FORUM webpages. USER PROFILES/MESSAGES? Attachments & Avatars? XL db?

FORUM/BULLETIN BOARD WEBSITE PAGEs (from PROGRAM): This 'FORUM' STYLE is great, vbulletin costs though doesn't it. In summary, my question is:

What FORUM web page editing/generating programs are like this, but free and simple to setup and use? :confused: Name a few please! I don't see a decent looking option in FRONTPAGE using EXCEL WORKBOOKS, for this, the RESULTS DATABASE, a category search of an EXCEL spreadsheet, looks rubbish, I've never once seen any website successfully use this, rubbish DSN orientated method (Database http reference is far too overcomplicated). Other CATEGORY/PRODUCT search websites such as AUTOTRADER look far more professional.

Obviously, overtime a hosted 'FORUM' will inevitably grow in size within your 'HOST', on new additions of:
~ USER PROFILES, AVATARS,
~ MESSAGES, ATTACHMENTS, STATISTICS

The next issue is how the website 'FORUM' stores: PROFILES/AVATARS/MESSAGES/ATTACHMENTS: I guess some 'FORUMs' will simply:
CREATE another 'hosted file', eg: forum/users/username1.htm
or
ADD/EDIT to an existing 'hosted file', with an individual reference, eg: forum/users.htm#user1
or
ADD/EDIT a 'database' of PROFILES/MESSAGES

Hence my point, surely there is a simply way to do this with an EXCEL spreadsheet as a 'database', such as a simple http reference to an excel workbook, eg: http://www.srands.co.uk/exoftable3.xls
Then of course be the issue of http referencing an EXCEL ‘TAB’, within excel workbook, sure there will be many many examples that don’t work, leading inevitably towards editing everything individually, er no! And none of this ridiculous DSN or SQL SERVER! Preferably just htm/html, instead of css/php.

I've already browsed for 'FORUM' pages/open source/programs.

However most/all of these appear to be sarcasm revolving/centralising around the issue of 'FTP access' for purposes profile/message creation. Obviously after a 'FORUM' user joins this doesn't give them the website forum 'FTP username & password'! Or the option to browse through file directories! Or the option to add/delete/edit any files at will! I could do without all these sarcastic obstacles!

Anyway there are many completely useless examples on the internet to download, and realise they do nothing. DOWNLOAD SITES I BROWSED THROUGH: download.cnet.com/windows/ www.rocketdownload.com

There are some great 'FORUM' and 'PRODUCT/PROFILE' examples out there such as:
FORUM STYLE:vBulletin (used on many Excel Forums) www.vbulletin.com
phpBB (used on Retrobike www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/) www.phpbb.com

PRODUCTs/PROFILEs WEBSITE PAGEs:
AutoTrader (CATEGORY search then browse through PRODUCT SUMMARIES, click an individual summary to the FULL PAGE) www2.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars

Any great FORUM program/code editor that is freeware/shareware, that works on any host, that is easy to edit, in htm/html? SUGGESTIONS? :eek:

Crossthreads:
http://www.excelforum.com/exce…achments-and-avatars.html
http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=630025

Re: FORUM webpages. USER PROFILES/MESSAGES? Attachments & Avatars? XL db?

Where's the EXCEL connection?

What this comes down to, people/businesses/organisations like to use FREE/CHEAP 'HOSTING' for their website, cheap HOSTING does NOT include SQL (Structured Query Language), or as an extra at a cost.

HOSTs that do have SQL, on your account, there would be a SQL CONTROL PANEL, since SQL is needed to setup (DSN) DATABASE NAME, USERNAME and PASSWORD.

HENCE MY QUESTION FOR A EXCEL DATABASE USING A HTML FORUM CODE!

Since the majority of the FORUM PROGRAMS/CODES need SQL as a pre-requisite, then like most with cheap hosting we can't setup a simple FORUM on our own websites, but a great alternatives is to get a FREE FORUM, then just HYPERLINK it on your website, no cost, and doesn't take up your hosting file capacity:

GREAT FREE HOSTING that doesn't need SQL HOSTING:
http://www.pnyxe.com/compare-plans Scroll to the bottom, on the FREE column select 'START NOW'.

Then it is a 1 page code, nice and simple, unlike many others! I'll go into detail about the others below!:
The confusion starts with many who want a FORUM for their website, the issue of setup seems relatively simple DSN (DataSourceName), username & password.
However what isn't clearly explained in many many many instructions that 'YOUR HOSTED SITE' will need SQL (StructuredQueryLanguage) which won't even be an option on YOUR ACCOUNT for YOUR WEBSITE's CHEAP/FREE hosting.

Re: VBA loop rows excluding header, until blank rows

Here is the new link for the working SPEECH loop SPREADSHEET:

http://www.srands.co.uk/exoftable4.xls

To use XL speech feature that the macro uses, you will need optional SPEECH TEXT:
VIEW, TOOLBARS, TEXT to SPEECH.

To play MACRO:
Start on the LETTER tab
VIEW, TOOLBARS, VISUAL BASIC, then press PLAY (Run macro), then select:
SPEAKletter, then RUN.

Also repeating WAV file, works but need to close SND PLAYER after wav has finished each time:
http://www.srands.co.uk/XLwithWAVtoREPEAT.xls

Re: VBA loop rows excluding header, until blank rows

[INDENT]The same spreadsheet has other features too:

MAIL MERGE in WORD using EXCEL RESULTS as database

http://www.srands.co.uk/Word&ExcelMailMerge.zip

The spreadsheet needs a specific word file exoftable4~MailMergeLetter.doc:OPEN ZIP FILE and EXTRACT to chosen FOLDER:
~ on opening the WORD file exoftable4~MailMergeLetter.doc,
~ select correct excel file: 'exoftable4.xls' ,
i.e: Pointing to the correct FOLDER that the EXCEL file is now saved in, as opposed to the FILE DIRECTORY LOCATION when last saved/created.

OPEN CREATED WORD MAIL MERGE DOCUMENT:
YES to open selected data, DATA LINK PROPERTIES, CONNECTION will appear
In 1. Browse all FILE TYPES, and browse to folder, where files are saved to: 'exoftable4.xls', OK.
VIEW, TOOL BARS, MAIL MERGE (Tick if NOT ticked), <<ABC>>, to toggle between FIELDS and ACTUAL DATA.

VIEW MAIL MERGE:
When finished to toggle between CODE and ACTUAL FIELDS, press the MAIL MERGE ICON <<ABC>> 'VIEW MERGED DATA'.
|< Start of records
< Backwards through records
> Forwards through records
|> Finish of records

OR

CREATE YOUR ON MAIL MERGE LETTER from any EXCEL WORKBOOK or ACCESS db:
TOOLS, LETTERS and MAILINGS, MAIL MERGE, LETTERS, NEXT, USE CURRENT DOCUMENT,
NEXT, SELECT RECIPIENTS, USE AN EXISTING LIST, BROWSE, SELECT EXCEL WORKBOOK,
SELECT EXCEL TAB within WORKBOOK, select 1ST COLUMN, NON BLANKS, SELECT ALL, OK.

VIEW, TOOL BARS, MAIL MERGE (Tick if NOT ticked), INSERT MERGE FIELDS (A4 icon), DATAFIELDS, then select your chosen EXCEL HEADINGS, 1 field at a time!

MAIL MERGE RESULTS:
Press the MERGE TO NEW DOCUMENTS icon or MERGE TO PRINT. [/INDENT]

Re: VBA loop rows excluding header, until blank rows

Another feature of same spreadsheet EXCEL EMAIL! www.srands.co.uk/ExcelEmail (aka exoftable4.xls)

Great spreadsheet, to send Email automatically from Excel based on meeting certain criteria!

Open in Excel, not Internet Explorer, to use the special code (Macro).

Further Instructions:
On opening file 'Enable Macro's. (ONLY in EXCEL as AUTO MACRO will NOT work in Internet Explorer.)

NOTE: To lower macro security:
TOOLS, OPTIONS, MACRO SECURITY, MEDIUM, then close EXCEL, then re-open file.

Left CLICK the 'RESULTS' tab (A summary of entries that meet all criteria set in 'WORKSHEET' tab, Column U).
View, ToolBars, left click VISUAL BASIC if NOT already ticked.
The in VISUAL BASIC toolbar, left click RUN symbol (R/H arrow symbol), then
Left click RUN macro 'EMailRESULTS', then Emails will be automatically generated!

HOW TO EDIT visual basic (VBA) of the CODE USED in the spreadsheet for your own purposes:

Left CLICK the 'RESULTS' tab (A summary of entries that meet all criteria set in 'WORKSHEET' tab, Column U).

View, ToolBars, left click VISUAL BASIC if NOT already ticked.
The in VISUAL BASIC toolbar, left click RUN symbol (R/H arrow symbol), then
Left click either STEP INTO or EDIT.
Making your changes, once finished editing, click SAVE, then FILE, CLOSE & RETURN TO EXCEL.

Re: FORUM webpages. USER PROFILES/MESSAGES? Attachments &amp; Avatars? XL db?

Quote from celavey;608059

I don't quite get it. What is this all about? [Blocked Image: http://imagicon.info/cat/14-15/icon_smile.gif%20]

My question was originally how to have a FORUM ON YOUR OWN WEBSITE (3rd person perspective), FOR FREE.

The obstacle is that many people with their own website, do so with free webspace, and to have a forum many of the codes available, a prerequisite IS to have a website domain with SQL (Structured Query Language) control panel.

And most free/cheap web domain hosters don't offer that certain essential feature (SQL option to specify database name, username & password) for persons who have their own website. Fair enough SQL is at an extra cost, or go with another website domain host, I don't want to pay for just that feature.

The solution being get a free forum elsewhere and just hyperlink it from your website (3rd person perspective).

GREAT FREE HOSTING that doesn't need SQL HOSTING:
http://www.pnyxe.com/compare-plans Scroll to the bottom, on the FREE column select 'START NOW'.