I am going to SMF for the following purpose,all ppl kindly give your views.

[Ricky.]

Hello,

I was using phpBB from long and later on found that phpBB is capable enough but default package is too basic...
So I can do whatever I want to do in phpBB but thats cubersome.
Thought to move to vbulletin but
now ..
SMF is also looking as the good deal.. rather very good one.

So I want to start a forum, in which apart of forum I can do some portal like stuff.. ie.
Articals etc.

its like following::
Categora1--->
|
|-->Articals..
|-->Articals
|-->Articals
Category1--->
|
|-->Articals..
|-->Articals
|-->Articals

Category2--->
|
|-->Articals..
|-->Articals
|-->Articals


Category3--->
|
|-->Articals..
|-->Articals
|-->Articals


Ie a simple artical management system that can have link to categories on main page and then the page leads to list of articals and then articals.

So I hope there is such Modification available for SMF ie. simple portal like stuff.

Secondly, I have downloaded and installed 1.0.9, so please give me the link to MOD which can make its url SEO friend ie. keywords in URL.

..
These are my two most important requirements..
Can SMF do it easily.. if yest then please provide me link to MODs for that ..

PLEASE DO POST YOUR SUGGESTION.

ONE MORE IS THere..

I have not looked much into but say I want to send Monthly newslater to all members.. .. say around 3000, is there any MOD too that can reduce server load.. ie sending mails in parts at given intervals ?

[Panzer-]

For your portal solution there is a great mod called Tiny Portal.

http://www.tinyportal.net

It incorporates an article manager as well which is just what you want ( i think)

[Jacen]

Take a look at MKPortal and Joolma  (that how you spell it?) too and decide which is right for you.

[Ricky.]

I have already given a look to them, I am rather looking for more forum integrated yet easy solution, tinyportal is right so far.

About MKportal.. they people think that they are very smart and has tried a lot to force few things "invisible" to the user.. hmm.. thats another story.

Right now .. I am stucked in package manager wiered problem.. as well problem in installing tinyportal.
The main reason to go for smf was its package manager but seems that itself is not working for me.
Anyways..

Going to start threads in this concern at various places ..
lets if I get the answer.

But one question is still unanswered..

What about SEO stuff?

[Bigguy]

You can try this for the SEO stuff, I guess it is still in beta, sorry about that:

http://www.smfseo.org/

[Jacen]

About MKportal.. they people think that they are very smart and has tried a lot to force few things "invisible" to the user.. hmm.. thats another story.

What do you mean?

[Harro]

Another SEO mod: http://www.webmasterstalks.com/seo_4_smf-b46.0/

[Ricky.]

Jacen, I have limited PHP knowledge but I have used lots of portal system like Drupal, Joomla and few others.. among all .. the MKportal is like that they want to force their brand, customizing their code is little cubersome ie. I feel they hv done that intentionly, they could make it easier, specially doing that footer stuff.

[Corfy]

For your portal solution there is a great mod called Tiny Portal.

hxxp:www.tinyportal.net [nonactive]

It incorporates an article manager as well which is just what you want ( i think)

Oh, thank you very much. That was exactly what I was looking for (I know I didn't post it for me, but I still appreciate it).

Corfy

[Jacen]

Jacen, I have limited PHP knowledge but I have used lots of portal system like Drupal, Joomla and few others.. among all .. the MKportal is like that they want to force their brand, customizing their code is little cubersome ie. I feel they hv done that intentionly, they could make it easier, specially doing that footer stuff.

I disagree, I found it extremely easy to customize.

[afterglow]

Jacen, I have limited PHP knowledge but I have used lots of portal system like Drupal, Joomla and few others.. among all .. the MKportal is like that they want to force their brand, customizing their code is little cubersome ie. I feel they hv done that intentionly, they could make it easier, specially doing that footer stuff.

Being an admin at Mkportal, i can assure you we don't force any kind of branding there. Just like SMF and other forum software, we ask users to honor the copyright thing. Isn't it too much of an asking? And may i add that customizing the footer is a lot easier with Mkportal. All you have to do is to go to Portal Cp --> Skin & Templates --> Skin Management --> and there you'll be able to modify sections of your portal skins including the logo and the footer. As for customizing the code, it's pretty much like hacking your forum script, an advance level of php knowledge is always required. If you don't want to do it, then leave all the default setting.

regards,
theMoonPrincess