vBulletin Blog Update in Development

**Brandon Sheley** · 06-09-2008, 08:08 PM

vBulletin Blog Update in Development
Since its initial release, the vBulletin Blog add-on product has proved itself to be a popular addition to the vBulletin software suite. It has been well received and sold in good numbers.

Of course, no software is perfect, and we appreciate the feedback we have received from our customers regarding existing features and those that the product would benefit from having.

Therefore, we are pleased to announce that a significant update to the vBulletin Blog is in development, which will introduce new features and implement several popular suggestions for improvements to existing functionality.

There has been no shortage of feature suggestions and feature change requests made in the blog suggestion forum. Careful attention to all of these was paid, with consideration given to them all. This update is slated to be available in the near future, so the kitchen sink is not in the feature list, but what is on the list is sure to please and satisfy everyone while at the same time allowing a release within a reasonable timeframe.

Here is a short list of some of the new features in the vBulletin Blog update.

Tags
Is a blog really a blog if it doesn't have tags? We really wanted to get tag support into Blog 1.0 but we just ran out of time. Well we have tags now that feature a cloud at the top level (all blogs) and at the level of each blog.

Featured Entries
Customers asked for more capability out of the Featured Entry feature. Now you will be able to select multiple entries from an increased set of criteria.

Blog Roll
Your users will now be able to create their own custom blocks to appear in their blog sidebar. They will even be able to rearrange the order of their custom blocks and the pre-existing blocks.

Categories
As an admin, you can now create categories that are accessible to all users or can be limited to specific usergroups.

Blog Customization
One of the most requested features must be the ability for users to personalize their blog. As users can now do with their profiles in 3.7, these style customizations will now be applicable to their blog too.

Further Use of vBulletin 3.7 Features
vBulletin 3.7 introduced several new features that are applicable to the blog.

The lightbox is now used in the blog.
Social Bookmarking links have been implemented for each entry.
The old vBulletin standbys of quick editing and quick loading deleted items have been implemented as well.

Of course, this is not a complete feature list - we wouldn't want to spoil the surprise before you unwrap the shiny package.

We hope to provide further information as time goes on regarding the Blog update via the vBulletin developers' blog.

[Source.]

**Brandon Sheley** · 06-09-2008, 08:50 PM

I don't see how to add a blogroll or change blog colors

**bdude** · 06-09-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

I don't see how to add a blogroll or change blog colors

That's because it's still in development.

**ArnyVee** · 06-10-2008, 08:55 AM

I might have to get into the whole 'blogging' thing.

That might be down the road a little more as I'm trying to establish the site itself for now.

**Brandon Sheley** · 06-10-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdude

That's because it's still in development.

oh, I missed that part :burnout:

**LdyG** · 06-11-2008, 04:47 PM

Thanks for posting the heads up, Brandon. It sounds like some great improvements are coming! I'm working on making ours more visible since they're simply not getting the attention I think they could.

**Brandon Sheley** · 06-11-2008, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LdyG

Thanks for posting the heads up, Brandon. It sounds like some great improvements are coming! I'm working on making ours more visible since they're simply not getting the attention I think they could.

Feel free to add a link or two for your site in the sig here on vbsetup so we can check out the progress

**LdyG** · 06-12-2008, 02:53 AM

Thanks Brandon.

The board's definitely a work in progress and certainly has been and is a major learning experience for me. I switched to an active vB from a dead php board within days almost one year ago and I'm still trying to get my bearings and things set up the way I think they'll work and look best overall.

**Brandon Sheley** · 10-02-2008, 04:59 PM

vBulletin Blog 2.0.0 Beta 2

After running Blog 2.0.0 Beta 1 here on vBulletin.com since last month, we're ready to do the first public beta release. Any customer with an active Blog license can now download the beta.

We'd like to thank everyone that has provided suggestions and feedback or reported a bug for the Blog. Almost all of the new features in this version were added specifically because of your requests. We're sure you like the improvements. Not every requested feature has been added as we have to balance time versus benefit.

Some of the new features in Blog 2 include:

Blog Customization - users may customize their blogs in the same manner that they can customize their user profiles (introduced in 3.6).
Group Blogs - users may allow other users to post to their blog.
Sidebar Blocks - users may create custom blocks to display in their sidebar. These blocks can be rearranged by drag and drop.
Custom Pages - users may create custom pages to be displayed in their blog.
Tags - tag support has been included.
Featured Entry Manager - multiple entries can be featured on the blog home page now.
Private Entries - users may set specific entries to be private while leaving their blog open.
Admin Categories - admins may define categories now.

There are many more new features and enhancements included. You can read more details in my in my blog.

Note: You must be running vBulletin 3.7.3 or later to install any Blog 2.0.0 Beta/Stable release!

Significance of a Beta Release
This is beta software. If you are not fully at home with backing-up and restoring your forum, dealing with bugs and regular upgrades, do not install this beta version.

Customers should bear in mind that this is a public beta, not a certified 'stable' release so the following caveats apply:

Beta software is unsupported and you install beta versions at your own risk.
Some known minor bugs remain unresolved at this time, so beta software should not be on production sites.
Some unknown major bugs may exist, if you do not wish to be surprised by them, don't install this beta.
You should always back up your database fully before attempting to install beta software.
If you choose to install this version, you should be aware that we plan to release new beta versions in rapid succession as bugs are fixed and holes are plugged. Do not install this beta version if you are not willing or able to keep up-to-date with new releases.

About Blog

vBulletin Blog is a fully featured blogging add-on that enables community members to create their very own online blogs within vBulletin. Giving members a place to post thoughts, ideas and musings will keep users returning to the community again and again, and advanced administration features allow forum owners and moderators to keep control and integrate Blog into vBulletin’s existing look and feel.

vBulletin Blog makes it simple for community members to create their own space within the community. Getting started is as simple as posting the first message (using the same familiar vBulletin editor). There is no lengthy setup process - blog owners are free to personalise their blog at any time by defining a title and a description that will appear at the top of every blog post.

**Brandon Sheley** · 10-28-2008, 08:19 PM

vBulletin Blog 2.0.0 Beta 4

It's time for another Blog 2.0 beta release, hopefully the final beta release. This release contains bug fixes for issues reported in the previous beta. We recommend anyone using Blog 2.0.0 Beta 3, upgrade to avoid running into known issues. Some of the previous Beta 3 downloads were labeled as Beta 4. If you're version says Beta 4 and you downloaded it the day Beta 3 was released, then you really have Beta 3. You will still need to download and install the "real" Beta 4.

Details of the features and enhancements included since v1.0 can be found in my previous announcement or in my blog.

Note: You must be running vBulletin 3.7.3 or later to install any Blog 2.0.0 Beta release! Blog 2.0.0 final will require vBulletin 3.7.4.

Significance of a Beta Release
This is beta software. If you are not fully at home with backing-up and restoring your forum, dealing with bugs and regular upgrades, do not install this beta version.

Customers should bear in mind that this is a public beta, not a certified 'stable' release so the following caveats apply:

Beta software is unsupported and you install beta versions at your own risk.
Some known minor bugs remain unresolved at this time, so beta software should not be on production sites.
Some unknown major bugs may exist, if you do not wish to be surprised by them, don't install this beta.
You should always back up your database fully before attempting to install beta software.
If you choose to install this version, you should be aware that we plan to release new beta versions in rapid succession as bugs are fixed and holes are plugged. Do not install this beta version if you are not willing or able to keep up-to-date with new releases.

About Blog

vBulletin Blog is a fully featured blogging add-on that enables community members to create their very own online blogs within vBulletin. Giving members a place to post thoughts, ideas and musings will keep users returning to the community again and again, and advanced administration features allow forum owners and moderators to keep control and integrate Blog into vBulletin’s existing look and feel.

vBulletin Blog makes it simple for community members to create their own space within the community. Getting started is as simple as posting the first message (using the same familiar vBulletin editor). There is no lengthy setup process - blog owners are free to personalise their blog at any time by defining a title and a description that will appear at the top of every blog post.

**Brandon Sheley** · 12-01-2008, 10:34 AM

vBulletin Blog 2.0.0 Release Candidate 1

It's time for another Blog 2.0 beta release. This release contains bug fixes for issues reported in the previous beta. We recommend anyone using Blog 2.0.0 Beta 4, upgrade to avoid running into known issues. This version requires vBulletin 3.7.4. If you are using Beta 3 on vBulletin 3.7.3, you will need to upgrade to vBulletin 3.7.4 before installing this release.

Details of the features and enhancements included since v1.0 can be found in my previous announcement or in my blog.

Note: You must be running vBulletin 3.7.4 or later to install Blog 2.0.0

Significance of a Beta Release
This is beta software. If you are not fully at home with backing-up and restoring your forum, dealing with bugs and regular upgrades, do not install this beta version.

Customers should bear in mind that this is a public beta, not a certified 'stable' release so the following caveats apply:

Beta software is unsupported and you install beta versions at your own risk.
Some known minor bugs remain unresolved at this time, so beta software should not be on production sites.
Some unknown major bugs may exist, if you do not wish to be surprised by them, don't install this beta.
You should always back up your database fully before attempting to install beta software.
If you choose to install this version, you should be aware that we plan to release new beta versions in rapid succession as bugs are fixed and holes are plugged. Do not install this beta version if you are not willing or able to keep up-to-date with new releases.

About Blog

vBulletin Blog is a fully featured blogging add-on that enables community members to create their very own online blogs within vBulletin. Giving members a place to post thoughts, ideas and musings will keep users returning to the community again and again, and advanced administration features allow forum owners and moderators to keep control and integrate Blog into vBulletin’s existing look and feel.

vBulletin Blog makes it simple for community members to create their own space within the community. Getting started is as simple as posting the first message (using the same familiar vBulletin editor). There is no lengthy setup process - blog owners are free to personalize their blog at any time by defining a title and a description that will appear at the top of every blog post.

**ArnyVee** · 12-02-2008, 06:04 AM

Okay..it's getting closer to something that is worth the price

But, can I use vBulletin Blog as a 'multi-user' product like WPMU? I haven't read anything about vBulletin Blog because I knew that it wasn't 'ready for prime time' yet.