Miscellaneous Hacks - Ultimate Side Columns

Ultimate Side Columns
By Kerry-Anne www.peterska2.co.uk

Welcome to Ultimate Side Columns!

Introduction

Following the success of the left and right side column modifications, and building on their weaknesses, the Ultimate Side Columns system was born.

Ultimate Side Columns (USC) is your one stop shop for all your side columns needs. It is an easy to configure, all in one solution.


Features

USC uses a standard vBulletin Options Interface with minimal template editing involved, to display content in columns on your site.

USC controls both the left and right columns on your site, both of which work independently of each other, and can be displayed on a range of pages through some very simple options.

The only editing required for a standard installation is the header and footer template. For advanced users, the templates for the two columns can also be edited if required. Most users of this system will not need to do this.


Installation

Import the product-ka_ultimate_sidecolumns.xml file as a product through your product manager.

Open your header template and at the very end add

<!-- USC header edit start -->
<table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
<tr>
$usc_left
<td valign="top">
<!-- USC header edit end -->

Open your footer template and above

$spacer_close

add

<!-- USC footer edit start -->
</td>
$usc_right
</tr>
</table>
<!-- USC footer edit end -->

That is all your template editing done.

Now, go to vBulletin Options > Ultimate Side Columns Options

Here you can set which column you wish to use, and where you want it to appear. Content is also controlled through the options on this page. HTML is allowed in all content boxes.


Configuration

As there are a number of options available, this section explains them all.

First, you have the settings for enabling and disabling the two columns. As these work independently of each other, you can have the left column turned on, the right column turned on, or both turned on. If you need to turn them off for any reason, you can also turn them off here. Also, if you need to disable plugins for any reason, the code is completely disabled meaning that no unsightly white gaps are left on your pages.

Next, we have the width settings for the two columns. If you find that your columns are too wide, or too narrow, then they can be adjusted independently here.

The display pages settings allow you to control where your columns are displayed. These are pretty straightforward, with the exception of the setting adsense appropriate. This option stops the column from being displayed on the following pages in line with the adsense TOS:
- search
- search results
- registration
- contact us
- usercp
This is correct as of todays date. Any changes in the TOS for adsense will only be reflected in any updates as appropriate.

Next are the settings for the content of the left column, followed by the content of the right column. Both sections are prefixed by a blank setting. This is by design and there is not a bug with the code or anything missing.


Adding More Blocks

By design there are five (5) blocks per column. Some people may require more than this. To allow for this, comments have been added to both the usc_sidecolumn_left and usc_sidecolumn_right templates. The comments include a commented out section of code to use as a template for additional blocks. There are also some warning comments present in both templates. Take heed of these as editing other than the places indicated will result in the templates being malformed and the USC system not working correctly.


Support

Support for this modification is extremely limited. However, as everything apart from the two small template edits is controlled directly through the vBulletin options and not through template editing, issues should be minimal.

If you have any other combinations of pages that you would like to see available for the column options, please post them in the support thread ensuring that you add the title "USC Page Combination Request" to your post, or use this as the first line of your post ensuring that it is in bold text. This is very specific as due to the limited nature of support and time, the support thread will only be quickly skimmed through and therefore requests may be missed if it is not clear what they are.


The screenshots attached to this post and the next one show a range of pages with a range of column combinations. They are not labeled but they are pretty self explanatory.

Enjoy the USC system.

Kerry-Anne




PLEASE NOTE: This modification is unsupported. You may not receive a reply right after posting. Please try and help each other out. I do not support custom styles. If this does not work in your style, and you can confirm that it does not work in the default style (with a link and screenshot) then you will need to resolve the problem yourself. I also do not support any versions earlier than 3.6.5 in any way, shape or form. If you are using it on a version prior to 3.6.5 then no support at all will be provided.



Version 2.0 information


Version 2.0 has been released and can be found here:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=175181

[ArnyVee]

Originally Posted by dklassen

I'm running vBadvanced and when I select display on all pages it shows up on the portal home page as well. Any way to make it display on all pages but only forum pages?

I was just about to install it when I noticed this post. I want it to only show in the forum pages and not on the 'homepage'. Is that possible?

[dklassen]

In 3.7 when you place the code in the header template at the bottom, it misaligns posts, even when the mod is turned off. How can I fix?

[TheWhite]

Originally Posted by ArnyVee

I was just about to install it when I noticed this post. I want it to only show in the forum pages and not on the 'homepage'. Is that possible?

I third it

[peterska2]

I've noticed a lot of requests for features. These will be being reviewed when 3.7.0 gold is released and a new and improved version will be coming out to be fully 3.7 compatible with a number of the requests being fulfilled.

If you have feature requests and have sent them to me by PM, please note that PM requests are ignored. If your request is not in this thread then it will not be considered.

Also, a number of bug fixes will be included, so please make a big effort to report any bugs in this thread. Anything reported after 3.7.0 gold is released and before the new version of USC is completed and released will not be taken into account. Compatability with 3.6.x and USC 1.5 (preliminary versioning only) will not be guarenteed and will not be supported.

[peasoup]

Hello, this mod looks very appealing to me

I have 3.68, have inserted the code in the header and footer, and added a style border to it so I can see the new table in my forum, so the code is working. However how can I access it though the options in the Admin panel?, This may sound dumb but I cannot find it. Please help

[cc8balla]

Kerry-Anne,

I would like to request that USC can be collapsible, using javascript, to be completely non existent when users do not want a sidebar. That would REALLY set this apart from any other side column. Thank you for taking requests to make the best sidebar addon even better!

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

Originally Posted by Kerry-Anne

I've noticed a lot of requests for features. These will be being reviewed when 3.7.0 gold is released and a new and improved version will be coming out to be fully 3.7 compatible with a number of the requests being fulfilled.

If you have feature requests and have sent them to me by PM, please note that PM requests are ignored. If your request is not in this thread then it will not be considered.

Also, a number of bug fixes will be included, so please make a big effort to report any bugs in this thread. Anything reported after 3.7.0 gold is released and before the new version of USC is completed and released will not be taken into account. Compatability with 3.6.x and USC 1.5 (preliminary versioning only) will not be guarenteed and will not be supported.

looking forward to it (along with 3.7 Gold)


Request:

- Option for only viewable on FORUMHOME (noteably: NOT on CMPS/portal page or showthread pages)
- width settings

thanks!

[anarki2009]

sorry i'm a noob, but i just dont under stand how to add more box's .

[peterska2]

Originally Posted by vb_mp

I had installed this and initially I liked it. Then I noticed that you cannot use conditionals like <if condition=$show['member']>... so how can we add code like login form...

renders this plugin useless... might as well just add these things to my header/footer by hand.

Fixed in version 2.0 due to a complete rewrite

Originally Posted by Strike-Force.ne

I've attempted to add a sixth block on the left column but can not get it to work, anyone know how and what to edit to accomplish this?

Will be fixed in version 2.0 - currently working on this issue.

Originally Posted by exstatic

Has anyone been able to get any variables, or code working in the blocks yet?

Fixed in version 2.0 providing the code is global (ie default code or runs in the global_start or global_complete hook locations)

Originally Posted by Goat Boy

Anyone know how to add code to do this



I have photopost install and I want it to display on all pages except photopost page.

Thanks

Please provide the following information then this can be included:

From your photopost files, it will have a line in the main files that say....

define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'something');

I will need this line for all the photopost files to include it. I do not have photopost and therefore do not know what the required things to include and exclude are.

Originally Posted by molieman

Does anybody have a way to start the side colums below the navbar. So that the header and navbar are full width. I appreciate the help

Will be included in version 2.0

Originally Posted by dklassen

I'm running vBadvanced and when I select display on all pages it shows up on the portal home page as well. Any way to make it display on all pages but only forum pages?

Included in version 2.0

Originally Posted by GrendelKhan{TSU

looking forward to it (along with 3.7 Gold)


Request:

- Option for only viewable on FORUMHOME (noteably: NOT on CMPS/portal page or showthread pages)
- width settings

thanks!

Already included in version 1.0

Originally Posted by cc8balla

Kerry-Anne,

I would like to request that USC can be collapsible, using javascript, to be completely non existent when users do not want a sidebar. That would REALLY set this apart from any other side column. Thank you for taking requests to make the best sidebar addon even better!

Will be included in version 2.0 - not yet coded but on the to-do list

Originally Posted by longgsm

Can I ask... is it possible to get this to work for the all pages but not show in showthread (ex: only show in forumhome and forumdisplay, not showthread)

Can you help me?

Thanks and Best regards!

Included in version 2.0

[peterska2]

More information about version 2.0 development:

This was originally going to be version 1.5 but the amount of rewriting and new features being added warranted a whole new major version number so it is going to be version 2.0

Some of the features are going to be completely unexpected but as always it is easy to turn things on and off in the AdminCP.

At present, due to the complexity of the rewrite it is not upgradable. An upgrade script will be completed prior to version 2.0 being released which will need to be run before importing the new product. More instructions will follow regarding this when it is released.

As it stands, it is currently working well on vBulletin 3.7.0 RC1 (I've not upgraded my dev server to RC2 yet but full compatability will be checked). A lot of the original kinks have been ironed out, and many more glitches are being resolved as well as adding in the feature requests received and the new features that I have wanted to add to it for a while (they are top secret and will not be revealed until releasing it so don't bother asking what they are because I'm not telling).

The original code was designed to be extremely simple to use which, as a lot of people have rightly pointed out, introduced problems for anyone wanting to include any form of conditionals or calls to any functions. This is one of the reasons for the major rewrite and the necessity of having to also write an upgrade script. Most of, if not all of, the underlying code structure is being changed to resolve the issue. This does however cause it's own set of issues, by increasing the level of difficulty for use (no longer all settings, but using more templates which are edited to include the block contents) but it does not leave it overtly difficult. It does however solve the issues of not being able to add extra blocks easily by including 20 blocks in total by default which can be located as desired (yes - you will be able to add all 20 to one side only if you so wish - or more accurately you will be able to when that bit is finished being coded). An expansion product with a further 30 blocks will also be released. It will not be part of the main product as I doubt that many people will require more than 20 blocks, but of course there will always be someone who does.

The total code is approximately 40% complete at this time, excluding the expansion product and the upgrade script (that is one thing that I am not looking forward to!) although the upgrade script may not be required depending on how the final product installation code is written.

At the moment the script itself has evolved from a simple 3 plugin and 2 template product to a 30 template (and rising), 6 plugins (and rising), multiple phases (I lost count), 1 php file, and having a couple of entries added to the FAQ (not done yet but will be done before it is released). The sheer scale of the changes is why this is requiring 3.7.0 and will be unlikely to be backwards compatible with 3.6.9 (it certainly will not work with 3.6.5 or older).

Anyway, thats enough of me telling you what is included and the progress so far. I need to get back to actually doing it instead