[HowTo] Design and Tweak your Frontpage

[Floris]

[HowTo] Design and Tweak your Frontpage

v1.0.0 [build for vBulletin 2.2.6 Final] last update:12/06/02

_____ Introduction:
Each vBulletin forum installed on a web server is either a part of a web site or maybe the web site itself. Either way, the section that is probably the most requested by the end-user is the frontpage which holds the introduction to the forum, the categories with its boards and maybe some other boxes like the private messages, who is currently online and the birthdays. It speaks for itself, that at least this page should give a good impression to the end-user who is browsing your web site. And might consider to continue to browse it and maybe even register.

It has been six months now since I have purchased a license for vBulletin. And since my forum has been online I had a lot of questions and awnsers to them on how to improve my site. Some that did not had a direct awnser and were sometimes somewhat hard to figure out, got sorted out and put together as a little how to so I could share the knowledge with other members who had the same questions and were looking for the same awnsers. Several of those threads turned out pretty nice and with some we found some issues and even though we were able to 'fix' them, the threads did look a bit messy. It was hard to figure out sometimes what to do where, etc. So that is why I have put together this thread, with some design tips and some tweaks in an easy (and better ordered) overview.

Please understand that I am not a guru in anything, and that I am trying my best to get things to work for everybody. However, I will not and can not support older versions of these hacks, older versions of vBulletin, and/or integration with other code-hacks / template modifications. All template modifications in this thread are based on a clean installation of vBulletin 2.2.6 final. Some of the provided code are also very good examples on how you could continue to apply them to other pages of your board; so read and learn > 'How can I do this on that other page?'-questions means that you didn't read and learned.

Said that, let's explain what you can expect.


_____ Index:
[list=1] Breaking up the categories from eachother
Adding background images to the categories
Adding onMouseOver-highlighting effect to the boards
Adding your own (blinking and clickable) private messages images[/list=1]

[Floris]

<font color="darkred">(1) Breaking up the categories from eachother</font>

(description)
This template modification will put a white space between the categories so they appear as they are no longer attached to eachother, giving the effect as if each category is in its own block; giving a much better overview of your topics.

[Floris]

(2) Adding background images to the categories

(description)
This template modification will set a background image to the category and the index row. This will give a nice texture effect and dimension to your frontpage. Away with that flat-look! This is also the perfect way to integrate the look of your web site into your forum.


(Please note that I did not include the cat_bg_0*.gif images, and that the below screenshot is ugly, I just used a random image to highlight the effect - the best way is to make them yourself!)

[Floris]

(3) Adding onMouseOver-highlighting effect to the boards

(description)
This template modification will set an inversed color effect to the boards. So when you hover with your mouse over a board, it will highlight and clickable to that specific board. (And when you move your mouse out of the board, it will return to original color). Very nice!


(For more of these onMouseOver highlighting effects, please read the original thread: here (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38735))

[Floris]

(4) Adding your own (blinking and clickable) private messages images

(description)
On the index page of your forum, there is a box that says "Private Messages" with an default vBulletin on/off icon and the message if there are any messages and/or how many there are unread/total.
This hack does two things to this box:
1- Lets you use your own on/off image-icons
2- Makes the icon clickable which feels more 'natrual'.


(Please note that I did not include the .gif images, if you want to use the images I use, please download them from: here (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=242406)!)

[Floris]

Here are the posts from the original threads;
use them for reference, nostalgy, whatever.
(support has dropped for these threads)
[howto] -> Spaces Between Categories (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36832)
Background images .. (never released this one)
[HowTo] Make your boards highlight with onMouseOver (template) hack (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38735)
[PM] Your own on/off clickable icons (template) hack (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38704)


I could include other frontpage hacks in this thread, but I did not make them, and the support is done by the author of that particular template mod. So, use that thread. *g*

If you are going to reply or comment on one of the four template mods, then please include which one. Thank you.

All the above template modifications are applied to my personal web site which is powered by vBulletin 2.2.6 (http://www.creations.nl/) and these hacks are tested on this site, as well as on my private -none public - test board on my computer. Oh, no one gets to use the style/graphics from my site, without my written permission.

I do hope that someone likes these template mods and I do hope I didn't make any mistakes (and if so, I will update the appropiate post). ENJOY

[countryboy713]

this is all great info, thanks a bunch.

but i dont think we are allowed to post all that code in the forums, because it messes up the tables.

[Tyfoon]

Nice hacks...i've found them allready on vbulletin.com forum:D

[Floris]

Originally posted by Tyfoon
Nice hacks...i've found them allready on vbulletin.com forum:D All the templates here are allready on vBulletin.com. *doh

Originally posted by CoUnTrYbOy
this is all great info, thanks a bunch.

but i dont think we are allowed to post all that code in the forums, because it messes up the tables. Ah, I wasn't sure about that. I'll update my posts.


Done! Updated the posts.

[Tyfoon]

All the templates here are allready on vBulletin.com. *doh

ALL the templates? Why is this site maded then??

[Floris]

I am not going to awnser those kind of questions. Put them in the Site Feedback forum.

[Jashugan]

Excellent job as always

[RHCP_Anthony_]

nice

[WildCrow]

Excellent tutorial

Very well explained, thanks guys.

[chiel]

I got a question about the "Adding background images to the categories" is it not simpler to edit the "Category Strip Background Color" and change it to something like this: "#606096" background="http://www.site.com/images/frontpage/cat_bg_01.gif"

??
can you please say why you did it your way? is it better??

[mashby]

Wow! The girth of this post is impressive. ;)

I've installed many of the mods that xiphoid has posted here. In fact, I've done searches on his name to try and find more tweaks that he's done. :)

Nice suite of template modifications xiphoid.

[Floris]

chiel, because it uses {imagesfolder} and that means, if you move your site to another server, you dont have to think about changing all the paths, etc. this is more integrated into the system. But . use whatever you like. i believe this is simplere.

[SaintDog]

Originally posted by xiphoid
.....use whatever you like. i believe this is simplere.

I agree, using variable replacements make things so much easier than having to edit things over and over :)

[Floris]

By the way, I remember me posting something my site was down for a little while, its up again.

[sphinx]

nice guides etc,I tried to download the images but kept getting a 404 error

[Valkyre]

Very nicely done.

[Jean147]

Installed it some weeks ago. Great Modification. Looke great.

[Floris]

Originally posted by sphinx
nice guides etc,I tried to download the images but kept getting a 404 error
No problems here. The mod_xx.gif images attached are working fine.

[SSJ4Gohan]

VERY NICE I liked it a lot I use it one of the codes on my forum I like a lot GREAT JOB!!!!

[GamerForums]

Great addition to my board, thanks. :)

[X-Fan]

For some reason, the category spacing isn't working for me...

http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/index.php?s=

I edited forumhome_forumbit_level1_nopost as described, but no go.

Any suggestions?

EDIT: Got it working. I also had to edit the forumhome_forumbit_level1_nopost_sponsor custom template as I use the Sponsored By hack!

[Richy T.]

I used most of these. Very easy, especially for a dope like me. Thanks.

[imported_Omega]

I must say, this is one of the better tutorials available for vB. Instructions are clear and precise, that even the newest newbie to vB can understand...My hats off to you for your great tutorial...

[Floris]

Thank you for saying that. I also noticed that the moderators on vBulletin.com have moved my HowTo to their 'Hints & Tips' board. *respect*

[MADBLADE]

Very nice M8

[GreasyMidget]

Xiphoid thanks brother you are the man i have a hard time with searches.. lol

[nghiasi]

Thanks xiphoid!

[Tony G]

Hadn't seen this but nice work on it. :)

[PennylessZ28]

Works nicely, but one lil boo boo I can't seem to figure out for the life of me, when I split up the categories, Active Users sticks to the last category and for some reason the bottom of all my tables have a thicker black line, everyone else who has implemented this has perfect lines :(

Guess it don't like me :( :) example: http://www.hr3rdgen.org/forums/

Any suggestions? Awesome little guide btw, provided me with some great ideas!

[Ninth Dimension]

Installed it and it's working great (well, I only installed the first part, and changed the forumhome_forumbit_level1_nopost_sponsor template to work with my sponsored by hack) but it's working great :D

[Nairb]

how do you get the 2 corner images?

[DNi]

What a great set op template mods , my forum looks much better now :)
Thank you so much.

[777oo]

Very impressive, saved my time of digging through the source code and doing it myself.

[imported_Danielo]

Thank you very much :)
i haven't installed yet but it's very usefull

[Wij]

Great mods ;]

I've installed them all apart from category images,uum but I am just about to give it a go,what size do the images need to be btw?(i'm probably being dumb but I've had a long day trying to get a vB powered homepage working) :]

regards

Wij

[Xbox]

Yeah, I can't agree more. Very good work. I have just installed the category space mod and that looks great. Also am about to install the cat. background image mod, but just like Wij said, what size do the images need ?

[LoRDsTaR]

yeah very thX

[cklaszlo]

Hey.

We installed this modicfication a while back and love it. Now I'd like to add to it.

I was wondering if we can add an extra block in between 2 forums? In one of the white spaces.

In other words:

http://www.thrillnetwork.com/boards

Like the large sponsorship block at the top the one that has our SpeedZone ad in it I'd like to add another block like that in between "Trip Reports and Travel Tips" and "games"

Here is our current layout:

[cklaszlo]

Here is what we want to create.

[Burning_Ice]

Try the BR tages? That probly would do the trick.

[cklaszlo]

That didn't work. Thanks for the suggestion

[SaintDog]

Ask at vBulletin.org, that would require hacking to a certain extent

[cklaszlo]

I did. There and also at VB.com No help :(

[imported_simplythi]

I tried to apply this mod and a few other mods found on this board. I dont understand why but my VB CP is some how different from everyone elses. I dont get the same options when i expand the list when i go to modify templates. It doesn't load all the templates that VB uses, but instead all i see is a huge list of that says Change original from top to bottom. I provided a screen shot to back up my problem and let you guys see what i see. Maybe someone can help and explain to me how i can work with this. Thanks in advance.

[snout]

thanks bro, needed the forum home spacing mod , nice one :D

[delta5]

I've been trying hard to get this hack to work but it doesn't help... look at the image maybe u guys can help

[Oldfart]

Originally posted by delta5
I've been trying hard to get this hack to work but it doesn't help... look at the image maybe u guys can help

Well just by glancing at your board it looks like your category headers are acting like forums and have posting privilages. That could be the cause of some of your problems.

Modify your forum category permissions and change your category to "not act as forum" and "not open to new posts" then try the hack again.

[delta5]

Thanks dude u rule

[moi]

real thx for this.

[Mickie D]

wonderful instructions :)

very clear and easy to install :)

thanks so much

by the way can i get the PM buttons please as i have looked in the post but i cant see them :(

[Black Vivi]

wonderful instructions :)

very clear and easy to install :)

thanks so much

by the way can i get the PM buttons please as i have looked in the post but i cant see them :(
yea, the files gone...:(

[Apoco]

ALL the templates? Why is this site maded then??

Maded? lol, sorry I'm a grammar freak. lol, it may be on vBB.com's site, but for people like me that don't like searching through 10,000+ posts just for one hack, this is very nice. Thanks a lot.

--Apoco

[imported_ogden2k]

This doesn't tell how to separate just the who's online/PM's from the rest?

[geeKess]

Heh, what I find funny is that there's a mod that does the exact opposite at IBPlanet.com for Invision Board. :p (Ex IPB user here)

[Brad]

Whatever floats your boat I guess ;)

[Tony G]

This doesn't tell how to separate just the who's online/PM's from the rest?
You can do a similar modification but just put the spacing code after $forumbits and before $usersonline (Or whatever the online variable is)

[Floris]

I just released the version for vbulletin version 3 here at vbt.

Please check the vb3 template modifications forums to learn how to add a space between categories.

[F0xstud85]

I hate to bring a topic back from the dead but...I'm looking to use the background images on categories edit, but I want different backgrounds for different categories (see, I do a gaming site, and it'd be cool if I could get a Warcraft background on the Warcraft category, and Starcraft for Starcraft, etc.). Would ANYONE know how to do this? Or does this require a hack? If so, I know to look at vBulletin.org, but what is the hack called, I searched but couldnt find it...

Thanks for the help guys!

[F0xstud85]

*bump* Does anyone know how this can be done? Read my last post ^^^ thanks :)

[jgm]

Hello,

I am trying to do the forum spacing template mod, but I seem to be having some problems.
I am in the process of moving to a new webhost and upgrading to vB 2.3.0 from version 2.2.6

The Active users is detached from the rest of the forums after making the template change, but that is it.

You can see the underconstruction site at:
http://aries.lunarpages.com/~madoshi2/sobanoodles/index.php


I have gone over the modification five times now, and everytime it is the same, so I revert and try again and have the same result :(

The current hacks and other mods I have installed on version 2.3.0 are:

vBindex2.1 final
BadMadman's avatar category hack
extlink_11a_fixed hack (URL linking for category)
Hermon's sig size control
(All used in 2.2.6 with out conflict)

I did also use bbimport_vb2 import script to see if I could merge my old database with the new one so I dont lose users, post counts threads... etc etc... but as far as I can tell it does not bring any template info over.

I would greatly appreciate any help/thoughts on this.
I will post my template info that I modified too if that is needed.


Thank you!
-JGM

[jgm]

I will post my template info that I modified too if that is needed.


After thinking about it I figured it would be better if I posted it lol :D

//////////////////
forumhome/////////////////////

{htmldoctype}
<html>
<head>
<!-- no cache headers -->
<meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache">
<meta http-equiv="no-cache">
<meta http-equiv="Expires" content="-1">
<meta http-equiv="Cache-Control" content="no-cache">
<!-- end no cache headers -->
<meta name="keywords" content="vbulletin,forum,bbs,discussion,jelsoft">
<meta name="description" content="$bbtitle is a discussion forum powered by vBulletin. To visit the forum, go to $bburl/ . To find out about vBulletin, go to http://www.vbulletin.com/ .">
<title>$bbtitle - powered by vBulletin</title>
$headinclude
</head>
<body>
$header

<!-- text -->
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="{contenttablewidth}" {tableinvisibleextra} align="center">
<tr valign="top">
<td><img src="{imagesfolder}/vb_bullet.gif" border="0" align="middle" alt="$bbtitle : Powered by vBulletin version $templateversion">
<normalfont><b>$bbtitle</b></normalfont></td>
<td align="right"><smallfont>$welcometext<br><b>$newposts</b></smallfont></td>
</tr>
</table>

<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="{contenttablewidth}" {tableinvisibleextra} align="center">
$unregwelcomemessage
<tr valign="bottom">
<td><smallfont>
Members: $numbermembers, Threads: $totalthreads, Posts: $totalposts<br>
Welcome to our newest member, <a href="member.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&action=getinfo&userid=$newuserid">$newusername</a>
</smallfont></td>
<td align="right"><smallfont>
The time now is $timenow.<br>
You last visited: $bbuserinfo[lastvisitdate].
</smallfont></td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- /text -->

<br>

<!-- main -->
<table cellpadding="{tableouterborderwidth}" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="{pagebgcolor}" {tableouterextra} width="{contenttablewidth}" align="center"><tr><td>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {tableinnerextra} width="100%">


$forumbits

</table>
</td></tr></table><br>
<table cellpadding="{tableouterborderwidth}" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="{tablebordercolor}" {tableouterextra} width="{contenttablewidth}" align="center"><tr><td>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {tableinnerextra} width="100%">

$loggedinusers
$birthdaybits
$pminfo
</table>
</td></tr></table>
<!-- /main -->

<br>

<!-- timezone/login-->
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="{contenttablewidth}" {tableinvisibleextra} align="center">
<tr valign="top">
<td><smallfont>$timezone</smallfont></td>
<td align="right">$logincode</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- /timezone/login -->

<br>

<!-- icons -->
<table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="{contenttablewidth}" {tableinvisibleextra} align="center">
<tr>
<td align="center">
<img src="{imagesfolder}/on.gif" border="0" alt="On" align="absmiddle">
<b><smallfont>New posts</smallfont></b>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="{imagesfolder}/off.gif" border="0" alt="Off" align="absmiddle">
<b><smallfont>No new posts</smallfont></b>
&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="{imagesfolder}/offlock.gif" border="0" alt="Closed Forum" align="absmiddle">
<b><smallfont>A closed forum</smallfont></b>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- /icons -->

$footer
</body>
</html>





////////////
forumhome_forumbit_level1_nopost/////////////////
</table>
</td></tr></table><br>
<table cellpadding="{tableouterborderwidth}" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="{tablebordercolor}" {tableouterextra} width="{contenttablewidth}" align="center"><tr><td>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {tableinnerextra} width="100%">

<tr id="cat">
<td bgcolor="{categorybackcolor}" colspan="6"><a href="forumdisplay.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&forumid=$forum[forumid]"><normalfont color="{categoryfontcolor}"><b>$forum[title]</b></normalfont></a>
<br><smallfont color="{categoryfontcolor}">$forum[description]</smallfont></td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}"><smallfont> </smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}" width="80%" align="left"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Forum</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Posts</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Threads</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}" width="170" nowrap><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Last Post</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}" width="20%"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Moderator</b></smallfont></td>
</tr>

///////////////////////////
forumhome_forumbit_level2_nopost///////////////////////
<tr id="cat">
<td bgcolor="{categorybackcolor}"><smallfont>&nbsp;</smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{categorybackcolor}" colspan="5">
<a href="forumdisplay.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&forumid=$forum[forumid]"><normalfont color="{categoryfontcolor}"><b>$forum[title]</b></normalfont></a>
<br><smallfont color="{categoryfontcolor}">$forum[description]</smallfont></td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}"><smallfont> </smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}" width="80%" align="left"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Forum</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Posts</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Threads</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}" width="170" nowrap><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Last Post</b></smallfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{tableheadbgcolor}" width="20%"><smallfont color="{tableheadtextcolor}"><b>Moderator</b></smallfont></td>
</tr>

[cindyd]

On line 598 remove </table>

</table>
</td></tr></table><br> ------->this is line 598
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#555576" width="100%" align="center"><tr><td>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0" width="100%">

<tr id="cat">
<td bgcolor="#606096" colspan="6"><a href="online.php?"><font face="verdana, arial, helvetica" size="2" color="#FFF788"><b>Currently Active Users</b></font></a><font face="verdana, arial, helvetica" size="2" color="#FFF788"><b>: 1</b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#F1F1F1" colspan="6"><font face="verdana,arial,helvetica" size="1" >
<nobr>There are currently 0 members and 1 guests on the boards.</nobr> |
<nobr>Most users ever online was 1 on 08-05-2003 at 02:01 AM.</nobr><br>
</font></td>
</tr>

[jgm]

Hello,
I tried what you suggested and it did not seem to work :(

Thank you though! :)



Code now looks like:

</table>
</td></tr><br>
<table cellpadding="{tableouterborderwidth}" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="{tablebordercolor}" {tableouterextra} width="{contenttablewidth}" align="center"><tr><td>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {tableinnerextra} width="100%">

<tr id="cat">
.........................
.........................
.........................

[cindyd]

It worked when I did it, see screenshot:

[cindyd]

Your line 598 may not have been the same, since I was taking it from View Source.....attached is a text file.

The </TABLE> (the one in caps) is what I took out.

[jgm]

Hi there Cindyd,

The one in Caps is the one I have removed too, I also tried the one before it just for good measure :)

Attached is the screen shot of what I am seeing when I load the page right now. I double checked it on my Mac and still only that current user bar is the only thing detached.

[cindyd]

I don't know what to tell you, it worked on my system and my templates also. Silly question, but did you clear your cache after you took out that one </table>?

[jgm]

I don't know what to tell you, it worked on my system and my templates also. Silly question, but did you clear your cache after you took out that one </table>?


Yeah I did clear it :( That is why I went to my mac to try it too.

It is strange, it worked for me in the past? and it seems to work for other people using 2.3.0

[jgm]

Well I tried again from scratch with a fresh install and it seemed to work fine. Hmm.. odd?

[jgm]

One last note. I found what was the cause of the problem.

It was External link hack 1.1

When you edit the index.php it really breaks something, you do the following and then all your nicley spaced forums suddenly crunch back together.

Now you have to upload this file and download the index.php.

##### Find #####

eval("\$forumbits .= \"".gettemplate("forumhome_forumbit_level$depth$tempext")."\";");

##### Replace it with #####

if ($forum['link']) {
eval("\$forumbits .= \"".gettemplate("forumdisplay_linkbit_level$depth")."\";");
} else {
eval("\$forumbits .= \"".gettemplate("forumdisplay_forumbit_level$depth$tempext")."\";");
}

[jhead]

(1) Breaking up the categories from eachother

(description)
This template modification will put a white space between the categories so they appear as they are no longer attached to eachother, giving the effect as if each category is in its own block; giving a much better overview of your topics.


I installed the " Breaking up the categories from each other " mod... now when I click on a forum or even a category from the front page, the Category header bar (or forum title bar) is missing on all subsequent pages. What do I need to do to fix it?

Any ideas?

Seen screenshot

[Lady Ginasue]

Thank you for these codes on making the space between categories. I have 11 fourms that I needed separated and this will help a lot.

[imported_Matt Whelan]

I did the spaces between categories hack.

I like it a lot but I do not like how it puts that line across the top of my forums and the space from the top forum section("First Generation") to the "Welcome to our newest member" part is too large of a gap.

How do I change this?

www.acura-legend.com/vbulletin


Thanks!

[Floris]

Those are just some extra <br> tags that you have.
Find them and remove them - they are near <!-- end text --> and <!-- main --> i think. iirc

[imported_Matt Whelan]

Those are just some extra <br> tags that you have.
Find them and remove them - they are near <!-- end text --> and <!-- main --> i think. iirc

Ok, I found out how to edit the appropriate <br> tags, but I still do not know how to remove that horizontal line, underscore, call it what you will. Any ideas? Thanks!

[kipy]

I have been having some problems trying to get this to work, does this work with Vbulletin version: 2.3.2 ?

[imported_Matt Whelan]

Ok, I found out how to edit the appropriate <br> tags, but I still do not know how to remove that horizontal line, underscore, call it what you will. Any ideas? Thanks!

Anyone? :(

Thank you.

[Lady Ginasue]

I use Version 2.3.2 and this hack worked like a charm on my site.

[crypticways]

Doesn't work in 2.3.2

[Rusche]

This is brilliant, excatly what im looking for! Thank you :D

[[Dx]]

For the strange line at top

In the forumhome template:

<!-- main -->
remove this:

<table cellpadding="{tableouterborderwidth}" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="{tablebordercolor}" width="{contenttablewidth}" align="center"><tr><td>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {tableinnerextra} width="100%">

vb 3.3.2