A few questions

[MattW19]

Hi,

I run a vBulletin 3.8 board with >2m posts and we are currently discussing the potential for moving on to XenForo.

The questions coming up at this stage have been basically about how we'd change our processes over to the new system - particularly relating to moderation, and about the modifications we use to the base vBulletin and their potential equivalents for XenForo.

Second one first - the major modifications we use are vBSEO and a custom fantasy sports game.
- How well can XF keep the url structures of the vBSEO links? What about the likes system?
- How hard is it to 'convert' a vBulletin template over to XF and has anyone had success in doing so without a large amount of reprogramming?
- Is there a good points plugin? We currently piggyback of vBookie's vCash - I've seen the 'SportsBook' modification, is that a good equivalent?

And for the moderation side of things, there's a few things we do that don't seem to have an equivalent in Xen, that I've found.
- Putting posts/threads from new users into the moderation queue. There's membership approvals, but I like to basically let people make a post and then if it's good, approve it and have them automatically promoted to the normal 'registered' usergroup.
- Allowing users to see their own deleted posts, we did a code modification on vBulletin - is there an addon or a similar mod to do the same thing here? We find it a good way of communicating with members to have their posts not just vanish.
- Second to that - why does it only say 'edited by a moderator', is there an option to say the specific one? Again as it allows users to contact the moderator that acted on their post directly.
- Permissions seem extremely complex - does the installer attempt to convert those over from the vBulletin permissions in any way?

Some general questions as well
- Have people with larger boards found the enhanced search addon worthwhile? Do the demo boards have that included?
- How have users responded to the change?
- What was the most convincing factor for others in deciding to move on from vB3.8?


Thanks in advance for any feedback, answers and advice.

 

[Slavik]

Second one first - the major modifications we use are vBSEO and a custom fantasy sports game.
- How well can XF keep the url structures of the vBSEO links? What about the likes system?
Both of these can be converted to XenForo format.

- How hard is it to 'convert' a vBulletin template over to XF and has anyone had success in doing so without a large amount of reprogramming?
For the most part, templates and addons will need to be completely re-done

- Is there a good points plugin? We currently piggyback of vBookie's vCash - I've seen the 'SportsBook' modification, is that a good equivalent?
There are a variety of points/credits addons available


- Putting posts/threads from new users into the moderation queue. There's membership approvals, but I like to basically let people make a post and then if it's good, approve it and have them automatically promoted to the normal 'registered' usergroup.
This is easily done in XenForo using the built in user promotions system.

- Allowing users to see their own deleted posts, we did a code modification on vBulletin - is there an addon or a similar mod to do the same thing here? We find it a good way of communicating with members to have their posts not just vanish.
This would require some custom work

- Second to that - why does it only say 'edited by a moderator', is there an option to say the specific one? Again as it allows users to contact the moderator that acted on their post directly.
This would require some custom work

- Permissions seem extremely complex - does the installer attempt to convert those over from the vBulletin permissions in any way?
Permissions are cumulative in xenforo (eg every user starts off as "registered" with a base set of permissions, and then additional usergroups add or remove extra permissions as needed). The importer generally brings them over quite well, but may not be perfect.


- Have people with larger boards found the enhanced search addon worthwhile? Do the demo boards have that included?
Enhanced Search is highly recommended by almost everyone who uses it. The demo does not use it. However it is used here.

- How have users responded to the change?
This depends on the forum. However, id say most boards have responded extremely positively to the change.

 

[MattW19]

- Putting posts/threads from new users into the moderation queue. There's membership approvals, but I like to basically let people make a post and then if it's good, approve it and have them automatically promoted to the normal 'registered' usergroup.
This is easily done in XenForo using the built in user promotions system.

So would I be doing something like promoting users at 0 posts to a new users group and then promoting them again shortly after, or would I take the opposite approach and take the 'Follow forum moderation rules' permission off the Registered usergroup and then promote users to a group with that later?

- Allowing users to see their own deleted posts, we did a code modification on vBulletin - is there an addon or a similar mod to do the same thing here? We find it a good way of communicating with members to have their posts not just vanish.
This would require some custom work

- Second to that - why does it only say 'edited by a moderator', is there an option to say the specific one? Again as it allows users to contact the moderator that acted on their post directly.
This would require some custom work

So what do other boards use as their flow for moderation on Xen? I noticed there's an option for a moderator notice to be put on a post publicly, what tools do other boards used to keep members informed of moderator decisions, without needing to go and send messages to them all the time?

Are there any pre-existing modifications for these things?

Thanks for the other answers.