vbHome (lite) - your vBulletin(powered) main homepage

vbHome (lite) 4.2 Released (coded for vBulletin 2 only)
[high]vbHome (lite)[/high] will create a vBulletin(powered) homepage for your web site.
The advantage of this script is that you can interact better your web site with vBulletin. Fully customizable through vBulletin templates, it's very easy to achieve any look or web design you want.
[high]You like the vB.org main homepage? With a little editing of vbHome (lite), you can achieve the same look.[/high]

Important Update
[high]Please update your footer link to the new web site:[/high]
cpublisher.com
The old link (teckwizards.com) has expired.
Thank you.

[high]Why choose vbHome (lite):[/high]
- vBulletin known stability and flexibility
- high quality php code (entirely original, not ripped)
- true XHTML and XML compliant
- template based
- extremely easy to install (vBulletin style installer)
- easy to write your own add-ons and modules

What's Hot with vbHome (lite)
[high]Search Engine Indexer Add-On v1.4 Released[/high] [download]
This is an enhanced version of curent Search Engine Indexer, that I released here at vB.org site.
The add-on will work ONLY with vbHome (lite) 4.x.
I followed the same tradition, the script is true XHTML compliant, that's why I added the logo at the bottom.

Visit our archive to see the new look.

[high]vbHome (lite) installed at AVS Forums web site![/high]
AVS Forums is a community with over 53,500 active members (1500 online users, almost every day) and over 1,600,000 posts in a 5GB database.
They recently switched to vbHome (lite) due to the script performance.
Visit their page to have a look.

[high]vbHome (lite) is now featured at HotScripts.com.[/high]
The Support Forums are open. [high]You want to see vbHome (lite) live? Go here.[/high]
I can help you on the support forums only. Other users might (and should) help you also here. However, on the forums we have several forum leaders specialized on vbHome (lite) issues that will solve your problem in no time.

[high]vbHome (lite) won the HOTM award.[/high]
Thank you for your votes and encouragements. Read more here.


New Features for vbHome (lite) 4.2
This an important release, due to performance. Here it is what is new in vbHL 4.2:

1. optimized the queries for large boards
2. added the backend.php file (XML feeder, so you can syndicate your news and forums)
3. made a new installer, easier to use

Keep in mind that the new installer is all-in-one tool.
It will let you install, uninstall, update the old threads that are not displayed correctly and also update your templates, if you upgraded your vBulletin version.
Also the [high]XML feeder[/high] will let you syndicate the news and latest forum discussions to any RSS compliant tool.
The most popular ones are Trillian and KlipFolio, but you can also import it in others.
Check the TW.com Instructions Page to see how you can set it up.

Upgrade to vbHome (lite) 4.2 (from 4.1)
Do NOT start adding crazy stuff from old vBulletin header, footer, etc. It will not work. Instead check the code changes and edit them accordingly.
Since vbHL 4.x changed completely related to the variables usage and templates code, you will need to uninstall the old version and re-install the new one. To do this, follow those steps:
1. Uninstall the current version script using [high]the OLD install[/high] file.
2. Delete all OLD files from your server.
3. Open the NEW readmefirst file and follow the instructions.

In conclusion, upgrade asap.
You don't have anymore the old file? The only version still available is v3.8.

Code Hacks
vbHome (lite) is the first hack that will have hacks made for it, here at vBulletin.org.
So go ahead and switch the "hack" button on, for vbHome (lite). The users will enjoy it. Read more at the support forums.


Copyright and Permissions - [high]ARE YOU READING THIS?[/high]
1. You [high]are NOT[/high] allowed to REMOVE or MODIFY the copyright text at the bottom of the page, or to ALTER in any way the URL links listed there.
[high]First[/high], vbHome (lite) uses vBulletin functions, so it's part of it. If you must keep the Jelsoft copyright at the bottom of your vBulletin forums, then it should be present also in vbHome (lite) page(s). The only part you can remove from the copyright is the vBulletin and vbHome (lite) version, same like in your forums.
If you paid the $600US fee to have the vBulletin copyright removed, then you have permission to remove also the vbHome (lite) text and link.
[high]Second[/high], is the time I consumed on this script to provide you with a free, reliable and performant piece of software. If you use it, all I ask in return is to leave the links intact.
Click here to see how it looks the copyright note at the bottom.
2. You [high]are NOT[/high] allowed to REDISTRIBUTE the contents of the .zip file.
3. You [high]are NOT[/high] allowed to post any parts of the code either here on the thread or somewhere else.
Basically you follow the same rules as vBulletin does, if you are not allowed to post pieces of code from vBulletin, then the same rule apply to vbHome (lite).
4. You [high]are NOT[/high] allowed to COPY ANY PARTS of the code and use it for distribution.
In other words, you can run the script for personal(web site) use only. No part of the code may be copied, altered in any way, then distributed in a different package. This includes removing any part of the code to be included in any other version or re-release.
5. You are allowed to add, remove or modify any part of the included code.

[high]If you do NOT agree, please do not install this script.[/high]
If you are not happy with the rules listed above, please feel free to install other similarly scripts that will add on your page 50-100 queries and crash your server. The code I made can cope very easy with a large amount of users online, in fact is optimized for large web sites.


Installation Tips - [high]ARE YOU READING THIS?[/high]
I have provided support to those that have had problems, that insisted that they did indeed read the help file, when in fact they did not, because when I went through the steps with them, they realized they missed something, ALWAYS.

Support will only be given to those that have thoroughly read the [high]readmefirst.htm[/high] file included with the script.
All of your questions are specifically answered in this file. If you continue to have problems, it's because:

A. You did not read the included help file.
When you read it, take the time to read every line of it, not just what you like.
B. You edited the code incorrectly.
Mixing the "BELOW ADD" with "REPLACE WITH" expressions is inadmissible, that's English, not Chinese.
C. You were in a rush to install this and missed a step.
Take a coffee or whatever you want and 30min of your free time and the script will install without a hinch.
D. All of the above.

If you want to display nice locations in your online.php file, like for example [high]Main Index[/high] and [high]Forum Main Index[/high], read more here.
__________________________________________________ __

NOTE: As a thank you for using my script, please click on the INSTALL button.
You will receive updates in your e-mail, whenever I add new features to it and it will let me evaluate better the quality of my hacks.
Also post a reply with your comments. Your opinion is important to me.

BEFORE YOU ASK A QUESTION, SEARCH THE THREAD OR THE SUPPORT FORUMS.
[high]I will not answer anymore to any questions in this thread, that's why we have forums.[/high]
CANNOT GET THE LATEST VERSION? CLEAR YOUR BROWSER TEMP FILES.
[high]Why did you scrolled down without reading the copyright??[/high] Scroll up and read the copyright. Thanks.

Important Update
[high]Please update your footer link to the new web site:[/high]
cpublisher.com
The old link (teckwizards.com) has expired.
Thank you.

[TECK]

Originally posted by MultiSync
TECK

I have a little problem, after I setup a clean install of vbb and vbhl on a new host, the vbhl index page loaded up as a blank page, but the forum index loads up just fine. Do you know what problem I have? I have read thru the posts here and find no answer.

Thanks

the path. that's ur prob. readmefirst.htm is the answer to any prob.

[nocturnix123]

I am getting an "error on page" icon in the bottom left of my browser on the index.php page.

When i double click the error icon it gives me this error message...

Line: 64
char: 1
Error: Object expected
Code: 0
URL: http://www.mysite.com/

Any clue what this could mean? site seems to work fine, but i dont like that the page is running with errors.

If you need me to paste any files/templates i can.

[TECK]

ya, you added some java stuff in your templates that is not part of the script. or you moded the focus on search? could be...
url?

[TECK]

Originally posted by nocturnix123
If you need me to paste any files/templates i can.

make sure you read the copyright on the first post, before stating something like that (point 3). thanks.

[Issy_X]

Originally posted by TECK
ofcourse you have blank pages. did you read every single word on readmefirst.htm? no. here it is your answer. that's for you to Issy_X.

I read it all, and everything is working except for the custom avatars. My board has no default avatars, only custom one's. Do I have to upload a set of avatars or did I do something wrong with installing. My english isn't very good and I didn't really understand step 8.

[Smoothie]

STEP 2;
Open member.php file (located in /forum folder) and perform the code change listed below.
FIND:
$avatars=$DB_site->query("SELECT *
REPLACE WITH:
if (in_array($bbuserinfo['usergroupid'], array(6, $articlegroup))) {
$avatars=$DB_site->query("SELECT *
FIND:
$pagenav = getpagenav($totalavatars,"member.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&action=editavatar&perpage=$perpage");
REPLACE WITH:
$pagenav = getpagenav($totalavatars,"member.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&action=editavatar&perpage=$perpage");
}

STEP 5;
Open modifyavatar template (located in User Option Templates section) and perform the code change listed below.
FIND:
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#13486D" align="center" colspan="2">
<normalfont><b>Choose your avatar from the available list:</b></normalfont></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#1C5780" colspan="2" align="center">
<table bgcolor="#0A293E" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="10">
$avatarlist
</table>
<normalfont>Displaying Avatars $limitlower to $limitupper of $totalavatars<br>$pagenav</normalfont>
</td>
</tr>
REPLACE WITH:
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#1C5780" colspan="2" align="center">
<table bgcolor="#0A293E" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="10">
$avatarlist
<normalfont>$pagenav</normalfont></table>
</td>
</tr>

STEP 8;
Still in your vBulletin Admin Control Panel, set your journalist avatars URL to your full website URL, like that:
Avatars > Modify > [edit]

and change the Path to image to the full URL, instead of your current value, images.
Example: http://www.yoursite.com/forum/images...journalist.gif

The default avatars will be from now your staff images. I recommend you to use pictures. They will work the same way like normal avatars, with the exception that they will be viewed only by your staff. The rest of members will be able to upload their own custom avatars, as usual.

If you don't want to allow avatars uploads, simply disable the Upload Avatar option, in Avatars section of
your Admin Control Panel.

JOURNALISTS GROUP
Enter here the usergroup ID value you generated in step 9. vBulletin uses 2 types of avatar groups, default and custom
(user uploaded). 99.99% of the cases, the default group is not used.
vbHome (lite) will use this group to store your journalists pictures or avatars.

The way are set the code changes, it will enable this default group of avatars to be viewed only by administrators and members who belong onto Journalists group. So if you have avatars enabled on your site, a normal user who wants to add his(her) avatar will not see the images.

[Issy_X]

I did all of that except for

STEP 8;
Still in your vBulletin Admin Control Panel, set your journalist avatars URL to your full website URL, like that:
Avatars > Modify > [edit]

and change the Path to image to the full URL, instead of your current value, images.
Example: http://www.yoursite.com/forum/image.../journalist.gif

The default avatars will be from now your staff images. I recommend you to use pictures. They will work the same way like normal avatars, with the exception that they will be viewed only by your staff. The rest of members will be able to upload their own custom avatars, as usual.

If you don't want to allow avatars uploads, simply disable the Upload Avatar option, in Avatars section of
your Admin Control Panel.

Because when I go to my Admin CP and to Avatars, there are no avatars because I don't use default avatars. I want the custom avatars to work.

[slideboxer]

Ditto to what Issy_X says...

[TECK]

it will slow down the page if you do this. it was mentioned several times here...
let me explain why: if you have only few default avatars that are loaded as default avatars, they will be viewed only by the Journalist group.
then when the script loads it will search through few id's instead of 30,000 presuming that your board will grow.

also is esthetic, since you have avatars displayed on the home page, in other words it's the image of your site. how do you know if some of jourmalists will upload some nasty images? that you don't like? you have total control over the avatars since every journalist will have his(her) own assigned website avatar, that's why they are journalists, not moderators etc.

the custom avatar can be done very easy. feel free to release a hack for it and i will link it to the first post.

cheers.

[TECK]

Originally posted by Issy_X
When I go to my Admin CP and to Avatars, there are no avatars because I don't use default avatars. I want the custom avatars to work.

so upload the ones you want for your journalists.. is that hard for you? please read the explanations above.

cheers.