TinyPortal

What is your url?  Finton Hollow (http://fintonhollow.com/index.php)

Problem: No matter what setting options I choose, the center of my frontpage always points to the forum index page. I have removed all my center blocks and all my right and left blocks and my articles. I emptied it all so I could see if it made a change. It didn't. The board index still shows in the center of the frontpage. I switched skins to a TP version and it didn't make a difference, so I put back my original skin. I don't know what I am not doing right. 

What version of SMF? Newest

What version of TP? Newest

Which themes are used? MysticJade (from SMF) but also tried Bloc's Neptune for TP to see if it made a diffence. It didn't.

Do you have other Mods installed? Yes.

Mod Name Version 
1. SMF 1.0.12 / 1.1.4 / 2.0 b1.1 Update 1.0 
2. Highlight Search Keywords 1.0
3. WOW Names 1.0.0
4. Abstract black and white 100 1.0
5. SMF Gallery Lite 1.8.1.2 
6. Custom Profile Field Mod 3.17


Do you use another CMS? (Joomla or Mambo?) No
If yes, which one?
Is this a test site?

Try changing the settings here:

Admin > TP/Settings > Front Page > Select an option other than:

• Forum-posts and articles - sorted on date
  
• Go directly to forum index
  

That should stop your site displaying the index on the front page.

You page is not loading for me.


Just to add to what ZTN suggested:
If you are using themes that were downloaded from SMF that also may be the cause of your problem because for themes to work with TP they must have TP support written into them.
Place your forum in the SMF Default theme... get everything working correctly and then install themes that are TP compatible.

EDIT: Your site is loading for me now and it looks like the suggestion by ZTN is the best way to go.

The link seems to work ok for me Ken, and the theme is a TP compatible one.

Yes, I can see now ZTN.  :)

However... when looking at the 'Help' section of the site the TinyPortal tab is not showing, so this still may be a theme issue.

Now the site is showing the SMF Default theme and the front page has the error "The article isn't active, hasn't been approved yet, or simply does not exist."
Go to your articles control panel and turn off the 'Featured' part of your featured article to see what that will do for you.

QuoteDo you have other Mods installed? Yes.

Mod Name Version
1. SMF 1.0.12 / 1.1.4 / 2.0 b1.1 Update 1.0
2. Highlight Search Keywords 1.0
3. WOW Names 1.0.0
4. Abstract black and white 100 1.0
5. SMF Gallery Lite 1.8.1.2
6. Custom Profile Field Mod 3.17

There is no TP in the mod list....

Thanks for your quick response.

ZTN, I tried those changes before as well as retrying them now. No luck.

Ken,
I had switched skins from the SMF to Bloc's Neptune and still came up with the same problem. I just changed it to the SMF default and the problem persists.

I also just tried turning off the Feature setting as you mentioned.

When I hit 'Home' or 'Forum' I only see the Board Index.

Any other ideas?

Yes, set your forum to SMF Default Core theme as your default.
I dont think you have a correct added tinyportal install there.

Why are TP not listed in your mod list posted ?

As mentioned by G6... wheres the TP?

When you were in the other theme I thought that the TP copyrights notice was at the bottom of your pages but in the SMF Default they are not there.

So TP is not installed? Or not installed correctly?

I don't know. I had tried to install it and had troubles with it blocking my access to my members. I uninstalled it-- or so I thought and went on to build the board more and work on my content.

I decided to give TP another try with a TP Compatible Skin and it seemed that when I tried to install TP, it was already there. I mean, I can add blocks and edit.

Update: When I try to install TP it says it already exists on the server.

Update 2: I deleted the file off my server and reinstalled. I will see if it works now.

Update 3: After reinstalling, I changed to a Bloc's Neptune TP Skin. It still is doing the exact same thing. It points to the board forum index regarless of the setting changes.

For the themes part:
Don't mix them up... if your forum is SMF only then you must only use themes written for SMF, if your forum is SMF/TP then you must use themes that are TP compatible.

For the TP install part:
Because you have some mess up left over from your other install then you would be best off to do a manual install and make sure as you go that all of the files & edits are entered but not entered twice.
You can find the manual install instructions in the Docs section.

I think you will have to check all the code strings manually with the help from the modinstructions in the doc section. That will make sure everything is added as it should and then upload a new set of TP files manually (overwrite the old ones) to make sure everything is correct.

Offcourse all of this is with the default SMF core theme set as your forum default.

Okay, I will do that. I think I misunderstood the whole TP compatible skins thing. I thought when I brought TP into SMF, I was becoming an SMF/TP board.

Stop fiddling around with all those themes.  ;)

Place your forum in the SMF Default... get it right (including installing TP correctly)... then and only then do whatever else you want to do, like themes.
If you want to use TinyPortal do as G6 and I suggested, go to the Docs section and follow the directions for a manual install.

Thanks Ken and all who gave suggestions here. I will try what you guys said and see if I can get it going. Sadly Tiny Portal is becoming a Tiny Nightmare for me. I am not super savy with all the behind the scenes stuff that the manual install will require. I have tried deleting all the files on the server but I still see the TP info showing up in the Admin area.

Its easy to do, even for the 'behind the scenes' stuff... just follow the directions carefully and you'll get there in short order and learn some on the way.
If you are going to run/manage a forum you need to know how to do these things so that you can resolve simple things on your own and not have to wait for someone else to tell you what to do next.

Well, I appreciate your help. I actually have run forums for three years but I used Invisionfree and then SMFforFree. Now I have SMF hosted via Siteground. It's like learning how to walk again.

It's worth the effort. If you still have no luck.. and I do want you to try!
However, PM me tomorrow with link to site, temp admin account and FTP details and I'll try to help.. again, I would like you to have a go for yourself.

I'm not doing anything tonight. So.. have a good crack at it.. We've all been there, myself included.

Thanks ZTN,

I don't know if anyone here can help me now. I have completed screwed my SMF forum. I tried to delete all the TP files that were in my public file. I wanted to take off everything from my server and my site and start over fresh.

Yeah, that went brilliantly. I totally froze the forum so that I have absolutely NO access. The error message reads

"Unable to load the 'TPortalBlocks' template."

This makes no sense because I never hit install. I have no idea what to do at this point. I want to rip out my hair. I really do. I sent a support request into Siteground yesterday but I don't know if they will help.

Anyone have any idea of what I can do to restore access the board?

A smart guy at SMF once said to me.. "Lucky for you, SMF is Smart".

Now, hopefully this may work.

In: / Packages / backups / Find the last, or one before zip file.

Download, extract and upload the contents to your server.


SMF makes a backup each time a package is installed via the package manager.
Your database is safe, but you may find, failing the above.. that you need to re-install the forum again.

Thank you so much. I have downloaded one of latest mods from the backup. I have extracted the files. Now I don't know where I am suppose to up load these extracted files to in my server.

You should be able to just upload all the files to the folder, or root where your SMF is installed. It will overwrite all the files and their contents. But, the backup does not contain every file of SMF, only the ones that were edited.. As far as I can tell.

Make sure you backup first.. you don't want to make things worse. I've done it twice as we've all killed our forums... And it's a bit nerve wracking.. Hold yr breath and count to a million.

"Demotivator: There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots" 

Your quote is ringing very true for me tonight. I had to go put my clown suit on before I proceeded any further. 

Okay, so being non-technical, I don't know exactly where the folder is that these should be in. I know you said "root". When I installed SMF, I used Fantastico. It was all quite automatic.


   
This is the top part of what I see in Public HTML files.

Also, do the files need to be zipped or unzipped when I upload them?

Lastly, if I just toss up my hands and reinstall SMF, what do I need to do first? Do I need to remove all the above files or will a new install overwrite it all?

Thanks for your patience and your knowledge.

*adjusts clown nose and waits....*

In our Docs board we have detailed instructions on what you need to do.

Thanks.

I ultimately decided to scrap my entire board, reinstall it and begin over. I am not unintelligent, but I am very, very new to this sort of forum. As I said before, I used Invisonfree and SMFforFree. I didn't realize that there was so much behind SMF that I would need to be manipulating.

My strength is in writing and organizing boards. I do feel a little vibe here from some of you as I read responses to the support, that those of us who are new to this and stumbling about a bit are a real annoyance. I don't get that feel from all the responses, but there is an edge to some of them.

I understand you have a doc list and I honestly did refer to it. But even so, there are times  even when you read through it, and read it again,  it becomes a jumbled mess in your mind. Some of us who are less tech savvy look to you all for some clarity. I am sure it can be frustrating if you have to deal with the same stuff a lot, but to us its all new.

You guys can likely do this stuff in your sleep. Some of us struggle even when hyped up on five cups of coffee and possess a boat load of committment.

Anyway, thanks to all who were patient and offered help. It was appreciated. I don't think TP is the way for me to go at this point. Maybe in time, when I have more understanding of how things work and don't have to be asking you all for so much help.

I did explain to you to the best of my ability at 3am.
extract/unzip, upload content. I started out knowing as little as you do and I for sure can't do this in my sleep.

My personal signature is that, personal.. it's meant in fun and has no reflection of anybody elses views or opinions other than my own. I have a stack of them, and it's about time for a change.

The main annoyance comes when people don't take the time to read, search, ask questions un-related to TinyPortal. We try to keep, for the most part, support for TinyPortal only. The fact you messed up your forum isn't a TinyPortal support issue and I should have pointed you to SMF Support. I still ask questions if I don't know.

The other annoyance which recently came to light, is that at times people expect above and beyond support in personal customisation, the point was Paid themes. While we do try to help with customisation tailored to individual site needs and more so with purchased themes, some people seem to think this support is a lifelong commitment and a given right.

When somebody purchases a new car as is.. You pay for what you get. You didn't pay for a custom paint job, a new stereo from a 3rd party manufacturer and support from the car company.. etc.
Those are optional extras which you'd pay for in real life.

I'm using that as an example. There are sites which do offer paid support, paid commission of custom themes and other bells and whistles.


Good luck with the site..

I will lock this now when you have said whats on your minds, there are always 2 sides of a mind, and we have to live with that.

Topic closed and no more posts needed from anyone.