Hey, Currently I'm using Dream weaver to design my site and I have left creating the forum until last because I have no idea how to do this and whether I can actually do it in Dream weaver. All I want is a forum like this one which will be on my site rather than an external site. So how would I go about getting a forum onto my site and what program should I be using? Also if I need to download anything can I have the links please.
The easiest way to do something like this is using an open source script, this basically means that it is free to use and develop. You will find that there is a huge user base for these types of scripts, all the more better for the users, in case a support issue arises. There are hundreds of forum scripts, but i personally recommend these 3: MyBB PHPBB SMF There are also various paid forum scripts, such as this one, it is known as vBulletin, there is also IPB, each license that you purchase of either vBulletin or IPB retails for around about $160+ Whichever you decide to choose, open source wise, register on their forums and ask around on how to make the forums look like your site. Hope that this helps you, Nick
Or there are forum scripts designed for larger sites like Community Server which is $2,000 for the standard edition and individual pricing for the enterprise version (used by myspace amoungst others) Dreamweaver has a note pad type function and so you can build any website you want in it as long as you know how to program. I havent seen any of the more recent versions of Dreamweaver but assume it is still going down the same route as it always did in which case you could could build a very basic forum yourself with it and minimal knowledge but you would be much better off using an off the shelf script or paying a developer. Just to correct Nick - open source doesnt mean it is free but means that you get the source code when you obtain the script. In most cases open source are free but there are plenty of examples of paid for open source scripts.
Thanks for these open scripts do I need to know what I'm typing, like is it very complex. Do you know of any good tutorials going around? By the way I just got Dreamweaver CS3, I don't know if that makes any difference.
No, the open source typically have a single file you need to enter a few base details in such as the SQL server address and log in details and it then self installs with an admin section to make any look and feel changes or install additional modules.