I think the forum part of the Viart shop is essential to help any site get good traffic. I really like that fact that the Viart forum fits so nicely within the shop look and feel but it still needs some tweaking and should be brought to the top of the Viart to-do list.
 
1. There needs to be a page where all threads from all forum categories can be viewed at once an"all discussions page"
 
2. There needs to be some way of allowing the users to feel more part of a community forum rather than just a passing visitor.
 
A user of one of my other forums just told me that they think this new viart forum is a bit cold so they only stayed for one posting.
 
There needs to be some way of displaying uploads on the page rather than as a link and an "whos' online feature that displays how many other users are present.
 
Best regards Keith Hall

I agree with that you're stating. I have also implemented a feature where it will display the users's online status, as well as an option to send an email to that user. This email shows up in the uses's 'ticket center' however I have renamed it to 'message center'

I do indeed like your idea of the uploads showing on the page, rather than just a link. Maybe we should have an option on the admin side that if the upload is of a certain extention, it will display as the item, and if it's an other upload type we allow, it should just display as a link.
 
The admin would be able to distinguish btwn the two.

I agree with:
 
* Private Messaging Functions
* Embedded Attached Images
 
I like the fact the Forums are integrated with the rest of the site functions/database, but improvements would be excellent.

Unless we make them on our own, I don't see it happening very soon :-/

What do you see the priority order being?
 
My priorities would be:
1. Embedded Attached Images
2. Some better moderation functions (close discussion, ban user from posting, auto-approval on/off).
3. Private Messaging Functions (incl. users short description and location (country/state/town) details).
5. Online/offline indicator (user can choose to switch this off).
4. All discussions page.

At present, there's an option in each user account to indicate whether to show their online status or to hide it. I think that aspect is there, they just need to use it.
 
As far as the message to user functionality (PM), I'm implimenting this on my own, and have it mostly working. Once complete, I will find out who wants to have this functionality. (I will note that I have changed my Helpdesk to be called 'Message Center' and this is where EVERYTHING emailed to them, whether it be support related or ad related, is shown here.)

Let me know when it is ready Dan. I'd be really interested. I've done a few modifications to my forum and shopfront already.
 
I think the all discussions page should be the second priority after the attachments.
 
By the way Dan. Where is the option for users to switch their online status on and off please?
 
As a backstop I'm also looking into modifications to Vanilla to allow it to be used with the Viart CMS instead of the Viart forum.

Replies are not done properly with regards to the forum. When making a post, it should be organized a little bit different for the threading. If you're responding to the main topic, it should be threaded below it, however, if you're responding to something individually said, it the reply should be indented over to the right a little bit to indicate that it was replied to a reply and not necessarily the main topic.

Dan wrote- ""As far as the message to user functionality (PM), I'm implimenting this on my own, and have it mostly working.""
 
Has this been implemented yet Dan? I'm currently looking at the demo product with a view to making a purchase. The forum seems a bit weak in features and a bit cold as someone posted higher up. The forum is an important aspect for our drive for more sales it's putting me of an otherwise excellent product.
 
I feel it needs the following at least.
Private messaging and the ability to answer another users post with an automatic quote.

Still waiting for an update..

Phil, I have the PM feature working, however the second aspect I do not. What I'm trying to do, is to change the way the forum works a bit. You can reply to the topic itself, or a user. The reply to a user would be indented directly under their posting.

Only wondering as don't have a forum yet. But would it not be easier to use e.g phpbb or is that rife with its own problems ??
 
I find the inability to not be able to report a post a limitation with the Viart forum at this time.
 
Love the rest of the shop though !
 
Dave

Well, I don't want third part applications on my site, and don't want my customers to have to register for multiple areas of the site. One site, one registration.