How hard is to create custom styles?
 

Is it tough for a vB newbie to create custom styles? If not, is there a preferred program to use in design or does one just start with a blank sheet of paper (read program it from scratch).

Thanks

If you want a customized and coded style, then you need to use programs like Photoshop and Dreamweaver. If you want use only CSS, then you can use this tutorial: http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220805. :)

If I start with vBulletin and add a portal to the front end (I'm leaning towards vbPortal but if you know of one that's better worse than others as far as speed I'd appreciate the input), do you think I could develop my own front page that would look custom? Also, which graphics-oriented software package would you suggest? Photoshop or Dreamweaver?

Thanks!

You could install vBPortal and then do your own modifications, if you have permissions from vBPlaza's developers.
If you can, I suggest both: Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

The primary goal for me is designing a site with a front-end database that can be searched by users using data both manually and automatically fed from my vBulletin thread data. Given what you know about vBulletin, would you mess with a portal or just design your own front page w. a searchable database setup, then link it into the vBulletin community stuff?

Finally, do you know anyone that could build a searchable database to set on the front end of a vBulletin-driven community site?

Thanks

No, sorry, I can't help you here.

New styles are a snap.
- Think of a style as a skin or cover for your vBulletin powered pages.
- You can change them like you would change cell phone covers or the sheets on your bed.

There are some nice complex styles out there. I tend to like simple changes that deal with CSS, perhaps header, footer, headinclude template. (less to play with on upgrades)


vBadvanced CMPS

vBPortal

I've just subscribed to vBPortal...are you saying it'll allow me to build the searchable database I need?

Thanks

Well you can make static pages with dynamic/static blocks of information.
These portals use vBulletin as the backbone database.

You can create custom pages and select types of content to display from sections of your site.

- pick specific threads, or just select a forum to pull posts from and have these posts displayed as news articles
- show a poll and allow users to vote and see the results on your homepage
- custom content specify a template to include the content from on a page.

There are also many hacks with "portal integration".
- they have blocks that are made to display information to custom portal pages.