The Arcive of Official vBulletin Modifications Site.

United-Forum CSS Sprites - ludicrous speed - NOW! · **Released**: 07-11-2011

tl;dr Makes your forum faster.

Want an easy one-click installation for this addon? . Vote for this jira-entry

Add on currently is in beta stage

When visiting a website, speed is a very important factor not only for users but crawlers as well. Long loading times are a nuisance since your time is basically wasted during the waiting period. Hence, we are trying everything we can in order to speed up our site. One great way to improve loading times is by the use of css sprites. Unfortunately these are not implemented by vBulletin.

We therefore decided to develop our own css-sprite add on for vBulletin boards and want to share this code with the worldwide vBulletin community.

Live demo

The add on is permanently running in our vBulletin board ( > 2.000.000 posts), take a look:
http://www.united-forum.de

The add on will be supported via this thread. If you have any questions, issues, improvements or feedback regarding this add on, please feel free to post a comment or write us a pm at any time. We are happy to discuss

vBulletin performance using css sprites

Our tests are based on version 0.7.0. We used the analytic tools firebug network utility and the googlelabs.com page speed site

on the client side the following parameter were used:
download speed: 5.7 MBit/s
ping: 31ms

css sprites - what are they?

The intention behind css sprites is the bundling of many small graphics into one large graphic in order to decrease the number of required http requests. This shortens the loading times of the given website. In addition, the the accumulated size of all small graphics is higher than the size of the sprite due to reasons of compression.
You can find further information in a great article by Chris Coyier.

What is the gain in using css sprites?

Aside from the technical implementation, the question on how much one actually does gain by using css sprites is of the most interest. Obviously they decrease loading times - but how important are small loading times and what is the impact on vBulletin overall loading times?

A short time ago, Jasper Aguila pointed out that speed is one crucial stickiness factor in his blog on vBulletin.com.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper Aguila vBulletin Support

The internet has unfortunately contributed to the exponential decrease in attention span for many individuals. That's why this decade is seeing a trend in emerging technologies emphasizing the importance of speed request. It's crucial for your content to be promptly distributed in a timely manner, else bounce rate will increase - making you lose returning visitors. It's also important to note that slow sites may be penalized by search engines.

With better browsers, more powerful processors, and improved technologies constantly releasing each year, it's becoming quite difficult to provide excuses for slow loading pages. Therefore, try optimizing your server for speed. Read up and learn optimization techniques at vBulletin.com's Server Configuration forum.

In addition, the google ranking is influenced by the site speed as well.

Google Webmaster Central Blog

Quote:

Originally Posted by 09.04.2010 - Google Webmaster Central Blog

You may have heard that here at Google we're obsessed with speed, in our products and on the web. As part of that effort, today we're including a new signal in our search ranking algorithms: site speed. Site speed reflects how quickly a website responds to web requests.

vBseo Webmaster Mert G?k?eimam

Quote:

CSS sprites is a huge bonus for big boards , any big board owner definately should use it.

Last but not least, not only the user's loading time is reduced, but also does the server load decrease as the server will have to handle a lot less of http requests. This clears available connections and cpu time.

Add on features

In the current released beta version 0.7.2, sprites are available for FORUMHOME and FORUMDISPLAY. Coming up next SHOWTHREAD.

Sprites are created style based for all forum styles and saved in a folder which you can set via the imgdir_sprite stylevar. You have one additional button in the ACP (CSS-Sprites -> Refresh) which automatically creates all sprites, the according css definitions and includes those css definitions in the vBulletin css rollup files.

Installation

First of all, if you didnt want to change the templates manually, install the Template Modification System (TMS). Now proceed with the installation:

upload the contents of the upload folder into your forum home directory.

import the add on in the ACP

upon installation a new stylevar imgdir_sprite will be created. Update this stylevar based on your file structure - default value is the vbulletin sprite directory. Make sure the folder is writable, else the sprites can't be saved!

create the sprites via the ACP at CSS-Sprite using the Refresh option.

If you have installed TMS, you are done now. This was an easy gained speed up, not? If you didnt installed TMS and didnt want to do it, proceed with the next point:

in order to use the sprites, you then will have to edit some templates. The diffs (xou will find it in the do_not_upload folder show which parts you have to delete '<' and which parts to add '>' In addition, on top find the lines in which you will find the respective code.[/b]

final kaoss · #92 08-01-2011, 01:26 AM

There's one thing I would like to see added to this.

Domain Sharding

As we've been discussing this and other tweaks here.

And please... if your going to post in english at least put the screenshots in english too... thanks.

Osbes · #93 08-01-2011, 05:14 AM

Hello extreme-gaming,

sorry, since we are from germany our tools are also in german, but we will try to use an english version for the screenshots next time

Since Version 0.6.2 i have added support for URLs within the imgdir_* Stylevars, so you can use this addon with CDNs. So i would assume, that Domain Sharding also works.

How is Domain Sharding implemented on your site, whats the content of the imgdir_* StyleVars?

Best regards
Sebastian

8thos · #94 08-01-2011, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osbes

Hello extreme-gaming,

sorry, since we are from germany our tools are also in german, but we will try to use an english version for the screenshots next time

Since Version 0.6.2 i have added support for URLs within the imgdir_* Stylevars, so you can use this addon with CDNs. So i would assume, that Domain Sharding also works.

How is Domain Sharding implemented on your site, whats the content of the imgdir_* StyleVars?

Best regards
Sebastian

I plan on using this modification in conjunction with domain sharding. I want an A across the board on webpagetest.org. First Byte Time is killing me. I keep getting an F.

final kaoss · #95 08-01-2011, 06:26 AM

I have them all set to (via stylevars)

Code:

/i1/

like /i1/icons
/i1/sprites

And now your plugin says:

Quote:

DF2
0 custom icons added.
0 imageprefixes for forums found.
38 icon candidates added.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/category-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/category_forum_link.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/category_forum_new.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/category_forum_old_lock.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/category_forum_old.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_link-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_new-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_old-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_new_lock-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_old_lock-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_link-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_new-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_new_lock-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_old-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/forum_old_lock-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/subforum_link-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/subforum_new-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/subforum_old-48.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/subforum_link.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/subforum_new.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/statusicon/subforum_old.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/buttons/lastpost-left.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/buttons/lastpost-right.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/misc/rss_40b.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/misc/subscribed_40b.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/profile.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/forum.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/message.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/blog.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/homepage.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/article.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/add.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/site_icons/email.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/misc/users_online.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/misc/event.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/misc/birthday.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/misc/forum_stats.png does not exist or is not readable.
/home/username/public_html/forum/i1/misc/legend.png does not exist or is not readable.
Starting with main.
0 icons added.
Creating sprite (width:1000px height:1px).

Warning: imagepng() [function.imagepng]: Unable to open '[path]/i1/sprites/sprite-16-main.png' for writing: No such file or directory in [path]/admincp/sprite.php on line 798
Error occurred: Unable to save sprite in /i1/sprites/sprite-16-main.png.
CSS template successfully updated.
Starting with forumdisplay.
0 icons added.
Creating sprite (width:1000px height:1px).

Warning: imagepng() [function.imagepng]: Unable to open '[path]/i1/sprites/sprite-16-forumdisplay.png' for writing: No such file or directory in [path]/admincp/sprite.php on line 798
Error occurred: Unable to save sprite in /i1/sprites/sprite-16-forumdisplay.png.
CSS template successfully updated.
Starting with forumhome.
0 icons added.
Creating sprite (width:1000px height:1px).

Warning: imagepng() [function.imagepng]: Unable to open '[path]/i1/sprites/sprite-16-forumhome.png' for writing: No such file or directory in [path]/admincp/sprite.php on line 798
Error occurred: Unable to save sprite in /i1/sprites/sprite-16-forumhome.png.
CSS template successfully updated.
Starting with showthread.
0 icons added.
Creating sprite (width:1000px height:1px).

Warning: imagepng() [function.imagepng]: Unable to open '[path]/i1/sprites/sprite-16-showthread.png' for writing: No such file or directory in [path]/admincp/sprite.php on line 798
Error occurred: Unable to save sprite in /i1/sprites/sprite-16-showthread.png.
CSS template successfully updated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osbes

Hello extreme-gaming,

sorry, since we are from germany our tools are also in german, but we will try to use an english version for the screenshots next time

Since Version 0.6.2 i have added support for URLs within the imgdir_* Stylevars, so you can use this addon with CDNs. So i would assume, that Domain Sharding also works.

How is Domain Sharding implemented on your site, whats the content of the imgdir_* StyleVars?

Best regards
Sebastian

Mooff · #96 08-01-2011, 09:51 AM

Are those files readable and the folder writeable for the username/group you are using for php?

DNCL · #97 08-01-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mooff

If that doesn't work hit the sprite-refresh button in the acp and send us the output.

1 styles found.

Default Style
0 custom icons added.
0 imageprefixes for forums found.
Processing post icons.
14 post icons found.
Adding sidebar icons.
122 icon candidates added.
/forum/images/statusicon/forum_new_lock-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
/forum/images/statusicon/forum_old_lock-16.png does not exist or is not readable.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-main.png.
97 icons added.
Creating sprite (width:1000px height:117px).
Sprite saved, updating css-rules.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-main_rtl.png.
97 icons added.
Creating sprite (width:1000px height:117px).
Sprite saved, updating css-rules.
CSS template successfully updated.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-forumdisplay.png.
0 icons added.
Sprite was not created.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-forumdisplay_rtl.png.
0 icons added.
Sprite was not created.
CSS template successfully updated.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-forumhome.png.
0 icons added.
Sprite was not created.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-forumhome_rtl.png.
0 icons added.
Sprite was not created.
CSS template successfully updated.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-showthread.png.
0 icons added.
Sprite was not created.
Starting with images/sprites/sprite-1-showthread_rtl.png.
0 icons added.
Sprite was not created.
CSS template successfully updated.

giorgino · #98 08-01-2011, 10:39 AM

Hi guys this template changes don't match:

Code:

Template: pagenav
5c5
Trova:
<span class="first_last"><a href="{vb:raw lastaddress}{vb:raw address2}<vb:if condition="$show['pagelinks']"><vb:if condition="$use_qmark">?<vb:else />&amp;</vb:if>page={vb:raw totalpages}</vb:if><vb:if condition="$anchor">#{vb:raw anchor}</vb:if>" title="{vb:rawphrase last_page} - {vb:rawphrase results_x_to_y_of_z, {vb:raw lastnumbers.first}, {vb:raw lastnumbers.last}, {vb:raw total}}">{vb:rawphrase last}<img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_pagination}/last-{vb:stylevar right}.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase last}" /></a></span>

8c8
Trova:
<span class="prev_next"><a rel="next" href="{vb:raw nextaddress}{vb:raw address2}<vb:if condition="$show['pagelinks']"><vb:if condition="$use_qmark">?<vb:else />&amp;</vb:if>page={vb:raw nextpage}</vb:if><vb:if condition="$anchor">#{vb:raw anchor}</vb:if>" title="{vb:rawphrase next_page} - {vb:rawphrase results_x_to_y_of_z, {vb:raw nextnumbers.first}, {vb:raw nextnumbers.last}, {vb:raw total}}"><img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_pagination}/next-{vb:stylevar right}.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase next}" /></a></span>

18c18
Trova:
<span class="prev_next"><a rel="prev" href="{vb:raw prevaddress}{vb:raw address2}<vb:if condition="$show['pagelinks']"><vb:if condition="$use_qmark">?<vb:else />&amp;</vb:if>page={vb:raw prevpage}</vb:if><vb:if condition="$anchor">#{vb:raw anchor}</vb:if>" title="{vb:rawphrase prev_page} - {vb:rawphrase results_x_to_y_of_z, {vb:raw prevnumbers.first}, {vb:raw prevnumbers.last}, {vb:raw total}}"><img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_pagination}/previous-{vb:stylevar right}.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase previous}" /></a></span>

27c27
Trova:
<span class="first_last"><a rel="start" href="{vb:raw firstaddress}{vb:raw address2}<vb:if condition="$anchor">#{vb:raw anchor}</vb:if>" title="{vb:rawphrase first_page} - {vb:rawphrase results_x_to_y_of_z, {vb:raw firstnumbers.first}, {vb:raw firstnumbers.last}, {vb:raw total}}"><img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_pagination}/first-{vb:stylevar right}.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase first}" />{vb:rawphrase first}</a></span>

30c30
Trova:
<span class="prev_next"><a rel="prev" href="{vb:raw prevaddress}{vb:raw address2}<vb:if condition="$show['pagelinks']"><vb:if condition="$use_qmark">?<vb:else />&amp;</vb:if>page={vb:raw prevpage}</vb:if><vb:if condition="$anchor">#{vb:raw anchor}</vb:if>" title="{vb:rawphrase prev_page} - {vb:rawphrase results_x_to_y_of_z, {vb:raw prevnumbers.first}, {vb:raw prevnumbers.last}, {vb:raw total}}"><img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_pagination}/previous-{vb:stylevar right}.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase previous}" /></a></span>

40c40
Trova:
<span class="prev_next"><a rel="next" href="{vb:raw nextaddress}{vb:raw address2}<vb:if condition="$show['pagelinks']"><vb:if condition="$use_qmark">?<vb:else />&amp;</vb:if>page={vb:raw nextpage}</vb:if><vb:if condition="$anchor">#{vb:raw anchor}</vb:if>" title="{vb:rawphrase next_page} - {vb:rawphrase results_x_to_y_of_z, {vb:raw nextnumbers.first}, {vb:raw nextnumbers.last}, {vb:raw total}}"><img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_pagination}/next-{vb:stylevar right}.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase next}" /></a></span>

43c43
Trova:
<span class="first_last"><a href="{vb:raw lastaddress}{vb:raw address2}<vb:if condition="$show['pagelinks']"><vb:if condition="$use_qmark">?<vb:else />&amp;</vb:if>page={vb:raw totalpages}</vb:if><vb:if condition="$anchor">#{vb:raw anchor}</vb:if>" title="{vb:rawphrase last_page} - {vb:rawphrase results_x_to_y_of_z, {vb:raw lastnumbers.first}, {vb:raw lastnumbers.last}, {vb:raw total}}">{vb:rawphrase last}<img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_pagination}/last-{vb:stylevar right}.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase last}" /></a></span>

giorgino · #99 08-01-2011, 11:15 AM

I've upgraded from 0.6.3 to 0.7.0 and I've this issue

nikosb · #**100** 08-01-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giorgino

I've upgraded from 0.6.3 to 0.7.0 and I've this issue

the same on 0.7.0

Osbes · #**101** 08-01-2011, 12:19 PM

Sorry for the problems, there is update missing for the css-rule .threadbit .nonsticky a.threadstatus, .threadbit .sticky a.threadstatus in threadlist.css

Please change the original

Code:

.threadbit .nonsticky a.threadstatus, .threadbit .sticky a.threadstatus {
    background-position: {vb:stylevar padding} 4px;
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    clear: right;
    display: block;
    float: left;
    position: relative;
    width: 60px;
}

to

Code:

.threadbit .nonsticky a.threadstatus, .threadbit .sticky a.threadstatus {
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    clear: right;
    display: block;
    float: left;
    position: relative;
    width: 60px;
}

I will update to 0.7.0a which include this change in the TMS-rules in a few minute.

X vBulletin 3.8.12 by vBS Debug Information
Page Generation 0.06679 seconds Memory Usage 2,413KB Queries Executed 27 (?)
More Information
Template Usage: (1)SHOWTHREAD (1)ad_footer_end (1)ad_footer_start (1)ad_header_end (1)ad_header_logo (1)ad_navbar_below (1)ad_showthread_beforeqr (4)bbcode_code (8)bbcode_quote (1)footer (1)forumjump (1)forumrules (1)gobutton (1)header (1)headinclude (1)modsystem_post (1)navbar (4)navbar_link (120)option (1)pagenav (1)pagenav_curpage (4)pagenav_pagelink (2)pagenav_pagelinkrel (11)post_thanks_box (17)post_thanks_box_bit (11)post_thanks_button (1)post_thanks_javascript (1)post_thanks_navbar_search (1)post_thanks_postbit (11)post_thanks_postbit_info (10)postbit (9)postbit_attachment (11)postbit_onlinestatus (11)postbit_wrapper (1)spacer_close (1)spacer_open (1)tagbit_wrapper Phrase Groups Available: global inlinemod postbit posting reputationlevel showthread	Included Files: ./showthread.php ./global.php ./includes/init.php ./includes/class_core.php ./includes/config.php ./includes/functions.php ./includes/class_hook.php ./includes/modsystem_functions.php ./includes/functions_bigthree.php ./includes/class_postbit.php ./includes/class_bbcode.php ./includes/functions_reputation.php ./includes/functions_post_thanks.php Hooks Called: init_startup init_startup_session_setup_start init_startup_session_setup_complete cache_permissions fetch_threadinfo_query fetch_threadinfo fetch_foruminfo style_fetch cache_templates global_start parse_templates global_setup_complete showthread_start showthread_getinfo forumjump showthread_post_start showthread_query_postids showthread_query bbcode_fetch_tags bbcode_create showthread_postbit_create postbit_factory postbit_display_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_start fetch_musername post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_end post_thanks_function_thanked_already_start post_thanks_function_thanked_already_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_bit_start post_thanks_function_show_thanks_date_start post_thanks_function_show_thanks_date_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_bit_end post_thanks_function_fetch_post_thanks_template_start post_thanks_function_fetch_post_thanks_template_end postbit_imicons bbcode_parse_start bbcode_parse_complete_precache bbcode_parse_complete postbit_attachment postbit_display_complete post_thanks_function_can_thank_this_post_start pagenav_page pagenav_complete tag_fetchbit_complete forumrules navbits navbits_complete showthread_complete
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