It’s time for another overview of MyBB 1.4’s Administrator Control Panel – this time, we’ll be covering the “Forums & Posts” and “Tools & Maintenance” tabs, as well as some of the general design decisions made – and how we made them.
Did you know? Many of the Admin CP pages are born by rough sketches by hand from Justin, one of our designers. We then discuss and revise them, and finally implement the finished product in code. We have taken a lot of time to develop pages which let administrators extensively manage their forum, while maintaining the ease of use. Read more about this process in the “Design Decisions” section below.
Forums & Posts
Forums Management
So, by now, you’re probably drooling for more screenshots. The interface of the Forum Management has changed significantly. The forum listing page has been cleaned up and refined; all of the previous buttons are now condensed to a single drop-down menu. Adding a forum only shows the basic options, but you can show all options by clicking on “Show Additional Options” (the screenshots show this with the additional options already expanded). Copying a forum, however, has remained more or less the same since 1.2.
The forum view page (the page you visit after selecting a forum from the primary listing) has radically changed since MyBB 1.2. Although it contains all of the same information, it includes a sleek new interface separated into javascript tabs, where subforums, permissions, and moderators now each have their own tab. This was done to make permissions and moderator management easier and more visible. The permissions tab now combines quick & full permissions, providing the option to set or edit a group’s permissions from the quick permissions table under the permissions tab.
Forum Announcements
The forum announcement manager functions the same as MyBB 1.2. However, unlike past versions, when an administrator edits an announcement, the announcement author will remain the same instead of being changed to the user who last updated it.
Moderation Queue
The moderation queue no longer has an option to view Threads and Posts on the same page. This was due to the fact that there are already individual pages to show these, and that even if they were on the same page, they could not be moderated together at once.
The information and options have been optimized in the new layout to use the least vertical space as possible, so as to fit as many posts/threads/attachments onto your screen. Also, there are options at the bottom of the page to mark all entries as approve, delete, or unchanged.
Attachments
The main change in this section is that the orphan scan encompasses all possible unlinked attachments. These include uploaded files that are not in the database, missing files, leftover attachments due to post deletion, and files uploaded to abandoned posts.
Tools & Maintenance
System Health
When you click on “Tools & Maintenance” in the top tab, you’re taken to the System Health page by default. It’s essentially your standard miscellaneous and useful information page.
Cache Manager
Little has changed here, other than a few new caches necessary for MyBB 1.4. Everything else is essentially the same as the cache manager in 1.2.
Task Manager
MyBB 1.4 introduces a whole new system for running various tasks that otherwise would take up valuable database resources and time to execute. The new Task Manager in MyBB 1.4 allows specific tasks to be run at certain times. You’ll notice you can run any task manually via the Task Manager by clicking the little Alarm Clock.
You will also see some tasks disabled by default. More specifically, the ‘Backups’ and ‘Check Tables’ tasks. This is because they require, or are at least highly suggested, to be run via a cron. The command would look similar to this: “php /path/to/mybb/task.php x” where x is the task id.
Recount & Rebuild
Again you’ll notice that Recount & Rebuild has not had much of a change from MyBB 1.2. However, the page has been cleaned a bit to show all of the tools in much less space, while still providing the same options.
View PHP Info
There is little to say about the PHP Info page, but as always, it is extremely handy in identifying all of the various settings regarding your PHP installation.
Backups
Database Backups have received some minor tweaking. You’ll notice [above] that backups can be automated via the new Task System. The ‘Sequential backup?’ option previously found in MyBB 1.2 was designed to help on hosts where a full backup would time out. However, the option has been removed from MyBB 1.4 due to confusion as to its purpose, and is instead a default feature of the backup.
Optimize Database
As with MyBB 1.2, you simply select the tables you wish to optimize and perform the task. Little to do on your part, but your database will thank you!
Administrator Logs
You’ll notice the Administrator Logs has received a fairly good revamp. We log a lot more useful data now and you cannot see it but only Super Administrators can prune logs. In the event a hacker gets in, it will be much harder for them to erase their tracks. Or for that fact, any other misbehaving administrator you may have.
Moderator Logs
Moderator Logs are essentially the same in MyBB 1.2 with a few changes here and there.
User Email Log
With MyBB 1.4 comes the ability to view emails that have been sent via your forum. This can allow you to track abusive or spam messages being sent from other users. You will notice that you can search for criteria and view the email by clicking the subject.
System Mail Logs
Another new feature introduced in MyBB 1.4 is the ability to view emails that could not be sent due to server errors. This can help pinpoint problems within your mail server or server configuration.
User Warning Logs
User Warning Logs, in conjunction with MyBB 1.4’s Warning System allows you to view warnings given by moderators or administrators. You can filter through the warnings and view full details on the warning.
Design Decisions
MyBB 1.4’s Admin CP was well planned from the start. Several staff members spent hours on end discussing the various improvements that would be made in some of the worse parts of the Admin CP. We all pinpointed some of the interface disasters in MyBB 1.2’s Admin CP, and built the interface for each page from the ground up – countless non-functional “mock-ups” or “prototypes” (some on paper, others in HTML) were created to demonstrate how the page would end up looking. These would then be discussed, all before a single line of code was written for the page in the Admin CP.
Early on, it was decided the 1.4 Admin CP would be tabbed – there were so many different tasks that could be performed, they would have to be divided into different categories. This sort of thing is done all the time, in all sorts of different applications, so it just made sense to do it in the Admin CP too.
Each was then categorized into the different sections – such as Forum Management, Forum Announcements, and so on under the Forums and Posts tab. While some sections could apply to more than one tab, all were put in the most logical location. For instance, general configuration items go under the Configuration tab, whereas those directly dealing with the forums or posts on your board would go under Forums & Posts.
Beneath these sections are the various tasks that can be performed in the Admin CP. Before this point, everything was simply categorizing in order to make finding each task much easier. The Admin CP was designed to make finding individual tasks easier – after all, once your forum has been set up, you’ll usually only go into the Admin CP for just one or two tasks.
You’ll find that for just about every design decision made in MyBB 1.4’s Admin CP, we have a legitimate reason for doing it that way, and not a different way. This is because 1.4’s Admin CP was built from the ground up in order to ensure we could find the best way to design all of the various pages in the Admin CP.
Questions? Comments? Anything else?
As with the Configuration section, there’s a lot you can do under the Forums & Posts and Tools & Maintenance sections, but it’s very easy to use once you dig into the administration panel. It might look confusing now, as all you’re seeing is screenshots, but rest assured that all was planned out to be as well organized as possible.
Another overview covering the “Users and Groups” tab will be posted next week. We will also take time to answer some stabbing questions you may have. Leave a comment with your question and check to see if your question has been answered next week!
There is still a lot to cover, but as always, we’re happy to hear any questions or feedback you may have. We’ll try to take advice on board, but understand it isn’t always possible. There’s still more exciting parts of the Admin CP left to share, so by no means is this all we’ll be posting!
Multiple people contributed to the writing of this article, including DennisTT, Tikitiki, Chris Boulton, and Justin S.
MyBB Blog 
nice i like it :p the mybb team have done a good job at it.
I love it! Great job!
Looks awesome,, good job. I like the new design of it, very new and sleek 🙂
it’s very nice..
Thx
OMG!
MyBB 1.4 really logs ALL eMails?
What about users privacy?
To Tester: People sign an agreement when they signup, saying that the admin can look at such records, IIRC.
Looking great! can’t wait to try it out!
Tester: Upon registration on any forum powered by the MyBB Software, they are asked to agree to a registration statement that entitles the Admin to view such records.
Staff: I’m liking the layout already. Though it reminds me of the phpBB3 Admin CP — it still holds all of those “MyBB” features and is very different upon closer inspection. The design, layout and colour scheme all tone in well with the new rider-style; and I’m certainly looking forward to the release of MyBB 1.4
I do have one question though — and I’m sure this has been asked countless of times before — but will all template files for themes designed and built for MyBB 1.2 require a complete rebuild? It also appears as though the CSS is more complex than previous versions; and while I see absolutely no problem with that — and I always enjoy a challenge — I’m wondering if it still contains the ability to be easily edited?
Apart from all of that I absolutely adore the new version, and wouldn’t change software providers for anything. I’m extremely proud of the dedication put in by the MyBB Team and wish to thank them for providing the best forum software available.
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Just to clear up the confusion about this, the emails that are logged are those sent out via the “Send Thread to a Friend” and “Email this User” features. The reason for the logging is that these features seem to cop quite a lot of abuse, spam and other nasties.
This feature allows you to see who’s abusing such functionality.
The other type of mail logs are system mail logs. Messages are only logged here if we cannot connect to your mail server to send a new reply notification, etc.
There is no interface, and won’t ever officially be, to view users private messages.
I know you weren’t accusing us of copying but I just thought I’d mention that it’s interesting because we actually had this layout in development before phpBB even announced their new layout plans. If you remember the old MyBB site, you’ll remember the navigation menu which consisted of the layout.
Because of template changes, templates will essentially need to be reverted. Themes (CSS) will be imported from old versions.
There will be both simple and advanced modes for editing themes and stylesheets.
Nice, looks good. Looks like allot of progress has been made.
Kind Regards.
Its look very nice..
I am impatience waiting.
thx mybb team
I’m curious about that you said “it will be released on quarter part of 2007” but know it is the march 2008 and still we are waiting…
note: you said that “We can not guarantee releasing time” but it is apporaximately one year :S
We dont want to see any picture about 1.4, we want to see real 1.4
Thank you…
Arno: Just be grateful.
Well, it is just funtastic, MyBB team! 😀
Dang, was hoping to read the “MyBB 1.4 will be released on x/xx/08!”. Considering the fact that you’re posting another blog next week, I assume it won’t be out for a few more weeks. I was hoping to get my site out before/during Spring break. (next week)
Oh well,
Regardless, nice work guys!
@rovin: I’m very grateful. I have a support site for turkish people. I have made a lot of themes for MyBB and I’m one of the translators…
Arno, no one said it will be released on quarter part of 2007. Please check your facts.
This blog was not designed to you can complain about the release date of 1.4. There is nothing we nor yourself can do about that.
Much thanks to everyone else!
Great work MyBB team! I really appreciate your hard work. Is there a dontations site available?
very nice,
Thanks mybb team.
Rovin,
Information about donations can be found at the MyBB Wiki: Site Support or by contacting Chris Boulton.
I hope I don’t get banned for this :P..
Mybb 1.4 doesn’t look much different from 1.2 except, of course, the warning system,modcp,and stuff like task manager / email logs. I thought this version brings a lot of new features, not just a few features and a new design (in my opinion the 1.2 ACP design looks fantastic as it is).
And my eternal question: will we be able to use html in announcement title? 😛
I am and have always been a die hard fan of MyBB. MyBB is an awesome product. I know this because i have been into the development of Content Management Systems for the last 5 years.
MyBB is miles ahead of other forum softwares (commercial or open source). Kudos to you guys for such professional, intuitive and slick work. MyBB 1.4 seems to be much more advanced and user friendly and I am dying to use it.
The only thing that MyBB lacks perhaps is a sleek and trendy portal system (The portal system of MyBB 1.2 is not good) and I don’t like MK Portal as the front end of MyBB. I wish and I would like to see my wish come true that “MyBB 1.4 has a sleek and trendy portal system”
Wish You Guys all the best
Good for forum. I hope it coming soon
Faby, I’m not sure what your talking about. There’s a ton more features that you didn’t mention. Have you even looked at the wiki’s 1.4 page?
Just an excellent blog. I appreciate the in depth snapshots and information. Keep up the good work.
We’re Wainting..
Hi, MyBB team, I forgot to ask you one thing… Will the postbit be WYSIWYG? (what you see is what you get)
P.S.: Sorry if this question as already been answered. 😛
Feature Request:
Option to select multiple/all users in a group.
Sadiqsaad, feature requests for 1.4 are closed
MCAlexandre, not in 1.4. It will be in a future version though
I really like the Task Manager! 😀
Great Work
Add this to
http://wiki.mybboard.net/index.php/1.4.0
dvb, It is already there
Oh… You must. I think that’s one of the biggest disadvantages on MyBB, some free forum software already are WYSIWYG, and it’s really a mess when we’re writing a very fomatted text. 😉
No prob, once it will be in a future version. LOL
Thank you for the reply and votes for the best sucess! 😀
Looking good guys 🙂
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Is it possible to run ALL the tasks in one cronjob? (Otherwise I will make it possible when it’s released)
Paretje, what do you mean? The tasks have to run at specific times, so you can’t make a cronjob run only certain things at certain times unless you write a custom script to do it and execute the script like every 15 minutes which then in turn checks which ones need to run.
If, however you are talking about running the tasks from cron jobs, then yes. You will need to disable all of them (which only disables them from running via MyBB’s front end itself), then call it via the cron job. This is the recommended way for it if you have the experience and abilities to do it on your server
Yay, a new update! 😀 I do like the new interface – it’s much more intuitive than 1.2 (although I’m slowly slowly getting used to it!) I wish I could organise a team properly like the MyBB team. We’re working on a brand new site design and various activities, but the staff all have RL commitments (inc. myself) so it’s a bit slow going.
Can’t wait to see the moderation control panel 🙂
Absolutely beautiful!!!
woow.. more beautiful thanks 😀
what time MyBB 1.4 ?
“I know you weren’t accusing us of copying but I just thought I’d mention that it’s interesting because we actually had this layout in development before phpBB even announced their new layout plans. If you remember the old MyBB site, you’ll remember the navigation menu which consisted of the layout.” – Chris Boulton
I haven’t really been using MyBB for a long period of time; so I don’t know what the old site used to look like. Though I do lik the layout — as previously I’ve had problems with the frame-layout, which was basically: when clicking on a link inside the left-hand frame, it would open up that link as a whole new page — overwriting the frame layout.
Thanks fo the information, Chris — and keep up the good work. 🙂
SuperSonic ^^
WOW ! Great !
Please Release It , Please !
In due time 🙂
Can’t wait, but you guys spelled “Properties” wrong on the Forum Copy page.
Thanks GG-Xtreme, it’s been fixed!
Now i’m sure that you developed seriously MyBB 1.4 (the sketch are just an example).
To tell the truth i was thinking you had some problems in developing this but now i’m sure that you needed all this time for making a killing product.
Thanks MyBB team!
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What do you think about a predefinied forum permissions list like “Only reading” etc.?
Pretty good ! The MyBB developpment team has really made a consequent, efficient and quality work.
We’ll be waiting for it !