Skins

[Racecar]

I'm very new to vbulletin. I've been trying to install skins. Is there a tutorial that will walk me through this? I can actually install the skin but my buttons and so on are missing. Thanks in advance.

[akoj]

You need to update your image paths.

In your AdminCP->Styles and Templates->Style Manager->Find Skin in Menu and click Go for All Style Options->Image Paths

[PurpleButterfly]

Same here...I can't figure out where/how exactly to upload images...in the cPanel? Under html_images? Then do I have to do them all individually (YIKES) or am I just down the wrong path? HELP!

[akoj]

Most skins will have you upload the images folder (via FTP) to the root forum folder. Then you go and change the path IF the .xml doesn't already do it for you. Most .xmls will change the path to the place where you are suppossed to upload the skin folder.

[Racecar]

I was wondering the same thing.. Do you download them to public_html and do you have to download each one individual? I'm sorry if this sound stupid but I'm very new to this and lost...lol

[PurpleButterfly]

You need to update your image paths.

In your AdminCP->Styles and Templates->Style Manager->Find Skin in Menu and click Go for All Style Options->Image Paths

Thank you so much for responding! But, I don't see any "Image Paths" when I follow those instructions. :( I just paid for vBulletin last week and have the most current edition...

[akoj]

Same here...I can't figure out where/how exactly to upload images...in the cPanel? Under html_images? Then do I have to do them all individually (YIKES) or am I just down the wrong path? HELP!

Are you in your VB Admin Panel? It should like the screen shots here except the screen is blue now ;)

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/
Click Style Manager for help

[Racecar]

Thanks for your help. This is a very slow learning process for me. lol

[PurpleButterfly]

I'm in the admin panel but I'm confused about exactly what you're asking/mean. I'm sorry, very appreciative of your help and time, just really not grasping this. I'm an otherwise intelligent and articulate being, lol! :o

[smacklan]

Most skins will come with detailed instructions on where to upload the image folders. If you are uncertain, after you install the skin xml file, you can look at where the images are coded by choosing "all style options" (go) next to the skin when you are in the style manager.

Admincp --> Styles & Templates --> Style Manager then Go next to the style you have installed

The easiest method for uploading is using an FTP client like filezilla or smartftp and upload the entire image folder of the skin to the appropriate location. Typically either the forum root folder or forum /images folder.

[akoj]

No problem. After years of learning this myself I am just happy when I actually do know the answer! Everyone here has taught me so much. Good luck with your project.

Or, go buy a skin from smacklan (which are fabulous, I own 4 from him) ;) I am actually on their right now looking for something for a new project.

[PurpleButterfly]

Ah, okay...I just clicked around a bit more on the link you gave, and found the screenshots for uploading a style. :) Yes, that is what it looks like and what I'm doing. The problem I need help with is how exactly to upload the images to my FTP through my cPanel. When I try to add them to the public_html section, under the Images folder, every individual image opens up and I mean there must be at least a hundred individual files. Is this really the only way to upload them? I even tried uploading a couple to see if they would show up, and nothing. :( I've posted on the forum for my host (siteground) but no responses yet...

[akoj]

I'm in the admin panel but I'm confused about exactly what you're asking/mean. I'm sorry, very appreciative of your help and time, just really not grasping this. I'm an otherwise intelligent and articulate being, lol! :o

I use SmartFTP and it is really quick. Less than a minute or two for most folders. You need your ftp addy, user name and pass to use SmartFTP

[smacklan]

Ah, okay...I just clicked around a bit more on the link you gave, and found the screenshots for uploading a style. :) Yes, that is what it looks like and what I'm doing. The problem I need help with is how exactly to upload the images to my FTP through my cPanel. When I try to add them to the public_html section, under the Images folder, every individual image opens up and I mean there must be at least a hundred individual files. Is this really the only way to upload them? I even tried uploading a couple to see if they would show up, and nothing. :( I've posted on the forum for my host (siteground) but no responses yet...
Once you are logged into your site with your FTP client, double click on the public_html folder to open it. If you have created a separate folder for your forums (like forum) then double click to open it. Once you are where you need to be to upload the images (depending on where they need to go) then click the entire image folder on your local hard drive and upload it to the server.

[Racecar]

Don't feel bad.. that is the exact same problem that I'm having. I'm not sure how to upload the images and there has to be another way other than uploading them one by one.

Ah, okay...I just clicked around a bit more on the link you gave, and found the screenshots for uploading a style. :) Yes, that is what it looks like and what I'm doing. The problem I need help with is how exactly to upload the images to my FTP through my cPanel. When I try to add them to the public_html section, under the Images folder, every individual image opens up and I mean there must be at least a hundred individual files. Is this really the only way to upload them? I even tried uploading a couple to see if they would show up, and nothing. :( I've posted on the forum for my host (siteground) but no responses yet...

Thank you.. I finally got that far. After the file is uploaded there, what next? Do I need to download or am I done? Sorry for sounding so dumb.

You guys are great and thank you.

Once you are logged into your site with your FTP client, double click on the public_html folder to open it. If you have created a separate folder for your forums (like forum) then double click to open it. Once you are where you need to be to upload the images (depending on where they need to go) then click the entire image folder on your local hard drive and upload it to the server.

[PurpleButterfly]

then click the entire image folder on your local hard drive and upload it to the server.

When I click the image folder, it opens up to a zillion individual files...it won't let me click on the entire image folder without opening it all up. :\

Racecar, we'll get this figured out! :D Thanks so much for your help, everyone! (((hugs)))

[Racecar]

I kept working with it and finally got the entire folder to download. Good luck

[smacklan]

When I click the image folder, it opens up to a zillion individual files...it won't let me click on the entire image folder without opening it all up. :\

Racecar, we'll get this figured out! :D Thanks so much for your help, everyone! (((hugs)))
don't "double click" it, just highlight it ;) What ftp client are you using?

[Racecar]

What to do after the file is uploaded? Am I done or do I have to do something else?

[smacklan]

What to do after the file is uploaded? Am I done or do I have to do something else?
You have to install the style .xml file. Admincp --> Styles & Templates --> Download/Install and follow the prompts.

[Racecar]

I did that but my buttons are still not working.

[PurpleButterfly]

Yay, I downloaded SmartFTP and was able to upload the entire folder of images within a few minutes, with only a few clicks! Thank you SO much! Then, I went and found the Image Path section in my admin CP, and made sure they were updated. But, nothing is showing up stil. Waaaaaahh! :( I tried with and without public_html at the beginning of the image file path and neither made a difference. I've double and triple checked the file paths...not sure who my FTP is - it was part of my hosting package through siteground, and the SmartFTP seems to work just fine with it, but still.....waaaaaah!

:(

[Racecar]

This can be very frustrating but we'll figure it out!! I'll probably become a regular at this forum. LOL Nice people that are willing to help.

[akoj]

Most of the time your path will be as simple as this example:

skin/buttons
skin/statusicon

Where you replace 'skin' with the folder name of the skin.

[PurpleButterfly]

Oh my word, it's like the heavens opened up and angels sang when I clicked again and saw my whole forum skin working!!!!

www.alabamachristianmoms.com

:D :D :D Thank you SO SO SO SO much, everyone - what a wonderfully helpful and encouraging group!

Here's what I did - downloaded the free SmartFTP program (LOVE it, tho I feel a bit like a NASA engineer watching it all rolling along..lol ), then in my admin cpanel, double checked the image paths (3rd big block down) against the SmartFTP open in another window. I thought it was all kosher, then realized the images were in an "upload" folder that wasn't in the image path.

I added "upload" to the image paths, but it still didn't work. So I right clicked on the "x" where the images should have been on my forums, to see what the scripted image path was, obviously did not include "upload" on there, so I went back to SmartFPT and did a super simple drop and drag move of the folder where I'd uploaded the images, to match what the script image path said. Viola!

I made these fresh for you all! :D

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2007/10/34.jpg

[smacklan]

mmmm...cookies! :D Glad you got it working and you are well on your way to becoming a cyber-geek ;) Best of luck with your site!

I did that but my buttons are still not working.
do you have a link to your site where you are installing this?

[akoj]

The site looks great. If I could give you one word of advice that I learned the hard way though............three parent skins is a lot to maintain for a newbie if you plan on adding any mods. I would choose your favorite and learn your way around things a bit more before opening all three of those to the public....

and on a completely off topic note...Smacklan, are you going to be around today to make any customizations?? I am looking for a skin but cannot decide for the life of me what I want!

[Racecar]

Congrats purple... Hopefully I am on the right track now also. Thank you all again for the help.

[smacklan]

and on a completely off topic note...Smacklan, are you going to be around today to make any customizations?? I am looking for a skin but cannot decide for the life of me what I want!
I will be later this evening :) I have some new ones that are unreleased for sale just yet (dark ones) but are on display on my site. Alien and Amazonia are their names.

[Racecar]

Yes, it's www.theflirtingshack.com

I have the files uploaded but still having trouble.... I'm so frustrated. Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

The site looks great. If I could give you one word of advice that I learned the hard way though............three parent skins is a lot to maintain for a newbie if you plan on adding any mods. I would choose your favorite and learn your way around things a bit more before opening all three of those to the public....

and on a completely off topic note...Smacklan, are you going to be around today to make any customizations?? I am looking for a skin but cannot decide for the life of me what I want!

[smacklan]

Yes, it's www.theflirtingshack.com (http://www.theflirtingshack.com)

I have the files uploaded but still having trouble.... I'm so frustrated. Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.
The path for the images seems odd:
http://www.theflirtingshack.com/public_html/images/flance/newlance/nav_reg.gif

Is this where you uploaded them to? public_html would typically be just your site root and not a folder after the site root (site root is theflirtingshack.com) This path setting above is determined when you install the skin xml file (coded in it). Did you change anything?

[Racecar]

No... I didn't change anything. I did delete that skin and I started all over with a new one but still my buttons aren't showing up. I tihnk I'm skipping a simple step somewhere or uploading them wrong because each skin that I try.. it's the same problem. The buttons don't work.

Example of what's showing in my admin cp

images/styles/Greenstar/buttons
images/styles/Greenstar/attach

[akoj]

But according to the image you provided above the image would be at
images/flance/newlance/

but looks like you moved it since yesterday

[Racecar]

Yes I did.. I actually deleted that style and uploaded another one called greenstar. For some reason, I thought if I started all over again with a new style, I could get it to work but having the same problems, just a different skin so it's definately ME..lol Not that I ever doubted it. It's so frustrating because I feel like I have done everything right but it's still not working.

This is the directory file that is uploaded on my server

/public_html/images/Styles/Greenstar/buttons

This is what shows in my vbulletin cp

images/styles/Greenstar/buttons

[akoj]

Yes I did.. I actually deleted that style and uploaded another one called greenstar. For some reason, I thought if I started all over again with a new style, I could get it to work but having the same problems, just a different skin so it's definately ME..lol Not that I ever doubted it. It's so frustrating because I feel like I have done everything right but it's still not working.

This is the directory file that is uploaded on my server

/public_html/images/Styles/Greenstar/buttons

This is what shows in my vbulletin cp

images/styles/Greenstar/buttons
Why did you put the style in the images instead of /public_html/

[Racecar]

I was told by someone on another forum to put the style folder in images. Should I change it?

[akoj]

Well, I am not sure what the reasoning would be for that but I certainly don't know everything (so my kids tell me). All of the styles I have ever installed have gone in my forums root. That is where the xml usually assumes it is.

[Racecar]

You know a whole lot more than anyone else who has offered to help me. (no matter what your kids say..lol) Thank you so much for all your help.