Blog Customization

[Kentaurus]

Tested with vb 3.6.8 and blog 1.0.2

*Requires the Vbulletin Blog product.

This hack extends the blog functionality by letting the users manage, in a limited way, their "styles".
They'll be able to choose a background color, color for the entries and the titles, and reorder the panels in the blog in any way they want.

Instead of all looking the same, with this hack the users have LIMITED control over their blogs.

Key functionality
User may create "styles", as many as they want. A style consist in a background, header, second header, first and second alternating color
User can select a style for his blog, the style is used immediately
User can reorder the position of: "user info", "search", "calendar", "options", "last comments" and "categories"Installation Instructions

See the included readme.txt

Changelog

1.0.2 (Upgrade instructions: reupload includes/functions_blog_customize.php)
Bug fix: Guests couldn't see the custom styles
Bug fix: Only the owner could see his style, visitors and other users saw the default1.0.1 (Upgrade instructions: reupload the files in the "upload" directory and reimport the xml for the product)
Fixed bug where, when "transparent" is selected, or an empty color, the message "The color is not valid" is displayed to the user
Fixed a bug where, the icon for transparent and switch wasn't shown
When the color is not valid, the detailed color that was not valid shown (this is for security, so your css only contains valid colors)1.0.0

First releaseInfo for hackers:
You may modify, improve, upgrade, redistribute this hack, include it
in another hack or yours or translate it provided you do it free of
charge and you distribute it in www.vbulletin.org (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/../) at least, there is no
need to pm me asking for permission
Some portions of the code are (c) Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

[compact123]

Ohh very cool

thanksss

[Silvio]

very nice - good job i'll try it.

take care - thank you

ciao

[yoyoyoyo]

thanks much!

Here is a TMS (Template Modification System) XML file with all of the edits, for those that have TMS installed.

[jasculs]

How did you test it with vbulletin 3.6.4? I thought the blog would only work with 3.6.8.

[Kentaurus]

That's a typo. Changed to 3.6.8

[edenx]

Excellent mod !

Are new templates added? I want to have Adsense on user's blogs... could I put different color for this adsense blocks?

Thanks

[edenx]

Would be nice if users could use an image for headers or backgrounds! :D

[Kentaurus]

Excellent mod !

Are new templates added? I want to have Adsense on user's blogs... could I put different color for this adsense blocks?

Thanks



Yes, all the templates that start with blog_customize_* are from this hack. Instead of the user_sidebar template, everything was split into different templates. If want to put an adsense, then the BLOG template should be the better place, since then the add would appear almost everywhere in the blog.

The color of your adsense is controlled by google, and would be the same no matter how the user changes the color of his blog.

[PoetJA-1975]

Looks really nice = Thanx for the sharing ;)

Jacquii.

[PoetJA-1975]

OK - testing..... Seems like the individual colour options are not per Personal Member blog ONLY but also show for all other blogs.... Any work around for that?

Again- Thanx for the share ;)

Jacquii.

[Kentaurus]

OK - testing..... Seems like the individual colour options are not per Personal Member blog ONLY but also show for all other blogs.... Any work around for that?

Again- Thanx for the share ;)

Jacquii.

fixed, thank you
reupload only "functions_blog_customize.php" of the includes directory. I have updated the zip file.

Even if it would be a nice feature: "View all blogs like my own", I don't think that's what most people expect

[captainslater]

Nice idea.

But everytime I choose a color I get the "This color isn't valid"-message after saving :/

[Darmak]

Great Hack !!! =D

Me ahorraste media vida Kentaurus =D, y eso se agradece muchísimo hombre...

[TTG]

Nice idea.

But everytime I choose a color I get the "This color isn't valid"-message after saving :/

Same problem no matter what colour I select !?

[edenx]

Would be nice if users could use an image for headers or backgrounds! :D

Plis do this Kentaurus! :D

[PoetJA-1975]

fixed, thank you
reupload only "functions_blog_customize.php" of the includes directory. I have updated the zip file.

Even if it would be a nice feature: "View all blogs like my own", I don't think that's what most people expect

No prob - seems like a good modification - I'll wait till it gets from beta stage to install though - Thanx for the sharing and yes - I agree about the "view all...." option ;)

Jacquii.

[skariko]

I've installed it.. i follow the instruction but i can't find on my template this part:

We need to modify some styles, for example we'll change instances of "class='tcat'" to "class='blogtcat'". To do this:

Edit the templates:
BLOG, blog_comment, blog_entry_without_userinfo, blog_show_entry, blog_sidebar_user
and replace them with the ones included with this hack, inside the "templates" directory

I try to go here:
http://www.mywebsite/forum/admincp/template.php?do=modify

And search in the templates.. but I have no the instances "CLASS='TCAT'"..

[akvaryumforum]

Super mod :)
Thanks Kentaurus

[cheat-master30]

I am so going to test this out. If I can somehow port some VS Interactive Profiles styles to the blogs, I can seriously help my members customise them. Thanks for sharing, and I'll install tomorrow.

[ngocha85]

<a href="https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/vborg_miscactions.php?do=nominate&threadid=162470&type=1" target="_blank">Nominate for MOTM</a>!

[Kentaurus]

I've installed it.. i follow the instruction but i can't find on my template this part:

We need to modify some styles, for example we'll change instances of "class='tcat'" to "class='blogtcat'". To do this:

Edit the templates:
BLOG, blog_comment, blog_entry_without_userinfo, blog_show_entry, blog_sidebar_user
and replace them with the ones included with this hack, inside the "templates" directory

I try to go here:
http://www.mywebsite/forum/admincp/template.php?do=modify

And search in the templates.. but I have no the instances "CLASS='TCAT'"..


That was just an example to describe the type of changes that should be expected in the templates, I have included the actual new templates in the zip, as text files, you just need to open "BLOG.txt" of the zip, cut and paste all the contents on your "BLOG" template, then open "blog_comment.txt" of the zip, cut and paste all the contents on your "blog_comment" template of your forum.... and so on.

I include the templates instead of automatically replacing them, because some people, me included, like to know exactly what was changed, fast setup is just copy-paste the templates, but you could also compare side-to-side each one of the templates I mentioned and compare the changes.

[Kentaurus]

I'll test this. But I can't reproduce it on my board. I always test with firefox and a clean installation, tough, I'll try with more setups. You get that when any of the colors selected is not something that was expected.... um... could it be that the hack doesn't like a "transparent" color? I'll check and fix the bug.

[cheat-master30]

Keeps having the error of the colour not being valid, regardless of choice. Can't you just remove the validation thing for the colours altogether, seeing as it's their choice what things like contrast are?

[cheat-master30]

Uninstalled, files removed, link removed and two templates reverted until this is fixed.

P.S. Can you in future make sure your uninstall instructions are better and tell you how to revert the templates?

[vien]

Would be nice if users could use an image for headers or backgrounds!

Thanks.

[hollosch]

Nice hack,
but how can i realize that other users or guests have the pleasure to see the customized template??? only for the user himself its boring...

thx

[skariko]

That was just an example to describe the type of changes that should be expected in the templates, I have included the actual new templates in the zip, as text files, you just need to open "BLOG.txt" of the zip, cut and paste all the contents on your "BLOG" template, then open "blog_comment.txt" of the zip, cut and paste all the contents on your "blog_comment" template of your forum.... and so on.

I include the templates instead of automatically replacing them, because some people, me included, like to know exactly what was changed, fast setup is just copy-paste the templates, but you could also compare side-to-side each one of the templates I mentioned and compare the changes.

Thank you :)
But I have another problem.. if I try to customize my blog it says:

"The selected color is not valid".

EDIT:
it says "the selected color is not valid" only if I set a transparent color.

[Kentaurus]

Nice hack,
but how can i realize that other users or guests have the pleasure to see the customized template??? only for the user himself its boring...

thx
The behaviour has been changed to make more sense.
Everybody sees the blog like the user has customized it, including guests and other users. The .zip has been updated for this.

[Kentaurus]

Just fixed in 1.0.1. Thanks for your input.

[hollosch]

Just fixed in 1.0.1. Thanks for your input.

Updated - but nothing happens. Other users see always the "Standard-Layout". Are there any parameters to change?

[koxito]

I have the same problem, i cutomized my own blog to try, but no one but me can see the custom settings. ? is there anything more to chance ?.

I've updated too, and nothing happend.

--------

Por cierto Kenta, felicidades por el mod es genial, tambien soy parte de CZ, fu? mi primer foro... :).

[linhhon2003]

hm i like users can edit their blog (thems , upload, like blog yahoo) someone can edit that?

[Kentaurus]

Updated - but nothing happens. Other users see always the "Standard-Layout". Are there any parameters to change?



No, there aren't. Seems the bug wasn't gone :(

I hope the third try is the charm. I updated the package, you only need to reupload the includes/functions_blog_customize.php file

[Kentaurus]

I have the same problem, i cutomized my own blog to try, but no one but me can see the custom settings. ? is there anything more to chance ?.

I've updated too, and nothing happend.

--------

Por cierto Kenta, felicidades por el mod es genial, tambien soy parte de CZ, fu? mi primer foro... :).

Thanks a lot. Yes, there was a bug with the mod, I just updated it.
Since you run a spanish forum, I'm attaching the spanish translation too, here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=72472&d=1195498774

[Kentaurus]

hm i like users can edit their blog (thems , upload, like blog yahoo) someone can edit that?

I'm sorry, I didn't understand your post.
This mod brings limited customization to the blogs, style-based.

[hollosch]

No, there aren't. Seems the bug wasn't gone :(

I hope the third try is the charm. I updated the package, you only need to reupload the includes/functions_blog_customize.php file

THX - Now it works - fine !!!

[koxito]

Yeah! it works!... i just updated, and its great!! ... i installed the spanish lenguage too! .. works great!! .. Thanks a lot... ill continue fallowing your mods!!! :)


Edit: One last thing before i just stop bugging you XD, ? do you know where i can find an spanish lagn pack for vbblog product ?

Saludos
Lumis!:)

[Triky]

I have not vBlog, but I have to say this is a really great idea! :)

[hotwheels]

quick question, i just installed your mod (which is kewl), but i noticed that the page doesn't exactly center itself. I think it has to do with the size of the centerbox alignment, but not sure.
I attached an image so if you have time, you can look at it and tell me what you think.

thanks, hotwheels

[Kentaurus]

Yeah! it works!... i just updated, and its great!! ... i installed the spanish lenguage too! .. works great!! .. Thanks a lot... ill continue fallowing your mods!!! :)


Edit: One last thing before i just stop bugging you XD, ? do you know where i can find an spanish lagn pack for vbblog product ?

Saludos
Lumis!:)

This is the one I'm using. The only thing I haven't translated is "trackback" and "pingback" until I decide in a proper translation for that. Everything else is translated in context.

[Kentaurus]

quick question, i just installed your mod (which is kewl), but i noticed that the page doesn't exactly center itself. I think it has to do with the size of the centerbox alignment, but not sure.
I attached an image so if you have time, you can look at it and tell me what you think.

thanks, hotwheels


Um.. that's right. Has to do with the size of the blog and the resolution.

Please try this.
In the "BLOG" template, change


#customize_content {
vertical-align: top;
}

TO

#customize_content {
width: 100%;
vertical-align: top;
}

[hotwheels]

That was it kind sir............thank you very much. I really think this set's the blogs apart. Nice mod.

[koxito]

Installed... and working fine ( all of it ) XD... Thank you very much kenta...!!! :) you rule!! XD

Lumis! :)

[mofeu]

It is a blog and forum together or just a style?

Althought at my forum I want to add also a blog for the member,how can I do it?

[Kentaurus]

It is a blog and forum together or just a style?

Althought at my forum I want to add also a blog for the member,how can I do it?

This is an add-on for vBulletin Blog, you can read about the vbulletin blg here: http://www.vbulletin.com/features_blog.php

You need to have both vbulletin and vbulletin blog

[mofeu]

Thank you Kentaurus!:)

[Zia]

how far customization i can do to put adsense by using it?

[PoetJA-1975]

just do a search for "blog" and you'll see the adsense modifications :)

Jacquii.

[jeremyers1]

I cannot get this to work. I have installed it, but still, my blog has problems....

http://www.freegracechurches.org/forum/blog.php

I'm thinking it might not be a problem with your mod, since I had the exact same problem before I installed your mod. I was hoping your mod could fix it. It didn't (yet). Since you seem to understand how the blog customization works, maybe you can help me figure this out?

[jeremyers1]

I figured it out.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1457052#post1457052 (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1457052#post1457052)

[Kentaurus]

:) glad to hear that. That looked like a template issue.

[Sebijk]

For users with TMS: Here is a TMS file for this Hack.

[srawrats1138]

Although this mod is helpful, it does not do everything I need for my blog section of my forums. It is a springboard for me though, thanks!

After I pick a layout and style using this mod, is it possible to apply it to all blog pages, not just individual pages, but the blog search pages, blog home, etc? I did not install this mod with the desire to allow users to control the look, I downloaded it with the intent for me, as the main admin, to decide and control the look and layout of the blog section on my forums.

Thanks again! :)

[Kentaurus]

Although this mod is helpful, it does not do everything I need for my blog section of my forums. It is a springboard for me though, thanks!

After I pick a layout and style using this mod, is it possible to apply it to all blog pages, not just individual pages, but the blog search pages, blog home, etc? I did not install this mod with the desire to allow users to control the look, I downloaded it with the intent for me, as the main admin, to decide and control the look and layout of the blog section on my forums.

Thanks again! :)
There's an easier way to do that, in the "Blog Options" there is an "Override Style" option. Just add another style to your forums, maybe as a child style or as a completely new style, modify the templates as much as you want/need, and use that styles for the blogs only, while keeping the rest of the forums with another style :)

This hack only customizes the list_entries page and the blogpage

[Alfa1]

It would be nice to have a function to copy the style from vb 3.7's MEMBERINFO to the blog.

[srawrats1138]

There's an easier way to do that, in the "Blog Options" there is an "Override Style" option. Just add another style to your forums, maybe as a child style or as a completely new style, modify the templates as much as you want/need, and use that styles for the blogs only, while keeping the rest of the forums with another style :)

This hack only customizes the list_entries page and the blogpage

:up:
That's enough info for me to go with.
Thank you so much for the information. I greatly appreciate it. :)

[Kentaurus]

It would be nice to have a function to copy the style from vb 3.7's MEMBERINFO to the blog.

I'm not sure I should do that... my guess is that Freddie will integrate the vb3.7 styles into the blog once 3.7 is out.... and rendering this hack useless... :)

[Icehawk002]

Very nice and appears to work ok BUT.... the archive (calendar) and comment editor blocks are not taking the developed style but remain in the default style. Any solution? I dont see any other comments regarding this problem here so it may be specific to my board, as the other blog blocks custom fine.

[Alfa1]

I'm not sure I should do that... my guess is that Freddie will integrate the vb3.7 styles into the blog once 3.7 is out.... and rendering this hack useless... :)
It seems this is not going to happen. Please consider making this.

[sandri]

Hi All,

is it compatible with vb blog 1.0.3?

thx

[ChurchMedia]

I'm using VB 3.7 Beta 4 and Blog 1.0.4. I get this error when trying to save a customization:

Warning: array_keys() [function.array-keys]: The first argument should be an array in /includes/functions.php on line 5211

Warning: preg_replace() [function.preg-replace]: Empty regular expression in /includes/functions.php on line 5211

Warning: Division by zero in /home/cmn/public_html/includes/functions.php(5372) : eval()'d code on line 147

Great hack if that bug could be worked out! :)

[firefoxx]

what about vB Blog 1.0.4?

[DLRX]

Testing in vB Blog 1.0.4.... ouch did not work or I missed something.

Edit: Never mind, it is working great!!!

Great hack, we'll wait for the image/background edition!!! :D

[xony]

Hola Kentaurus, estoy intentando contactar contigo por msn o por icq, pero de momento no he tenido suerte, por favor, contacta conmigo:

xony52@hotmail.com

Icq: 370908854

Gracias.

[Brandon Sheley]

I hadn't seen this one
I'll install it as soon as I get a few mins

thanks
* Brandon Sheley clicks install

It looks Great, you can see my attempt at design..lol
Brandon's vBSetup Blog (http://forum.vbulletinsetup.com/blogs/1/)

[OrionsMom]

This looks very neat

[mark|3]

hoping and praying u will include the image/background hack. That will be sweet.

[SuperTaz]

Edit: I found it, however I have two "Customize Blog" links in the sidebar. How do I get rid of one?

[v12kid]

hoping and praying u will include the image/background hack. That will be sweet.


got it downloaded and would love to see this feature as well, would really take it over the top :up:

[MiahBeSmokin420]

Disregard this post sorry posted in wrong thread

[ERAFOX]

great mod i love it ! !! install

[SwollenCranium]

{text removed}

** EDIT

It DOES work as described in 3.7RC1 with blog 1.04.

[Conner85]

Hmmm.. I'm using 3.6.9 and Blog 1.04 and everything seems to be working fine except the color code error. Is there any way around that? I tried editing the XML and blog_customize.php and taking that function out, but it just gives me syntax errors.

[Peterpan002]

Installed and working on 3.7.0 RC2 vblog 1.04. :)

Two problems: The calendar remains in the default style after customization and secondly the users profile picture over runs the userinfo box.

help tying these two issues up would be sweet.

[daanh]

<font color="DeepSkyBlue">Is working on version 3.7 ?

Thank you</font>

[all4pa]

Thank you about this mod, now i want to add Image to colour entries choosed there is tense form URL such that obtain zero? look like the one created Style Of Vbb 3.7 novum. Apology for coarsely pneumatic English language

[Conner85]

Anyone willing to support this? I've upgraded to 3.7 Gold and I'm still getting the invalid color errors.

[3z3k3l]

anyone supporting this?

[popmyzit]

This is giving errors in vbulletin blog beta 2.4 scary error too... i unfortunately had to uninstall it. Will anyone update it?

[Kentaurus]

vBulletin Blog 2.0 has this functionality built-in, so this hack is no longer necessary