The Arcive of Official vBulletin Modifications Site.

Add Icons to the Navigation Bar Tabs · **Released**: 04-09-2010

Hi there, everyone!

Prior to the vBulletin 4.0 upgrade, I had these neat little icons in the navigation bar of my v 3.8 forum's theme. Since I upgraded the forums, I wanted to put these icons back once again. However, with the rewrite of the whole code, I was at a complete loss as to where to make these changes.

After a lot of searching and hit and trial, however, I did manage to come up with something that suited my needs. So I thought I'd write an article myself, with the hope that it would help others trying to do something similar.

These template modifications allow you to add icons to the tabs in the Navigation Bar, right below the logo, as shown in the image below:

I'll stick with the default Navigation Bar tabs, i.e. Home, Forum, Blogs and What's New. Although you may use images of any size, but since I did not want to meddle too much with the default design / layout, I resized all the images to 24px ? 24px.

Note: I have colour coded all code edits / additions in red to make it easier to see what has been added.

Note: You may find instructions for vB 4.1.2 over here.
------------------------------

"Home" Tab: (2 modifications needed in only 1 template)

In your Admin Control Panel (ACP), go to:

ACP > Styles & Templates > Style Manager > Double arrows on the right of the style you want to edit (Expand Templates) > vBulletin CMS Templates > vbcms_navbar_link

Here, look for the following code:

Code:

<vb:if condition="$vboptions['selectednavtab'] == 'vbcms'">
<li class="selected">
    <a class="navtab" href="{vb:raw vboptions.site_tab_url}{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}">{vb:rawphrase site}</a>

Replace this with:

Code:

<vb:if condition="$vboptions['selectednavtab'] == 'vbcms'">
<li class="selected">
    <a class="navtab" href="{vb:raw vboptions.site_tab_url}{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}"><img src="path_of_image"  border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  site}</a>

Now find:

Code:

<vb:else />
    <li><a class="navtab" href="{vb:raw  vboptions.site_tab_url}{vb:raw session.sessionurl_q}">{vb:rawphrase  site}</a></li>

Replace with:

Code:

<vb:else />
    <li><a class="navtab" href="{vb:raw  vboptions.site_tab_url}{vb:raw session.sessionurl_q}"><img src="path_of_image" border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  site}</a></li>

Remember to press "Save" after making these changes to the template.
------------------------------

"Forum" Tab: (3 modifications needed in only 1 template)

In your Admin Control Panel (ACP), go to:

ACP > Styles & Templates > Style Manager > Double arrows on the right of the style you want to edit (Expand Templates) > Navigation / Breadcrumb Templates > navbar

Here, look for the following code:

Code:

<vb:if condition="!$vboptions['selectednavtab'] AND THIS_SCRIPT  != 'search'">
            <li class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="{vb:raw vboptions.forumhome}.php{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}">{vb:rawphrase forum}</a>

Replace this with:

Code:

<vb:if condition="!$vboptions['selectednavtab'] AND THIS_SCRIPT  != 'search'">
            <li class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="{vb:raw vboptions.forumhome}.php{vb:raw session.sessionurl_q}"><img src="path_of_image" border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  forum}</a>

Now find:

Code:

<vb:elseif condition="$vboptions['selectednavtab']=='usercp'"  />
            <li class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="{vb:raw vboptions.forumhome}.php{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}">{vb:rawphrase forum}</a>

Replace with:

Code:

<vb:elseif condition="$vboptions['selectednavtab']=='usercp'"  />
            <li class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="{vb:raw vboptions.forumhome}.php{vb:raw session.sessionurl_q}"><img src="path_of_image" border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  forum}</a>

Finally find:

Code:

<vb:else />
            <li><a class="navtab" href="{vb:raw  vboptions.forumhome}.php{vb:raw session.sessionurl_q}">{vb:rawphrase  forum}</a></li>

Replace with:

Code:

<vb:else />
            <li><a class="navtab" href="{vb:raw  vboptions.forumhome}.php{vb:raw session.sessionurl_q}"><img src="path_of_image" border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  forum}</a></li>

Remember to press "Save" after making these changes to the template.
------------------------------

"Blogs" Tab: (2 modifications needed in only 1 template)

In your Admin Control Panel (ACP), go to:

ACP > Styles & Templates > Style Manager > Double arrows on the right of the style you want to edit (Expand Templates) > Blog Templates > blog_navbar_link

Here, look for the following code:

Code:

<vb:if condition="$vboptions['selectednavtab'] == 'vbblog'">
<li class="selected">
    <a class="navtab" href="blog.php{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}">{vb:rawphrase blogs}</a>

Replace this with:

Code:

<vb:if condition="$vboptions['selectednavtab'] == 'vbblog'">
<li class="selected">
    <a class="navtab" href="blog.php{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}"><img src="path_of_image"  border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase blogs}</a>

Now find:

Code:

<vb:else />
    <li><a class="navtab" href="blog.php{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}">{vb:rawphrase  blogs}</a></li>

Replace with:

Code:

<vb:else />
    <li><a class="navtab" href="blog.php{vb:raw  session.sessionurl_q}"><img src="path_of_image"  border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  blogs}</a></li>

Remember to press "Save" after making these changes to the template.
------------------------------

"What's New" Tab: (4 modifications needed in only 1 template)

In your Admin Control Panel (ACP), go to:

ACP > Styles & Templates > Style Manager > Double arrows on the right of the style you want to edit (Expand Templates) > Navigation / Breadcrumb Templates > navbar

Here, look for the following code:

Code:

<vb:if condition="$show['member']">
            <li  class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getnew&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2">{vb:rawphrase getnew_tab}</a>

Replace this with:

Code:

<vb:if condition="$show['member']">
            <li  class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getnew&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2"><img src="path_of_image"  border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase getnew_tab}</a>

Now find:

Code:

<vb:else />
            <li  class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getdaily&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2">{vb:rawphrase getnew_tab}</a>

Replace with:

Code:

<vb:else />
            <li  class="selected"><a class="navtab"  href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getdaily&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2"><img src="path_of_image"  border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  getnew_tab}</a>

Find:

Code:

<vb:elseif condition="$show['member']" />
            <li><a class="navtab" href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getnew&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2">{vb:rawphrase  getnew_tab}</a></li>

Replace with:

Code:

<vb:elseif condition="$show['member']" />
            <li><a class="navtab" href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getnew&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2"><img src="path_of_image"  border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  getnew_tab}</a></li>

Finally find:

Code:

<vb:else />
            <li><a class="navtab" href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getdaily&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2">{vb:rawphrase  getnew_tab}</a></li>

Replace with:

Code:

<vb:else />
            <li><a class="navtab" href="search.php?{vb:raw  session.sessionurl}do=getdaily&amp;contenttype=vBForum_Post"  accesskey="2"><img src="path_of_image"  border="0" align="top" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase  getnew_tab}</a></li>

Remember to press "Save" after making these changes to the template.

Matite · #32 07-01-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrudeboy

can't find vbcms_navbar_link

I cannot find it either... I think it is because I am using VB Forum v4.0.4 without the CMS so the code and template names are different.

Maybe the author could check this.

abdulbasitsaeed · #33 07-01-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendsl

The code does not work with Version 4.0.4. Do you update it?

I haven't upgraded to 4.0.4 yet but plan to do so soon. Once I do, I'll have a look at this again and see what needs to be changed.

abdulbasitsaeed · #34 07-01-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matite

I cannot find it either... I think it is because I am using VB Forum v4.0.4 without the CMS so the code and template names are different.

Maybe the author could check this.

My friend, if you don't have CMS, then you wouldn't have a "Home Tab" either. Hence, you don't need to make any changes listed under "Home Tab". That's the only place where you need to make changes to vbcms_navbar_link.

Kendsl · #35 07-01-2010, 08:14 PM

Thank you very much!

Bobbo · #36 07-29-2010, 02:26 PM

This mod is great. Simple to apply to my other custom navbar items, etc.

One of the things I try to remain concious of is the 'look and feel' for my private user base. About 80% of my members are Internet Explorer users. Of those, 47% use IE8, the rest are running IE6 or IE7. So in general, I try to ensure that at least the major elements of the site look reasonable for IE7, while attempting to push my customers to IE8, Chrome, or Firefox.

I've noticed that when I add icons to the navbar elements, the align='top' results in the actual navbar text being aligned to the top rather than centered properly (in IE7 or IE8 compatability mode).

Has anyone come up with a method to eliminate this issue for that browser version without impacting the rest?

Bob

TheSupportForum · #37 07-29-2010, 05:27 PM

please make this as a product, you can simply use find and replace or add before or add after.

this would be worth a better product then, but sorry i dont know the code for all this customisation, and hope you can do it

sulasno · #38 09-19-2010, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Joe

What this did was to insert the image in the centre part of the Tab but the name which I had put in for the tab after the above code wasn't showing.
I put in the code then after the code the name of the Tab.

what is the size of the image that you use ?

abdulbasitsaeed · #39 09-19-2010, 03:19 AM

24px x 24px

Winter Sonata · #40 09-20-2010, 12:54 AM

where can I get those Icons ?

8thos · #41 09-27-2010, 01:56 AM

Love this thread, unfortunately, Home Tab Icon won't show when your viewing the site under a different navtab.

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