The Sewing Place

Reception => Welcome Lounge and Information => Topic started by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 10:52:12 AM

Title: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 10:52:12 AM
We are moving to a new webhost.

Iminei and I have started the process today, and it should be complete by the end of the week.

At some point - probably tomorrow - I will have to put the site into 'maintenance mode' while the servers all around the world get updated with our new details.  This means that you won't be able to access the site until it has propagated to your server.  This should only take an hour or so, although in theory it could take 24 hours for some servers.

Don't panic!  We are not going anywhere, just moving house.

If you think it has been too long, clear your cache (control/shift/delete) and refresh your browser.  If that doesn't help, email us at iminei@thesewingplace.org.uk or acorn@thesewingplace.org.uk - but please do give it time first.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Elnnina on February 05, 2020, 11:00:44 AM
i will try and be patient - good excuse for me to start getting my sewing room back to working space  since other things got dumped in here for Christmas and 'jigsaw fest'.

By the way thank you both - Imi and Acorn for all that you do for us, it is much appreciated, what would we do without you.

Get well soon Acorn.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: snoozi soozi on February 05, 2020, 11:33:37 AM
I've taken a photo of this post so's I've got your email address  ;)

Thanks for all the good work ladies
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Goth Gardiner on February 05, 2020, 12:00:46 PM
Thank you for doing all this hard work. We probably don't know half of what you do behind the scenes, but I for one am jolly grateful.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Sewingsue on February 05, 2020, 12:05:44 PM
Thank you girls.
I don't understand what you are doing, but I am very glad you do  <3
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Ellabella on February 05, 2020, 12:10:00 PM
Thank you!

I’d be lost without TSP, and appreciate all that you both do.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Silver Rose on February 05, 2020, 12:24:12 PM
Thanks acorn and iminei, hope it all goes smoothly.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: KayK on February 05, 2020, 12:31:00 PM
Thank you indeed!
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Ploshkin on February 05, 2020, 12:37:44 PM
Many thanks for letting us know.  I shall await propagation to my server with bated breath!  :)
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Nevis5 on February 05, 2020, 12:44:47 PM
Thanks from me too.  I too have no idea about propagation or moving servers and it all sounds very complicated so I hope it goes smoothly xx
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Ivydene on February 05, 2020, 13:12:05 PM
Thanks to both of you from me too.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: coffeeandcake on February 05, 2020, 13:29:19 PM
But what will I do while I can't access TSP?? :'( :'( :'( I cleared all my cache this morning: purse is EMPTY!

Seriously though, thank you both for the time and effort you put into the forum.  I, like many others, would be totally lost without you and the forum :loveit:
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: jintie on February 05, 2020, 13:52:15 PM
Thanks so much
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: StitchinTime on February 05, 2020, 13:54:33 PM
Thank you for sorting this and I hope it all goes smoothly otherwise I could end up having to do some work instead of spending time here and that would never do  :o

Is there any system in place for posting updates about the process should it take longer than expected?  For example, I think people could view a Twitter account using a web browser without having to sign up to Twitter.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Kenora on February 05, 2020, 13:55:45 PM
I used to do this kind of thing at work so I know how hard/frustrating it can be at times. :S Thanks for everything you do. :)
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: UttaRetch on February 05, 2020, 14:26:33 PM
Thanks for the advance warning and preventing us all from weeping, wailing and gnashing teeth.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: So Chic on February 05, 2020, 15:16:17 PM
Thanks for the warning, I don't really understand what you are going to do but I'm sure all will go well.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 15:26:56 PM
Is there any system in place for posting updates about the process should it take longer than expected?  For example, I think people could view a Twitter account using a web browser without having to sign up to Twitter.

That is a good idea...

It may end up being done next Tuesday rather than tomorrow - I'm waiting to hear back from the new hosts, but I will choose whichever is likely to give us the least downtime.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: HenriettaMaria on February 05, 2020, 15:37:48 PM
ctrl + shift + del doesn't clear the cache on Windows - it brings up the blue window of logging out, etc.  Cache-clearing is in the settings/tools functions of the browser in question.

Or do you mean a machine restart to refresh DNS thingies?
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 15:39:47 PM
It's control/alt/delete that brings up the blue window.  Control/shift/delete should bring up a list of options including clearing the cache.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: HenriettaMaria on February 05, 2020, 15:52:29 PM
It's control/alt/delete that brings up the blue window.  Control/shift/delete should bring up a list of options including clearing the cache.

Thank you - I really did not know that :-)
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 16:51:27 PM
It's looking like we will be closing for the transfer at 10am tomorrow.  The new hosts are very keen that I make sure you know it could be 24 hours before we're back, but (whispers) when I transferred my own websites a few weeks ago it only took a few hours.  I think 3 hours is probably the absolute minimum possible, but don't quote me on that, and it is likely to be longer.

Looks like you'll all have to find something useful to do.  Anyone got any hobbies?
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 17:09:14 PM
... and we have a Twitter account - https://twitter.com/SewingPlace

I think it should be visible to everybody - I gave up on Twitter a while ago when it suddenly started to get complicated, but I think I can cope with this!
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Iminei on February 05, 2020, 17:15:05 PM
Aaaaand we have a Fb group  (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1122163991454085/).....

Pm through Fb to join

Just to keep you safe and sound while we move house

Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 17:17:40 PM
I've asked to join.  You know my name...
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: FrancesL on February 05, 2020, 17:31:56 PM
I've just asked on fb too!!

Frances L
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Kitten on February 05, 2020, 17:33:12 PM
Thanks for letting me join on Fb
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Ohsewsimple on February 05, 2020, 18:03:05 PM
Thanks for the warning and everything you do. 
@snoozi soozi  clever idea. I’ve just taken a screenshot.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: BrendaP on February 05, 2020, 19:46:49 PM
Thank you for the info, and for all the work you do to keep the forum running smoothly.

I have just asked to join the FB group.

Tomorrow morning; 3+ hours from 10:00.  Well it's my turn on the family history helpdesk tomorrow finishing 12:30, but later if it's busy and then I'm meeting Terry at the local coffee shop for lunch (nice panninis but the cakes are not @justpottering 's home made  :'( ) so it's likely to be mid aftenoon before I try to log in, so hopefully I won't be deprived of TSP for very long. 
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: hernibs on February 05, 2020, 19:55:02 PM
Noted and applied to join the fb group!  Thanks for all your hard work!
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: maliw on February 05, 2020, 20:12:04 PM
Just put in a request to FB too -Alison  with a red rose avatar.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Deafoldbat on February 05, 2020, 20:29:02 PM
 :[ Don't do Faceache... Don't do Witter...   
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 05, 2020, 20:30:24 PM
You should be able to read Twitter without having to sign in or join.  We're not intending to make a habit of it!
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Renegade Sewist on February 05, 2020, 21:00:05 PM
... and we have a Twitter account - https://twitter.com/SewingPlace

I think it should be visible to everybody - I gave up on Twitter a while ago when it suddenly started to get complicated, but I think I can cope with this!

Thank you @Acorn . I'm not on twitplace but I do go to look at pages, mostly of a cynical political nature. Today has been marvelous there, but I digress.  :devil:

I've just had a brilliant idea. You know how much those can hurt!  :pin: Inspired by your newly minted Faceache and twitplace accounts, perhaps consider an official The Sewing Place Instagram account? I'm not an Instaperson but might join for that. Peeps could post photos of their makes with a #SewingPlace hash tag there as well as here. I bet some new people who don't know about us might discover us that way. On days I just don't find time to scroll through posts I could still take a quick peek at photos.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Lilian on February 05, 2020, 22:14:39 PM
I am so glad I came on here tonight (I've been away on holiday) and only back this week.  Thanks for the info, I am on twitter so can follow there.  Many thanks to the admin team for keeping us up and running  :)
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Sewingsue on February 05, 2020, 22:20:57 PM
Just put in my FB application.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Tim Sr on February 05, 2020, 22:43:35 PM
I too must say how much I appreciate all the hard work being done by @Iminei @Acorn @Allothermoderators,IT,behindthescenes people for this lovely place. I will attempt to not have a full breakdown during the transition, although that is not guaranteed. Requests for FB & Twitter sent

Tim
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Ellabella on February 05, 2020, 22:44:11 PM
Never thought I’d join Twitter!

Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: wrenkins on February 06, 2020, 08:08:14 AM
Me too @Ellabella. What even is it?!?!?!?! :o
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: StitchinTime on February 06, 2020, 08:14:54 AM
The news on Twitter about The Sewing Place can be viewed without joining Twitter - just use a web browser to view https://twitter.com/sewingplace
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Flobear on February 06, 2020, 08:50:27 AM
Good luck with the move @Acorn and @Iminei . Hope the removal lorries are packed, the removal men & women are in a good mood, the traffic is light and nothing gets broken when unloading  :D
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 06, 2020, 09:06:46 AM
That sounds a lot like one of those Irish Blessings.

Once I've done the Stuff That Needs Doing (I have a list - one thing has already been crossed off) I'm going to spend a lot of time today sitting with my laptop, hitting the refresh button.  This means:

Daytime TV
Facebook Games
Online Shopping
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Tim Sr on February 06, 2020, 09:48:09 AM
3:45 AM Sending as many positive thoughts across the pond @Acorn
See you on the other side...

Tim
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Ann on February 06, 2020, 17:16:51 PM
Thank you for everything you do. I have joined the FB group and it's pending. Following you on Twitter also.

Ann
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Renegade Sewist on February 06, 2020, 17:18:48 PM
I just got up, 9:15 AM here, but 5:15 for you lot,. Are we moved? Delayed? Did I sleep through everything?
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 06, 2020, 17:23:54 PM
You did, you lucky thing!

We are still in the same place.  I did my bit with no problems, but the new host discovered - eventually - that because of the way the forum software was originally set up they could not display it correctly.  It's taken the entire day to find that we were on a hiding to nothing.

I have to say that they are right, the coding is very odd in places.

At least I can take some codeine for my headache and earache now that my brain is no longer required to function properly...
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: snoozi soozi on February 06, 2020, 17:26:17 PM
Oh dear @Acorn sounds like one big headache of a day  :angry:
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Renegade Sewist on February 06, 2020, 17:31:53 PM
I just remembered when Stitchers Guild migrated they had a dreadful time getting placed onto the new server. They also use SMF. Julie had backups of everything and was able to create an archive site with the old posts, read only, but eventually had to start a new active forum. It was part SMF problems, part the new people she'd gone to. Hope you have better luck!
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Sewingsue on February 06, 2020, 17:34:55 PM
Off you go and look after yourself, @Acorn
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Ellabella on February 06, 2020, 18:33:58 PM
@Acorn do have a rest. Hopefully there will be no TSP birthdays for a few days.  Making all those cakes must take up a lot of your time.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: So Chic on February 06, 2020, 18:37:58 PM
@Iminei and @Acorn    Thank you both for getting this changeover done quickly and smoothly.  The only query I have is will it be necessary to join Facebook or can I carry on ignoring FB?
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Kenora on February 06, 2020, 18:38:22 PM
@Acorn - I do hope your headache improves. I know only too well what it's like, trying to concentrate on something when your head is pounding - it makes the brain go to mush, especially if you know other people are depending on you doing your "job" properly. You deserve a rest and some peace and quiet.  <3
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Iminei on February 06, 2020, 18:51:46 PM
To be Clear Folks

We have not (yet) migrated to the new host.....


Acorn and I will recoup sometime in the next week to reconsider our options.

We are all back in our old home ... you know the one, with the pencil marks on the kitchen door frames that showed us how we've grown, with that splotch on the wall by the fridge where @Lowena  fell and spilled her fifth cup of coffee and that embarrassing stain on the carpet in the hall where ... well you know what happened there!!!
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Acorn on February 06, 2020, 18:56:48 PM
Sshhhhh!   :|

It was lovely to get back to the old place this afternoon...

I will just add that Iminei and I carried out our parts perfectly, but the prospective host and the forum software were unable to agree with each other.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Silver Rose on February 06, 2020, 19:03:31 PM
Thanks @Iminei  and @Acorn for your hard work, I can remember this sort of experience in my work in the NHS, very nerve wracking. It'll be OK .
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: BrendaP on February 06, 2020, 19:37:01 PM
No wonder @Acorn  has a headache.   :S
Methinks that both you and @Iminei deserve a nice  :drink: :drink:  it lools as though you will both have to stay sober to sort out OptionB.

Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: UttaRetch on February 06, 2020, 20:50:34 PM
@Renegade Sewist: I finally quite a forum that moved from Lithium to Flarum.  I really tried to make the transition, but a lot of functionality was lost and I was tied of the same old stale arguments anyway.
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Tim Sr on February 06, 2020, 21:18:31 PM
I wish to propose a round of applause and many cheers to @Iminei & @Acorn for making sure that we still have a working forum after a failed migration. This shows just how lucky all of users and members are to have them at our side.
BRAVO!! :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

Tim
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Surest1tch on February 06, 2020, 21:28:04 PM
Title: Re: Important!!! Please Read!!!!!
Post by: Tamnymore on February 06, 2020, 21:49:40 PM
Thank you @Iminei and @Acorn for all your hard work. Glad we're all still here.