Trying to 'include' a Vbulletin 'forumdisplay' at the bottom of a webpage.

[Christophe_O]

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UPDATE January 17, 2008:
most problems solved!
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I received no reply yet in this forum--but thanks to help in other forums, most questions have been answered:

1. Iframes for remote inclusion of forumdisplay works well with height="1000". Only forum modifications needed: a. for better looks, remove banner from 'header' template, b. for proper link function, add <base="_top"> to 'headinclude' template.
2. Remote PHP includes also work after my host configured my server to "allow_url_include". However, not practical for forumdisplay pages. As an 'include' the page is no longer in the same 'relative' position as was designed. Thus all 'relative' link references and CSS are disconnected. This probably can be improved with a global edit of relative references. For the forumdisplay, this is not worth the bother, I just as soon use iframes. However I do hope to use remote PHP so that main text of weblog = main 'sticky' post of subforum. Wish me luck...
3. Making a 'remote call' as efficient as a 'local call' between sites on the same server? Preliminary tests suggest this is possible. However, there is that pesky problem of 'relative references'. Not worth the bother unless my forum traffic becomes huge... and I can afford to hire a PHP expert....

For the current status of this project see:
kwik-n-free.com/web-design/templates

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Original message of January 16 follows:
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My goal is an interactive web page with a Vbulletin 'forum display' page 'included' at the bottom.

The result will be similar to a standard weblog, except only that--instead of a handfull of 'replies' at the bottom--a forum discussion at the bottom. The current prototype can be seen at:
kwik-n-free.com/web-design/templates

I do not know PHP. Here are the possible methods, to my limited knowledge.

1. Simply use a 'frame' to paste a Vbulletin 'forum display' at the bottom. This is my prototype. Workable but needs work. Mainly: CSS code added to forum so that after clicking on any links the browser will break out of this frame.
   

   <iframe src="http://starnectar.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5"
   width="100%" height="100%" 
   scrolling=auto frameborder="0" marginwidth=0>
   </iframe>

   However, height=100% does not work with Explorer. The height remains too small. Switching to height=10000 pixels etc. Other suggestions welcome!
   
2. Instead of a frame, use a 'remote call' with PHP. However I do not understand PHP so I need help.
   
3. Possibly, since both websites will always be on the same server, the 'remote call' can be made to work like a 'local call'. Something like this:
   <?php include(".../.../.../.../user/public_html/forum/forumdisplay.php?f2.ph"); ?>
   
   However, I can not get Vbulletin to 'include' even when it is a local 'PHP call'! Suggestions welcome?
   
4. Create a custom PHP script that uses remote database access to call and include precisely those elements of the 'forum display' that are desired. 'If' this is likely to succeed, then I would be glad to consider hiring a programmer.
   
   However, I have read that 'remote includes' create a security problem...? If so, perhaps techniques 'c' and 'd' can be combined. I.e., perhaps 'remote can become local within the same server...? Or, perhaps the PHP call processing can be done on the forum server, then produce an 'output' to the remote site that does not involve remote database access?
   
5. Ideally, the 'main text' for the web page can also be a PHP include, calling the text of a forum message. I.e., the message that you are now reading could be the 'sticky' message of my Vbulletin 'templates' subforum, dedicated to 'My all-purpose template ideas'... The same message could be 'included' to become the main text of a standard web page on a remote site...

I am willing to pay a PHP programmer, if necessary. However, I would appreciate any advice about precisely what should I ask of the programmer...? Possibly, the best method is different from my ideas...? Without the right advice, I might not get what is needed.

Thank you anyone for helping to point me in the right direction.