# Current Status of SDMB Upgrade **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 9, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854 "2008-09-09T21:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/41 "2008-09-11T03:31:50Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > Okay, go ahead and try it again. It’s been turned back on for Members and Charter Members. It’s still off for right now for guests, but that can wait and be addressed later after Jerry gets people settled into the right groups. Thanks, **SkipMagic**. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/42 "2008-09-11T03:37:39Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Old thread party time! Thanks, Jim, for the link, and extra thanks to Jerry for bringing it back! I got a few more that I don’t think were in the collective thread. [Tool for extracting a broken light bulb?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=353356) Funny and silly but yet informative. [The “Ask the…” Anthology](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345657) THe 1st of several excellent collections by **Idle Thoughts**. [If LotR Had Been Written By Someone Else!?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=138905) The Dopes ultimate classic from before our time. [Al Sharpton is a decent man](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342417&page=1&pp=200) Just a really interesting debate. I thought the Dope at its best. [Are scalar weapons for real?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=202225) Look for the start of a Doper meme. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/43 "2008-09-11T15:31:18Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I’d _suggest_ waiting on the third party search engine to make them keyword searchable. Much as it pains me to say this, I agree. vB’s search facility has always been clunky at best, and there’s no evidence that the latest version offers much in the way of improvement. We’ved lived without those threads for a while now, and can surely wait until a _less flaky_ search solution is implemented. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/44 "2008-09-11T15:50:15Z")
> [@jdavis](#): > > And will be added in. > > My current list is far from complete. It was off the top of my head at the time I was composing the initial post and addressed those things that immediately came to mind. I know it left off a number of things. The initial post is a work in progress and will be more comprehensive as time goes on. > > That said I will sit down and compile a much more complete list and quick reply will be on it. Not that I expect this to be a popularity contest where the issues most complained about get preference, but I just want to second the request about the quick reply. I think I had used full reply about 5 times in my entire first year. Please bump it high on the list. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/45 "2008-09-11T15:55:38Z")
If we’re polling at all, I would really like to see the Colors Pulldown list restored and the ability to hide the Smilies panel. ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/46 "2008-09-11T17:03:00Z")
Hi, I used to be a charter member, but I let my subscription go years ago, do I get my title back, or do I have to subscribe? ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/47 "2008-09-11T21:17:22Z")
> [@jujuju](#): > > Hi, I used to be a charter member, but I let my subscription go years ago, do I get my title back, or do I have to subscribe? The Charter Member title could only have been retained by having kept an ongoing subscription. You can re-subscribe to have a title of Member or you can remain as a Guest. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/48 "2008-09-11T21:28:20Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > Not that I expect this to be a popularity contest where the issues most complained about get preference, but I just want to second the request about the quick reply. Thirded. Quick Reply also saves a lot of bandwidth, as all involved are aware. ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/49 "2008-09-11T21:41:34Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > For those Charter Members whose subscription ended while the migration was taking place, will the subscription extension be longer since, although we can post, we can’t renew until you’ve set the other things in place? Basically, just wanted to make sure we don’t lose the Charter Member status…it’s all I’ve got!!! **Flander** , Your subscription was restored and is now current through September 17th. Subscription payments are now working as well so you can renew at will. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/50 "2008-09-11T23:23:40Z")
> [@jdavis](#): > > **Flander** , > > Subscription payments are now working as well so you can renew at will. Are you sure? I clicked on "Subscribe’ to see if I’m still at the Charter rate and got this message: > [@](#): > > **imthjckaz** , you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons: > > 1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else’s post, access administrative features or some other privileged system? > 2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/51 "2008-09-11T23:32:12Z")
Go into your User control panel. At the bottom of the left-hand sidebar is a Paid Subscriptions link. ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/52 "2008-09-11T23:46:12Z")
> [@imthjckaz](#): > > Are you sure? > > I clicked on "Subscribe’ to see if I’m still at the Charter rate and got this message: > > 😕 Thanks for pointing that out. The top navigation bar’s Subscribe link had been customized in the old version and I didn’t catch it. It’s now updated and will function the same as the Paid Subscriptions link in the User Control Panel. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/53 "2008-09-12T00:16:01Z")
Ok, so I checked and my Charter rate is now the full rate. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/54 "2008-09-12T01:01:30Z")
> [@imthjckaz](#): > > Ok, so I checked and my Charter rate is now the full rate. > 😕 The logic to calculate the Charter Member subscription rate as half the price of the Member rate has not been reapplied after the vBulletin version upgrade. That upgrade broke numerous customizations we had in place including the customization that calculated Charter Member subscription rates. Fortunately almost all Charter Member’s subscriptions expire in May of 2009 so there is some time yet to get the pricing corrected. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/55 "2008-09-12T01:56:46Z")
Thanks for the response, Jerry. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/56 "2008-09-12T02:42:19Z")
**Jerry** , just want to say thanks for the work so far. I know restoring old threads has been a project of yours and without going into the reasons why, I had to look something up that I remembered was asked in GQ eight years ago (but I couldn’t remember the answer). Anyway, I thought I’d check here, to see if that old thread still existed–and it did! I got my answer. Thanks again for the work you’ve done in restoring the old threads, as well as with the rest of the board. I very much appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/57 "2008-09-12T14:06:01Z")
> [@jdavis](#): > > **Flander** , > > Your subscription was restored and is now current through September 17th. Subscription payments are now working as well so you can renew at will. I saw your email. Thanks again! **jdavis** , you need a promotion, raise, nice bottle of scotch, and a baker’s dozen of beautiful women provided by the powers-that-be for the hard work you’ve done on the boards. You rock. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/58 "2008-09-12T14:28:17Z")
> [@Flander](#): > > I saw your email. Thanks again! **jdavis** , you need a promotion, raise, nice bottle of scotch, and a baker’s dozen of beautiful women provided by the powers-that-be for the hard work you’ve done on the boards. You rock. 😃 **Flander** , Send me an e-mail at [email=jdavis@chicagoreader.com]jdavis@chicagoreader.com if you decide you want to re-subscribe. The Charter Member subscription rate of $7.48 is not in place yet so I’ll manually assist you with the re-subscription. Jerry ---
**Author:** ![KatieCats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@KatieCats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KatieCats)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/59 "2008-09-12T18:16:47Z")
Is PayPal the only way to subscribe? I’ve been checking for the last few days, as my subscription is almost due, and I’m not seeing an option to just pay with a credit card. Have I missed seeing something? Thanks for the help! ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854/60 "2008-09-12T18:37:06Z")
> [@KatieCats](#): > > Is PayPal the only way to subscribe? I’ve been checking for the last few days, as my subscription is almost due, and I’m not seeing an option to just pay with a credit card. Have I missed seeing something? > > Thanks for the help! PayPal is the only payment processor we’re going to be using going forward but you can use them to purchase a subscription without having to have a PayPal account. Look for the following text on the first PayPal page: **Don’t have a PayPal account? Use your credit card or bank account (where available). Continue** and click the continue link. That will take you to a page where you can put in your credit card information and bypass the need to have a PayPal account. Please let me know if that doesn’t work for you. Jerry [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-sdmb-upgrade/462854.md?page=4)