Forum 4.6 Beta

I have posted an installable forum 4.6 over @ CodePlex. This is marked as a Beta and requires DotNetNuke Core 5.4.1 or greater. This is basically the same version of the module that we are currently using here, with a few additional changes (which I am sure will make it here shortly). While I feel the module is very capable of being one used in production, there are a few reasons I decided to go the beta route but the main one is I only have tested it using it the way we do here on www.dotnetnuke.com. As per usual, please test the install in a stage/test environment and do full backups prior to installation. In addition to this, a few things to know ahead of time:

• Private Messaging is Removed.
• The Default theme is not included, it now ships w/ the Blue theme used here on this site.
• User avatars are offloaded to the Core Profile (Photo Property).
• User Profile Display is handled via the Core (no longer integrated in the module).
• Member Directory is removed from the module (it had a couple bugs, will be handled separately in the future)

To avoid confusion with the current release (that ships with the core), I have created a forum on www.dnnforums.com to track anything noticed in the beta. If you wish to download the install, you can do so here.

 Some of the highlights of what is addressed in this version:

• Updated manifest file for Core 5.x format.
• Removed IUpgradeable usage for custom permissions, offloaded to .dnn manifest file.
• Removed IUpgradeable usage for remainder of module, mainly localization Lists support, to avoid long standing bugs based on changes to localization over the years.
• Posting was abstracted to an API so it no longer depends on HttpContext and can be used via other modules/providers/tasks without requiring HttpContext.
• Umlaut usage (Html Encoding) in Aggregate Subject corrected.
• Display Name not being rendered properly in Post Report corrected.
• ACP/MCP/UCP Forum Home link moved to bottom center, removed from menu (usability reasons).
• Z-Index issue for contorl panels corrected for default core skin.
• Fixed an uninstall error that could occur depending on version of the module previously installed.
• Fixed a problem where enable/disable rating was no longer taking effect via user interface.
• Fixed issue where disabling user avatar also disabled system avatars.
• Fixed a problem in restricted forums where posting a reply may not be possible depending on permissions (and it should have been).
• Fixed several spelling errors throughout the module.
• Fixed issue where, depending on HTML provider, users could not easily quote a post and type without switching to HTML code view.
• Corrected issue w/ SetFocus isses in PostEdit, users are no longer able to reply/quote and change the subject either.
• Changed security class to minimize db hits (using a core GetUser method which is capable of utilizing core caching).
• Removed email icon for notifications in Posts, Threads View. Also removed next/previous button images in posts view.
• Added quick reply capability (is a module setting).
• Added ability for forum administrators to view details about email queue (what is in queue, what has/hasn't been sent).
• Added ability for forum administrators to view who is subscribed to a forum or a thread.
• Added tracking for the date a thread was marked as answered.
• Removed module's own user profile view, now redirects to core profile. (Thus we implemented core user profile integration as well).
• Removed module's own custom private messaging (although the tables remain for future export potential depending on feedback).
• Removed totals for aggregated threads/posts counts (this reduces overhead, since it was unique per user in many situations).
• Made all profile visibility dependent on core profile visibility of user.
• Updates to correct Forum_Users not being created (on initial viewing) in sites with high volume.
• Fixed several issues with Move Thread (around user interface).
• Switched ratings to utilize Telerik Rating control.
• Updated tree views used throughout moudle to use Telerik Treeview.
• Integrated Telerik tab strip in control panels to replace the tab effect I previously mimiced.
• Removed legacy stored procedures no longer called.
• Added ability to use Core User Avatars (via profile).
• Several changes to handle high volume sites such as www.dotnetnuke.com.
• Removed custom emoticon control, back to being offloaded to HTML Provider.
• Made My Threads work like it previously did so users can see all threads they are participating in, not just the ones they started.
• Fixed issues where Telerik HTML Provider (shipped with newer core versions) causes problems with preview and editing of existing posts.
• Removed Default theme from package, now ships with Blue that is used on www.dotnetnuke.com currently.
• Fixed issues that remained that if a user was deleted (hard delete) and they had a post, it could screw up any of the views that were linked to such a post/thread.