For the first time I have a board with lots of mod goodies and I'm wanting to upgrade my UBB to the newest version.

Conceptually speaking - what's the best plan of attack to make sure I don't have to re-hack all the files and de-bug, etc. Is it just a matter of fact or is there a way to do it that's low hassle?

How do you do it?

For minor upgrades, BeyondCompare is the best tool... for major upgrades (say, 6.3.0 to 6.4.0), some things have to be rehacked due to so much code change...

My method of upgrading to any version is somewhat unorthodox...I do everything from scratch. It's the only way if you want it just right. I guess I wasn't much help here. LOL.

I use Beyond Compare with great luck. I do complete rebuilds when I'm really tired of whatever look is there now but for minor upgrades it's BC everytime.

Same as TheX, Beyond Compare and just hope it goes smootly. Good tool that is.

I guess I'm all alone here. LOL.

I used to do that until I got used to Beyond Compare, or just sometimes skip little versions.

What do you do with Beyone Compare? I know it analyzes old files and new files and tells you what's different, but how do you know what to change? How do you know which changes come from the upgrade and which ones are from your mods?

PrimeTime, I think you do what you're most comfortable with. There's nothing wrong with that if that's what you like to do.

I'm gonna have to go with PrimeTime here. It's not that i don't trust the software, it's just.. ya know..

I take the virgin files from the version of UBB I'm running and compare them to the virgin files from the version I'm upgrading to. I apply the difference to the files on my production board.

Once you play around with it for a bit you'll find that it is really quick.

I see, X. You do two rounds?

You compare w/ unmodified files, then edit the real files...or at least, that's how I used to do it.

Seems I'm going to have to do it the PrimeTime way. Every file from version 6.3 to 6.4 has been changed.

I really don't see how I would do it with Beyond Compare.

It can be a burden BUT what I found out for every upgrade that I've done I feel somewhat energized. I look forward to each new version and take the opportunity to try something different from my last design. It's all about the creative process.

If you are able to, do your upgrade on a testing board. Apply all of your function and template hacks. When you are satisfied with your results, upload the upgrade (default UBB) files to your open board, then right after upload your hacked files. Your upgrade with the hacked files in one try. This way your users won't be disrupted by the process.

For major upgrades I start fresh... it's a good way to clean out unused 'features/mods' added in previous versions (we've all added something we thought was cool only to see it fall flat or conflict with something else) and streamline future small upgrades. It's much easier to Beyond Compare a 6.4 - 6.4.0.1 update if you started fresh with 6.4