Okay so I go and open a text file on how to install some things for phpBB. ... The document is over 100 pages in 8 pt font ... :o .... It involves renaming a bunch of files and adding a bunch of script and such to other areas.

What this does is give my forum the ability to use sub forums.....which is what i want to do to consolidate the main page....ugh...

Anyway do you think i should go ahead with this....it will make it so I get "down and dirty" with navigating through php code and such. Although I'm not writing it myself is this a good way to get started into php?

I also have some other files that are not as time consuming and hard to install . So I'm thinking I might start with a few of those.

What do all you programmers think?

I think that do to the fact that development on PHPbb seems to have stalled, and it has history of getting hacked and needing updates you'd be better off switching to a different piece of software.

vBulletin is obviously the top contender, fusion looks good, but at about the same price I'd sit on it for a couple years and see if it takes off. If you are looking free SMF gets my vote, 1.1 is looking really nice, and the package manager is something I wish vBulletin would adopt...

I don't allow Invisionboard (any version) on my servers anymore, and PHPBB is high on the security risk list. Having tried tweaking both of those, theres a good reason why I only use vBulletin on my own projects.

SMF is one worth looking at. It's got a decent support community, seems to patch holes fast, and has a number of easy to add in tweaks. A little lacking here n there IMO, but definitely better than alot.

Also, check out this one: http://www.mybboard.com/
I haven't used it myself, but have heard good things about it.

ahhh man...i worked a long time last night getting things swithed over to smf. I think i will go with them for that but I am going to make another forum. I will experiement with that one there.

Okay check this out .... Draven's Portal Forum (http://www.deadparrottavern.com/forum/dravensportal.uptonspc.com/drvpforum/) .....

Worked for awhile transferring everything over and such.....

It is going to stay on the subforum where it is..... i just have to change the links on Draven's Portal main site and a few other places.....

My page comes up first when you use Yahoo and MSN search engines but it is nowhere to be found on google....a week ago it was the first...

Google will toss you up to the top for a little bit, then drop you right down and let you fight your way back up. Something along the lines of "Ok we showed you off for a bit, now earn your spot".

What do you think of the change....I know I finally caved in to andrew...;), but he was right it gives you a lot more to play with and now i can make child boards...(sub forums) which makes the category layout better.

Oh how I wish i had the time to work on it though and get something going that people will come to.

Which are of the php and templates am I suppose to place banners....

Of course this site would get a free banner....

I want to start working with putting banners and adds....someday the site may need to make some revenue to pay for its own host....

Andrew.... can you give me some heads up on what are some nice add ons to simple machines....I will be going through all that stuff after school but I want to add a couple nice features now....any suggestions.

Which are of the php and templates am I suppose to place banners....

Of course this site would get a free banner....

I want to start working with putting banners and adds....someday the site may need to make some revenue to pay for its own host....

index.template.php is probably what you are looking for.

As for addons, seeing as it is a gaming site: http://mods.simplemachines.org/index.php?mod=36 would be a start ;)