Various pre-sales questions

TorontoJoe

TorontoJoe

Member
Hello. I recently started a special interest forum on MyBB. It's become a bit more successful than I thought. It's a very nice took but being free, I'm hoping for a platform that's a bit more slick and modern with better support options. To that end I've seen and heard good things about XenForo and have a few questions that didn't come up in general searches.

I will likely remain on the shared hosting service with my current provider until such time as I need greater capacity.

I would likely get all the options except for branding removal. Can someone confirm that these are one time license costs? Are there any annual fees?

I've read reviews indicating the cost of the base package is $140. Here however it says $195. Did the price go up or is this my local price in Canadian Dollars? (https://xenforo.com/purchase/self-hosted) Would be nice if currency was indicated.

Following the price of each module there is an extension price, i.e. extension: $60. What are these?

Are there any ongoing tech support options? Is there any listing of the options with applicable levels and pricing?

One of the options is an installation fee of $60. I assume that's for only the base software and additional plugins.... is there any service for migrating from a MyBB forum?

If there is a migration tool and or service, would it come with the ability to account for MyBB custom plugins? I had some made for functionality that was missing.... These functions may very well exist in XenForo but I don't know how the presence of custom plugins currently affect a migration

Would a migration include not only the current threads and posts but image and linked media?

Would a migration also import all accounts and login credentials?

Would there be an opportunity to build layout and colour schemes before going live to the existing users?

In the event of a migration, is there a way to deploy it in a test environment before switching over the current forum? Just to test it for a short period to ensure everything works correctly and the migration went well?

The media gallery options - My users do a lot of image sharing in their posts. I'm hoping to be directed to an example of how image posting behaves in threads and posts.

With Xenforo... where to clients normally host their images? Is it typically with the same shared hosting service? Is an external upload/download host often used? I can see images building up over time so I need to ensure all images are safe long term

Can backups of the forum, database and media be kept offline in addition to whatever means are typically employed?

Are there flexible options for private message and/or email notifications for things like @mentions, email on subscribed thread etc?

Can user easily block/ignore other users profile and content?

Is there an option for other users to "like" posts. And show on hover or click who has liked the post or thread?

I think that's all for now. I'm going to see if I can install the demo to begin noodling with the system.

Thanks kindly for your assistance.
 
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Branding removal it’s a one time fee but I wouldn’t pay for that. Anyone can see your software by looking at the source code.
There is a convertor from MyBB 1.8. It’s recommended to disable all mods / addons before converting.

The price of the standard license is 195$ + VAT regardless. I’ve paid the same and I stay in Scotland.

The “like post” system is available by default with several reactions which you can edit afterwards from the admin panel.
 
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1. what to buy
XenForo License $195.00 - it is must!
Enhanced Search $60.00 - it is must!

Resource Manage r$70.00 - optional, can buy later
Media Gallery $70.00 - optional, can buy later

Branding Removal $350.00 - if you need it
one time payment for branding removal.

must pay for license renewal every year if want upgrades & keep forum updated. it is must!

2. buy vps or dedicated server with extra memory to save money, but not shared server

3. you need to buy Installation Service
why? XF team will install for you without any error

4. XF team can not import you MyBB forum, you can find developer here to do that using XenForo Importers

5. Importing your forum - threads, post, images, all accounts and login credentials

6. opportunity to build layout and colour schemes - must choose existing styles

7. keep you old forum for a couple of months to make sure no data is missing

8. backups made on server side

9. private messages, emails, notifications - all works great

10. XF has ignore user option

yes for the rest!
 
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Hi. Thanks for getting back. If you could please clarify on a few points:

-keep you old forum for a couple of months to make sure no data is missing

If I keep the old forum running, Where would the new forum exist while in testing assuming I’m on my own shared host?

- the fee.. $195 etc. those are payable annually in US Dollars?

- what is the extension $ noted on the same line as the base fee?

My next step will be to contact a developer to discuss the migration variables

Much appreciated
 
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You can install XF in a subdirectory (folder) for testing purposes, until you go live with it.

All charges are in USD $.

The extension cost is the annual renewal, optional after 12 months since purchase.

The importer add-on is free to download and many customers feel comfortable doing the import themselves.
 
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javakhir said:
1. what to buy
...
Enhanced Search $60.00 - it is must!
Click to expand...
I would disagree on this one point: if his needs are being met with shared hosting, Enhanced Search is not a must. I know you also encouraged him to move to a VPS, but if he doesn't need it, then he doesn't need it, and he probably shouldn't get it just so that he can run ES.
 
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imno007 said:
I would disagree on this one point: if his needs are being met with shared hosting, Enhanced Search is not a must. I know you also encouraged him to move to a VPS, but if he doesn't need it, then he doesn't need it, and he probably shouldn't get it just so that he can run ES.
Click to expand...

This is to say ES will not work on shared hosting?
 
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I keep my old mybb forum around on my hosting as an archive, and it hasn't really bothered my xenforo forum at all.

But if moving from myBB I would recommend making sure that the message character length is set higher than the default setting or matches your myBB message character length settings, or you could find posts/threads being cut down on import.

Find it in Options -> Messages:
1729223559770.webp

I use shared hosting for my own Xenforo forum though, as it is just a general discussion and role-playing community, and I don't really need high performance.
 
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Keep your old hosting, & don't delete it yet. Point your domain to the new forum, so you can access old forum via IP address.
After using the new forum, when all data is checked, you can delete the old hosting.
Because during import you will need to move data to a new VPS, where you can keep it

Do not buy AWS or shared hosting, do a search & you will find cheaper hosting with extra memory, which can save money.
Enhanced Search is $60.00 - you go to a cafe & spend this money, it's not $600
but will save users time in your forum

Don't listen to passive advice. Just do it! Don't be afraid. you will get more knowledge & experience
the main thing is you would love & get pleasure while setting up a new forum
 
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javakhir said:
Keep your old hosting, & don't delete it yet. Point your domain to the new forum, so you can access old forum via IP address.
After using the new forum, when all data is checked, you can delete the old hosting.
Because during import you will need to move data to a new VPS, where you can keep it

Do not buy AWS or shared hosting, do a search & you will find cheaper hosting with extra memory, which can save money.
Enhanced Search is $60.00 - you go to a cafe & spend this money, it's not $600
but will save users time in your forum

Don't listen to passive advice. Just do it! Don't be afraid. you will get more knowledge & experience
the main thing is you would love & get pleasure while setting up a new forum
Click to expand...
Advising someone to spend more money only when necessary could be called "prudent" rather than "passive," and advising them to spend more than might be necessary because it would supposedly make them brave and be a fun learning experience isn't necessarily what's best for them at the moment. Although of course if he has the money to spend and doesn't mind moving hosts and doing redirects and setting up ES and whatnot, even if he doesn't strictly need to, then that's his prerogative. I'm not saying it's a bad thing for him to do, just maybe not necessary for his particular use case right now. It's completely up to him.
 
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TorontoJoe said:
Based on what I read, I got the impression that it provided more accurate searches
Click to expand...
Yeah, but a basic question you should probably be asking yourself is, "Do my members generally have trouble getting relevant search results now?" Do they often complain about it? Can you give them some basic pointers to improve their searches with the current system, simple things like putting keywords in quotation marks and how best to use the advanced search? How large is your forum now? Are there so many threads and posts, so much content, that ES might be a real benefit in helping people get to what they want quickly?

But again, if money is no object and you just want the best of the best and don't mind setting it up or paying someone to do it for you, then go for it. Not trying to talk you out of it so much as just advising you not to rush to invest in it just because some random person is telling you that it's an absolute necessity.
 
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Miyevan said:
I’ve bought it without even knowing what it does lol. It’s a one time purchase then only the extension so whatever. I think it will be handy.
Click to expand...
Well, you also have to pay to renew both at the same time from then on. Although ES will currently only add $10 to the annual renewal, it's not exactly true to say it's a one time purchase if you want to keep it updated - you know, if you're actually using it. ;)
 
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imno007 said:
Yeah, but a basic question you should probably be asking yourself is, "Do my members generally have trouble getting relevant search results now?" Do they often complain about it? Can you give them some basic pointers to improve their searches with the current system, simple things like putting keywords in quotation marks and how best to use the advanced search? How large is your forum now? Are there so many threads and posts, so much content, that ES might be a real benefit in helping people get to what they want quickly?

But again, if money is no object and you just want the best of the best and don't mind setting it up or paying someone to do it for you, then go for it. Not trying to talk you out of it so much as just advising you not to rush to invest in it just because some random person is telling you that it's an absolute necessity.
Click to expand...

Do I completely understand it, no. Do my current MyBB users and previous vBulletin users complain about poor search functionality... All the time. It's probably been the biggest complaint I've had to deal with over the years. So anything I can do to improve this experience is important to me.
 
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Hundreds did this mistake before & will do after! it's a human nature to find cheaper!
Me too not bought Enhanse Search, after using XF, all users were reporting everyday, that search sucks.
Bought ES which fixed all. also it has a great functionality - Similar Threads
 
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