything referenced in the above posts over the past several days now. Nothing. Groups forums is STILL not working. Can I offer money to someone to possibly help with this? Please? Anybody?

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 6 months ago]

Uninstalled bbPress to just work with BuddyPress. Retried the above steps for group forums. Still nothing.

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 5 months ago]

Same error- attempt to create a topic under group forums, I get the error, “There was an error when creating the topic”

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 5 months ago]

bump

[@newpress Participant 12 years, 5 months ago]

I resolved it long ago

https://buddypress.org/community/groups/how-to-and-troubleshooting/forum/topic/giving-up-on-using-forums-bbpress/

Alternatively you can go to bbpress->setting-> change forum slug from forums to anything else. I think it works though didnt try it myself

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 5 months ago]

Thanks for the response newpress. I tried it, but unfortunately, that didn’t work either.

So to recap, I’ve tried the following:
uninstalled and removed both bbPress and BuddyPress
renamed bb-config.php (in order to try and trick BuddyPress for the purposes of re-initializing the group forum install)
downloaded BuddyPress and bbPress and reinstalled each
changed forum slugs in WP > Settings > Forums (multiple times)
made sure group forums were allowed in WP > Settings > Forums
I’ve set a brand new page at least 3 times as the assigned page for group forums under BP > Pages
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve saved out Permalinks (WP > Settings > Permalinks)
enabled, disabled and re-enabled group forums from within the Groups as the admin (Admin Options > Group Settings) on about 7 different groups that were created, deleted and re-created multiple times
I’ve changed themes back and forth repeatedly between bp default and bp corporate (had no effect either way)

I’ve followed advice from several different posts in these forums:
https://buddypress.org/community/groups/how-to-and-troubleshooting/forum/topic/this-group-does-not-have-a-forum-setup-yet-1/?topic_page=1&num=15
and
https://buddypress.org/community/groups/how-to-and-troubleshooting/forum/topic/this-group-does-not-have-a-forum-setup-yet-1/?topic_page=1&num=15
I’ve followed the BP Codex here:
https://codex.buddypress.org/getting-started/installing-group-and-sitewide-forums/

I’ve looked online for other resources, and they are also ineffective (though problems with the BuddyPress group forums seems like a very common problem, and there seems to be quite a bit of confusion between the default forums provided via BuddyPress versus the forums provided by the bbPress plugin- albeit mostly attributed to older posts on other forums)

I’m testing now in 2 different places- a server and a local installation- neither instance works.

Multisite and single site- neither works.

The only thing I have left is this:
https://buddypress.org/community/groups/how-to-and-troubleshooting/forum/topic/forums-posting-problems-the-definitive-post/?topic_page=2&num=15

I guess I’ll give this a go, although I am NOT using Dreamhost, so I’m not even sure how applicable this will be for me.

I really don’t know where to go from here, and am also really, REALLY curious what use groups are supposed to serve in BuddyPress?
There is no support for PMs to group members.
There is no content that can be created or flagged specifically for different groups (‘BuddyPress Groups Extras’ plugin sort of solves this, but generates an array error everytime I open a group up- other plugins don’t seem to work properly and I’ve searched PAGES of plugins results for this functionality). This seems integral to the whole point of having hidden groups.

Group forums don’t seem to work reliably/consistently or in some cases (like mine) at all.

I apologize if that sounds snarky- that’s not my intent at all. I’m 100% honestly curious what purpose groups are supposed to serve within BuddyPress since I can’t seem to find anything that points to how they work or what purpose they serve due to the issues listed above. They sound like they have great potential, but I’m trying to find out what that potential is.

If there is a change or hack required to whatever database tables or PHP files or system files associated with any part of WP, BP, etc, I’ll be glad to try it and attempt to get group forums working.

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 5 months ago]

Update: this worked on my copy on the server:
http://wpmu.org/daily-tip-fix-for-buddypress-group-forums-error-when-creating-a-new-topic/

[@frostdawn Member 12 years, 5 months ago]

(side note- the server installation was built manually so the earlier potential solution from a past forum post wouldn’t have worked for that environment anyway).

SO glad this is finally working. Just about doing the ‘Snoopy dance’ over here.