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txtForum 0.7.6 (24.May.2005)
(C) [GPL] 2001-2005 Lauri Kasvandik (Estonia)
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Contents
========
1. Features
2. Installing
3. Upgrading
4. Tips
5. Donating
6. Contact


1. Features
===========

+ works with plain text files in PHP limited version [Safe Mode]
  (works if register_globals=on and when register_globals=off
  in server configuration, see Tips).
+ categories: if there are defined only one category then forum 
  shows automatically postings from this category, else if there 
  are more categories then shows categories list.
+ flexible users system: administrator, moderator, user
+ template driven - design changing is very easy, users can change
  own default template on the fly
+ admin interface for deleting, modifing and moving topics to
  another category. Forum settings (board name, language, template) & 
  categories settings are changeable via webinterface. Admin can 
  lock/unlock threads and make they sticky/unsticky. There are feature
  to make backup from postings & settings either tar or gzip format.
+ moderators can move, modify and delete all postings
+ users can delete and modify own postings
+ multilingual, users can choose own default language on the fly
+ BBCode
+ smileys & posting icons
+ all email addresses on board are automatically "crypted",
  so they are harder find by spamspiders
+ online users counting (how many guests and how many reg. users)
+ and more!


2. Installing
-------------

0. Unpack txtforum-xxx.zip somewhere
1. Upload files to PHP 4.2+ powered webserver
2. CHMOD data directory (default "./tf.data/") 777
3. Go to forum.php, create admin account and define categorie(s).
4. That's all!

You can dowload additional templates for txtforum from 
zone.ee/txtforum/download-addons.php and language-files from 
zone.ee/txtforum/download-addons.php#lang

* You can change filepermissions (CHMOD) with ftp-client (usually right 
mouseclick on file/directory and from menu choose CHMOD) or with Internet
Explorer (type in location bar ftp://ftpuser:password@yourserver.net right 
click on file / directory and from menu choose Properties and mark all 
checkboxes (its permissions 777) or only reading/writing one's (666).






3. Upgrading
============

If You have used txtForum 0.6.x then there are feature to upgrade 0.6.x 
postings to 0.7.x format. Simply login as administrator, go to 
Administrator Panel and choose Upgrade. Then You should choose category, 
where postings copy and click Submit. This copyes postings and users data 
over.

4. Tips
=======

* If forum dosen't works correctly, then maybe its caused thats 
  register_globals = off in server configuarion (php.ini). To fix this and put 
  it work, open tf.actions.php and almost in beginning of file is such line:

	#register_globals();

  remove '#' mark at the beginning of line and forum should work again!

* Does your server support GetImageSize() function for remote files?
  If supports, then you should change 'get_img_size' to true in tf.conf.php,
  so users can choose avatars from own homepages for example. Default value
  is false and users can choose avatars from local avatars directory 
  (./tf.img/avatars/ -- of course, there You may add more avatars).

* When You add or modify category there are options to set that only 
  registrered users can read or post new messages. There are more one option
  were only Admin can start new thread in some category.

* Is possible to add new moderator: login as administrator and goto memberslist
  (forum.php?action=members), choose user and select usergroup from listbox.

* If You wish to add into some other page of Your webpage subjects of last 
  topics from forum then add theses lines to Your page:

	<?php
		include('tf.func.php');
		print last_postings(10);
	?>

* There are function for repairing damaged categories file - Admin Control 
  Panel -> Categories settings -> Repair Categories File (this removes 
  unnecessaries lines and calculates correct postings/topics number).

* There are much options which to change in tf.conf.php (file paths,
  sessions expiry, avatar img types & max sizes, how many topics 
  showed per page etc).

* If You wish to add smileys then simply copy they in to ./tf.img/smileys
  directory. Forum finds they automatically.

* Default values for user statuses (depending posted messages) are only available
  in english (because isn't possible to use variables in array...). But You may
  change/translate they: open tf.conf.php and almost in end of file is multidimension
  array "$poster_status", which contains postings intervals and statuses. You may
  even add or remove elements (forum finds they automatically).

* If you wish to modify default smileys then open tf.conf.php and seek for
  '$static_smileys'. This is array which contains emoticons ";-)" with they 
  image equivalents ("wink.gif" for example). Of course, you may simply copy
  theses images over with same name from ./tf.img/smileys directory.

* If You wish to add topic icons then simply copy they in to ./tf.img/topic_icons
  directory. Forum finds they automatically.

* Forum compares unregistrered user browser default language with available langfiles
  in ./tf.lang/ directory and if browser default language = any available langfile
  then loads first one. If you don't want this comparing change 
  check_default_language = false in tf.conf.php.

* For info about templates see ./tf.doc/template_howto.txt

* File ./tf.doc/tech.doc.txt contains info about all 
  txtForum files (usersdata, postings, headers etc) formats.

5. Donating
-----------

If You wish to donate txtForum developing then send me some AUG (E-gold gram[s]).
E-Gold is worldwide electronic money, backed with real gold, 1 gold gram 
is worth ca 10  or 10 $.

To donate:
+  open E-gold account at https://www.e-gold.com/newacct/
+  fund your account with some amount of gold (thre are many gold exchanging 
   services http://wwww.icegold.com is one of best (look to http://www.e-gold.com
   links section for more services).
+   transfer to my account 289591 some gold granule.


6. Contact
----------

Feel free to send me water, bread and nonrepayable credit :-)

lauri_k( at )mail( dot )ru

Call me!