Web Page Repair

[Sascha Endlicher, M.A.]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen
I have I have talked to a company about fixing up the web page and get it running again. The only thing that stands in our way is cash.
Here is what was said by us….
I would like to know the cost of changing the web page over to the new format and also repairing some of the programs.

Problems with the web page are as follows
PHOTOS
1. Photo albums by Gallery will not let you up load photos at all.
2. It all started when one of our long time user’s donreid changed something in his album.
3. Now when you try to upload a photo you get an error message of

Processing status…
– Adding Crashed truck oo1.jpg
Resizing/compressing original image
No resizing required
Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /home/wolfmola/public_html/modules/Gallery/platform/fs_unix.php on line 35

Error: Unable to make thumbnail (0)!
Need help? Look in the Gallery FAQ
4. I did try to upload a newer version of Gallery but never could get it installed.
5 Spammers are posting comments under photos. I would also need a way to stop that but let members post comments.

MEMBERSHIP Registration

1. I had to shut down the registration due to spammers adding fake accounts (sometimes 100 a day)
The web page will not auto purge the fake accounts something I would like to fix
2. I need to fix this problem so users can sign up but spammers cant.

I will then go to our membership and see if I can come up with the cash to repair the web page.
Many say they will help pay costs.
Let me know what you think or if you can help us out
Thanks in advance

Response
There is no functional new format you could use. You would need to migrate to new software, but we can assist with that as well.
Here is what I would suggest:
1) We create a staging site for the new software at:

Homepage

2) We install the new software and set up the site to look somewhat similar to your current website.
3) We replicate the current user experience in terms of navigation links, etc.
4) We embed spam protection.
5) We import the content from the old site. Since we’re only talking about a little more than 100 articles, we might be better off by just copying and pasting them rather than writing a new import software from scratch.
6) We can make the old site available as an “Archive” where users can browse through things but not add any contents to that old site. This would eliminate the need to import the message board and the gallery for example.

We typically charge for these projects $40 by the hour, but if the many who say they will help costs are as much willing to help to rebuild the site and if we can create that archive, I’d say we can lay the foundation for the new site and let your members help to finish it off. What do you think?

I am willing to do the above mentioned job for a flat fee of $250.
Here is what was said by us in response…

What about the forum and photos some of the photos can not be replaced
and the members who uploaded them are dead?

Response

Hello,

There are two options for both the forum and the gallery.
1) I can install a new forum/gallery on the new site and set a link to the old forum/gallery as an archive.
People will not be able to add things to the old forum/gallery, but the contents can still be seen.
This will be a very cost effective solution

2) I can look into importing the forum/gallery contents to the new site. This could however take a significant amount of time and would increase the costs.
I have done this numerous times before from Postnuke to other similar CMS back then and costs for such solutions are typically around $1000.
Since this has never been done before from PostNuke to a modern CMS by anyone, I cannot give an estimate based on experience.
I can however offer you to have a look once we have migrated the site. Maybe there is an easy fix. I cannot promise that there is one yet though.

So in short can we raise the funds that will be needed to repair the web page or should we shut it down and be done. I would say to be safe $2000.00 dollars minimum is needed. With $300.00 every year for the server.

What do you think?

[Bill Fisher]

Sascha, I’m sure we can get some of the membership to chip in and help with the costs of the repairs. Not sure to what extent. What are the options? Can we try and do the $250.00 upgrade / repair and see what happens and then decide where to go from there? I’m sure that the other members, like myself are a little worried about donating a lot of cash if the site does not work!
I haven’t had much of a look around this new site, but if we are going to use the old site as an archive, can we put a link to it somewhere on this site so that we can access it in a new tab for instance, while browsing and using the new site?
We really need to send out a news letter to all the old “Diamond T Classics” membership to let them know about re-registering with the new site, and maybe we can get our following back. Everyone one needs to be notified that the site is still alive and that it is very usable. It would be easier to see who would be interested in coming back, what the members have been doing and who would be willing to help with the repairs.
Thanks
Bill

[Author]

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