Mini Mods - Random Side Banners Outside Main Body in Fixed Position

Random Side Banners

Quite a few people have asked how do you add side banners outside of your forum's main body and no one has offered a solution that I know of.

This mod allows you to have random banners outside of your forums main body in a fixed position. The banners will rotate with every unique visit to your forums similar to the dszuecs's "New way to force guests to register" Mod. The php code to make the banners rotate could possibly be written better, right now you don't always get a different random banner unless you completely close your browser and come back with a new session it seems.

The rotate.php code is not mine I found it not only in dszuecs's New way to force guests to register Mod but also online. I did however use his Mod as a base to get this Mod done.

If anyone can fix the rotate.php file so that you get a random with every page load that would be great.

The banners used in this mod have the dimensions of height:435px width:140px but you can change them to any size you want.

Included are the files to upload to your FORUMROOT using FTP:

Files included are:

1. left_banner_rotate.php
2. right_banner_rotate.php
3. images (includes 1 png file you can use as a template for your banners)
4. additional_css.txt (code to add to your additional_css)
5. header_template.txt (code to add to your header template)

You will need to make 2 manual template edits to your additional.css and your header template.

The code included in the additional_css file can be added at the very end of your additional.css file.

div.left-banner {
background:url(left_banner_rotate.php);
background-repeat: no-repeat; 
display:block;
height:435px;
width:140px;
position:fixed;
left:5px;
top:50px;
}
div.right-banner {
background:url(right_banner_rotate.php);
background-repeat: no-repeat; 
display:block;
height:435px;
width:140px;
position:fixed;
right:5px;
top:50px;
}

The code included in the header_template file must be added at the very top before all other code in your header template.

<div class="left-banner"></div>
<div class="right-banner"></div>

This is my first Mod contribution you guys so be gentle with me. I am just learning vBulletin's way of doing things and hopefully I can contribute other small Mods in the future.

[aaronhaul]

Originally Posted by CAG CheechDogg

If you need to add a banner with a link in it use the following:

<a href="http://naijafrontpage.hugeicon.com/forum.php" title="tittle for your link"><img src="http://naijafrontpage.hugeicon.com/path_to/image" border="0" alt="your choice" title="your choice" width="140" height="435" /></a>

Yes I tried that. I think I'll stick to not putting a banner on the header_1 and header_2 of this custom theme as it makes it looks ugly.

Nevertheless, I'm trying to add Random Side Banner with Add Banner Rotators on Blog Sidebar, but it's not working.

It doesn't show up the banner on the Blog Sidebar although the Blog Sidebar banners are active.

I've checked the position of the templates, the RBS and Advertisement positions. Everything looks OK. But the banner do not display in the Side Bar of Blog.

Please advise.

[Toorak Times]

Hi, I tried the positions you suggested and the banners appeared at the top of the page not the sides, not sure at all how the positioning of these works.
www.tooraktimes.com.au

Is there an explanation anywhere that tells you where all these positions directly relate to in the advertisinf grids on the site?

[RichieBoy67]

Thanks Cheech! I was just working on this very thing! Now I don't have too.

[CAG CheechDogg]

Originally Posted by RichieBoy67

Thanks Cheech! I was just working on this very thing! Now I don't have too.

Nice Richie ! Did it do the job for you?

[Toorak Times]

Hi Cheech,

Can I get you to give me some help please, I can only get these to appear at the top of the skin mate

[CAG CheechDogg]

Which option did you use? A link to your site?

[Toorak Times]

Originally Posted by CAG CheechDogg

Which option did you use? A link to your site?

http://www.tooraktimes.com.au/conten...uide-Australia

I see the adds appearing above the header instead of beside the fixed skin

[CAG CheechDogg]

I see the code at the top of your page ... you uploaded the files to your forum root and added the code to the header template and additional.css file?

[Toorak Times]

Originally Posted by CAG CheechDogg

I see the code at the top of your page ... you uploaded the files to your forum root and added the code to the header template and additional.css file?

I tried again today but it drops the ads above the Navbar on the same side. I believe I have done everything as required mate, I used the rotating banner option

[CAG CheechDogg]

Do you have a link to your site so I can take a look?