I've just started a forum and decided to go with phpBB because it is free as opposed to something like vbulletin which costs me money. This brings me to the question, what has your experience with these formats?
Is one easier to modify than the other?
Are there more security leaks in one as compared to the other?
Do your forum members seem to prefer over the other?
etc.

thanks
Jose

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Hey Jose,

That is a toughy. I have used both of those forums and may be able to offer some help.

From my experience, some forum members prefer phpBB, others VB. No real reason. It's just what they are used to I suppose. phpBB is a lot more simple than VB. VB has a lot more added features to a non-modified installation.

You can get these added features on phpBB but that means installing all the "hacks". You have to reinstall the "hacks" everytime you upgrade.

I think they are both just as easy as each other to modify and to add hacks. It's just a matter of editing the .php files and the template files.

I'm not sure about security leaks but I would think they would both be pretty good. Each have a huge user base so a lot of these issues can be sorted out.

I personally prefer VB over phpBB because of the added features and functionality. I also think you have more control over your uses (subscriptions etc)

Hope that helps you out.

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I've only used phpBB as my own forum software. It was really easy to use and install.

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thanks for the replies. me, I've had my forum for about a week and am using php. the reason is that it costs me nothing since its open source. the installation was reall easy. I had the forum in just a few hours at most. I still haven't tried to modify it yet. when I do I'll tell of my experience in trying. as for VB. I have no experience with it yet.

thanks
Jose

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I use phpBB, but I have heard that the others are better. Not for me. I have implemented some nice mods to my board, and I even found a free flash add-on. It turns the whole site into a flash creation. I decided not to go with it, but I was tempted! WR

hi WR. if I may ask what's the url of your forum? I don't see one in your sig

I'm gonna install my first tonight (or at least try). if I don't finish then I'll try to finish tommorrow evening. I don't know the first about how to install a mod but I do know which mod I'd like to try to install first. Do you have any advice for me, other than read and reread the instructions? are there instructions on how to do this?

Jose

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Hi, free. The url is http://adproforum.exchrome.com. Mine was easy to install through the control panel that my web host set up for me (it was pre-installed). WR

Sorry I did not mention mods in the last post. At first they were tough for me, but I have begun to pick up on the ins and outs of setting them up. Which one do you want to install first? If you go with phpBB, I will help you with whatever I can, but keep in mind that I am a visual artist, not a coder, so it is tough ground for me. You can add me to your instant message list and IM me when I am online, if you want to. WR

Yep, once you work out how to add the mods they are simple. The tutorials are normall pretty straight forward. The bigger mods can be a little tricky.

VB 3.5 plan to add a function where you do not have to edit the .php files to add mods. It's all done through the admin. So when you install a mod, you don't have to re-install it when you do an upgrade.

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I just found this thread I posted a while back that you guys might find helpful... I used to give support at the phpBB support forums and gathered together a list of helpful phpBB tutorials. Hopefully it's not outdated:

http://www.webmaster-forums101.com/s...pbb-links.html

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