Just something I want to, while I've done forums for decades, I was the bad cop to our programmers good cop and he had to leave and concentrate on health issues.
...and I have want to customize it to be more flexible and prep it for growth.
can you please explain what you are wanting to do and why. what is a file repository in relation to phpbb and/or linking to graphics.
what are you trying to do that phpbb does not do already?
what is the final outcome you are trying to achieve, and not how you think it should be done?