Custom Pages/Template Help

[maximux1]

Thanks for taking a few moments,

I understand how to create basic templates & external vb pages and include vb vars into those templates/pages. What I am now strugling with is how to create more advanced templates to be able to take advantage of some of the more advanced vb internals.

If you could assist me with a simple example I will likely be able to gain the knowledge I need to move forward.

Here's my basic example;

Template

<!-- logged-in users -->

<a style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top">
<img id="collapseimg_forumhome_activeusers" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_thead$vbcollapse[collapseimg_forumhome_activeusers].gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>
			
<a href="online.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[currently_active_users]</a>: $totalonline (<phrase 1="$numberregistered" 2="$numberguest">$vbphrase[x_members_and_y_guests]</phrase>)

<!-- end logged-in users -->

PHP file

PHP Code:

// ######################## SET PHP ENVIRONMENT ###########################
error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);

define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'test'); 

// #################### PRE-CACHE TEMPLATES AND DATA ######################
// get special phrase groups
$phrasegroups = array();

// get special data templates from the datastore
$specialtemplates = array();

// pre-cache templates used by all actions
$globaltemplates = array(
        // change the lines below to the list of actual templates used in the script
        'test_template',
);

// pre-cache templates used by specific actions
$actiontemplates = array();

// ########################## REQUIRE BACK-END ############################
chdir("./forum");
require_once('./global.php');

// #################### HARD CODE JAVASCRIPT PATHS ########################
$headinclude = str_replace('clientscript', $vbulletin->options['bburl'] . '/clientscript', $headinclude);

// ########################################################################
// ######################### START MAIN SCRIPT ############################
// ########################################################################

$navbits = array(); 
// change the line below to contain whatever you want to show in the navbar (title of your custom page)
$navbits[$parent] = 'Test Page';

$navbits = construct_navbits($navbits);

// change the line below to contain the name of the actual main output template used in your script
eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('test_template') . '");'); 


The output of the above file is;

Currently Active Users: ( members and guests)

The data is empty as if I am not including the proper files, however no error or anything suggesting a solution.

The problem is likely obvious to the pro's. I just can't seem to figure out how to take advantage of the vb vars such as $totalonline, etc. I believe the issue is likely related to a missing require file, but it has not been made clear to me yet.

You're help with this simple example would be greatly apprecaited.

Thank you.