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View Full Version : Straighten some things out


WebGuy
06-05-03, 05:54 PM
Hey everyone. Maybe this was never explained so I'll do it now and just maybe, things will start to work a little smoother around here.

I'm the site administrator. I handle all the code issues. I make the site run and make it look pretty. I sometimes add new features or update the scripts. I also get the site back up and running if it goes down or has some problems. Sometimes it just takes a phone call to the host while other times I have to go in and modify the code. I also try and help out as a moderator.

What's a moderator? They make sure the members are happy and keep the site clean. They watch out for problems and try to fix them. If it's a big problem or if it's code related they should contact me. They can delete threads, move them, edit them, etc. They have access to all areas of the site. They also can look into your profile to check your information. (they can't see your password) They also can post news items to our homepage, post forum announcements, add/edit items to the calendar & links page, or make a thread sticky. If something is posted that you think is bad for the club or the site, you can report it. When you report a post, an email is sent to all of the moderators and thy can handle it. If you are having trouble using the website, they will be able to answer all of your questions.

If you are a moderator and aren't sure how to do some of these things, let me know so I can walk you through it. Most of the questions can be answered by reading out FAQ (http://www.ccdv.com/forum/misc.php?s=&action=faq)

Here are the most common ones

How do I login? the site doesn't know who I am.
Go here & fill out the form. (http://www.ccdv.com/forum/member.php?s=&action=loginform)

My password won't work or I forgot it
Go here & fill out the form. (http://www.ccdv.com/forum/member.php?action=lostpw) You'll be emailed instructions.

I have a new email address
Go here and update your profile (http://www.ccdv.com/forum/member.php?s=&action=editprofile)

I don't have permission to access the Gascap.
Use the mod cp to see if they are already a subscriber.
If so, they need to enter their name & password at the permission denied page.
If not, tell them to use this form (http://www.ccdv.com/forum/member.php?s=&action=mailform&userid=1&fill=gascap) and tell webguy that you'd like to switch to the online version.

What's a Super Moderator? That just means that they can moderate in every forum. Regular moderators are restricted to only their forums. All of our mods are super mods.

As a mod you need to know how to do everything a member might need to do and be able to explain it to them. That includes downloading and opening the GasCap. If you can't do this or don't want to, then you shouldn't be a moderator and we need to find someone who can.

If the mods would like to take on even more responsibility, this can be arranged, but it could wind up causing problems. I don't recommend it unless it's someone I can completely trust. It's too easy for them to mess up the site or someones account if they have acces to edit them.

WebGuy
06-05-03, 05:55 PM
As for our server & the outages. Sometimes their are problems. Thats why I'm here. They are inevitable. Theres always something that needs attention. Just like your Vette, eventually something breaks and the mechanic needs to do his thing. Since we moved to this server and I got everything setup & working we've only had 1 problem. It was very minor. If you believe there was more than that, you are mistaken. You must be thinking of things that you thought were server related and weren't or you are thinking of our old server and the move to this one.

The host does regular updates to fix bugs and security holes. It happens all the time. This last time caused Apache to stop. Apache is like the OS of the server. Sometimes something happens on your home computer, windows gets stuck or starts running slow, and you just need to restart it. Thats alot like what happened to our server. It's normal and just happens sometimes. I received a call alerting me of the problem, and when I got home from work I checked into it. After seeing that I couldn't solve the problem and that it don't look like an issue on our end. I called & emailed the host (email is so we have a paper trail of tech support issues). They looked into it and restarted apache. They always take care of everything right away and have a great tech support team. CCDV.com is the only site on this account and it's a great server with room to grow. I'm very happy with it. If it wasn't any good, I'd want us to move. I would make my life easier so you can believe me when I say that they are fast & reliable

A month or 2 before that the site was down and it had nothing to do with the server at all. Our domain name is CCDV.com and you have to pay Network Solutions for it. The club sent in a check on time, but it wasn't processed right away. They turned the domain name off. The server was actually still up and running, but when you typed in CCDV.com you didn't get anything. After trying to get things straightened out with them, I finally just got out my credit card and renewed the domain name online and got it back up and running. About 2 weeks later, network solutions finally recognized that they had the club check and renewed ccdv.com again. You are now good for the next seven years.

We haven't had any other issues with this host. When we first moved, the first month was rocky but once I got everything straightened out we've been running smoothly.

STEVEN LONG
06-05-03, 06:22 PM
Thanks for the information! It's always good when information is shared with the general membership.

I have one concern with your post about moderators haveing more responsibility ...
"If the mods would like to take on even more responsibility, this can be arranged, but it could wind up causing problems. I don't recommend it unless it's someone I can completely trust. It's too easy for them to mess up the site or someones account if they have acces to edit them.

Based upon what you are saying ... I would bet that it is safer to nix the idea ... or at least to some degree. From the previous threads ... it sounds like we really do not have a Webmaster ... which is probably what we need ... and also, probably who could be doing these other tasks that require additional technical aptitude. Jeff - What are your thoughts on this last paragraph?

WebGuy
06-05-03, 10:32 PM
there really isn't anything more that needs to be done. We don't really need someone with more powers than the mods already have. They can cover the bases now. I was just saying that if the club wanted mods to be able to do even more, it is possible to set it up.

We have a website staff. the admin & the mods are supposed to work together instead of just one person handling everything. We all work as mods and I cover the additonal duites. Most online communtites work this same way.

I have something that I made for my board which I could install here that really helped in the moderating. I made some staff only forums which are used for the mods to talk to one another and a couple used for other administrative purposes. It make it easier for the staff to work as a team. One big improvement is the reported threads forum. Instead of emailing all the mods when a post is reported, a new thread gets started in the reported threads forum. this way all the mods can see the problem and then see if anyone has already address it. they can discuss what to do about it before proceding. It might be just what we need around here.

Everyone enjoy the Cavacade!

Bill Burkholder
06-05-03, 10:58 PM
Thanks Jeff....Bill

STEVEN LONG
06-05-03, 11:27 PM
I was referring to your mention that you were limited in time, that you aren't supposed to be checking the web, etc. You said you weren't the Webmaster.

Anyway ... so, any news on the E-mail Notification situation? I received an e-mail that informed me that a reply had been made to this thread. What happened?

WebGuy
06-06-03, 02:00 AM
Originally posted by STEVEN LONG
I was referring to your mention that you were limited in time, that you aren't supposed to be checking the web, etc. You said you weren't the Webmaster.

I never said any of those things. I don't know how you could say that I did. I constantly donate my free time to the site. if you don't see that, you aren't paying attention.

Mike Campbell
06-06-03, 09:23 AM
Jeff, just hang in there! ;yn Guess you feel like you're riding thru Bagdad with snipers behind every corner sometimes. Well, all I can say is keep working at it! It is getting better, even if little by little. ;bt

Joel Fellman
06-06-03, 11:47 AM
This site is light years ahead of where it was several years ago! Ellis deserves the credit for it's inception & Jeff deserves the credit for bringing us to where we are today!
Thank you, both!!

STEVEN LONG
06-06-03, 02:14 PM
Posted by STEVEN LONG
<<I was referring to your mention that you were limited in time, that you aren't supposed to be checking the web, etc. You said you weren't the Webmaster. >>

Posted by WebGuy
<<I never said any of those things. I don't know how you could say that I did. I constantly donate my free time to the site. if you don't see that, you aren't paying attention.>>

---Refer back to the locked thread. I think you made your point crystal clear before ... pointing out that you only check it 1x per month, and that you were hired ONLY to write code ... not be the Webmaster. Did I miss something?

IceDigger
06-08-03, 07:43 PM
The site crashes mozilla 1.4rc1. Just thought you should know. Not everybody uses windows here.

Bill Burkholder
06-08-03, 11:29 PM
Originally posted by Joel Fellman
This site is light years ahead of where it was several years ago! Ellis deserves the credit for it's inception & Jeff deserves the credit for bringing us to where we are today!
Thank you, both!!



Your correct, in the beginning we had to fight to get the web site and Ellis stood his ground and said this is the future, ( about 80% of new members come from the web) and Jeff has brought us along into the 21st century with improvements... Thanks guys !!!!!!!!!