Separate forums on forumhome, category spacing

This modification will separate the forum tables on your forumhome, a screenshot is attached.
To fully understand this modification, basic HTML knowledge is required. You can download the complete XML file from the right if you would like to install this right away (upload the XML file in the Styles & Templates section of your Admin CP).
Notice: This modification will not work properly if you use subcategories (category with parent category) or stand-alone forums (forum with no parent category, on forumhome). Subforums will work fine, ofcourse.

Modified templates

• FORUMHOME
• forumhome_forumbit_level1_nopost

Forum Home Overview
Open the 'Forum Home Templates > FORUMHOME' template, we only need to edit the area between the <!-- main --> tags. Here's the default code:

<!-- main -->
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<thead>
	<if condition="$show['guest']">
	<!-- guest welcome message -->
	<tr>
		<td class="tcat" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">6<else />5</if>"><phrase 1="$vboptions[bbtitle]">$vbphrase[welcome_to_the_x]</phrase></td>
	</tr>
	<tr>
		<td class="alt1" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">6<else />5</if>">
			<phrase 1="faq.php$session[sessionurl_q]" 2="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[first_visit_message]</phrase>
		</td>
	</tr>
	<!-- / guest welcome message -->
	</if>
	<tr align="center">
	  <td class="thead">&nbsp;</td>
	  <td class="thead" width="100%" align="$stylevar[left]">$vbphrase[forum]</td>
	  <td class="thead" width="175">$vbphrase[last_post]</td>
	  <td class="thead">$vbphrase[threads]</td>
	  <td class="thead">$vbphrase[posts]</td>
	  <if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">
	  <td class="thead">$vbphrase[moderator]</td>
	  </if>
	</tr>
</thead>
$forumbits
<tbody>
	<tr>
		<td class="tfoot" align="center" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">6<else />5</if>"><div class="smallfont"><strong>
			<a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]do=markread" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[mark_forums_read]</a>
			<if condition="$vboptions['forumleaders']">&nbsp; &nbsp;
			<a href="showgroups.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[view_forum_leaders]</a></if>
		</strong></div></td>
	</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
$forumhome_markread_script
<!-- /main -->

Everything between the <!-- main --> tags is one table. We are going to separate this into multiple tables.
The above code contains:

• The guest welcome header.
• The 'forum, last post, threads, post' area.
• The category and forums rows ($forumbits).
• The 'mark forums read' and 'view forum leaders' links.

Forum Home Changes
What has to be changed:

• Guest welcome header should have it's own table.
• Delete the 'forum, last post, threads, post' area.
• Bottom links need their own div

Forum Home Result
Here's the final code:

<!-- main -->
<if condition="$show['guest']">
<!-- guest welcome message -->
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tr>
	<td class="tcat" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">6<else />5</if>"><phrase 1="$vboptions[bbtitle]">$vbphrase[welcome_to_the_x]</phrase></td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td class="alt1" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">6<else />5</if>">
		<phrase 1="faq.php$session[sessionurl_q]" 2="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[first_visit_message]</phrase>
	</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br />
<!-- / guest welcome message -->
</if>


$forumbits


<div class="tborder" style="padding: $stylevar[cellspacing]px;">
<div class="tfoot smallfont" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; padding: $stylevar[cellpadding]px;">
	<a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]do=markread" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[mark_forums_read]</a>
	<if condition="$vboptions['forumleaders']">&nbsp; &nbsp;
	<a href="showgroups.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[view_forum_leaders]</a></if>
</div></div>
$forumhome_markread_script
<!-- /main -->

==========

Forum Bit Overview
Now, open the 'Forum Home Templates > forumhome_forumbit_level1_nopost' template. This is the default code:

<tbody>
	<tr>
		<td class="tcat" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions[showmoderatorcolumn]">6<else />5</if>">
			<a style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top" onclick="return toggle_collapse('forumbit_$forumid')"><img id="collapseimg_forumbit_$forumid" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_tcat{$collapseimg_forumid}.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>
			<a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]f=$forum[forumid]">$forum[title]</a>
			<if condition="$show['forumdescription']"><div class="smallfont">$forum[description]</div></if>
			<if condition="$show['subforums']"><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[subforums]</strong>: $forum[subforums]</div></if>
		</td>
	</tr>
</tbody>
<if condition="$childforumbits">
<tbody id="collapseobj_forumbit_$forumid" style="{$collapseobj_forumid}">
$childforumbits
</tbody>
</if>

As you may have noticed, this code is a table row. Because we got rid of the table surrounding this table row (in the FORUMHOME template), we should now make this code into a complete table.

Forum Bit Changes
What has to be changed:

• Add table open tag
• The 'forum, last post, threads, post' area should be pasted before the forum rows.
• Add table close tag
• Add br tag at the end to create a space between the tables.

Forum Bit Result
This is the final code:

<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tbody>
	<tr>
		<td class="tcat" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions[showmoderatorcolumn]">6<else />5</if>">
			<a style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top" onclick="return toggle_collapse('forumbit_$forumid')"><img id="collapseimg_forumbit_$forumid" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_tcat{$collapseimg_forumid}.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>
			<a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]f=$forum[forumid]">$forum[title]</a>
			<if condition="$show['forumdescription']"><div class="smallfont">$forum[description]</div></if>
			<if condition="$show['subforums']"><div class="smallfont"><strong>$vbphrase[subforums]</strong>: $forum[subforums]</div></if>
		</td>
	</tr>
</tbody>
<if condition="$childforumbits">
<tbody id="collapseobj_forumbit_$forumid" style="{$collapseobj_forumid}">
	<tr align="center">
	  <td class="thead">&nbsp;</td>
	  <td class="thead" width="100%" align="$stylevar[left]">$vbphrase[forum]</td>
	  <td class="thead" width="175">$vbphrase[last_post]</td>
	  <td class="thead">$vbphrase[threads]</td>
	  <td class="thead">$vbphrase[posts]</td>
	  <if condition="$vboptions['showmoderatorcolumn']">
	  <td class="thead">$vbphrase[moderator]</td>
	  </if>
	</tr>
$childforumbits
</tbody>
</if>
</table>
<br />

That's it, these two template modifications are enough to get the desired effect of separated forum rows.
Are you using this modification? Press INSTALL.

Bas ten Feld
www.sleekskins.com

[SleekSkins]

Originally Posted by Floris

I have seen many different attempts at this but most seem to lack little things like the misalignment or the not matching up on forumdisplay etc. I think I will stick to my original complete and working 2.2.1 splitting one just updated to 3.6.2

The forumdisplay works perfect unless you use a subcategory. I am not familiar with 2.2.1 but go for it

[Limerick]

Originally Posted by Floris

I think I will stick to my original complete and working 2.2.1 splitting one just updated to 3.6.2

Where is it Floris? :knockedout:

[Brent H]

I'd like to know as well

[jwaany]

Thank you very much
Good work ;

[SleekSkins]

Originally Posted by jwaany

Thank you very much
Good work ;

Thanks alot!
I've updated to version 3.6.2, by the way.

[lazyseller]

it says Invalid File Specified when adding product..

same thing uploading the plugin...

[Tony P]

Installed like a charm... many thanks!

[Ev!L ErN!E]

Originally Posted by lazyseller

it says Invalid File Specified when adding product..

same thing uploading the plugin...

same here.... whats up?

[oldfan]

Originally Posted by Limerick

Where is it Floris? :knockedout:

I'll second that

[SleekSkins]

lazyseller and Ev!L ErN!E: The XML file should be uploaded as a style, not as a plugin.