welcome/login panel on non-vB page

I've seen a lot of requests for this around here, but no solutions.

Latest version is 1.30
Works with V2.2.9 Should work with earlier version of 2.2.x too.


OVERVIEW
========
This hack/modification is designed to create a welcome panel on your non-vB homepage, so that users are either welcomed back if they are registered, or invited to login/register if they are not.

There are config options to show avatar and/or PM information and/or who's online (with or without usernames) in your welcome panel.

If you want to see a working example, then go to http://www.thebookforum.com The hack installed there does not show all of its features, but gives a general idea. The templates allow complete control over the look of the login/welcome panel.

There is one PHP file (webwelcome.php) to upload, and ten custom VB templates to create.

The templates can be modified to suit the design of your site. The ones that I have included in the zip file are those that I created for my site.

There are options to include the following additional info
- Avatar for guests or user's own avatar if logged in. If no avatar selected, a default one will be shown. Example guest and default avatars included in this release package.
- PM info to logged in users (will not show if user cannot use PMs or has chosen not to)
- Who's online (number of members of guests). Additional option to choose whether to show usernames.


CREDITS
======
This hack also uses some code originally written by several members of vbulletin.org in particular Firefly and MrLister.

Full credit is given in the php file for the relevent bits of code used. I have modified their code slightly to work with this hack.

I have not formally asked their permission due to the open source nature of the hacks at vbulletin.org
If they object I will remove their code from this hack release.


HISTORY
======
V1.30 13 September 2002
Hack creation now very simple. No more copy & paste. I've changed a lot of the original vb code so copy & paste would be nearly impossible.
Added option to include PM info and who's online (with or without usernames) in the welcome panel.
Default templates included in the hack release altered to include these new options.
New templates for the additional info to be shown.

V1.20 11 September 2002
Added option to include user's avatar in the welcome panel.
Default templates included in the hack release altered to include these new options.
Default templates altered to be more generic.

V1.10 13 May 2002
Fixes the bug where the "most users online...." on the forum page keeps reseting to zero.
Removes a lot of the unecessary bloat from the script.
Creation of script simplified. Now just cut and paste.
NB template name change in this version - webwelcome_home is now called webwelcome.

V1.00 07 April 2002
Original release.

[DraX]

Where exactly can I find the 1.30 zip file? All I see is the one for 1.20 and I checked that, which showed the last modified dates for the files as those relative to the time of your 1.2 release.

[Darren Lewis]

Sorry, I thought I'd uploaded the new zip file, but must have forgotten to check the button to replace the current attachment.

I've uploaded the new file in the first post.

Darren.

[DraX]

Hmmmm... the last modified date of the files within the archive still say 9/11, nothing suggesting they are more recent, and while the thread now says that the filename is v1-30.zip, it still downloads as v1-20.zip

A Closer look... the readme still says you have to copy and paste, which you said is no longer necessary with 1.30

[Darren Lewis]

Strange, could be a cache problem.

Anyway, I'll attach the 1.30 version to this post too.

Darren.

[DraX]

Thanks much. Great hack, by the way

[glo]

Hi Darren,

I have spent some time on other hacks and this appears to be more suited to what i actually need!

I will try to load it up in the next few days and when i do i will click the Install button.

Looking very promising! Will speak to you during the install!

Thanks

[glo]

Hi Darren,

I am about to do the install! I will be trying thiswith ver 2.2.8.

Do you know of any other users using 2.2.8?

[glo]

Hi Darren,

The install went well, but i cant seem to get it to integrate!

The html page is www.glo-racing.com/v3/main.html
and I am trying to place the welcome panel in the right hand blue column where it says "start"

I created the replacement file www.glo-racing.com/v3/main.php and for some reason the php completely alters the code.

I am open to suggestions!

[Darren Lewis]

Hi glo,

Your main.php file cannot find the webwelcome.php file so is ending at that point and not parsing the rest of the HTML. I tried to view the webwelcome.php file which should be in the same dir and I got a 404 error.

Viewing the source of your main.html file, everything else seems to be OK.

Darren.

PS It works with 2.2.8

[glo]

Hi Darren,

I have created a test page with only your webwelcome script at http://www.glo-racing.com/v3/test.php and this appears to displlay the correct info.

Notice this is in the same folder as as http://www.glo-racing.com/v3/main.html and http://www.glo-racing.com/v3/main.php. ( main.html and main.php have identical coding, just a different file extension!)

But for some reason the php extension manipulates the code. (Please confirm if the main.html and main.php look identical) because for me they appear different but are supposed to the same!

I have amended the path to webwelcome.php ie
<?php include ('/hsphere/local/home/glo-raci/glo-racing.com/forums/webwelcome.php'); ?>

This has not rectified the problem?

HELP!