Hello dear members! For financial reasons and because the place hasn't seen a major update since 2004 I am in the process of updating our beloved site. The first important change to note will be a move from our current host to a new host at the beginning of August 2010. Our current hosts have been great but business is business and I want more bang for my buck (with exceptionally less buck!) so that I can do more things with the site, things that have in part not been possible because of our current host. So stick it in your diary, SITE WILL BE CLOSED AS OF 1 AUGUST 2010 FOR UP TO 7 DAYS. Now some of you may be wondering why a downtime of 7 days? Well one reason is that apart from wanting to make sure the site transfers correctly and any loose ends are tied up, shot and dropped in the ocean I am also in the process of completely changing Gatchamania.net as well. I am writing a completely custom forum and site for Gatchamania.net. Our current forums are seriously out of date and were originally written for PHP4, the upgrade to PHP5 saw some of the functionality break and the site is technically a mish-mash of hacks and add ons that never supported each other or the original software. So I have been developing this new site on and off for over a period of 6 months and would like to push ahead with the update. It is my intention therefore to replace the forums with this new software which will initially lack many of the features we currently have, allowing you to make only the most common actions on a forum (read, post etc). Now before you start to worry the reason for this is because I want to involve you guys in the development process. There are an awful lot of features on the current site which are never used or don't work in the ways which you guys would like them to work (the Fic Library for one!) so I want to involve you in helping me to build this site up piece by piece until we have exactly what we want. Additionally I want to make the site more secure, user friendly and I want to take advantage of newer technology to offer you more. So get ready for some BIG changes peeps, the change is a coming!

*wibbles* How am I going to get my fix...... Seriously - Cep it was always at the back of my mind, but now you forced it to the front. You and Katse look after this site and pay the bills. Is there anything that the rest of us can do? You give us such a wonderful place to play in and I'm sure that you will make it even better! And now - for those of us in that week who are going through withdrawal symptoms - remember the Facebook Page that SJ setup back in 2008 when the site had a major problem and was down... *sigh* I'm just going to have to e-mail people, facebook message them and plot and plan over the phone. I may even have to work on other fics. *wibbles*

Wow, Cep! That is really exciting news! Although I'm sure I'll be suffering from withdrawal during that week, it will be wonderful to see the new changes. Bless you for all of the hard work and financing that you put into this place! I believe it has become the #1 Gatchaman site because of you! You've made a lot of fans very happy!

I am looking forward to the changes, but like the others have said will be suffering the week the site is down and it I do not even have facebook to be able to connect to people in another fashion. * sigh * Thank you Cep for keeping us updated to what is happening and for doing this for us. I will keep my fingers crossed that the site will only be down for a few days because all goes exceptionally well with the transfer.

Hear hear to all that's been said, Cep! We don't say it often enough - but all your hard work, the bucks you spend on us - is all very much appreciated!

Hi all! If people wish to continue posting while the site is down, I'd like to suggest using the BotP Mailing List over on Yahoo! Groups. It's one of the oldest lists for this show, and is fairly well known. Besides, people seeing the activity of people from this list over there might get some of the people on that list to come over here. SJ's Facebook page is certainly another option, but people like myself who have no Facebook account would be left out. James

Cep ... you're killing me, dude ...A whole week?!?! How will I survive? HOW!! LOL! Groovy on updating, though. I am looking forward to seeing the new format and your new ideas. It'll be totally worth the wait... Just make sure we all know how to find the site when you switch it on over. If there's anything I can do to help out, just LMK ...

I'm happy about the updating...I think... I just got used to stuff the way it is, but my real worry here is this... A whole week?! What on earth am I supposed to do for a whole week? I could cry at the thought... (and maybe I do need to admit that I just might be a tiny bit addicted to this as my husband has now started accusing me of being...sigh...a whole week...)

Hey, Cep, I hope all goes well! Look forward to seeing the new look.

Hey, Cep, quick question. Will all the previous posts be transferred over or will they be lost or archived in some way?

Are we still going to be able to edit posts if we see spelling errors and stuff? Are the Gatchamaniac/OOC/Sidebar posts going to be in their own section/board? Green, are you still copying and pasting the IF?

I suspect (hope) things will continue under the same sections as they are now. With perhaps a few of them being removed if Cep is finding some not being used. Things like the posting of stories may become easier, and maybe there will be a section for all the information James provides as well as where the "character of the week threads" are easier to find.

I second 'character of the week' thread sections. That way, we can consult them for any reason (research, settling bets/arguments, just for fun, etc). And a section for James's wonderful information about darn near everything Gatch. Will older posts be archived in some way? I know we've often come up with interesting trivia and ideas in our discussions. Although this means a change in position on the 'favorites' bar for Gatchamania. Darn it.

Cep- Thanks for the notice and I'm sure the site will be heaps better once the move happens.... You do a great job where would the site be without you and Katse, You're the bones of the place.

Will the web address be exactly the the same? Just making sure.

Will the web address be exactly the the same? Just making sure. "Let me draw your birdstyle" should also be easy to access. It's so much fun seeing how it helped birth the IF, and I love looking over the pictures and entries.

Assuming the new website is searchable like this one is, I would say the "Let me draw your birdstyle" thread is easily enough found. As much as I agree it is a great thread, if we were going to list threads we would like to have easy access too, I would have a list before that one. And I am sure others would have differing opinions than mine. You know the saying, you can't please everyone.

Cloud, I couldn't agree more with you! While there are a great many IFs here that are quite fun, the site has so much more to offer. The episode reviews would top my list of posts not to lose because of all the hard work of our reviewers and the great discussions they have spawned. The forums devoted to each show and their incarnations are great places to find information about shows or variations that we've not seen. James's information and artwork shared by member artists or members who run across fanart from outside the site.

You're right, Cloud.

I think keeping the ep reviews are important too Ame. A wealth of information not just for us but for future fans.

Candi - I've got it all on file, so if the IF doesn't get transferred over I can upload it... The only thing would be the formatting since I use Word and would have to manually add all the code to get it back to what it was...

Thanks, Green! I wonder if it'd be easier on Cep to have a "What Has Come Before" Section for some of the threads and other really good stuff that's not currently active. So it's there, but you don't have to deal with it and currently active. And yes, I'm thinking of threads in The Artists' Palette and the Rubber Room as well as the IF.

I wouldn't worry about it too much Candi. From my understand from previous changes everything has gone well. Of course we were not changing sites that drastically, but there has been a change through the 10+ years Gatchamania has existed and threads transferred across okay, from what I have understood. Although I may recall FB saying some of her stories maybe archived else where and not transferred across, but that was from many years back, and I think it is easier for a good administrator to transfer files these days.

Just to answer a few questions - The site will remain at the same URL. - All previous posts, threads and boards will either be transferred or archived to a sub site and this is really time dependant on what's the easier option. - Initially you will be able to: -- Login, Log out -- View and edit your profile -- Post, Reply, Edit on Threads -- Search boards, threads and posts As mentioned additional functionality will be built into the site via a sandbox so you guys can get to grips with it, request changes or make your opinions known.

I have only basic computer knowledge, so please bear with me but...what's a sandbox? I've never heard that term in connection with computers before.

I suspect it is like a "parking lot", as we call it in Canada, where we park questions and idea for people to look at, contemplate and then decide on. My guess is it is the site suggestions and technical help thread/side on this forum. I am sure Cep will correct me if I am wrong.

oh ! I love changes, but a week, of no gatcha, this may force me to do less important things ...like housework,, can I/we help with anything?

A sandbox in this instance would be a blank copy of the current live site but also containing a prospective release of a new feature. This allows users to then test the feature alongside existing features without affecting the original site or its content. Once the feature is accepted, the live site gets updated and the sandbox gets flattened (reset) for future testing.

Oooo, that is an interesting expression. So it is something we can "play in" without destroying the main settings. Unlike a real sandbox where a "bully" (my big brother) can come along and destroy your sand castle.

Oh yeah - sandboxes. Love them. No new software releae shoudl be without one. We use several on the software project I work on - which is just as well, because at one point in the training sandbox, one of the fireys training managed to nearly wipe out the entire data........ Looking forward to the sandbox to play in, Cep. It's always fun to test new functionalities (and see if I can break them - but then that's what the sandbox is for!)

Thanks for the explanation! Looking forward to seeing all the new stuff!

Originally posted by Cep - The site will remain at the same URL. - All previous posts, threads and boards will either be transferred or archived to a sub site and this is really time dependant on what's the easier option. - Initially you will be able to: -- Login, Log out -- View and edit your profile -- Post, Reply, Edit on Threads -- Search boards, threads and posts As mentioned additional functionality will be built into the site via a sandbox so you guys can get to grips with it, request changes or make your opinions known.

This sure sounds interesting, Cep -I look forward to seeing what new-and-improved version will be like, and playing with new features!

hey cep, I agree with maddie this is the greatest Gatchaman site on the web because of what you and Katse do to keep the site up and alive on the web. But a week of no gatchamania is like to me a week of the internet being down for repair! (sobs uncontrollably) but I Have a confession to make. I have no idea what I'll Do During the week you will have to work on the site. I love everything about the site but I guess I'll Have to be content with Gatchamania being down for a Week. I Have a question: Will the folders and messages I Have In My PM Folder On My User CP Be Transferred to the New Site? And Also Email Me If You Can To Let Me Know When The New Location Is Up And Ready For Business.

Cep one of the things I love about the site is when you come in on the portal, you can see how many posts since you wre last there, and then click the link to bring the relevant threads up. Will this still be available? I'd also love to see (eventually) the ability to PM more than one person at a time.

Since we are taking about what we love about the site. I love the homepage and being able to see the 10 most recent threads someone has replied in. Although these days there are more than 10 threads so you DO have to click on the link to bring up the "threads posted in since you were last on." I also love being able to select our own colour/style for the board.

Wow so many requests already Swan Jun everything will get transferred to the new host.

I've been away for a couple of weeks, and now knowing that when I'm back from Comic Con the site will go down.... I'll be goijng through serious withdrawal! But I completely understand, and I appreciate everything you do for this site, Cep. I'm glad to see that the improvements are being made. If there's anything we can do to help, please let us know. I agree with all of the suggestions made here so far re: features to keep.

As one who is quite happy to use the interwebs but has no idea how it works, thank you for the work put into running quite possibly the best fan site ever. Looking fwds to the new site.

Originally posted by veritas As one who is quite happy to use the interwebs but has no idea how it works, thank you for the work put into running quite possibly the best fan site ever. Looking fwds to the new site.

I saw the announcement & I almost crapped my cloak! Me too veritas me too!

I'm looking forward to the new features. Good luck with the transfer Cep, I hope it all goes smoothly.

Man, I work from home and have the time -I wish I had the knowledge to help transfer stuff from old site to new. Sorry.

I've just returned from a 4-day vacation and I've found this news! This is all so exciting! The site was already great and very user-friendly, IMO, thus, I'm sure the new one will be much more awesome and will surely remain the number one Gatchaman site! I join all the others in thanking Cep and Katse for all their work and funds involved in this site, which has become a fundamental part of our world! I wish I could be of some help in some way! An option I like in the Main Page is that of being able to see the threads which were active during a specific amount of days, or weeks, during which one could have been absent or a certain thread, in which there could be an interest, could have been posted. This always makes it easier to catch up with the activity. Moreover, I find that all past contributions in threads have played a major part in moulding up this site, including all the threads already mentioned, such as the "Episode of the Week", "The Artist's Palette", etc! I literally put my whole trust into Cep's hands because I know he'll do anything to keep the site's integrity! Looking forward to log in after the one-week break and discover, and get accustomed to, the new features! Thanks for everything, Cep!

Come to think of it, it's nice to look down the right side and see if some of the people you know are online. I don't know if that'll be possible to keep.

Cep you have done a wonderful job of helping us and managing this place. Look forward to what you bring with the new site and hope the week its down flies by

Cep, just also wanted to add my voice to how much your hard work is appreciated. This is a great site and I always enjoy visiting here. It's really opened up a whole new world of Gatch-love for me (and I thought I was the only one for so long!) I'm sure your improvements will be fantastic. Looking forward to it. P.S. Hope you keep the emoticons

Cep -I was just reminded of something I wanted to ask. On the new site, will it be possible to search individual threads for members/subjects/words & word combos? Right now the only way I know to search is flipping back two pages at a time. Which in certain threads, can take forever. Thank you for listening.

Originally posted by Cep - Initially you will be able to: -- Login, Log out -- View and edit your profile -- Post, Reply, Edit on Threads -- Search boards, threads and posts

Yes that's right.

Cep, I think what Candi was asking - will the search function be easier to use? It was a question that came from my dilemma of trying to find some info in a thread that is now over 300 pages... I know it is at roughly the 220 page mark, but we can't search a base page and then go from there. And when I tried to use the actual search function it wasn't particularly helpful...

Initially the functionality will be very basic but should still provide better functionality then is present on the site at the moment. The current problem with the search feature on this site is that is relies on indexing on a regular basis manually. Something I don't do too often.

Thanks, Cep! And thank you Green for clarifying for me.