Just a few easy questions, please help

[Joker Productions]

Just a few Q`s
Im a newbie and was wondering the following;
Im wondering if i must have smf logo on top of the forum when i start one, or can i add my own header with out there info.

Do all the forums include all the stuff im seeing here in the text bar? smilies,email links,hyperlinks, flash?
I just was asked to join a forum and noticed they were using SMF and i did not see all of this when i posted a thank you.

Is there a rating system for trades or sales like VB or can one be added?

Is there a way to have a forum bank? like so we may give a point for each post so they may buy ribbons/highlight ect. with the points they earn for posting.
Thanks 

[sawz]

how about you install the SMF forum software and see, wouldn't want to ruin it for you.

[Joker Productions]

thanks but i didnt want to waist time if i couldnt do some of that, like the header.
Is it bad i asked?

[Dannii]

You can do all of that. Some BBCodes might have been disabled.

There are mods for rating and banks.

[sawz]

Is it bad i asked?

no, of course not, thats what these forums are for. didn't mean to be a smartass, but its kinda obvious how they work and what they look like and the selection of mods is right there for you too see.

[Joker Productions]

Is it bad i asked?

no, of course not, thats what these forums are for. didn't mean to be a smartass, but its kinda obvious how they work and what they look like and the selection of mods is right there for you too see.

Thanks, no hard feelings
Im about to set up an account and had one more question, do i need to set up a hosting company/server or is hosting something SMF offers and i can sign up with them?

[codenaught]

No, SMF does not offer any hosting. You can try http://www.smfforfree.com/ to get your own remotely hosted smf, but there are limitations when using that.

[Joker Productions]

No, SMF does not offer any hosting. You can try hxxp:www.smfforfree.com/ [nonactive] to get your own remotely hosted smf, but there are limitations when using that.

Thanks you very much for such a quick answer, i looked it over but i could not find the limitations. Any ideas of what they may be? or where i can read up on it?

[codenaught]

Features disabled, using only stable version of SMF as opposed to latest release candidate. You also will not be able to customize your forum as much.

For more information: http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=46107.0

[Joker Productions]

Features disabled, using only stable version of SMF as opposed to latest release candidate. You also will not be able to customize your forum as much.

For more information: http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=46107.0

Again thank you this place is great!
So ok i wanna use a host company that will let me do everything but am looking for the low budget company, any ideas? Godaddy?
Also do i have to get the hosting before i start to build the forum?
I am sorry for so many questions.

[codenaught]

You can check out the Hosting board here:
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?board=4.0

You need some sort of hosting for your forum to run on, but you can install a test apache server on your computer with php and mysql and run your forum and when it is ready, transfer it to a host.

[Joker Productions]

You can check out the Hosting board here:
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?board=4.0

You need some sort of hosting for your forum to run on, but you can install a test apache server on your computer with php and mysql and run your forum and when it is ready, transfer it to a host.

Thanks have a wonderful day 
I must say this forum is very helpful.

[sawz]

please don't use godaddy or any other "web portal" that thinks there a hosting company. www.webhostingtalk.com has enough information for you to determine what kind of host you going to want to get.

[Joker Productions]

please don't use godaddy or any other "web portal" that thinks there a hosting company. hxxp:www.webhostingtalk.com [nonactive] has enough information for you to determine what kind of host you going to want to get.

Thanks i just looked at that site and i will not use GD. I do have one question i find interesting, wht do people use VB forum and not the SMF. Why would anyone buy a forum when you can get it for free, or donations?

[Dannii]

Most people don't know about SMF.
Or they think that money guarantee's a better product, which is oobviously not the case.

[sawz]

you can put SMF up against any other forum software and SMF will come out on top for a variety of reasons.