Planet Descent
Community => Mess Hall => Topic started by: Scyphi on April 25, 2011, 06:59:05 AM
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...that Descent Fan Fiction (http://descentfiction.forumup.org/index.php?mforum=descentfiction) still exists.
I bring it up, because unless something changes here very soon, it'll be willingly shut down do to inactivity due to the fact that Techpro is the only semi-active member, and even he has confessed that probably isn't going to last for much longer.
If we do opt to shut it down, we will work to preserve as much material as we can from the site.
So, again, last chance to turn Descent Fan Fiction (http://descentfiction.forumup.org/index.php?mforum=descentfiction) around.
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I feel bad in a way. I so wanted to write something, but I have 0 time, and almost 0 interest. Kind of nice looking back and seeing what I use to write, and what others said.
I hope I can get this copied in some word processor or something before you close it down, if it goes in that direction.
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I really don't see any sense in shutting it down, even if nobody uses it. It's not an unused phpbb installation is a huge resource hog. If you do shut it down, you should export the database so somebody else could put it up somewhere if they wanted to.
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Unfortunately, it's hosted on a site which requires activity to keep it going. TechPro and Scy have been periodically posting there to keep it alive.
We can look into getting a db export (costs $) or backing up the stories somewhere... but it really is time to let it come down.
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I have to remind myself to copy that before it's gone. I sent this email to my girl friend. I may have to send one to myself as a reminder.
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If you can get a back up I'll see what i can do about setting up a replacement. If not, copy the stories in text format and I'll put them on Reactor.
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I actually remembered, but then again, I sent myself an email. I have some in my own word processor.
I was thinking of logging in there and saying whatever. Probably no point and don't remember my password. This is a good 5 years back, and five years ago, I think I was using Time Warner's Road Runner. No way to recover that email address.
It's all okay.
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If not, copy the stories in text format and I'll put them on Reactor.
Except I don't know if they'd be any better off there. Who here does much of anything with Reactor? I know I don't, and I DO seem to be the resident writer here.
I'm also fairly confident that the topic came up before, but got ruled out for whatever reason, so that's why.
But there is that possibility nonetheless, so don't think it's not been noted. :)
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what's a reactor? I only know those in Descent.
If any were placed in Reactor, I am sure some would go there. That or, have some topic created linking to it. Can one add a menu there, Home/forum/reactor/etc etc../Stories
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Poor choice of hosting then, I'm sorry to say. I have forums that have been inactive for 5+ years that are still up.
The Admin panel doesn't have anything in Maintenance like "Backup"?
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what's a reactor? I only know those in Descent.
If any were placed in Reactor, I am sure some would go there. That or, have some topic created linking to it. Can one add a menu there, Home/forum/reactor/etc etc../Stories
Van, there is already a link, scroll up and look next to the forum button. Wait, are you using a different theme? Maybe i didn't add the link to a theme. What theme are you using?
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sorry, forgot my smiley. I was being sarcastic. I think I am using the default theme, and I see it as home/forum/reactor/gallery... etc...
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If not, copy the stories in text format and I'll put them on Reactor.
Except I don't know if they'd be any better off there. Who here does much of anything with Reactor? I know I don't, and I DO seem to be the resident writer here.
I'm also fairly confident that the topic came up before, but got ruled out for whatever reason, so that's why.
But there is that possibility nonetheless, so don't think it's not been noted. :)
The difference is they won't be deleted just because there is no activity. And back ups are made. Free.
Reactor is meant more as a showcase of finished stories. If you want something else let me know what you guys want to do and if it's a matter of providing space here we can do that. I can set up subforums here if you want, or a separate forum if you want that. But the bottom line is that if you want to preserve everything you have at the existing forum, someone will have to pony up for a back up. If you just want to preserve finished stories, you are welcome to copy them to Reactor, or I can set up a forum, or subforums here, whatever you guys decide. Doing it that way, of course you would lose all the member data and discussion, etc.
Either way you'll have a backup. So there won't be any tears if the site goes down.
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Thread revival, I know, but I thought I should let everyone here know that we (meaning me) finished making backups of the major stories on Descent Fan Fiction today, so I fully expect that unless something drastic happens, it won't be long before the site goes down.
So...this is seriously the last chance to turn things around there.
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Thank you so much, Scy!
Any chance you can post those backups here, so they're accessible? (Along with the logo, too. Don't want to lose that.)
As for the DFF forums, I'm honestly fine with letting them go. It was created simply as a mechanism for a PD project which has long since run its course. It was fun, and perhaps if interest ever crops up again, a new DFF (or a new DFF section here on PlanetDescent) can be created.
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Why not integrate the content into this site or another one ... to preserve folks' hard work etc.?
Sounds like a nice project to undertake.
Just upload them to the files area on here as ... PDF or whatever.
Maybe the Reactor area is too separated-off and demarcated from the other bits of the site? You could just use to files section to take over from it.
PS.: What kind of Shanghai, one-armed-bandit hosting company are you with that bills you to make a database backup???
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ForumUp is a free forum hosting thing. They provide the forum for free and let you choose your topic, layout, name, what to have, etc. You just have to live with one banner ad, no free backup (because you could take that backup elsewhere) thus protecting their hosting efforts... and keep the traffic somewhat active. It was easy, quick, very flexible, and worked very nice.
If I needed a forum for something for a while that likely wouldn't be permanent, I'd use that service again.
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Ahh, I see - well I don't rate any company that provides a hosting service that plays a hostage/ransom game with your raw data, even though I can understand their motivation.
The point about the easy upkeep is always good. Forums can be a beast to manage, depending on the software you're using.
Sometimes auto-installers like Fantastico can be useful and you can customize the forum the way you want afterwards.
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Any chance you can post those backups here, so they're accessible? (Along with the logo, too. Don't want to lose that.)
Well, let's see what I can do here...
Eeyup, looks like I can post them as attachments here. :) They're in .docx format, hopefully that shouldn't be an issue (they seem to be a fairly versatile file format these days).
As for the logo, I posted a copy of it on deviantART (http://scyphi.deviantart.com/gallery/25598851?offset=24#/d2s2w8a) more than a year ago, and I think I still have not only a jpeg copy, but also the original .psd file somewhere, so we're good there too. :) Actually though, I wouldn't mind having to go back and redoing it, though, because looking back, I think it could use a few improvements. Plus I never ever did fix that black blob around the GX's tail fin... ::)
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Do you want to put them up on Reactor, or would everyone prefer a section here for DFF? My original thought for Reactor is that it is easier to read there as the stories can use HTML for better formatting, each story can have a completly different skin and banner, but it is not so great in that it is not so integrated as it would be here, ie, another login, another system to learn to use... But I'll leave it up to you guys, let me know what you want.
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>>> the stories can use HTML for better formatting, each story can have a completly different skin and banner
That was a really good idea. Very nice