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

[UncoderMom]

Quick question! Does this show on portal, photoplog or groups etc.. (subdirectories).

[mtlcore]

Originally Posted by hornstar1337

This is not working so far.

The left nav. showed up on top of the site instead of on the left, and the right showed up down the bottom of the site.

I disabled left, and did my code for the right, but it is still showing up down the bottom instead of on the right.

example: http://www.gamerzneeds.net/forums/

Instead of putting the first code in header, try putting it in navbar template. That's how it worked for me.

[pipin]

Originally Posted by Bellinis

looks GREAT!

One question though...

I would like to use the sidebar for guests only (advertistement placing)
Is this already an option or can I somehow add this easily?

Thanks!

I got the same idea. Would be nice, if this could be integrated.

Although you can just ad a statement to the header or footer template by yourself.

[Hornstar]

Originally Posted by Kerry-Anne

If you have applied the template edies correctly and used the blocks provided for the contents then this won't happen. Check your edits and your block contents.

The block edits as default text that they came with were still showing up the same (down the very bottom of the site.)

I have checked the 2 very easy template edits a hundred times already. here is what mine look like just to make you believe it.


Contents of my header template

<!-- logo -->

<a name="top"></a>
<table border="0" width="$stylevar[outertablewidth]" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center">
<tr>
	<td align="center"><a href="$vboptions[forumhome].php$session[sessionurl_q]" alt="Computer games at GamerzNeeds">
$banner</a></td>
	<td align="$stylevar[right]">
		&nbsp;
	</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- /logo -->

<!-- content table -->
$spacer_open

$_phpinclude_output

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

you said down the bottom, that is where it is.


Contents of my footer template

<br />
<!-- /content area table -->

<div class="smallfont" align="center">$vbphrase[all_times_are_gmt_x_time_now_is_y]</div>
<br />

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

$spacer_close
<form action="$vboptions[forumhome].php" method="get">
	
<table cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="$stylevar[outertablewidth]" class="page" align="center">
<tr>
	<if condition="$show['quickchooser']">
		<td class="tfoot">
			<select name="styleid" onchange="switch_id(this, 'style')">
				<optgroup label="$vbphrase[quick_style_chooser]">
					$quickchooserbits
				</optgroup>
			</select>
		</td>
	</if>
	<if condition="$show['languagechooser']">
		<td class="tfoot">
			<select name="langid" onchange="switch_id(this, 'lang')">
				<optgroup label="$vbphrase[quick_language_chooser]">
					$languagechooserbits
				</optgroup>
			</select>
		</td>
	</if>
	<td class="tfoot" align="$stylevar[right]" width="100%">
		<div class="smallfont">
			<strong>
				<if condition="$show['contactus']"><a href="$vboptions[contactuslink]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[contact_us]</a> -</if>

<if condition="$vboptions['importance_privacy_footer'] == 1"><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/privacy.php" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a> -</if>

<if condition="$vboptions['importance_tos_footer'] == 1"><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/tos.php" rel="nofollow">TOS</a> -</if>

<if condition="$vboptions['importance_rules_footer'] == 1"><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/rules.php" rel="nofollow">Forum Rules</a> -</if>

<if condition="$vboptions['importance_disclaimer_footer'] == 1"><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/disclaimer.php" rel="nofollow">Disclaimer</a> -</if>
				<if condition="$vboptions['hometitle']"><a href="$vboptions[homeurl]">$vboptions[hometitle]</a> -</if>
				<if condition="$show['admincplink']"><a href="$admincpdir/index.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[admin]</a> -</if>
				<if condition="$show['modcplink']"><a href="$modcpdir/index.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[mod]</a> -</if>
				<if condition="$vboptions['archiveenabled']"><a href="archive/index.php">$vbphrase[archive]</a> -</if>
				<if condition="$vboptions[privacyurl]"><a href="$vboptions[privacyurl]">$vbphrase[privacy_statement]</a> -</if>
				<a href="#top" onclick="self.scrollTo(0, 0); return false;">$vbphrase[top]</a>
			</strong>
		</div>
	</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br />

<div align="center">
	<div class="smallfont" align="center">
	<!-- Do not remove this copyright notice -->
	$vbphrase[powered_by_vbulletin]
	<!-- Do not remove this copyright notice -->
	</div>
	
	<div class="smallfont" align="center">
	<!-- Do not remove $cronimage or your scheduled tasks will cease to function -->
	$cronimage
	<!-- Do not remove $cronimage or your scheduled tasks will cease to function -->
	
	$vboptions[copyrighttext]
	</div>
</div>

</form>

<if condition="$show['dst_correction']">
<!-- auto DST correction code -->
<form action="profile.php?do=dst" method="post" name="dstform">
	<input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
	<input type="hidden" name="do" value="dst" />
</form>
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
	var tzOffset = $bbuserinfo[timezoneoffset] + $bbuserinfo[dstonoff];
	var utcOffset = new Date().getTimezoneOffset() / 60;
	if (Math.abs(tzOffset + utcOffset) == 1)
	{	// Dst offset is 1 so its changed
		document.forms.dstform.submit();
	}
//-->
</script>
<!-- / auto DST correction code -->

</if>
<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
	// Main vBulletin Javascript Initialization
	vBulletin_init();
//-->
</script>

you said above the $spacer_close that is where it is as well.



Just for your information as well. I have tried placing the code in several other positions as well, including at the very top, under, above, here there and everywhere, and everywhere i have placed it so far, has showed the right navigation bar at the very bottom of the site.


I have tried and tried, and looked and looked at what could the problem be, and im lost, so hopefully you will be able to figure this one out.

Thanks.

[Hornstar]

Originally Posted by mtlcore

Instead of putting the first code in header, try putting it in navbar template. That's how it worked for me.

are you using the right or left navigation bar? Did you put your header edit at the top of the navbar template? and kept the footer one in the footer?

Because I think that wont fix up the right navigation bar, but I will try now either way.


Edit, just tried that, and it didnt fix/change it. The left one still shows up at the very top, and right at the very bottom of the site.

[beachinxj]

Does this work with VB 3.5.4?

Edit: I got it installed on 3.5.4 by removing the execution order lines from the xml. The only issue I am having is in the configuration options page, instead of showing radio buttons to choose where the menus are displayed, it just blurbs out text, with no way to choose.

example:

Display Pages For Left Column
Using this setting you can determine the pages where the left column will be displayed.
	radio:piped 0|all pages 1|forumhome only 2|all pages except forumhome 3|all pages except forumhome and usercp 4|forum display only 5|showthread only 6|adsense appropriate

Does the same thing for the right.

[project-Buckfas]

Can colums be shown/hidden to individual usergroups?

This would come in handy for my mods for links to there email e.t.c..

[kkordas]

I have problem, look image!!! Why?

[KHALIK]

images dont work.

I tried to place a banner, but does not work. Why ?

[The Bish]

Originally Posted by KHALIK

images dont work.

I tried to place a banner, but does not work. Why ?

Images work fine... check out my site.

PL

I simply put the link to the image and it shows...