Make meaning or die - by Andrey Sivtsov
Please, I will appreciate if you include the fix into the 60004 patch.
Thanks.
Dotnet
When you create a profile from admin CP, the registration date is:
00-00-00 00:00.
Dolphin doesn’t save the correct registration/creation date.
I am also displaying the registration date on Members Profile page like this:
Member Since: 2007-11-29 19:50:02.
For members created from admin, their registration date is displaying like this:
Member Since: 00-00-00 00:00.
Please, I will appreciate if you include the fix into the 60004 patch.
Thanks.
Dotnet.
P.S. How can fix/change the registration date of members I have created from admin? Can I do it straight from the database? Will it not crush their profiles?
Hello Andrey,
Do you have any new expected release date for Dolphin 6.0004 Patch?
The roadmap is saying: 1 day late (12/20/07).
Important issues were reported like membership actions not working properly (free members can still create blog, upload videos etc), mass mailer not sending to all subscribers and members, ability to translate classifieds and Group categories, user can refresh page and vote again etc.
Will the patch be released before Christmas?
Thanks.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Dotnet
I have noticed that unlike youtube and many other online video players/system, Ray Video auto selects the first video frame to represent the video (icon/thumbnail). It isn’t bad but if the video starts with some fade-out effects or a black frame, we end up having a situation like the image displayed below: “Black images as video thumbnails”.
It does not make the video Gallery so attractive and change/destroy your site’s look-and-feel.
Editing videos is one of my hobbies. I spend hours adding effects, editing frames etc. Yes, I always want a video to be perfect.
I also spend hours on Youtube watching business, political, science, documentary videos, funny videos, cartoons etc. No matter how you describe your video or what you say in your title I look at the Video thumbnail/icon first before viewing its content. If the image doesn’t represent what I am looking for or what I wanna see, I DON’T CLICK.
I am probably not the only one in the world behaving like that just to show you how very important thumbnails are for video viewers.
For upcoming Ray versions, I suggest Boonex should give users the ability to select the frame to use as the video icon or should provide a feature that auto-selects the frame to be used as the video thumbnail. The auto-selected system should NOT select a 100% black frame (frame with no image).
About auto-selected system (which is also called Bot-selected system) there is a “BIG BUT”: “Video Content Misrepresentation”.
I read on many blogs (where?….can’t remember anymore) many people were complaining about Youtube selecting frames that misrepresent their video content (things that have nothing to do with their material. Unfortunately they were in the video).
It’s like talking about cars and seeing the McDonalds logo appearing on your video thumbnail just because to show a car you started showing the area where car was parked and unfortunately McDonalds was in that area. You tell me: What does McDonalds (food) have to do to with cars? lol.
Yes, it’s another issue we have to deal with.
Dotnet
This issue has been reported several times in the forum but unfortunately Boonex did not provide any solution at all. We do not know whether it is a problem from the manufacturer or not.
The membership level doesn’t work fine. Action limitation doesn’t work for Standard membership.
No matter the restriction or actions allowed, standard members (FREE MEMBERSHIP) are still able to do ALMOST everything like premium members (PAID MEMBERSHIP). They can upload media, use photo, music and video gallery, create blogs, use forum, post classified ads etc.
Restrictions/Actions for Standard membership work fine with Ray products ONLY.
When a standard membership tries to use Ray Presence or Ray chat he/she gets this message:
“Your current membership (Standard) doesn’t allow you to _use Ray presence. ”
Or
“ Your current membership (Standard) doesn’t allow you to use Ray chat”
Important and Urgent. Many people are probably stuck with the same issue.
Please respond and help.
How can we apply action/access restrictions to the Standard membership?
Note: The Free mode is OFF.
Dotnet
To Andrey or Victor,
Hello,
I am getting an upload error on Boonex.us whenever the upload process reaches 99%. Files I was trying to upload are less than 20 MB.
I am willing to set up a Business and Marketing community. Audio and Video are going to be Business-related materials: Business trainings, workshops, dinners, Sales and Marketing Strategies etc. (45 minutes to 1h30 length)
Like on Youtube.com I would like to offer the ability to upload up to 100 Mb file size and 10 minute length.
Users will have to split their audio or video files into parts. (Part I, Part II, part III etc).
I would like to know whether Ray (the player & RMS) will handle a 100 Mb file size, 10 minutes length.
Please advise!
Thanks.
Dotnet
Hello Andrey,
I just wanna know whether the Free Ray license granted to contributors will work with Dolphin 6.0.0003 Combo.
Thx.
Dotnet
Hi Andrey.
Is there any expected release date for 6.00003 patch? I browsed the Dev area and noticed that only few tickets remain open… hope the rest has been resolved.
Thanks.
Dotnet
Hello Boonex.
Happy Birthday. All the best for ya!
Thanks for Dolphin 6.0 and all your new Boonex gadgets. Congratulations, you guyz have done a good work. Keep it up! 
.Dotnet
Hi Andrey,
I have just noticed there is no link that goes to contacts.php in dolphin 6 RCx to view the entire contacts.php page. Contact.php is a very important page to view member you have hot listed, members you have invited, members you have blocked, members you have viewed, members you were viewed by, etc.
On “my account” page (member.php), we only get links to:
contacts.php?show=greet&list=I (Greetings)
contacts.php?show=friends (Friends list)
To view the entire contacts.php page the link parameter ( e.g. show=greet&list=I) has to be removed manually or typed in the address bar like this: yoursite/contacts.php
I suggest you add a direct link to contacts.php at top of the page, next to my account, my mail, my profile, my presence link.
You can call it let’s say: My contacts or whatever else.
I do not know if it is too late but we will really appreciate to see a direct link to contacts.php in Dolphin 6.0 Final.
Regards.
.Dotnet
Hi Andrey,
I am using IE 7 and Dolphin is well displayed. I tried to view dolphin using IE 6 on a friend’s pc and I noticed that IE 6 doesn’t display Dolphin very well.
When I look at my site stats I see that 36% of my visitors or members are using IE 6. This percentage warns all of us and calls back the need of having Dolphin well displayed with IE 6.
Below are some display problems I found with IE 6:
Maybe, there are many other display issues with IE. The ones above are what I have found so far.
.Dotnet
Dear Andrey,
Maybe this is not the right place to say thanks and congratulations but I feel like I have to say it here. Yeah, right here.
Thanks very much for the Free Ray Suite license. You have rewarded our commitment and efforts to improve Boonex Products.
I always contribute to this Blog not only because I can get a free license (although I got one 
) but also because I believe on Boonex products. Indeed, their effectiveness, flexibility, robustness and cost-effectiveness make them one of the best products in their respective categories. To get them better will always benefit me.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to express ourselves and thanks for taking our opinions, suggestions, feature requests into consideration.
I think that your communication approach via this blog is one of the most revolutionary aspects of your business strategy. I have gotten no comment on it. Congratulations.
You have stopped treating people as ordinary clients only and you started treating them as partners and contributors too. The amazing result is: We are all making Boonex products what they are today. They are getting better everyday.
Any relevant comment, suggestion, critic etc on Boonex products and services is valuable to all of us and it makes the difference.
Make money is no longer your only goal. Beside it, you added your ambition to lead the market in your product categories.
You want to come up with unbeatable products and services by joining many other people, factors and parameters to this process. It is what I mean by the term: “visionary-minded business leaders” and it is a win-win scenario.
I am on it! I am completely comfortable with this collective behavior and growing approach. Let’s keep up the good work! BTW I feel like I will still be using Boonex products for the next few decades … I love them.
Thanks very much and Congratulations to Boonex staff and to all Boonex members or users!
Dotnet.
Hello Andrey, I just wanna thank you for coming up with a Generic Ray. I’ve just finished upgrading my Ray from 3.0b to 3.0rc. At least my basic Ray chat, Presence etc work fine. Soon I will be going through RMS install.
What made me so happy is to see the Dating Shadow that was covering Ray product kicked out of our chat as we are not running a dating Website. At least I can’t see that big fancy red heart image beside members’ photos anymore.
As I suggested and requested, your Ray software is now more generic. Thanks very much for keeping your promise on this issue.
We look forward to seeing a Generic Dophin as well; and I do believe a Generic Shark won’t be that bad.
Minor Suggestion: I would suggest you put a “REFRESH” or “CHECK AGAIN” button beside the “NEXT” button on every widget installation window.
Initially all permissions are 644.
Example:
Permissions for im/xml/main.xml 644
(?)
Permissions for im/xml/config.xml 644
(?)
Permissions for im/xml/skins.xml 644
(?)
Permissions for im/xml/lang.xml 644
(?)
After changing these permissions to 666 from the File manager (cpanel) or ftp program, the widget install window needs to be closed and reopened in order to update the permissions that are being displayed and to make sure everything has been set to 666 before proceeding with the install.
A one click on “Refresh” or “Check Again” button would make things more practical.
Thanks
Dotnet
What a nice game! I have been an internet and script user for many years; i have never seen somewhere where a fresh install must be done whenever a new script (site) version is released no matter whether it is a free, beta or a paid version. To me, Boonex is the only place where such things occur. Wow, congratulations Guyz, keep up the good work! I am doing my best to catch you up in this game but let me confess to you that it’s hard. You can bear with me, I will make it cuz I love this game! 
I salute you for all your efforts to improve your software quality and performance but please, please, please, and read me again, PLEASE, try to make our life a little bit easier when it comes to software or website script upgrade.
I am just trying to recover from a Dolphin V.5.4 to V.5.6 upgrade´s Knockout (KO)… Yeah…a KO… A fresh site and database installation had to be done…it is very sad because it has delayed my business too much. (Time-consuming, customer lost, upgrade hassle etc)
I have just installed Ray 3.0.B and here we go… a fresh Ray install must be done for Ray 3.0 Release Candidate. eh eh eh… nice game yo!
We will soon get punched out again when the final Ray 3.0 will be released. Maybe a fresh Ray installation will be required too. Oh sorry… I’ve forgotten that Dolphin 6 is coming soon; we might be required to welcome it with an honorable and complete fresh Installation too. Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, tradition obliged. Get ready!
Dear Boonex, Hope you won’t get me wrong I am just trying to unit people. “You people from Boonex have to make meaning otherwise…die” (by Andrey Sivtsov - Boonex GD). I am just kidding!
I will hang up on you because you guyz have gotten very good products and I love them. Yes…I love this game!
Please try to make our life a little bit easier. Save us from doing fresh installations of your software or scripts every time. Help us make meaning otherwise we will die. I am worrying about survivals; they might be shot again with fresh installations.
Don’t hate me, enjoy your day!
Dotnet
Oh I was almost forgetting:
For us who are already running Ray 3.0.b and because a fresh installation of Ray 3.0rc has to be done (sad!), please provide us with a step-by-step software removal guide. How can we remove Ray 3.0.b from our site and our database? Should we just delete the Ray database tables created while installing Ray 3.0 Beta, and then overwrite Ray 3.0.b files with the new Ray 3.0rc files following by a fresh Ray 3.0rc installation? Should we do the same with Ray Media Server (overwrite RMS files and then fresh RMS installations)? Will it not affect our old members’ profiles?
Dotnet
I wrote this post because this word “Kiss” is embarrassing me and doesn’t go along with my community business. Not all of us run a dating website. That is why I replaced “kiss” by “greeting” in my database. I like the feature but, in my case I don’t want to be sending kisses.
While spending my time casting the word “kiss” out from my LocalizationStrings table (Database), i still have it in the email and the ray chat. I can not remove it from there.
1) The Email sent to people when they receive a greeting looks like this:
We are glad to inform you that the member: …………………
Please, be polite to answer with a Greeting in return. You can send it by merely following the link:
Sitename.com/vkiss.php?sendto=11&from=10&ConfCode=XXXX
Note: “vkiss” appears on the link and everybody knows that ”V” means virtual.
2) In the Ray Chat: We have got big red heart icons beside members’ photos. We can not remove them because they are images that are placed inside the flash (swf) file.
These two elements don’t allow us to completely change our site image from dating to our personal community image or business.
I have received some bad feedbacks, members telling me about kisses they are receiving. Many people have written to know whether the site was sending a virtual greeting or a virtual kiss. For many of them it looks strange and embarrassing to receive a kiss from a man or to answer a greeting clicking on a kiss option (vkiss.php). When they need to chat with somebody in Ray Chat they have to click on a red heart image beside the member’s icon. Some people have signed up as couples, some as married women. Then andrey, try to figure out the confusion.
I understand them because my site is not a dating site at all.
This issue might be one of the reasons why many people are not upgrading to a paid membership when their demo (promotion) period get expired on my site. They might be thinking that it is a dating website.
For Dolphin 6.0, I would suggest you change vkiss.php to something else like: greeting.php or hello.php or wink.php or whatever else.
For Ray chat, I would suggest you enable the icon change to allow the ray admin who is not running a dating website to change the red heart icon to something else.
Dotnet
Dolphin is constantly under modification and it is improving everyday. This is good for all users because new features are being added and the security is being reinforced.
While upgrading a Dolphin Website is useful and important, the upgrade process and method can quickly turn to be a nightmare and give somebody a serious headache.
I read somewhere on this blog or Expertzzz forum… I can’t remember where anymore, somebody said he had to give up on using Dolphin because of the hassle of constantly upgrading his website. I don’t blame that person and I don’t encourage anybody to give up like that. Dolphin is far better than most of these community softwares on the internet.
Upgrading a Dolphin site version by doing a fresh web site and database installation is a big risk. I am not referring myself to a beginner’s website (1 to 5 simple html pages); I am talking about a complex website as big as a community portal. A lot of things need to be done. It takes hours even days.
I have deliberately stucked myself on Dophin v5.4 to avoid upgrade hassle. I was tired of merging my files, and manually applying all the modifications I did to dolphin files. I was tired of doing it over, over and over again. I have been doing it since Dolphin v.5.2.
What a surprise when I got to know that to upgrade from v5.4 to a higher version, a fresh installation must be done. This is far beyond any expectation in today’s world.
Since I wanted to upgrade from V5.4 to 5.6, I had to do everything manually. I’ve got a lot of modifications on my dolphin site (php files, template files, languages keys, new database fields, etc). It’s was almost difficult to import data from my old database.
I compared databases, they were different. It took me 6 days to upgrade from V.5.4 to V.5.60005, merge my files, apply modifications, create the same profile fields and language strings i had before. I was working without relaxing at all from 10 A.M to 3.AM (the following day).
I had to throw out some of my profiles (members) and send people emails to register again telling them whatever fancy excuses.
I’ve got a small database and I had a tuff time. I can imagine how painful it will be for somebody running a dolphin with over 1000 members.
Boonex should try to organize the way new versions and upgrades are released. As many other developers, I think there should be a time of collecting bug report, features request and preparing the release. It can take 3 to 4 months or more. Then when upgrades or new versions are released, they are released with a long interval of time. It will avoid us to get tired of upgrading our web site every morning. Only critical upgrades might be done at anytime.
Even upgrading using an upgrade tools, file merge have to be done because new files have to be uploaded to the server. The upgrade tool upgrades the database only.
We can not conformably run mods we paid for because every time there is a news Dolphin version, mods have to be upgraded too or new mod version must be purchased.
I have seen many softwares whereby changes are stored into the database. Whenever the upgrade is up, people don’t have to bother themselves merging files or trying to retrieve the old site layout, modules or modifications since everything is kept into the database. New files are upload to the server without affecting the site (layouts, templates, links created etc).
I would appreciate to have a such system in dolphin or any other Boonex products.
Hope that the new Shark will not kick us into the same upgrade rhythm.
Dotnet.
Introduction:
Pricing is a serious issue in our BoonEx family. That is why it deserves to be called back on this blog.
I wish i was able to militate or force BoonEx prices drop. I know we all dream about affordable BoonEx Products and Services and i call it: “The BoonEx Dream” or “DreamEx.”
Expensive Products and Services:
BoonEx is reputed for its expensive products and services although I bow in reverence before all its products.
I remember when we use to pay $50 per month as a contributor to get Boonex Support.
I also remember those modification quotes of $180, $150 etc that I received from BoonEx for small Dolphin mods or changes. Today, we have the same mods and changes done by Expertzzz members for $10, $20, $30 etc. Thanks to Expertzzz team.
Each corporation has its own business approach and culture. Some corporations base their business on services provided, some on prices, some on their relationship with customers etc.
Trying to earn money overcharging products and services may have a negative impact on a business and slow down its growing process.
I´d rather prefer to sell 1000 candy packages per month, $2 each than to sell 1 Plasma TV for $1000 within the same period.
I have nothing to say against BoonEx products. They are the best products I have ever seen in their categories. I am in love with all BoonEx products. Congratulations to BoonEx.
Dropping the contributor price and starting the Expertzzz community for mods helped us all breathe easier but we still have a long way ahead for Boonex product price drops.
The Knock Out:
I am not here to tell anybody how much he is supposed to sell his products or services. I know that developing a computer program involves many resources and it is not cheap or easy at all but there is a but…. Somebody has to develop a software and give people the opportunity to use it. Otherwise why is he developing it for?
Most of us here are not company owner. Many people are webmasters or computer users on fire financially speaking trying to find their way out and set up their small business. I bet some of us are even running their community website from their bedroom. Am I lying? Please, tell me!
High Boonex Product prices are barriers to many of us. For example, selling the chat software which is one of the main elements on a community website for almost $300 is knocking people out. Expensive Shark Software will double knock somebody out.
High Potentiality for Growing:
There are many professional companies on the internet that are offering high-rated quality services and products at a very cheap price. By thinking that they are loosing business you will be misjudging because they have gotten over 8000000 customers on internet. Please, try to multiply their prices by the number of their customers; you will see that these people are making a lot of money out of their products and services.
I was happy when I read this news from BoonEx: “Wow! Already 20,000 Members!, 5 months have passed since Expertzzz.com has been launched, but our community is quite popular already”
In light of such encouraging news and results, I am confident that Boonex has the potentiality in growing profitably.
Some Propositions and Recommendations:
Support Services improvement:
People are buying expensive BonnEx products and services, at least let them have an equivalent technical support and attention. (live chat support 24h, emails response within 20 minutes, Post reply (forum) within 24h, Customer Support toll free and much more)
Support or contributor membership included in the Product Price:
Example: Shark: USD xxxxx with a 1 year free customer or technical support and product update or upgrade. No need of paying monthly contributor membership.
Ray: USD xxxx with a 1 year free customer or technical support and product update or upgrade. No need of paying monthly contributor membership.
Contributions membership to maintain and cover Boonex Expenses with a Product prices drop.
People will be paying the monthly contributor fee and buying Boonex products at a BoonEx-friendly price and special offer for members or contributors. High prices will be the Non-Boonex member purchase prices.
BoonEx Product Prices drop and customer number increase:
Let BoonEx give everybody the opportunity to start or do business by dropping product and service prices. Boonex earnings might also be on the quantity beside the quality.
Conclusion:
I do believe that we can all make BoonEx products unbeatable over the internet. We are all concerned about their growing because our business success somehow depends on BoonEx.
Quality vs Quantity! What do you think?
Should we emphasis on quality only or should we combine both quality and quantity and earn money over the quantity too?
We already have the quality (BoonEx products are excellent) now we need the quantity. By dropping its product and service prices, increasing the number of its customers, BoonEx will dramatically boost its sales while remaining the leader in its business area. Let´s give it a try, make it popular and take it to the next level.
Dear friends, BoonEx and Expertzzz members/users, I can not wait to read from you. Please drop me your comments.
Dotnet
For those who have decided to install dolphin 5.6.0005 integrated with Ray 3.0B using the Dolphin files included in the Ray 3.0B package.
1) While trying to run your installtion, example: www.yourwebsite.com/install/index.php you are having the following error:
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_CONSTANT_ENCAPSED_STRING, expecting ‘)’ in /home/YOURPATH/public_html/YOURPATH/install/index.php on line 190
This is because a comma was forgotten at the end of the line 189 in install/index.php:
‘modules/global/xml/config.xml’
Just add a comma at the end of the above line like this:
‘modules/global/xml/config.xml’,
Do not upload the modified file yet. Some of you did so and had this error:
Warning: fileperms() [function.fileperms]: Stat failed for ../modules/global/xml/main.xml (errno=2 - No such file or directory) in /home/xxxxx/public_html/xxxxxx/install/index.php on line 1007
Warning: fileperms() [function.fileperms]: Stat failed for ../modules/global/xml/config.xml (errno=2 - No such file or directory) in /home/xxxxx/public_html/xxxxxt/install/index.php on line 1007
Next files have inappropriate permissions:
modules/global/xml/main.xml;
modules/global/xml/config.xml;
It doesn´t matter what kind of permission you give to these two files (main.xml and config.xml) you will still have the same error.
2) Here is the fix to this second error:
Just add: ray/ before modules/global/xml/main.xml and modules/global/xml/config.xml. (lines 188 and 189 in install/index.php). The path was not correct.
If you added a comma at the end of the line 189 (please see the fix to the first problem), you should have codes like this: (Approximately line 181-191 in install/index.php)
$permFiles = array(
‘periodic/cmd.php’,
‘periodic/notifies.php’,
‘inc/params.inc.php’,
‘inc/menu_content.inc.php’,
‘ray/modules/global/inc/header.inc.php’,
‘ray/modules/global/inc/cron.inc.php’,
‘ray/modules/global/js/integration.js’,
‘modules/global/xml/main.xml’,
’modules/global/xml/config.xml’,
‘orca/inc/header.inc.php’
);
Then
Add ray/ at be beginning of line 188 and line 189. of course inside the ”.
Things will look like this:
$permFiles = array(
‘periodic/cmd.php’,
‘periodic/notifies.php’,
‘inc/params.inc.php’,
‘inc/menu_content.inc.php’,
‘ray/modules/global/inc/header.inc.php’,
‘ray/modules/global/inc/cron.inc.php’,
‘ray/modules/global/js/integration.js’,
‘ray/modules/global/xml/main.xml’,
’ray/modules/global/xml/config.xml’,
‘orca/inc/header.inc.php’
);
Upload the modified install/index.php and try the installation again or click on “Check again” button. (on the installation page)
modules/global/xml/main.xml;
and
modules/global/xml/config.xml;
will now appear on the Pre-installation check page. Set the writable permission. Chmod them 666.
Proceed with your installation and enjoy!
The installation system will work like a charm.
At the end of the installation process, please do not pay attention to “chmod 644 to ray/inc/header.inc.php file” because Ray 3.0Beta does not have a inc directory inside its root. Leave it out.
I hope that andrey will soon upload the above updates to the Dolphin + Ray 3.0B package for download.
Dotnet.
Make Meaning Or Die
|
Unite PeopleG'day! Welcome to BoonEx Blog. We're here to discuss BoonEx products, test them, plan new features together, and help each other grow, prosper and most importantly - unite people. |
Ideas and suggestions are very welcome. Please, check BoonEx DevZone roadmaps before posting, just to avoid duplicates.
Roadmaps: Dolphin, Ray, Orca, Shark, Expertzzz.
We're ready to fix it ASAP, but odds are that this is a known setup issue. Please, check FAQs and Troubleshooters at BoonEx DevZone before posting.
FAQs: Dolphin, Ray, Orca, Shark, Barracuda.
T-shooters:Dolphin, Ray, Orca, Shark, Barracuda.
We really need help and we'd appriciate yours. We welcome you to translate and improve Manuals, Troubleshooters and FAQs in DevZone; answer to posts in this blog; help in Expertzzz Forumz and/or make a donation to support BoonEx.
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