Over the years on the web, there have been two distinct message board or discussion forum formats that are prevalent - both a threaded view and a flat view. Lately, blog commenting systems which are flat and relatively thin have become used very widely as well, but IMO that's really for two reasons - 1) simplicity of coding, and 2) it's the default (and sometimes only) option.
Some people have very strong opinions about which format is better. One of my favorite boards has been in threaded formats for the last 7 or 8 years, and attempts to change it to a flat view have met with an amazing amount of hostility from a significant portion of the end user community.
vBulletin offers threaded and flat views, but the threaded mode is only within threads and it leaves a little to be desired. Offering both modes to visitors is a great idea, though - and one which will ensure that potential members don't walk away because the format they like best is not available.
Following is a flash presentation of some work that I'm doing, which hopefully will provide a decent solution all the way around.
I started out with a great Threaded modification to vBulletin, which is available to the public at vbulletin.org.
It wasn't a very easy modification to install, but the power that it brings is significant - it is the threaded mode that people expect when they see that an alternate view is available. I took this, then expanded upon it in a few little places.
In order to view the video, you must have Flash version 7 or greater installed. The movie itself is a depiction of a cusomized flat and threaded views within vbulletin
You can see in the video that I'm making use of ajax technology so that people can view messages without leaving the page. The special effect fade in's, roll-ups, and light box for photos are accomplished with the help of the prototype libraries and scriptaculous. There is still plenty of layout work to accomplish, and javascript debugging, but I think that this project is well under way to becoming something special. The features of the message board will be unique enough to draw attention in the early stages of the message board, which hopefully will inspire people to become part of the community.
Join The Threaded and Flat Views within vBulletin Discussion
