Start Up.........Newbie Questions............

[stockdevil]

Hi Everyone, I have spent hours upon hours searching different Forum Providers and stumbled across this website last night...I am VERY IMPRESSED..........

I Have little to ZERO Experience building a website let alone setting up a Forum so here are some questions I have if anyone can assist me.

1. I am looking for a Forum that is NOT threaded, Does SMF have this type of Forum and if so where can I view one and what version is it?

2. I have my website on Godaddy just sitting there, Have not even started building it yet, I will want advertising on the site in addition to some Financial Data incorporated into the forums...stock tickers etc...
Can I do that with SMF?

3. I will want Tiered levels of Members, some FREE and others will be paying Members with additional levels in the Forum.....Is that Possible with SMF and are the Programs already incorporated?

4. I have seen rating systems in some Forums and Here, with STARS next to member names, How does that work and can you modify that program?

5.Will SMF work with the Host being Godaddy?

Can someone with limited web site building experience Download and Use the SMF or do you recommend having someone with Expertise do this...........Thanks in advance for any help......

[Kindred]

1. SMF is not threaded.  The forum you are reading this message on right now demonstrates this.

2. there are various mods that may do what you are asking. It is anot a standard part of SMF to do that...

3. the membergroups permissions system of SMF is flexible ans I think it will be able to handle what you are asking...

4. Stars are a function of the membergroups and are edittable.

5. if you have access to php and mySQL, you can run SMF.

[Panzer-]

Can someone with limited web site building experience Download and Use the SMF or do you recommend having someone with Expertise do this...........Thanks in advance for any help......

SMF is new user friendly. Theres a whole section of the site dedicated to setting up, installing and running your forum. (http://docs.simplemachines.org) . I suggest you read the installation thoroughly, then try installing it. If you have any problems you can always ask for help here.

3. I will want Tiered levels of Members, some FREE and others will be paying Members with additional levels in the Forum.....Is that Possible with SMF and are the Programs already incorporated?

There is currently a mod being worked with a new paid usergroup where they can pay through paypal.
(http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=105532.0) Its still in beta though.

[stockdevil]

Thanks for the Responses,

Couple more Questions and You GUYS/GALS are GREAT!

I reviewed some the Showcase sites and my question is can you downsize the Forum...Shrinking the Borders to put other things like advertising etc on the website itself...or is that not necessary. and How do I know what version to Download?

For instance I really like this version we are on now, but I have seen some in the showcase where the buttons are located in other areas etc....How can I view the Basic formats of each version available and see the different options available with each version?

Or maybe you Guys can save me some time and tell me which one is the BEST with the most features for what I am trying to accomplish........thanks again.......... 

I forgot one other Question....I also need the Forum to track most active BOARDS or FORUMS and have that displayed on the Main or Splash Page........is that an option..

[Kindred]

well, the layout is not a different VERSION of SMF... just a different THEME...

Yes, you can use SSI to display various board stats on non-forum pages...