Integration with vBulletin - vBTemplates - Custom templates anywhere

For a lot of people who are in need of a quick custom template and don't have that much time - such as for testing purposes - or if you are new to vbulletin and are unsure how to do much of anything, this would be a lifesaver for a few out there. This takes the guesswork on what to do and where to go.

It was a really easy hack (took me very little time to write it) - and very easy to install.

Step 1:
Install the product.
Admincp => Plugins & Products => Manage Products => Add/Import Product [ product-davidw_vbtemplates.xml ]

Step 2:
Add your custom template
Admincp => Styles & Templates => Style Manager => Edit Templates => Open up vbtpldw Templates => Open up whichever template you want to use => Put in your template code

Step 3:
Find wherever you want to place your new custom template (header, navbar, footer) and place $vbtpldw_## with the ## being the number of the template you just saved. You might have to add the template name to vbadvanced per vbadvanced's global options.

That's it! I've provided up to 10 custom templates. Need more? Let me know.

[davidw]

Where is the target being displayed? That will make a difference. And, are you using 3.6.8 or 3.8.x?

[lpetrich]

I've tried it in a header and in a footer, and it's in vB 3.8.1

[davidw]

Let me see if I can recreate this and find out what's going on.

[davidw]

Ok, I am not sure why <if condition="$show['member']"> doesn't work, however, other conditions (similar) do work; see attached screenshots.

[Chadi]

Installed. Exactly what I was looking for only a few days ago! Thanks.

Just a quick question:

I'm using IBPro arcade module and with that mod, template edits is done old school style via a php file. I tried using $vbtpldw_01 in the code, but the output was blank instead of outputting the template's content.

Do you know of any method around this in the php file?

The file is skin_v3Arcade.php and the code is around line 75, in this section:

EOF;
}

function top_links_table($links,$width,$extra) {
global $ibforums;
return <<<EOF
$vbtpldw_01
    <table width='100%' border='0' cellspacing='1' cellpadding='4' class="tborder">
        <tr>
            <td class="tcat" align="center" width="{$width}">{$links}</td>
            {$extra}
        </tr>
    </table>
EOF;
}

[lpetrich]

Originally Posted by davidw

Ok, I am not sure why <if condition="$show['member']"> doesn't work, however, other conditions (similar) do work; see attached screenshots.

Thanx for your help on this. Your successful solution looks like it will work for a board where all members have the same navbar access privileges, as do all guests (different from members, of course!).

[davidw]

Originally Posted by Chadi

Installed. Exactly what I was looking for only a few days ago! Thanks.

Just a quick question:

I'm using IBPro arcade module and with that mod, template edits is done old school style via a php file. I tried using $vbtpldw_01 in the code, but the output was blank instead of outputting the template's content.

Do you know of any method around this in the php file?

The file is skin_v3Arcade.php and the code is around line 75, in this section:

EOF;
}

function top_links_table($links,$width,$extra) {
global $ibforums;
return <<<EOF
$vbtpldw_01
    <table width='100%' border='0' cellspacing='1' cellpadding='4' class="tborder">
        <tr>
            <td class="tcat" align="center" width="{$width}">{$links}</td>
            {$extra}
        </tr>
    </table>
EOF;
}

The templates created using this modification need to work as if they are working in a regular template. In order to call a template on a non-template, such as a non-vb or non-standard page, you would most likely need to call everything that would make [that] template work as if it were on a vb page, like forumhome.php. I've not actually tested this on a those types of pages as they were meant for going into templates. However, with the right calls, it might work. I'm just not sure what they are offhand.

Originally Posted by lpetrich

Thanx for your help on this. Your successful solution looks like it will work for a board where all members have the same navbar access privileges, as do all guests (different from members, of course!).

No problem

[nnStaff]

So this just creates a new template and gives you the name to hook it into the page?

The same as if I manually created one and did the same? I'm not trying to put your product down, just seeking clarification, could be useful.

[davidw]

Basically. This just simplifies a process.
Most of the time when you want a template, you have to add the template and add a plugin. This is just something that lets you do it automatically so you won't have to create it. I have a lot of sandbox ideas, so this was useful for me. I create alternate templates (modifying each one slightly) and use it for testing - rather than changing whole blocks of code, I just change the template name.

No offense taken. I hope I have cleared things up.

[nnStaff]

Wow, quick response time, you must be subscribed. This will be a great time-saving shortcut for an upcoming project, thanks for the clarification!

Will dl and check out later.