[slamdog]

ok everyone..

figured it out!

repeat the instructions in the template changes but add the code in the newthread section to the gars_newthread template.

the first step is straight forward. the second step is as follows...

find this code

<fieldset class="fieldset">
					<legend>$vbphrase[title]:</legend>
<div style="padding:$stylevar[formspacer]px">
<input type="text" class="bginput" name="subject" value="$subject" size="50" maxlength="85" tabindex="1" /></div></fieldset>

replace it with this

<fieldset class="fieldset">
					<legend>$vbphrase[title]:</legend>
<div style="padding:$stylevar[formspacer]px"><table>
<if condition="$show['threadprefix']">
			<td class="smallfont">$vbphrase[threadprefix]:</td>
			</if>
			<td class="smallfont" colspan="<if condition="$show['threadprefix']">2<else />3</if>">$vbphrase[title]:</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<if condition="$show['threadprefix']">
			<td>$threadprefixes&nbsp;</td>
			</if>
			<td><input type="text" class="bginput" name="subject" value="$subject" size="40" maxlength="85" tabindex="1" /></td></table></div></fieldset>

I couldn't understand why things were not working and by sheer fluke I figured out that all I needed was to add the table statemnet to the GARS_newpost template.