Integrating a WordPress Theme into a vBulletin theme?

[GetGamer.com]

I'm in the process of migrating the content area of my site over to WordPress as the CMS. As part of this process, I'm updating the design of the site, and upgrading vBulletin to the latest version.

I've already got a test site for the new design, running on a customized version of a commercial WordPress theme: http://blog.bigblueball.com

Now I need to create a vBulletin 3.8.x theme that exactly matches my new WordPress theme. I'm not trying to do a table-less forum or anything that radical, but I would like to integrate the header, sidebar and footer.

I've done something like this before on my current site (http://www.bigblueball.com/forums/) but this is going to require a little more finesse. In particular, I'll need to make big changes to the forum menus (I'd like to integrate with the CSS menus I'm using with Wordpress) and the login/registration block (which I'd like to integrate in the sidebar).

Has anyone done this before and have any advice or even a tutorial on how to do this? I'm looking for advice on the templates I'll need to modify to reposition some of those elements (like into the sidebar -- which will probably be in the footer template?).

[puertoblack2003]

that will be nice if one can integrate the forum skin to wordpress and vice verse..:up:

[GetGamer.com]

Whoa, I don't see any way we'll be able to actually integrate and use one "skin" for both WordPress and vBulletin. The skinning systems are too different. But what I can do is make them LOOK the same, and use many of the same elements (CSS, images, etc.).

Yes, being able to update and maintain ONE skin would be ideal, but I don't see how it would be possible today.

[mmoore5553]

i have done some modifications to what you are searching for . i can give it a try if you want . just find me by PM . i have msn mesenger .

[bklynjava]

Not sure this is what your looking for but its pretty seamless Take a look.
This can be done to yours GetGamer pretty easily.
http://www.NoobForums.com

[GetGamer.com]

I've gone ahead with the integration, although I haven't attempted to get the sidebar in yet. I'll probably end up creating a second theme with a matching sidebar.

Check it out, I think it's coming along pretty well: http://www.bigblueball.com/ (WordPress) and http://www.bigblueball.com/forums/ (vBulletin)

[bklynjava]

I've gone ahead with the integration, although I haven't attempted to get the sidebar in yet. I'll probably end up creating a second theme with a matching sidebar.

Check it out, I think it's coming along pretty well: http://www.bigblueball.com/ (WordPress) and http://www.bigblueball.com/forums/ (vBulletin)

Looks great.

[BSMedia]

Good job, we've done something similar at our site though we haven't had time to finish it (http://brokensnooze.com and http://brokensnooze.com/forums/)

[GetGamer.com]

BSMedia, I see you've got a start. One note -- the default theme on your forum is not the BrokenSnooze them, but the vBulletin default. I had to use the theme switcher to see your integration.

[mmoore5553]

looks good getgamer ..you need to get http://www.vbadvanced.com/

this will get you the portal look yo uwant and side bars and ability to move stuff around. You can even make your own wrapper and put what you want in it. It is free

then you can have a link to your forum and have it design like you want ..here is my site and i did something similiar


www.cg-hq.com

hope this helps you out .

[GetGamer.com]

mmoore5553, you've done a nice job on that site. I actually use vbadvanced on another site, but I prefer to use Wordpress. Yes, it's more work to "integrate" with vBulletin (per se), but the additional functionality makes it well worth it, in my opinion.

[BigPete7978]

We were wondering how to get this accomplished at our site. http://playstationlifestyle.net
So how would we go about getting this accomplished on the VB Forums? http://playstationlifestyle.net/forums

I'm just trying to get the top header included up top along with the buttons, links, etc.

We were going to bridge the two, but it doesn't seem to work the way we intended. We assumed you could match up usernames between VB and WP. Doesn't seem to be the case. :(

[GetGamer.com]

@BigPete: What I did was simply view the source code for my Wordpress site, grab the header stuff and paste it into the header and headerinclude templates (you have to put the right stuff in the right places). Similarly for the footer.

Then I had to tweak the vBulletin CSS settings, but it looks like you've already done that part.

Finally, there is the debugging. Inevitably, there will be some CSS from the WP side that will conflict with CSS on the vB side, and it just takes a little time and patience to work through that.

If you know your way around HTML, it's not too difficult. Good luck!

[Sweeks]

Has anyone tried this the opposite way round? Converting the vbulletin theme to work and look good in WP?
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[skylab]

I've gone ahead with the integration, although I haven't attempted to get the sidebar in yet. I'll probably end up creating a second theme with a matching sidebar.

Check it out, I think it's coming along pretty well: http://www.bigblueball.com/ (WordPress) and http://www.bigblueball.com/forums/ (vBulletin)

Very nice. I use the same theme for WP.

I've been trying to wrap blog posts from WP into vbadvance. Not much luck and I dont know if this is possible. My last resort is copying and pasting the source code and making my own WP theme with that. Its just a pain when I decide to change a button or layout.

[CalicoFeline]

I've gone ahead with the integration, although I haven't attempted to get the sidebar in yet. I'll probably end up creating a second theme with a matching sidebar.

Check it out, I think it's coming along pretty well: http://www.bigblueball.com/ (WordPress) and http://www.bigblueball.com/forums/ (vBulletin)

GetGamer, this is fantastic and exactly what I am looking to do.
I have attempted to work on my VB style to get it to match my WordPress theme but can't seem to work my way through all the code.

Do you by chance have any specifics documented as to how to do this? I know I need to get my headers and footers to match but I am just making a mess.

[glowinggal]

mmoore5553, you've done a nice job on that site. I actually use vbadvanced on another site, but I prefer to use Wordpress. Yes, it's more work to "integrate" with vBulletin (per se), but the additional functionality makes it well worth it, in my opinion.

I agree with you here - we have vbadvanced now and don't utilize it much at all and most of our admin/users are so familiar with the "blogging" style of entry and such that it's more suitable for our needs at this time.