[vBulletin 4] Simple way of including an external PHP file
 

There are other articles out there on variables, templates, etc on vBulletin 4. This is a simple example of including an external PHP files like you used to be able to do here:

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...P-or-HTML-File

Thanks to this Blog post by David IB http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/entry...s-to-templates and this article by cellarius https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=228078

I have figured out it's only a simple extra step.

Step 1: Create a new plugin

• Hook Location: What area of the forums you want this variable to appear. Don't know where? Use global_start
• Title: Give it a title
• Execution order: Your choice
• Plugin PHP Code:
  
  
  Code:

  ---

  ob_start();
  require_once('LOCATION OF EXTERNAL FILE');
  $php_include = ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean();
vB_Template::preRegister('TEMPLATE YOU ARE USING',array('php_include' => $php_include));

  ---

Step 2: You will have to figure out these two entries for yourself: LOCATION OF EXTERNAL FILE & Hook Location

To give you an example of what you should use is that if you want to display your external PHP file on your Forum's Home. Then replace these two with these values:

Hook Location with forumhome_start
TEMPLATE YOU ARE USING with FORUMHOME

Keep in mind that global_start will still be acceptable, but it's extra loading time where it's not needed. Therefore choosing the optimum hook location is better for your performance overall.

Step 3: Visit the Style Manager -> TEMPLATE YOU ARE USING and place the variable in your style where you want it. You will have to use the new format.

That's it - Pretty simple; see? :)

Notes, If you want to:

Include this PHP file in multiple templates then preRegister it for the multiple templates:

Thanks to David IB again.

I'm still learning as I go with vb4, but if I learn some more notes to add... I'll drop by here.

I hope that helps some one out there!

This is excellent, it works great on the forum and blog pages but it won't load on the home page for me. Any advice?

Helped someone else with the same problem. Globalstart isn't a hook on the home page.

I can't currently give you documentation, but if you use init_start it should work. For optimization reasons though I do not suggest that. I can offer more after the weekend is over if needed.

Thanks.

Hi,
Thanks for the tips. How would I use this idea to replicate a php 'echo file_get_contents' instead of a 'require_once'?
Cheers,
Phil

I'm not 100% sure. I haven't done that yet.

Stupid question, but have you tried swapping the two?

Yep, this works thanks...
Cool, this will make vBulletin really easy to integrate with my CMS templates. Great stuff.

You don't need the output buffer!
$php_include = file_get_contents('...'); would also work;)

I tried this, but it made my forum crash miserably. I had to restore a database backup in order for it to work again.

I made a custom template and I dont know which hook location to use for this...? if I use global start my site and forum (site is linked to the forums) is just the contents of the php file im trying to include.

When I create the plugin and I activate it, I get a blank page in my forum. This is the code I'm using in the plugin:

And this is what I'm using on the template header:

Why? Can you please help me?

Can please somebody help me out?