Welcome to Online Central

[LORAZEPAM]

For those of your who may not know, we are planning on splitting the current BMW MOA web site into "members" and "non-members" sections at some future point. There are many reasons for this move, but one of the primary is it helps provide the right environment for greatly enhanced content available to paid members - just like the Owners News.

Generating new content takes some time and effort to support and gather, so it follows we'd like to discuss this area in some detail well in advance. The "web team" has developed many good ideas which we'll soon share here for your feedback. However, general member input and suggestions is keenly desired! You never know where the next best idea will come from.

Just remember that as a volunteer organization, our "wish list" only comes true when someone takes on that task. So what we discuss here can not be considered a promise of anything more than a good effort to find some way or someone to make it happen. Natually, qualified volunteer offers are more than welcome!.

Hey Greg, I found this post browsing this morning. It is almost 5 months since we were promised the split and new content. Please explain the holdup, and could you be specific as to why it hasn't happened yet? Is it software? or is it just politics?

[kbasa]

It's the log in scheme. We're looking at integrating the forum log in and the site log in into one and it's proving to be difficult.

After that it's easy. That's the hold up.

[GREGFEELER]

It's the log in scheme. We're looking at integrating the forum log in and the site log in into one and it's proving to be difficult.

After that it's easy. That's the hold up.

What Dave said. To get the forum & members-only site sections to validate off the in-house member database is proving to be a nasty trick. But, it's being worked on.

[LORAZEPAM]

What Dave said. To get the forum & members-only site sections to validate off the in-house member database is proving to be a nasty trick. But, it's being worked on.

I find that sometimes shaking it and slapping it around works pretty good, if conventional means are ineffective. Is it posible to have two tiers of sign in? regular non member and then a secondary sign in? I wouldnt mind that, and if it made things easier I am all for that route.

[Visian]

What Dave said. To get the forum & members-only site sections to validate off the in-house member database is proving to be a nasty trick. But, it's being worked on.

I held a meeting with the code vendor that you all selected... back in June of 2003. I showed him the forum, told him about the unified log-in/authentication requirement, and showed him, Ray and Sandee the use-case flowchart that I whipped up to at least illustrate the requirment.

Also had a good friend explore several different methods of having an electronic membership card. Getting that crap to work cross platform is a huge pita.

The code vendor seemed to think that a cold fusion process would do the trick. That was two years ago... whatever happened?

Ian

[GREGFEELER]

I held a meeting with the code vendor that you all selected... back in June of 2003. I showed him the forum, told him about the unified log-in/authentication requirement, and showed him, Ray and Sandee the use-case flowchart that I whipped up to at least illustrate the requirment.

Also had a good friend explore several different methods of having an electronic membership card. Getting that crap to work cross platform is a huge pita.

The code vendor seemed to think that a cold fusion process would do the trick. That was two years ago... whatever happened?

Ian

Guys, beyond this I'm going to defer to the Tech Team Manager.

[LORAZEPAM]

I held a meeting with the code vendor that you all selected... back in June of 2003. I showed him the forum, told him about the unified log-in/authentication requirement, and showed him, Ray and Sandee the use-case flowchart that I whipped up to at least illustrate the requirment.

Also had a good friend explore several different methods of having an electronic membership card. Getting that crap to work cross platform is a huge pita.

The code vendor seemed to think that a cold fusion process would do the trick. That was two years ago... whatever happened?

Ian

So correct me if I am wrong, the ability to do this has been here for two years already. Would I be wrong in thinking something else might be holding things up?

[Visian]

So correct me if I am wrong, the ability to do this has been here for two years already. Would I be wrong in thinking something else might be holding things up?

Hahaha... no. There was a *meeting* held that far back. Whether the programmer ever pursued that or not is another matter entirely.

Then, even if they did... and if you're not in software development, you learn fast --- there's a big difference between the programmer saying "oh, yeah, I can do that easy" in a client meeting, and when s/he is actually doing the programming.

IIRC, the rule of thumb is to take the programmer's estimate and double the time and triple the cost.

Ian

[LORAZEPAM]

Ok, just wondered. There have been promises made since I have been on here to expand the website and just wondered if someone was dragging their feet, or if it really was a programming and implementation problem.

I respect the volunteers who put in all the time and effort to make this such a great place to visit and gain knowledge and make new friends.

If we have a million plus in the bank as a club, heck lets pay someone to speed up the process and get it done.

[BRADFORDBENN]

IIRC, the rule of thumb is to take the programmer's estimate and double the time and triple the cost.

Hmmm. My programmer's at the office haven't done that to me yet. It is always a week late though.

[87797]

The web site is really nice and hugely informative! You guys have done a great job!

My question... is there anyway to include an MOA member listing on the web site? It would be nice to be able to get in touch with new and old friends.

What do you all think?

[GREGFEELER]

The web site is really nice and hugely informative! You guys have done a great job!

My question... is there anyway to include an MOA member listing on the web site? It would be nice to be able to get in touch with new and old friends.

What do you all think?

Interesting suggestion, but the 'MOA membership list has always been very confidential. We don't let it out to anyone to protect our members from a lot of "exploits" which in the case of a web-based list could include spammers and such.

If you use your actual name somewhere in your sig line here, a lot of old friends may be able to find you, and the new ones will know you from the get go.

[BRADFORDBENN]

The web site is really nice and hugely informative! You guys have done a great job!

My question... is there anyway to include an MOA member listing on the web site? It would be nice to be able to get in touch with new and old friends.

What do you all think?

You can also always try a "Has anyone seen or know how to get in touch with ..."

[knary]

You can also always try a "Has anyone seen or know how to get in touch with ..."

What he said. While who is and isn't a member is only as private as who does or doesn't post or has or hasn't written an article, etc. We wouldn't want to make completely public the complete list of members - approaching 40k. Can you imagine the giddy glee of the spammer that got hold of that database - a list of names of people how, generally speaking, have the discretionary income to own motorcycles?

Hang out in the forum and if you're looking for a particular person, post a thread. This is the perfect place to track down another member.

[94980]

Is the MOA seriously considering dumping the magazine? I REALLY enjoy reading it every month. While I do use the website occasionally I would be very disapointed if the mag was shut down.

Gary