Adding Variables, Globals, etc.

[binjured]

Okay, I have come with another question. I am trying to understand how vB is structured so that I can more easily modify it. Take modifying a Postbit, for example. To my knowledge, there are two parts to this:

1) class_postbit.php -- contains the class and various functions used with it to create postbit objects.

2) postbit[_legacy] -- template that uses the variables that are created to draw the page.

So, I tried modifying the postbit to include the word "TEST" before anything else...

Step 1) Opened class_postbit.php, found a spot I thought would be decent for inclusion, and tried to create another variable.

PHP Code:

    function prep_post_end()
    {
    $this->post['a_test'] = 'TEST';
    } 


Step 2) Opened postbit_legacy template (the one I'm using), and added at the top:

<div>$post[a_test]</div>

This did not work, what am I doing wrong?


If I wanted to include, say, $vbulletin->$user[userid] somewhere, what would I have to do? add something like:

PHP Code:

global $vbulletin;
$variable = $user[userid] 


;
I know that doesn't work, but what would?

Sorry about all the questions, I am just trying to understand vB's structure so I can ask a lot fewer questions later. I would consult the manual or something, but that doesn't seem to provide any kind of information like this.

Thanks!