Forum Home Enhancements - Right side column on forum home only

This is a new release here. Previously released at www.peterska2.co.uk only.

In works on the exact same concept as the left side column, apart from the fact it is on the right.

Installation Instructions
Download the zip
Import the product
Make the template modifications
Click install


30 August 2006
Upgraded to version 1.0.2

Changes:

• Now valid XHTML Trans
• Fixed to work correctly with vBShout when located below navbar.
• Added vB.org version checking.

[xcingix]

Is there any way for doing this for top posters and or latest posts?

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[Chadi]

<a href="http://www.vbstyles.com/forum/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.vbstyles.com/forum/index.php</a>

Notice the "sidebar" button on the right forum area which hides/reveals the side bar column. Where can I find this hack?

I already have this sidebar hack installed

[Pete C]

I installed this and it displayed ok. Problems started as soon as the content was added - Google adsense, the mini calendar mod, a donate button etc. Load times on the forumhome went from a couple of seconds to literally minutes!

Tried removing the content bit by bit, but until EVERYTHING was removed the load time was seriously affected.

Disabled the sidecolumn and normal speeds were regained. Re-enabled and the slowdown recurred. I now have absolutely no doubt this hack seriously affects page loading time. I find this counterproductive since frustrated members simply log out rather than suffer the delays, so the benefit of any added content is thus lost.

It looked good, but it pretty well brought my site to a standstill!

A great shame, mainly due to the amount of time I wasted generating the Google ads, and matching the content to the style colours. *shakes head sadly*


*Update: It looks like I may have found a workaround for this - at least where my own site is concerned. Despite removing it, I was loathe to waste the time I'd spent getting it to look "just how I wanted", so I had another try. Strangely enough, installing it on just one of the 5 styles we have available seems to permit a reasonable load time. I really can't understand why this should be, the content is identical on all the styles, and although it was slowing things down, the display was correct.

I guess this means I can use that one style as default, thus giving a decent airing to the Google ads (??s) , and also giving the members chance to opt for another (slightly faster loading) style, with less advertising.

Hmm, maybe clouds do have silver linings after all . . . re-installed for now - I'll see how it goes.

[Chadi]

This hack causes 37 W3C errors. If I remove ALL content from the sidecolumn template, it reduces the W3C error down to one.

This is the content that I use:

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Scripture of the Day
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Today's Verse
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.heartlight.org/hls/tv_kjv.js"></script> 
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Streaming Multimedia
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
This Week's Video
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/streaming-multimedia/20066-shocking-youth-message-stuns-hearers.html">
<img src="images/vow.jpg" alt="Video of the Week" /></a>
</div>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Scriptural Answers
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Commonly Asked ?'s
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/scriptural-answers/">
<img src="images/old_paper.gif" alt="Bible Answers" class="footer1" /><br />
Scriptural Answers</a>
</div>
</td>
</tr>


<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Entertainment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Leisure Time
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/arcade.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/arcade.php">Arcade</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/journal.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/journal.php">Journal</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/gallery.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/gallery/index.php">Photo Gallery</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/media.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/streaming-multimedia/">Streaming Media</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Unique Tools
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/ispy.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/vaispy.php">iSpy</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/member.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/usercp.php">Refer a Friend</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/tag.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/tags/">Tag Cloud</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/time.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/worldtimes.php">World Time</a>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Talk Jesus Info
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Help Center
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/info.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/faq.php">FAQ</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/rules.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/forum-rules-ten-commandments/53-talk-jesus-10-commandments-rule.html">Forum Rules</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/etiquette.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/press-stand/12096-forum-etiquette.html">Forum Etiquette</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/moderator.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/showgroups.php">Moderators</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/book.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/press-stand/3028-statement-faith.html">Faith Statement</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Blog &amp; Statistics
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/blog.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/blog/">Blog</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/member.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/members/list/">Member List</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/stats.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/psistats.php">Site Statistics</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/statement.gif" alt="Icons" />&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/psistats.php?do=toptf">Top Threads</a>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Social Network
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Bible Resources
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/">Bible Gateway</a>
</td>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://biblepro.bibleocean.com/dox/default.aspx?WELCOME=true">Bible Pro</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.carm.org/">CARM</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/">Got Questions?</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/">Simply Youth</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Christian Ministries
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://billygraham.org/">Billy Graham</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.children.org">Children Intl</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="https://give.ccci.org/give">Campus Crusade</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.feedthechildren.org">Feed the Children</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://gfa.org/">Gospel for Asia</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/">Samaritan's Purse</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.persecution.com/">Voice of Martyrs</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Entertainment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.christianquotes.org/">Christian Quotes</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.godtube.com">GodTube</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com">Sermon Audio</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<img src="images/navbar/bullet.gif" alt="Icons" />
<a href="http://www.sermonindex.net/">Sermon Index</a>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Quotemeal
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Today's Quote
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.heartlight.org/hls/qm.js"></script>
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Photo Gallery
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Random Images
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
$vbgallery
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="tcat">
Online Protection
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Chad's Tips
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="alt2">
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/technical-support/6710-online-protection.html">
<img src="images/tip.gif" alt="Online Security" class="footer1" /></a><br /></div>
<img src="images/navbar/bullet_star.gif" alt="Bullet" />&nbsp;Security<br />
<img src="images/navbar/bullet_star.gif" alt="Bullet" />&nbsp;Free Software<br />
<img src="images/navbar/bullet_star.gif" alt="Bullet" />&nbsp;Safe Browsing<br />
<img src="images/navbar/bullet_star.gif" alt="Bullet" />&nbsp;Parental Filters<br />
<img src="images/navbar/bullet_star.gif" alt="Bullet" />&nbsp;Enhancements<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/technical-support/6710-online-protection.html">
...click here to read</a>
</td>
</tr>

Some w3c error examples:

Line 2522, Column 3: document type does not allow element "tr" here.
(this above mainly sums up almost all 37 errors)

Line 2651, Column 3: document type does not allow element "tr" here; assuming missing "table" start-tag.

If I empty the template while keeping the plugin installed and forumhome template edits in tact, I get this one error:

Line 2318, Column 7: end tag for "table" which is not finished.</table>

I hope someone can figure a way to fix the w3c errors. I've tried a few different methods to no avail. It also causes forumhome to load a bit slower, maybe an extra 3 seconds.

[wpeloquin]

If you have a problem with the column being at the bottom, it is a simple fix. it is because in FORUMHOME, the $forumbits is already encased inside a <table></table> tag. in order to make these separate tables, you must also make the following edits:

In your FORUMHOME template:

FIND:

<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
$forumbits
</table>


REPLACE WITH:

$forumbits

then, in forumhome_forumbit_level1_nopost, REPLACE THE WHOLE TEMPLATE WITH:

<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tbody>
	<tr>
		<td class="thead" colspan="<if condition="$vboptions[showmoderatorcolumn]">6<else />5</if>">
			<if condition="$childforumbits">
			<a style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top" onclick="return toggle_collapse('forumbit_$forumid')"><img id="collapseimg_forumbit_$forumid" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_tcat{$collapseimg_forumid}.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>
			</if>
			<a href="forumdisplay.php?$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>
</table>
<div style="padding:0px 0px 16px 0px;"></div>

[wpeloquin]

Originally Posted by chadi

I hope someone can figure a way to fix the w3c errors. I've tried a few different methods to no avail. It also causes forumhome to load a bit slower, maybe an extra 3 seconds.

just work on your own errors one at a time. the validator will tell you which code needs to be fixed, just find it and fix it