- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
By now, many of you may be feeling the despair that the New Hotness is bringing: but there really is not that much to worry about. As one founder to others, I have prepared a little guide to help you cope with the losses the the upgrade is certain to bring.
First of all, make sure you save all VITAL work into a word or similar document, so you can begin rebuilding immediately after the upgrade (if rebuilding is necessary).
The biggest loss for many involves database templates. Some are lost altogether, some remain -- with restrictions.
Basically, you're going to want to try to save your most important databases. This, unfortunately, means deleting any other databases of the same type, to be sure the data YOU want is saved. Also remember that, at some point, Achronos will allow for your data to be collected in XML format.
Many will have used Article databases multiple times, for whatever reason - informative databases, input databases, and so on. Unfortunately we only get one Articles database after the upgrade, which means adaption is necessary. There is a lot of text in articles, so try to copy any you think is important enough to get fast. I recommend that you keep any member input databases (for records and so on), and find ways of assimilating other databases using that format (if the topic remained feasible, you could join all articles databases into one articles database).
In Chapter Founders, there is a detailed guide to 'the many uses of a guest book'. Obviously, as only one of these databases is permitted per group, this will no longer be possible. In this case I would recommend you save the actual Guest Book, and you'll have to make do without the other one, or find ways of using makeshift ones.
The Link List is more of an if. Nearly every active chapter uses a database list and external links database (converted from a link list model) to good effect. Some use the database for other purposes too. However, only one Link List is now permitted. The question still remains if the database and external links 'hack' will remain after the New Hotness, if they do then you'll have to make a big decision: keep the database list (or convert it into a single 'hub' database), or keep the external links database, or remove both and use it for another purpose. This might dearly effect you if you use multiple database/external links lists, but you're going to have to make do, using 'hub' databases is a good alternative.
FAQ databases and Contact Info databases will not effect all, but FAQ can be used as a rules database, or for gaming help and so on. Again, you'll just have to make do, you could try organising your FAQ into sections or using alternative databases (possibly custom) to help you.
You might well wish to look into sharing resources with allied and friendly chapters, working towards the greater good. A few shared resources would mean a lot more productivity.
So there you are, the New Hotness is nearly upon us. I do hope this helps all you founders out there, and don't get too worried; remember, it's really not all that bad.
[Edited on 9/3/2004 4:29:03 AM]