How to Install Mods in an Invision PowerBoard Forum

The Invision Power Board platform is a state of the art forum software.  It began as Invision Free and developed into multiple services that converge into the idea that a website can be as easily used as a forum.  There are two versions of the Power Board platform: A free version and a paid version.  The free version, IPB 1.3 Final, is available to anyone with their own web space.  Once uploaded, they can use the basic platform and do with it what they will.  If users are looking for more, a fully customizable forum, Invision Power Board licenses can be purchased to do just that.

One of the niftiest features of the Invision Power Board platform is that it can be modded. While Invision Power – the company behind the forums – does not support modded forums, it does not stop thousands of license holders from modifying, hacking and changing the source code behind the forums to do with it what they will. Mods and hacks can add modules, add features, change forum layouts and even how users interact with topics, profiles and more.

Invision Power Board mods are created by users. They take a look at the coding structure of the forums and add in what is then used to add, modify or delete features from the forum. This type of coding takes place at the CSS, PHP and even database level. Some mods are easily coded and others take much more time and energy to code. For the most part, most IPB mods can be installed even by someone who does not know how to code in programming languages. However, extreme caution should be taken before any modification is attempted.

There are four easy steps to install any Invision Power Board modification.  First, read through all instructions thoroughly before attempting the install.  Next, make back-up copies of every file involved before modifying them.  Then, upload whatever new files or folders need to be uploaded before the modding process.  Finally, mod the files, upload them and troubleshoot as necessary.  If you run into any problems, you can reverse the process by uploading the back-up copies.