Digital Point Better CSS

[digitalpoint]

About
This is something we use on digitalpoint.com to make the CSS better and more efficient.

Installation
Upload the contents of the upload folder to your installation
Install the product-digitalpoint_css.xml product under AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product
You can see a live version in action here (on any page really): http://forums.digitalpoint.com/

Details
Rounded Corners
vBulletin 4 only supports rounded corners for Firefox, Chrome and Safari. This plug-in makes rounded corners also work in Opera and Internet Explorer.

Gradients
It appends some CSS markup to your primary CSS file that makes use of CSS3 gradients (gradients defined right in the CSS file itself). vBulletin uses 5-7 gradient images per page view normally, and this eliminates the need for the browser to download those images. CSS3 gradients are supported in Safari, Firefox, Opera and Chrome. For browsers that don't support CSS3 gradients, they will simply fall back to the normal image-based CSS gradients that vBulletin uses by default.

Notes
This plug-in is useful for sites that use vBulletin 4 default styles, or at least styles that utilize the same classes and methods for doing things within the CSS files.

This plug-in does NOT add any extra CSS files, nor does it edit your existing ones. Instead it appends some new info to the end of your main CSS file that comes from it's own template. It also adds an attribution link.

You can find more info here: http://products.digitalpoint.com/vbulletin-css.php

Changes
1.0.2
CSS3 Gradient support for IE10 (early, I know... but it's there)
Handles gradients in vB Suite Blog and CMS
Works properly for CSS stored as files

Uninstallation: Automatic uninstallation is a bit of a catch 22... you need to compile templates to uninstall it, but vBulletin has no function built in to compile a group of templates. So uninstalling it removes the code needed to uninstall before the uninstall code is executed. So in order to uninstall this, disable just the one plug-in that is part of this product at the template_compile location, and then run Compile CSS Templates option under AdminCP -> Maintenance -> Update Counters. Once you do that, you can uninstall the whole product without any problems.

[Taurus1]

Really want to check this out. However I get this when installing:

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 60 seconds exceeded in /home/windows/public_html/includes/vb_template.php on line 51

Edit:

Tried it again, overwriting, but got this now:

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 161575271 bytes) in /home/windows/public_html/includes/vb_template.php on line 51

[Kolbi]

Will definitly have a look on it ;)

[digitalpoint]

Really want to check this out. However I get this when installing:

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 60 seconds exceeded in /home/windows/public_html/includes/vb_template.php on line 51

Edit:

Tried it again, overwriting, but got this now:

Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 134217728 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 161575271 bytes) in /home/windows/public_html/includes/vb_template.php on line 51How many styles do you have installed? Curing installation, it does go through your *.css templates and recompiles them, but it should be fairly quick unless you have just a ton of styles I would think.

[giorgino]

I installed this, but non rounded corners in IE7
Thank you

[digitalpoint]

Only IE9 supports border-radius CSS, sorry.

[Kolbi]

Shawn, a little question on your product site you tell us something about traffic which is produced by the original css.

Do you know with possitive effect your modification can have in regarding loading times?

30-40kb can be saved on each page? Are you sure that it is so much?

[digitalpoint]

It certainly will make load times slightly faster on the front-end since there's less files to load, but it's not going to be a huge amount. If you are having speed issues, you should be looking more at backend stuff I would suspect.

It's not 30-40kb saved per page, but it's the equivalent of a 30-40kb document since a document can be compressed, and HTTP headers can't, so there is about 500% more network traffic for HTTP headers vs. the document itself.

[CK]

Hey DP,

This is great, I'm using HTC border radius to get the rounded corners. In your mind which would be better to use, your method of the one I'm using at the moment?

[digitalpoint]

HTC border raidus will work for some older versions of IE... personally I opt for not supporting old browsers and adding overhead of the HTC file itself. The newest version of IE supports border-radius, so if a user wants to use an outdated browser, I let them (they just won't get any of the new stuff that newer versions support)... {shrug}

But entirely up to you... but I don't personally cater to outdated browsers. :)

[CK]

I'll give this a go and see what happens. Thanks!

[Taurus1]

How many styles do you have installed? Curing installation, it does go through your *.css templates and recompiles them, but it should be fairly quick unless you have just a ton of styles I would think.

Yes, I have many styles installed. Is there something else I can do here?

[digitalpoint]

How many styles do you have installed? I suppose you could up your PHP execution time and memory limit temporarily since it only needs to go through them all once.

[CK]

Hey DP,

Sorry to rain on your parade but I just noticed this adds a link to the footer, can I have permission to remove that please?

[billstelling]

did not work, and what the hell is with the ++++ing footer links. I get rid of any mod that has them. if not there would be 20 links in my footer.. you all need to quit with the frickin links. We will tell everyone if your stuff is good. this mod did zip.. nada.. home page still squared in explorer.. had high hopes for this one, but even if it worked, I would still be uninstalling it..

[Eric]

did not work, and what the hell is with the ++++ing footer links. I get rid of any mod that has them. if not there would be 20 links in my footer.. you all need to quit with the frickin links. We will tell everyone if your stuff is good. this mod did zip.. nada.. home page still squared in explorer.. had high hopes for this one, but even if it worked, I would still be uninstalling it..

Which IE version? He's already stated it will only do rounded corners in IE9. From what I can tell, this mod is not *just* about the rounded corners either.

These mods on the 'org are released for free, some authors choose to add a link, some don't. If you don't like it, don't use it, simple as that - no point getting "irate".

[djbaxter]

I can see the effect at DigitalPoint with IE9.

But on my forum, using styles with limited departure from the default, no rounded corners. I don't even get them in the vBulletin default style.

Any known conflicts?

[Taurus1]

How many styles do you have installed? I suppose you could up your PHP execution time and memory limit temporarily since it only needs to go through them all once.

Apologies for my stupidity, but how would I do that?

[djbaxter]

did not work, and what the hell is with the ++++ing footer links. I get rid of any mod that has them. if not there would be 20 links in my footer.. you all need to quit with the frickin links. We will tell everyone if your stuff is good. this mod did zip.. nada.. home page still squared in explorer.. had high hopes for this one, but even if it worked, I would still be uninstalling it..

Uh, thanks for sharing. Still worrying about PageRank bleed, are you?

[CK]

Uh, thanks for sharing. Still worrying about PageRank bleed, are you?

His tone is completely wrong but don't be so quick to jump to conclusions, maybe like me he has paid to remove the copyright. The last thing you'd want to do is add something to the footer again. :)

[djbaxter]

His tone is completely wrong but don't be so quick to jump to conclusions, maybe like me he has paid to remove the copyright. The last thing you'd want to do is add something to the footer again. :)

I find these little self-righteous explosions ("How DARE you include a footer link!") to be very tedious. The solution is easy and obvious:

Don't want the footer?

(1) Contact the author and see if you can make an arrangement to remove it, perhaps for a fee as you do with an unbranded vBulletin license.

(2) Uninstall the add-on.

What NOT to do?

(3) Post some self-righteous rant in the coder's thread making an utter fool of yourself by telling everyone how outraged you are.

[djbaxter]

I can see the effect at DigitalPoint with IE9.

But on my forum, using styles with limited departure from the default, no rounded corners. I don't even get them in the vBulletin default style.

Any known conflicts?

Solution:

Admin CP >> Settings >> Options >> Cookies and HTTP Header Options

Set Disable IE8 Compatibility Mode = No

Then rounded corners work. Partially. On the home page but not on all pages.

See attachments.

[djbaxter]

Error on uninstall:

Compiling CSS templates...

Warning: mysql_query(): 7 is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 414

Warning: mysql_error(): 7 is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 1025

Warning: mysql_errno(): 7 is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 1043

Warning: mysql_query(): 7 is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 414

Warning: mysql_error(): 7 is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 1025

Warning: mysql_errno(): 7 is not a valid MySQL-Link resource in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 1043


Database error in vBulletin 4.1.3:

Invalid SQL:

UPDATE vbadminutil SET
text = UNIX_TIMESTAMP()
WHERE title = 'datastorelock' AND text < UNIX_TIMESTAMP() - 15;

[djbaxter]

Solution:

Admin CP >> Settings >> Options >> Cookies and HTTP Header Options

Then rounded corners work. Partially. On the home page but not on all pages.

See attachments.

Actually, on checking further I see the same thing on the DigitalPoint forum: Only partially rounding corners.

[CK]

I find these little self-righteous explosions ("How DARE you include a footer link!") to be very tedious. The solution is easy and obvious:

Don't want the footer?

(1) Contact the author and see if you can make an arrangement to remove it, perhaps for a fee as you do with an unbranded vBulletin license.

(2) Uninstall the add-on.

What NOT to do?

(3) Post some self-righteous rant in the coder's thread making an utter fool of yourself by telling everyone how outraged you are.

I fully agree with you, you'll notice just above his post what I asked ;)

[billstelling]

if your going to add a footer link in a mod then it should be included in the product details. It gets old in a hurry when they get snuck in like that. And they serve no purpose to the forum members at all. Just a way to try and make money by forcing us to pay to get rid of them. If its good i will donate all on my own and don't need some lame ass link in the footer to get me to do it.
oh and it was IE9 to the question above.

[digitalpoint]

Regarding the rounding corners... it doesn't round every corner, only corners that vBulletin rounds normally in Firefox, Safari and Chrome.

For the install issues... had to do some obnoxiously roundabout things to get it to be able to (properly) compile templates on installation/uninstallation. But I think I'm going to change it so there is a separate process to do it that the install gets redirected to. It should solve the installation screwiness for some people.

For the attribution link... we don't have a paid/attribution free version (too much work to set up something like that), but people are of course free to not use it of course. The add-on description was changed to mention it.

[billstelling]

I do hope you get this one working as it will be a good add on. What is the deal with IE that it doesn't support rounded corners or shadowing?

[djbaxter]

I do hope you get this one working as it will be a good add on. What is the deal with IE that it doesn't support rounded corners or shadowing?

IE9 does support that. But current versions of vBulletin do workarounds with the CSS for IE because earlier versions did not. vBulletin has not yet caught up with IE9.

[digitalpoint]

For those having issues installing or uninstalling... I simplified it and instead of trying to get "tricky" and making the whole process automatic (which was causing problems for some people), I instead made a function to compile CSS functions that will show up under the "Update Counters" area of the AdminCP. When you install, the system will automatically redirect you there and do it automatically.

Uninstallation is a bit obnoxious though since when you uninstall, you also lose the Compile CSS Templates option, so you can't really automate it. See update in original post for a note on how to (properly) uninstall manually.

Doing it this way should eliminate the SQL errors some people were getting as well as PHP memory limits and execution time (since it will process 25 at a time and then start a new batch of 25... resetting PHP execution time and memory in the process).

[djbaxter]

^^^ Thanks.

I still got the error messages about /includes/class_core.php when uninstalling the old version (after disabling that plugin as instructed) but it didn't seem to affect anything and the reinstall worked as advertised.

[digitalpoint]

Yeah, the instructions wouldn't really apply to the old version since well... you can't go in and undo the uninstallation code that was in place with that first version. So just applies going forward with the new version.

[Taurus1]

Can I just update (With overwrite) to the new version?

[digitalpoint]

Yep... that should be fine.

BTW - if someone has it running on their site, gimme the URL and I'll skim through your site and see if there are any gradient definitions I missed (possible since there are a ton and we don't use all functions on digitalpoint.com... so things like the sidebar I wouldn't have tested against).

[Taurus1]

OK, I installed it now without any problems on my new site. I have 8 custom skins installed here.

http://windows8theme.org/forum/

I will PM you a test account if you want to check it out. I will also install this on my main site, where I have about 25 custom skins installed. And report back on how that installation went.

Thanks again for this!

[Special Pages]

did not work, and what the hell is with the ++++ing footer links. I get rid of any mod that has them. if not there would be 20 links in my footer.. you all need to quit with the frickin links. We will tell everyone if your stuff is good. this mod did zip.. nada.. home page still squared in explorer.. had high hopes for this one, but even if it worked, I would still be uninstalling it..

I totally agree with you. LOL I hate it when it says
{Mod Name} by {Mod Author}
{Mod Name} by {Mod Author}
{Mod Name} by {Mod Author}
{Mod Name} by {Mod Author}
{Mod Name} by {Mod Author}
{Mod Name} by {Mod Author}
{Mod Name} by {Mod Author}

[zelnik]

Yeah, the instructions wouldn't really apply to the old version since well... you can't go in and undo the uninstallation code that was in place with that first version. So just applies going forward with the new version.

Hi DP,

Just to triple check! :)

I have the first version you released installed.. If I upgrade to the latest build and followed the instructions I would have no issues uninstalling it if I were ever decide I needed to? Say if IB get their finger out and implement it themselves for example.

No SQL errors etc?

[Boofo]

His tone is completely wrong but don't be so quick to jump to conclusions, maybe like me he has paid to remove the copyright. The last thing you'd want to do is add something to the footer again. :)

I think a footer link is a very small price to pay for a free mod.

[digitalpoint]

zelnik - correct.

[CK]

I've installed this then disabled it, I gather the disable function doesn't really work, running the first version. I notice now though that the footer link is gone :D

[digitalpoint]

A few changes with 1.0.2... it handles gradients in CMS, Blogs and sidebars, and also works better for sites that store CSS files as static files.

There is also one file that needs to be uploaded now (really is only actually needed if your CSS is stores in your file system).

[Taurus1]

No, now everything is messed up! Going back.

Edit: Sorry, not everything. Tabs in navbar is all white, and some blockheaders are white too. Had to rollback.

[CharlieDelta]

Edit: Sorry, not everything. Tabs in navbar is all white, and some blockheaders are whit too. Had to rollback.

Same here!

[digitalpoint]

Are you guys using relatively stock themes?

[billstelling]

Same with me, tried it again and it was like they said and I only have one stock type theme. My site is loaded with mods and running custom themes if you want to do a little testing. It messed up the tabs and the modules for the cmps as well. www.thewindowscenter.com

[digitalpoint]

Well ir's generally not going to work well (or at all) if your site doesn't use the standard vBulletin gradients. It's a replacement for normal gradients, not a replacement for custom gradients.

[CharlieDelta]

Are you guys using relatively stock themes?

I am running Darkness here; https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=231670&page=21

If that helps. :)

[digitalpoint]

Yeah, for themes that swap gradients or use their own, it's not going to be really useful.

That theme in particular uses a gradient that is different than standard for it's highlighted navtab.

I suppose one could go and edit the dpg.css template and remove the navbar definitions so those wouldn't apply, but seems like more work than it's worth to be honest.

When I get some time I might see if there's a way to do gradient replacements based on the image file name instead of CSS selectors. That would eliminate the issues when different than standard gradients are used. Although, I have a feeling it's going to be fairly complicated to do something like that... {sigh}

[CharlieDelta]

Thanks Shawn. I really do like the mod and the concept. Keep up the good work.
Rated anyway. 5 stars

[zelnik]

DP I'm not saying it's your plugin that is causing it but would value you input.

Site has be running fine, but since around the time of installing the first version you release (then upgrading it each time) users on my site have been complaining that they're randomly getting duplicate private messages? 2 at a time.

Do you feel this plugin could have anything to do with that? thanks in advance mate.

[digitalpoint]

No, I don't thInk it could have anything to do with it. It does nothing related to private messages. All it really does us alter CSS files from the admin control panel, and there is no CSS markup in the world that could inject extra data into your database (extra PMs).

[sivaganeshk]

I had blue color background in Entertainment http://i.imgur.com/IlIL5.jpg
After adding this plugin, it changed to grey.
how to change it in stylevar?

[digitalpoint]

You can't... This plug-in is only for stock(ish) styles (see first post).

[sivaganeshk]

You can't... This plug-in is only for stock(ish) styles (see first post).

Oh.. I uninstalled the product as instructed.
Still I cant see the old sategory head background.
http://i.imgur.com/9oXNk.jpg
Pls let me know which one should be changed in StyleVar ?

[RS_Jelle]

In vBulletin 4.1.3 border-radius was added (http://tracker.vbulletin.com/browse/VBIV-4888), so you don't need to replace it any more. If you run this mod on 4.1.3, you will get two border-radius instances.
+ It only seems to replace the webkit part and it's not removing the mozilla part like it should.

So you get:
.bbcode_quote div.quote_container {
-moz-border-radius: 5px;
border-radius: 5px;
border-radius: 5px;
padding: 5px 10px 5px 10px;
}

[digitalpoint]

Leaving -moz-border-radius was intentional since it was only recently supported with Firefox 4.

[RS_Jelle]

Leaving -moz-border-radius was intentional since it was only recently supported with Firefox 4.

Ah, I thought your intention was to strip all old browser stuff :)

[The Vegan Forum]

Also posted at digitalpoint.com:

DPs CSS plugin gives Sidebar background wrong color


After having installed Digital Point's CSS plugin for vBulletin 4, I've lost control over the color of the forum sidebar. I'm have both tried the old forum_sidebar_background Stylevar, and the new (functioning) Stylevar called sidebar_background, but the background color of the forum sidebar doesn't obey. This is when using the default vB4 skin*. I'm using version 4.1.4.

Any suggestions?

* and other skins.

[The Vegan Forum]

I need to deinstall this product ASAP, since it has messed up some Stylevar-functionality. But I have no idea what "disable just the one plug-in that is part of this product at the template_compile location" means. Can anyone please explain? Thanks.

[sivaganeshk]

@Vegan: I think , it is AdminCP ---> Plugin and Products ---> Plugin Manager . Under the Product : Digitalpoint CSS, you will see template_compile location ---> Uncheck the Active and save. Follow the remaining steps.

[joggele]

Hello,

I'm using V4.1.4 with standard styles (only different colors create with the style manager).

I hoped, I get rounded corners with IE8. But there are always not rounded.

Some solutions for this?

regards
Juergen

[Fenriz]

Is there any advantage to install this mod on vb 4.1.5 ?

[digitalpoint]

Is there any advantage to install this mod on vb 4.1.5 ?Only the ones listed in the original post (there are no more or less advantages to using it with 4.1.5).

[Fenriz]

As I clearly understand, the mod allows 2 improvements:
1. Rounded Corners
2. Gradients

I just discovered that 4.1.5 has already Rounded Corners. Is it a good idea to install the mod on 4.1.5? Any incompatibilities?
So we'll get just Gradients, right?

[TeknoSounds]

As I clearly understand, the mod allows 2 improvements:
1. Rounded Corners
2. Gradients

I just discovered that 4.1.5 has already Rounded Corners. Is it a good idea to install the mod on 4.1.5? Any incompatibilities?
So we'll get just Gradients, right?

Rounded Corners
vBulletin 4 only supports rounded corners for Firefox, Chrome and Safari. This plug-in makes rounded corners also work in Opera and Internet Explorer.

So unless 4.1.5 make them work in IE and Opera, you'll still need this mod.

[MrD]

Hi shawn,
one Question: whats the Different to this Addon ?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=266696&highlight=css

[digitalpoint]

This one doesn't use/need any images so you wouldn't even need the one sprite image.

[MrD]

Ok Thx :D

[MrD]

Hi Shawn,
i have a Problem with the Headerlogo.
My Logo are 2 Pieces and the 2. is not displayed after Addon install.
The Logo is defined as Header Beckground in the Stylevars.

[Mooff]

Hi shawn,
one Question: whats the Different to this Addon ?
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=266696&highlight=css

The right question would be: "What do those addons have in common?"
Which would be the CSS in the name. Aside from that, not much.

This addon here changes the gradients to css3 gradients.

The other one merges >100 icons in one sprite (though does not support gradients right now).

[digitalpoint]

Hi Shawn,
i have a Problem with the Headerlogo.
My Logo are 2 Pieces and the 2. is not displayed after Addon install.
The Logo is defined as Header Beckground in the Stylevars.What's the URL of your site?

[EvilArcana]

Shawn,

Just installed this and the DPSphinx search over at my site: cartographersguild.com

Very nice. I'm seeing that it worked...but the colors of the gradients are all wrong...Is that due to stylevars? What do I need to change to get the colors back to my customized values? What I had done in the past is modify the colors of the gradient images. Is that not supported by this mod?

[digitalpoint]

No sorry... if you have modified how the default gradients work this addon will not help. It only replaces default gradients, not custom ones.

[EvilArcana]

Is there any hacking I can do to modify the gradients your addon is placing? If so, what files do I edit? As you can see if you visit the site...they actually don't look too bad.

[digitalpoint]

Is there any hacking I can do to modify the gradients your addon is placing? If so, what files do I edit? As you can see if you visit the site...they actually don't look too bad.The gradients are CSS based, so there's no real "hacking" them. If you have custom gradients, you may just want to define those custom ones as CSS gradients within your style.

[Alfa1]

It would be nice to have CSS3 for custom gradients and sprites for icons.

[satlazone]

hi

<vb:if condition="is_browser('webkit')"> background:{vb:stylevar header_background.backgroundColor} -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0, rgba(50, 50, 50, 0.3)), color-stop(0.25, rgba(50, 50, 50, 0))) !important;</vb:if>

this line removes my header background ("url(images/side.jpg)")
It happens only with chrome.

I have just commented it out for temporary fix.
How to fix?

[okokok]

Hello,

I installed this plugin. Now, by disabling it, my whole forum is completely broken. How perfectly uninstall this plugin please? Point by point for beginners. Thank you.

[okokok]

I need to deinstall this product ASAP, since it has messed up some Stylevar-functionality. But I have no idea what "disable just the one plug-in that is part of this product at the template_compile location" means. Can anyone please explain? Thanks.

@Vegan: I think , it is AdminCP ---> Plugin and Products ---> Plugin Manager . Under the Product : Digitalpoint CSS, you will see template_compile location ---> Uncheck the Active and save. Follow the remaining steps.


I did it but it does not work!!! Help please

I ** may have been wrong somewhere ... Could you be more specific on how to completely deactivated this plugin and find my template as before? thank you

[satlazone]

it does break the css validation

[craigvm]

installed it and it just changed colors on my theme some from black to white and still no rounded corners on I.E so uninstalled and it went back thank god