I've disabled the archive registration system, which means that no new members can register to it. The forums are unaffected.
Why am I doing this again? Well... after a couple of years it's become apparent to me that, once again, the system I wrote is... ineffective, to say the least. I had hoped I could iron out the bugs but I haven't had time, and it wasn't particularly well written. Existing users can carry on using it (not that anyone has, recently) but I'd say it's probably best if you don't. Right now I'm trying to figure out if I should try to upgrade the existing system or implement something else that's already integrated with SMF.
If I upgrade, all the existing content stays around, but forum integration doesn't happen, which means having two logins. On the other hand, if I put in something else (like a combination of coppermine + smf + tinyportal perhaps) I get all that forum integration, but all the existing archive content goes the way of the dodo. Which would suck. I'm leaning toward the coppermine idea or something similar to that.
Anyway, while I decide what to do I'm not letting people register in the archive. Come to the forum instead, it's more fun. :)
Up and down like a... well, up and down. A lot.
Hosting troubles again. As my host has rather graciously decided to upgrade their data centre (and move it about 50 miles) you might notice that simpworks disappears every now and then due to its IP address changing. Since changes I make on the server aren't instantly reflected in the DNS, at some point during the next day or so you'll nt be able to visit us. I'm sure this is a terrible blow to your sanity.
Up to now it's been the policy on the forum that all fanfics and large documents must be attached to a message post rather than posted in the message body. This works for large fics that you want to read elsewhere, but it is not suitable in every case. So, with immediate effect, the following changes to the rules have been made.
[*]You may post fics in the post body if you are serialising, posting your fic chapter by chapter, but the forum topic must include the phrase "[SERIAL]" or "[SERIES]" at the start so that readers know what they're getting.
[*]Alternatively you may post your chapters as attachments in separate posts, as long as you include a description of the chapter in the post body.
[*]Once you have completed posting your fic it would be a good idea to post the entire story as an attachment to the first post in the thread. You can do this by editing the post. This is for people who want to read the story or print it out without having to trawl the entire thread to do so.
By their nature serialised fics are harder for forum members to crit and beta-read. This site has always focused on helping writers improve their work, which generally requires access to the entire story. Serialising offers the "easy" option of getting your story out there without having to put it through the gauntlet of some of the very determined professional-level writers and editors that hang around here, but that won't stop them entirely. These services are, of course, available to anyone who wants them; you can post your entire fic in the Writing Help forum before you start serialising.
Alternatively you can make use of the Athena archive to serialise your fic by creating a "collection" and uploading your individual chapters to that. This archive is a separate system to the forums and requires a separate login but it offers a few more options, such as more accurate formatting and a rating system, with more options turning up all the time.
Happy New Year Too!
Since it's unlikely I'll be around tomorrow to do this, I'm going to wish you all a happy new year from me, especially to anyone who's working over this period, and anyone who is traveling, or can't be with their family at this time. May your new year be twice as good as the old and half as good as the one after it.
PS: It's not me.
Long-missing feature finally added...
A few complaints have cropped up regarding the lack of ability to simply replace an existing file on the main site. Well now you can do it. I've spent a good portion of my christmas day editing the relevant bits of the site to make replacing an existing file much, much simpler. Now when you edit your file, simply click on the "replace file" link next to its thumbnail or icon and you'll be able to upload a replacement. Nifty eh? Consider it my christmas gift for you lovely people.
Merry Christmas!
Since I'm a lazy arse I haven't put up any christmas decorations here at simpworks. Nevertheless, merry christmas to one and all, and may you see many more.
The competition results will be announced on the 14th, that's this Friday. Please watch this space for more information.
[edit]Due to communication problems the judges will not be announcing their results today but will instead be announcing them tomorrow.[/edit]
Competition Deadline Passed
Well, you missed it. The deadline for new competition entries is now closed. Finito. Completed. It is an ex deadline. Now begins the long and entertaining task of judging, which - due to union regulations and the new working time directive - will have to take place over the course of the next week. The winners will be announced on the 14th of this month and the prizes will then be awarded.
In the meantime please do go and read the stories. They're all great. The quality of entries has been astounding this year. I can't think of a bad one amongst them, which is going to make judging them very... interesting.
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