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

[Hornstar]

Originally Posted by Kerry-Anne

I cannot replicate this on a default style. Therefore, this is either due to custom styles which I do not support, or due to the contents of your easy edit blocks in the vB Options. As no-one to date has provided details of exactly what they have used there, or a link to a site where the problem is visible, I cannot even attempt to guess at what the problem is.

Site where the problem is occuring: www.gamerzneeds.net/forums (instead of the bar being on the right it is down the bottom of the site.)

Post where i outlined the contents of my 2 templates: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....6&postcount=35

Content of easy edit blocks: Even when this was the default text that came with this, it still happened, so the content of this is not the problem. also several other people have had this problem, and they posted a screen shot, and you can see they still had the default text displayed.

Hopefully someone will know a fix for this shortly, as my site looks very tacky currently. thanks.



Edit:

i installed a new skin, kept it 100% clean fully reverted. and it works.

i then tried disabling products and seeing if any of those interfed, and they dont.

I then saved the contents of my navbar template and then reverted it, and it works.

so it is the contents of the navbar template that is causing problems.

i then tried putting the contents back into the clean navbar template 1 by 1 and seeing which parts affected the code. i found out that several parts affect it and those parts are fairly common on lots of sites, because they are popular hacks.

contents of my navbar template:

<if condition="is_array($navbits)">
<h2>$navbits[lastelement]</h2>
<else />
<h2>$vboptions[bbtitle] & Entertainment Needs!</h2>
</if>
<!--VBSEO_RR_1--></td>




<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
function log_out()
{
	ht = document.getElementsByTagName("html");
	ht[0].style.filter = "progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.BasicImage(grayscale=1)";
	if (confirm('$vbphrase[sure_you_want_to_log_out]'))
	{
		return true;
	}
	else
	{
		ht[0].style.filter = "";
		return false;
	}
}
//-->
</script>

<br />

<!-- Start nav 2 -->
$nav2
<!-- / End nav 2-->

<!-- breadcrumb, login, pm info -->
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tr>
	<td class="alt1" width="100%">
		<if condition="is_array($navbits)">
			<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
			<tr valign="bottom">
				<td><a href="#" onclick="history.back(1); return false;"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_start.gif" alt="$vbphrase[go_back]" border="0" /></a></td>
				<td>&nbsp;</td>
				<td width="100%"><span class="navbar"><a href="$vboptions[forumhome].php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="1">$vboptions[bbtitle]</a></span> $navbits[breadcrumb]</td>
			</tr>
			<tr>
				<td class="navbar" style="font-size:10pt; padding-top:1px" colspan="3"><if condition="$_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST'"><img class="inlineimg" src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_finallink.gif" alt="" border="0" /><else /><a href="$scriptpath"><img class="inlineimg" src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_finallink.gif" alt="$vbphrase[reload_this_page]" border="0" /></a></if> <strong>$navbits[lastelement]</strong></td>
			</tr>
			</table>			
		<else />
			<div class="navbar" style="font-size:10pt"><a href="$vboptions[forumhome].php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="1"><img class="inlineimg" src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_start.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a> 

<strong>$vboptions[bbtitle]</strong></div>
		</if>
	</td>	
	
	<if condition="$show['member']">
	
		<td class="alt2" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">
		<div class="smallfont">
			<strong><phrase 1="$bbuserinfo[username]">$vbphrase[welcome_x]</phrase></strong><br />
			<phrase 1="$pmbox[lastvisitdate]" 2="$pmbox[lastvisittime]">$vbphrase[last_visited_x_at_y]</phrase>
			<if condition="$show['pmstats']"><br /><phrase 1="$vbphrase[unread_x_nav_compiled]" 2="$vbphrase[total_x_nav_compiled]" 3="$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[private_messages_nav]</phrase></if>
			<if condition="$show['pmwarning']"><br /><strong><phrase 1="$vbphrase[pmpercent_nav_compiled]">$vbphrase[your_pm_box_is_x_full]</phrase></strong></if>
		</div>
		</td>
		
	<else />
		
		<td class="alt2" nowrap="nowrap" style="padding:0px">
			
		<!-- login form -->
		<form action="login.php?do=login" method="post" onsubmit="md5hash(vb_login_password, vb_login_md5password, vb_login_md5password_utf, $show[nopasswordempty])">
		<script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/vbulletin_md5.js?v=$vboptions[simpleversion]"></script>
		<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[formspacer]" border="0">
		<tr>
			<td class="smallfont"><label for="navbar_username">$vbphrase[username]</label></td>
			<td><input type="text" class="bginput" style="font-size: 11px" name="vb_login_username" id="navbar_username" size="10" accesskey="u" tabindex="101" value="$vbphrase[username]" onfocus="if (this.value == '$vbphrase[username]') this.value = '';" /></td>
			<td class="smallfont" colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap"><label for="cb_cookieuser_navbar"><input type="checkbox" name="cookieuser" value="1" tabindex="103" id="cb_cookieuser_navbar" accesskey="c" />$vbphrase[remember_me]</label></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td class="smallfont"><label for="navbar_password">$vbphrase[password]</label></td>
			<td><input type="password" class="bginput" style="font-size: 11px" name="vb_login_password" id="navbar_password" size="10" tabindex="102" /></td>
			<td><input type="submit" class="button" value="$vbphrase[log_in]" tabindex="104" title="$vbphrase[enter_username_to_login_or_register]" accesskey="s" />

<if condition="$show['registerbutton']"><span class="smallfont">
<a href="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[register]</a></span></if></td>
		</tr>
		</table>
		<input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
		<input type="hidden" name="do" value="login" />		
		<input type="hidden" name="vb_login_md5password" />
		<input type="hidden" name="vb_login_md5password_utf" />
		</form>
		<!-- / login form -->
			
		</td>
		
	</if>	
	
</tr>
</table>

<!-- / breadcrumb, login, pm info -->

<!-- nav buttons bar -->
<div align="center">
	<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" align="center" style="border-top-width:0px">
	<tr align="center">
		<if condition="$show['member']">
			<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="usercp.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[user_cp]</a></td>
		</if>
		<if condition="$show['registerbutton']">
			<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[register]</a></td>
		</if>
		<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="faq.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="5">$vbphrase[faq]</a></td>
		<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="memberlist.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[members_list]</a></td>

<!-- vBlogetin Edit -->
		<if condition="$show['blogmenu']"><td id="blogmenu" class="vbmenu_control"><a href="$show[nojs_link]#blogmenu">$vbphrase[blog_blogging]</a> <script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("blogmenu"); </script></td></if>
		<!-- End vBlogetin Edit -->
		 

		<if condition="$show['popups']">	

				
			<if condition="$show['searchbuttons']">
				<if condition="$show['member']">
				<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getnew" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[new_posts_nav]</a></td>
				<else />
				<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[todays_posts]</a></td>
				</if>
				<td id="navbar_search" class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="4" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[search]</a> <if condition="$show['quicksearch']"><script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("navbar_search"); </script></if></td>
			</if>
			<if condition="$show['member']">
				<td id="usercptools" class="vbmenu_control"><a href="$show[nojs_link]#usercptools">$vbphrase[quick_links]</a> <script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("usercptools"); </script></td>		
			</if>
		<else />		
			<if condition="$show['searchbuttons']">
				<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="4">$vbphrase[search]</a></td>
				<if condition="$show['member']">
				<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getnew" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[new_posts_nav]</a></td>
				<else />
				<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[todays_posts]</a></td>
				</if>
			</if>
			<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]do=markread" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[mark_forums_read]</a></td>
			<if condition="$show['member']">			
				<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="#" onclick="window.open('misc.php?$session[sessionurl]do=buddylist&amp;focus=1','buddylist','statusbar=no,menubar=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=250,height=300'); return false;">$vbphrase[open_buddy_list]</a></td>			
			</if>			
		</if>
		<if condition="$show['member']">
			<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="login.php?$session[sessionurl]do=logout&amp;logouthash=$bbuserinfo[logouthash]" onclick="return log_out()">$vbphrase[log_out]</a></td>
		</if>
	</tr>
	</table>
</div>

<!-- / nav buttons bar -->


<br />
<if condition="$show['forumdesc']">
	<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
	<tr>
		<td class="alt1" width="100%"><strong>$foruminfo[title]</strong> <span class="smallfont">$foruminfo[description]</span></td>
	</tr>
	</table>
	<br />
</if>

<if condition="$show['popups']">
<!-- NAVBAR POPUP MENUS -->
	
	<if condition="$show['searchbuttons']">
	<!-- header quick search form -->
	<div class="vbmenu_popup" id="navbar_search_menu" style="display:none">
		<form action="search.php?do=process" method="post">
		<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
		<tr>
			<td class="thead">$vbphrase[search_forums]</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
				<input type="hidden" name="do" value="process" />
				<input type="hidden" name="quicksearch" value="1" />
				<input type="hidden" name="childforums" value="1" />
				<input type="hidden" name="exactname" value="1" />
				<input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
				<div><input type="text" class="bginput" name="query" size="25" tabindex="1001" /><input type="submit" class="button" value="$vbphrase[go]" tabindex="1004" /></div>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
				<label for="rb_nb_sp0"><input type="radio" name="showposts" value="0" id="rb_nb_sp0" tabindex="1002" checked="checked" />$vbphrase[show_threads]</label>
				&nbsp;
				<label for="rb_nb_sp1"><input type="radio" name="showposts" value="1" id="rb_nb_sp1" tabindex="1003" />$vbphrase[show_posts]</label>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="4" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[advanced_search]</a></td>
<!-- Start Post Thank You Hack -->
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=findallthanks">$vbphrase[post_thanks_search]</a></td>
<!-- End Post Thank You Hack -->
		</tr>
		</table>
		</form>
	</div>
	<!-- / header quick search form -->
	</if>

	<if condition="$show['member']">
	<!-- user cp tools menu -->
	<div class="vbmenu_popup" id="usercptools_menu" style="display:none">
		<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
		
		<tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[quick_links]</td></tr>		
		<if condition="$vboptions['enablesearches']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily">$vbphrase[todays_posts]</a></td></tr></if>
		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]do=markread">$vbphrase[mark_forums_read]</a></td></tr>
		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="#" onclick="window.open('misc.php?$session[sessionurl]do=buddylist&amp;focus=1','buddylist','statusbar=no,menubar=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=250,height=300'); return false;">$vbphrase[open_buddy_list]</a></td></tr>
				
		<tr><td class="thead"><a href="usercp.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[user_control_panel]</a></td></tr>
		<if condition="$show['siglink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editsignature">$vbphrase[edit_signature]</a></td></tr></if>
		<!--<if condition="$show['avatarlink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editavatar">$vbphrase[edit_avatar]</a></td></tr></if>-->
		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editprofile">$vbphrase[edit_profile]</a></td></tr>
		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editoptions">$vbphrase[edit_options]</a></td></tr>
		
		<tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[miscellaneous]</td></tr>
		<if condition="$show['pmmainlink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="private.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[private_messages]</a></td></tr></if>
		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="subscription.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[subscribed_threads]</a></td></tr>
		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="member.php?$session[sessionurl]u=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[my_profile]</a></td></tr>
		<if condition="$show['wollink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="online.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[whos_online]</a></td></tr></if>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="calendar.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[calendar]</a></td></tr>

		
		</table>
	</div>
	<!-- / user cp tools menu -->
	</if>

	<!-- vBlogetin Edit -->
	<if condition="$show['blogmenu']">
	<div class="vbmenu_popup" id="blogmenu_menu" style="display:none">
		<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">

		<tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[blog_blogging]</td></tr>

		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/$sIDq">$vbphrase[blog_blog_directory]</a></td></tr>

		<if condition="$vboptions['blog_top_blogs_limit']">
			<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/top.php?$session[sessionurl]do=topblogs">$vbphrase[blog_top_blogs]</a></td></tr>
			<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/top.php?$session[sessionurl]do=topentries">$vbphrase[blog_top_entries]</a></td></tr>
		</if>

		<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/search.php$sIDq">$vbphrase[blog_search_blogs]</a></td></tr>

		<!-- Blog Manager -->
		<if condition="$show['member'] and $show['navbar_blogmanager']">
			<tr><td class="thead"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage.php?$session[sessionurl]userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_manager]</a></td></tr>
	        <if condition="$show['yourblog']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$bbuserinfo[blogURL]">$vbphrase[blog_view_your_blog]</a></td></tr></if>
			<if condition="$show['navbar_createentry']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/entry.php?$session[sessionurl]userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_create_new_entry]</a></td></tr></if>
			<if condition="$show['navbar_manageentries']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/entry.php?$session[sessionurl]do=entries&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_manage_entries]</a></td></tr></if>
			<if condition="$show['navbar_moderatecomments']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/comment.php?$session[sessionurl]do=moderate&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_moderate_comments]</a></td></tr></if>

			<if condition="$show['navbar_editblog']">
				<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage.php?$session[sessionurl]do=settings&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_modify_settings]</a></td></tr>
				<if condition="$show['blogblocks']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage_blocks.php?$session[sessionurl]do=blocks&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_manage_blocks]</a></td></tr></if>
			</if>

		<!-- Create Blog -->
		<else />
			<if condition="$show['member']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage.php?$session[sessionurl]do=setup">$vbphrase[blog_setup_your_blog]</a></td></tr></if>
		</if>

		</table>
	</div>
	</if>
	<!-- End vBlogetin Edit -->
<!-- / NAVBAR POPUP MENUS -->


<!-- PAGENAV POPUP -->

	<div class="vbmenu_popup" id="pagenav_menu" style="display:none">
		<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
		<tr>
			<td class="thead" nowrap="nowrap">$vbphrase[go_to_page]</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
			<form action="$vboptions[forumhome].php" method="get" onsubmit="return this.gotopage()" id="pagenav_form">
				<input type="text" class="bginput" id="pagenav_itxt" style="font-size:11px" size="4" />
				<input type="button" class="button" id="pagenav_ibtn" value="$vbphrase[go]" />
			</form>
			</td>
		</tr>
		</table>
	</div>

<!-- / PAGENAV POPUP -->
</if>

<!-- bravenet adcode -->
<if condition="!is_member_of($bbuserinfo,9,10,21)">
<div align="center">
<script>
document.write('<scr'+'ipt src="http://jupiter.bravenet.com/rover/f?cid=gamerzneeds&ctype=0&refurl='+escape((document.location==top.location)?document.location:document.referrer)+'"></scr'+'ipt>');
</script>
</if>
</div>
<!-- / bravenet adcode -->

$welcomeheaders

The problem with this hack working on many boards resides in the navbar template. i really want to use this awesome hack, so i hope the information i have posted helps someone hopefully find a solution to fixing this.

thanks.

[dizzy100]

OK guys, how can we get the control panel entries for the sidebars to parse vbulletin phrases and / or variables ? Kerry Ann has said we need to support each other so lets try some solutions.

Is the plugin parsing them out or simply not including them ? Do we maybe need to global something ? Anyone any ideas ?

[kkordas]

please help me!!!

[peterska2]

Originally Posted by hornstar1337

Site where the problem is occuring: www.gamerzneeds.net/forums (instead of the bar being on the right it is down the bottom of the site.)

Post where i outlined the contents of my 2 templates: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....6&postcount=35

Content of easy edit blocks: Even when this was the default text that came with this, it still happened, so the content of this is not the problem. also several other people have had this problem, and they posted a screen shot, and you can see they still had the default text displayed.

Hopefully someone will know a fix for this shortly, as my site looks very tacky currently. thanks.



Edit:

i installed a new skin, kept it 100% clean fully reverted. and it works.

i then tried disabling products and seeing if any of those interfed, and they dont.

I then saved the contents of my navbar template and then reverted it, and it works.

so it is the contents of the navbar template that is causing problems.

i then tried putting the contents back into the clean navbar template 1 by 1 and seeing which parts affected the code. i found out that several parts affect it and those parts are fairly common on lots of sites, because they are popular hacks.

contents of my navbar template:

<if condition="is_array($navbits)">
<h2>$navbits[lastelement]</h2>
<else />
<h2>$vboptions[bbtitle] & Entertainment Needs!</h2>
</if>
<!--VBSEO_RR_1--></td>




<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
function log_out()
{
    ht = document.getElementsByTagName("html");
    ht[0].style.filter = "progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.BasicImage(grayscale=1)";
    if (confirm('$vbphrase[sure_you_want_to_log_out]'))
    {
        return true;
    }
    else
    {
        ht[0].style.filter = "";
        return false;
    }
}
//-->
</script>

<br />

<!-- Start nav 2 -->
$nav2
<!-- / End nav 2-->

<!-- breadcrumb, login, pm info -->
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tr>
    <td class="alt1" width="100%">
        <if condition="is_array($navbits)">
            <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
            <tr valign="bottom">
                <td><a href="#" onclick="history.back(1); return false;"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_start.gif" alt="$vbphrase[go_back]" border="0" /></a></td>
                <td>&nbsp;</td>
                <td width="100%"><span class="navbar"><a href="$vboptions[forumhome].php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="1">$vboptions[bbtitle]</a></span> $navbits[breadcrumb]</td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td class="navbar" style="font-size:10pt; padding-top:1px" colspan="3"><if condition="$_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST'"><img class="inlineimg" src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_finallink.gif" alt="" border="0" /><else /><a href="$scriptpath"><img class="inlineimg" src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_finallink.gif" alt="$vbphrase[reload_this_page]" border="0" /></a></if> <strong>$navbits[lastelement]</strong></td>
            </tr>
            </table>            
        <else />
            <div class="navbar" style="font-size:10pt"><a href="$vboptions[forumhome].php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="1"><img class="inlineimg" src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_start.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a> 

<strong>$vboptions[bbtitle]</strong></div>
        </if>
    </td>    
    
    <if condition="$show['member']">
    
        <td class="alt2" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap">
        <div class="smallfont">
            <strong><phrase 1="$bbuserinfo[username]">$vbphrase[welcome_x]</phrase></strong><br />
            <phrase 1="$pmbox[lastvisitdate]" 2="$pmbox[lastvisittime]">$vbphrase[last_visited_x_at_y]</phrase>
            <if condition="$show['pmstats']"><br /><phrase 1="$vbphrase[unread_x_nav_compiled]" 2="$vbphrase[total_x_nav_compiled]" 3="$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[private_messages_nav]</phrase></if>
            <if condition="$show['pmwarning']"><br /><strong><phrase 1="$vbphrase[pmpercent_nav_compiled]">$vbphrase[your_pm_box_is_x_full]</phrase></strong></if>
        </div>
        </td>
        
    <else />
        
        <td class="alt2" nowrap="nowrap" style="padding:0px">
            
        <!-- login form -->
        <form action="login.php?do=login" method="post" onsubmit="md5hash(vb_login_password, vb_login_md5password, vb_login_md5password_utf, $show[nopasswordempty])">
        <script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/vbulletin_md5.js?v=$vboptions[simpleversion]"></script>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[formspacer]" border="0">
        <tr>
            <td class="smallfont"><label for="navbar_username">$vbphrase[username]</label></td>
            <td><input type="text" class="bginput" style="font-size: 11px" name="vb_login_username" id="navbar_username" size="10" accesskey="u" tabindex="101" value="$vbphrase[username]" onfocus="if (this.value == '$vbphrase[username]') this.value = '';" /></td>
            <td class="smallfont" colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap"><label for="cb_cookieuser_navbar"><input type="checkbox" name="cookieuser" value="1" tabindex="103" id="cb_cookieuser_navbar" accesskey="c" />$vbphrase[remember_me]</label></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="smallfont"><label for="navbar_password">$vbphrase[password]</label></td>
            <td><input type="password" class="bginput" style="font-size: 11px" name="vb_login_password" id="navbar_password" size="10" tabindex="102" /></td>
            <td><input type="submit" class="button" value="$vbphrase[log_in]" tabindex="104" title="$vbphrase[enter_username_to_login_or_register]" accesskey="s" />

<if condition="$show['registerbutton']"><span class="smallfont">
<a href="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[register]</a></span></if></td>
        </tr>
        </table>
        <input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
        <input type="hidden" name="do" value="login" />        
        <input type="hidden" name="vb_login_md5password" />
        <input type="hidden" name="vb_login_md5password_utf" />
        </form>
        <!-- / login form -->
            
        </td>
        
    </if>    
    
</tr>
</table>

<!-- / breadcrumb, login, pm info -->

<!-- nav buttons bar -->
<div align="center">
    <table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" align="center" style="border-top-width:0px">
    <tr align="center">
        <if condition="$show['member']">
            <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="usercp.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[user_cp]</a></td>
        </if>
        <if condition="$show['registerbutton']">
            <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[register]</a></td>
        </if>
        <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="faq.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="5">$vbphrase[faq]</a></td>
        <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="memberlist.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[members_list]</a></td>

<!-- vBlogetin Edit -->
        <if condition="$show['blogmenu']"><td id="blogmenu" class="vbmenu_control"><a href="$show[nojs_link]#blogmenu">$vbphrase[blog_blogging]</a> <script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("blogmenu"); </script></td></if>
        <!-- End vBlogetin Edit -->
         

        <if condition="$show['popups']">    

                
            <if condition="$show['searchbuttons']">
                <if condition="$show['member']">
                <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getnew" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[new_posts_nav]</a></td>
                <else />
                <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[todays_posts]</a></td>
                </if>
                <td id="navbar_search" class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="4" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[search]</a> <if condition="$show['quicksearch']"><script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("navbar_search"); </script></if></td>
            </if>
            <if condition="$show['member']">
                <td id="usercptools" class="vbmenu_control"><a href="$show[nojs_link]#usercptools">$vbphrase[quick_links]</a> <script type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("usercptools"); </script></td>        
            </if>
        <else />        
            <if condition="$show['searchbuttons']">
                <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="4">$vbphrase[search]</a></td>
                <if condition="$show['member']">
                <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getnew" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[new_posts_nav]</a></td>
                <else />
                <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily" accesskey="2">$vbphrase[todays_posts]</a></td>
                </if>
            </if>
            <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]do=markread" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[mark_forums_read]</a></td>
            <if condition="$show['member']">            
                <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="#" onclick="window.open('misc.php?$session[sessionurl]do=buddylist&amp;focus=1','buddylist','statusbar=no,menubar=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=250,height=300'); return false;">$vbphrase[open_buddy_list]</a></td>            
            </if>            
        </if>
        <if condition="$show['member']">
            <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="login.php?$session[sessionurl]do=logout&amp;logouthash=$bbuserinfo[logouthash]" onclick="return log_out()">$vbphrase[log_out]</a></td>
        </if>
    </tr>
    </table>
</div>

<!-- / nav buttons bar -->


<br />
<if condition="$show['forumdesc']">
    <table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
    <tr>
        <td class="alt1" width="100%"><strong>$foruminfo[title]</strong> <span class="smallfont">$foruminfo[description]</span></td>
    </tr>
    </table>
    <br />
</if>

<if condition="$show['popups']">
<!-- NAVBAR POPUP MENUS -->
    
    <if condition="$show['searchbuttons']">
    <!-- header quick search form -->
    <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="navbar_search_menu" style="display:none">
        <form action="search.php?do=process" method="post">
        <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
        <tr>
            <td class="thead">$vbphrase[search_forums]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
                <input type="hidden" name="do" value="process" />
                <input type="hidden" name="quicksearch" value="1" />
                <input type="hidden" name="childforums" value="1" />
                <input type="hidden" name="exactname" value="1" />
                <input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
                <div><input type="text" class="bginput" name="query" size="25" tabindex="1001" /><input type="submit" class="button" value="$vbphrase[go]" tabindex="1004" /></div>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
                <label for="rb_nb_sp0"><input type="radio" name="showposts" value="0" id="rb_nb_sp0" tabindex="1002" checked="checked" />$vbphrase[show_threads]</label>
                &nbsp;
                <label for="rb_nb_sp1"><input type="radio" name="showposts" value="1" id="rb_nb_sp1" tabindex="1003" />$vbphrase[show_posts]</label>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="4" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[advanced_search]</a></td>
<!-- Start Post Thank You Hack -->
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=findallthanks">$vbphrase[post_thanks_search]</a></td>
<!-- End Post Thank You Hack -->
        </tr>
        </table>
        </form>
    </div>
    <!-- / header quick search form -->
    </if>

    <if condition="$show['member']">
    <!-- user cp tools menu -->
    <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="usercptools_menu" style="display:none">
        <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
        
        <tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[quick_links]</td></tr>        
        <if condition="$vboptions['enablesearches']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily">$vbphrase[todays_posts]</a></td></tr></if>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]do=markread">$vbphrase[mark_forums_read]</a></td></tr>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="#" onclick="window.open('misc.php?$session[sessionurl]do=buddylist&amp;focus=1','buddylist','statusbar=no,menubar=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=250,height=300'); return false;">$vbphrase[open_buddy_list]</a></td></tr>
                
        <tr><td class="thead"><a href="usercp.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[user_control_panel]</a></td></tr>
        <if condition="$show['siglink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editsignature">$vbphrase[edit_signature]</a></td></tr></if>
        <!--<if condition="$show['avatarlink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editavatar">$vbphrase[edit_avatar]</a></td></tr></if>-->
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editprofile">$vbphrase[edit_profile]</a></td></tr>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editoptions">$vbphrase[edit_options]</a></td></tr>
        
        <tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[miscellaneous]</td></tr>
        <if condition="$show['pmmainlink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="private.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[private_messages]</a></td></tr></if>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="subscription.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[subscribed_threads]</a></td></tr>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="member.php?$session[sessionurl]u=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[my_profile]</a></td></tr>
        <if condition="$show['wollink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="online.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[whos_online]</a></td></tr></if>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="calendar.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[calendar]</a></td></tr>

        
        </table>
    </div>
    <!-- / user cp tools menu -->
    </if>

    <!-- vBlogetin Edit -->
    <if condition="$show['blogmenu']">
    <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="blogmenu_menu" style="display:none">
        <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">

        <tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[blog_blogging]</td></tr>

        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/$sIDq">$vbphrase[blog_blog_directory]</a></td></tr>

        <if condition="$vboptions['blog_top_blogs_limit']">
            <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/top.php?$session[sessionurl]do=topblogs">$vbphrase[blog_top_blogs]</a></td></tr>
            <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/top.php?$session[sessionurl]do=topentries">$vbphrase[blog_top_entries]</a></td></tr>
        </if>

        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/search.php$sIDq">$vbphrase[blog_search_blogs]</a></td></tr>

        <!-- Blog Manager -->
        <if condition="$show['member'] and $show['navbar_blogmanager']">
            <tr><td class="thead"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage.php?$session[sessionurl]userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_manager]</a></td></tr>
            <if condition="$show['yourblog']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$bbuserinfo[blogURL]">$vbphrase[blog_view_your_blog]</a></td></tr></if>
            <if condition="$show['navbar_createentry']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/entry.php?$session[sessionurl]userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_create_new_entry]</a></td></tr></if>
            <if condition="$show['navbar_manageentries']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/entry.php?$session[sessionurl]do=entries&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_manage_entries]</a></td></tr></if>
            <if condition="$show['navbar_moderatecomments']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/comment.php?$session[sessionurl]do=moderate&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_moderate_comments]</a></td></tr></if>

            <if condition="$show['navbar_editblog']">
                <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage.php?$session[sessionurl]do=settings&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_modify_settings]</a></td></tr>
                <if condition="$show['blogblocks']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage_blocks.php?$session[sessionurl]do=blocks&amp;userid=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[blog_manage_blocks]</a></td></tr></if>
            </if>

        <!-- Create Blog -->
        <else />
            <if condition="$show['member']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="$vboptions[blog_url]/manage.php?$session[sessionurl]do=setup">$vbphrase[blog_setup_your_blog]</a></td></tr></if>
        </if>

        </table>
    </div>
    </if>
    <!-- End vBlogetin Edit -->
<!-- / NAVBAR POPUP MENUS -->


<!-- PAGENAV POPUP -->

    <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="pagenav_menu" style="display:none">
        <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
        <tr>
            <td class="thead" nowrap="nowrap">$vbphrase[go_to_page]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
            <form action="$vboptions[forumhome].php" method="get" onsubmit="return this.gotopage()" id="pagenav_form">
                <input type="text" class="bginput" id="pagenav_itxt" style="font-size:11px" size="4" />
                <input type="button" class="button" id="pagenav_ibtn" value="$vbphrase[go]" />
            </form>
            </td>
        </tr>
        </table>
    </div>

<!-- / PAGENAV POPUP -->
</if>

<!-- bravenet adcode -->
<if condition="!is_member_of($bbuserinfo,9,10,21)">
<div align="center">
<script>
document.write('<scr'+'ipt src="http://jupiter.bravenet.com/rover/f?cid=gamerzneeds&ctype=0&refurl='+escape((document.location==top.location)?document.location:document.referrer)+'"></scr'+'ipt>');
</script>
</if>
</div>
<!-- / bravenet adcode -->

$welcomeheaders

The problem with this hack working on many boards resides in the navbar template. i really want to use this awesome hack, so i hope the information i have posted helps someone hopefully find a solution to fixing this.

thanks.

It's this bit thats killing it

 <if condition="is_array($navbits)">
<h2>$navbits[lastelement]</h2>
<else />
<h2>$vboptions[bbtitle] & Entertainment Needs!</h2>
</if>
<!--VBSEO_RR_1--></td>

That is such bad code that isn't even correct html that this is causing the problem. If this code has been provided by vBSEO then you need to start complaining to them. Run your site through http://validator.w3.org There is no way on earth it will validate with that code and unless it is removed or fixed it will kill this modification along with a lot of other modifications.

(Hint: for those who can't be bothered to get the problem code fixed, just remove the </td> from the end of it.)

[peterska2]

Originally Posted by dizzy100

OK guys, how can we get the control panel entries for the sidebars to parse vbulletin phrases and / or variables ? Kerry Ann has said we need to support each other so lets try some solutions.

Is the plugin parsing them out or simply not including them ? Do we maybe need to global something ? Anyone any ideas ?

The boxes are meant for raw text and simple editing. I included them for novice users because the number 1 support issue with anything that involves modifying a template involves the actual modification. (take this thread as an example - something else (vBSEO) is messing up the navbar template with terrible code (see post above) and yet of course because this mod doesn't work it must be this so everyone complains. The fact that it is just this that has made it noticeable doesn't come into the equation.)

For advanced editing, including phrases, variables, conditionals, etc, you need to edit the templates directly.

I've made it east for you, there are lots of comments in them and it is easy to follow.

[dizzy100]

I understand Kerry Ann what your saying but i think allowing template conditionals in the edit boxes would make a great deal of sense and allow it to remain flexible.

And i can't seem to get global variables to work in the templates either.

Is your plugin stripping anything ?

[Smoothie]

Question about the spacer_open, spacer_close situation, which seems to affect the size of the postbit and calendar when the USC is enabled on those pages. The solution offered was here:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....2&postcount=12

It basically suggests to "Create a Plugin on parse_templates". While this works, it affects other styles that do not use the USC. Would anyone be able to offer a solution to this dilemma?

[Smoothie]

^Bump^

[Hornstar]

Originally Posted by Kerry-Anne

It's this bit thats killing it

 <if condition="is_array($navbits)">
<h2>$navbits[lastelement]</h2>
<else />
<h2>$vboptions[bbtitle] & Entertainment Needs!</h2>
</if>
<!--VBSEO_RR_1--></td>

That is such bad code that isn't even correct html that this is causing the problem. If this code has been provided by vBSEO then you need to start complaining to them. Run your site through http://validator.w3.org There is no way on earth it will validate with that code and unless it is removed or fixed it will kill this modification along with a lot of other modifications.

(Hint: for those who can't be bothered to get the problem code fixed, just remove the </td> from the end of it.)

Mainly my code, I took out the code last night, and found that it was solely that part of my code that was causing the problems for me. I will fix it up shortly, Thanks.

Future Request: Also, is there any chance of having a title for each block as well?

And is html allowed in the titles?

THanks

[dizzy100]

Another bug i've only just noticed.

I have created the plugin to stop the spacer from messing up the display with this sidebar plugin and it all works as it should.

But its knocking the layout out for vB Event Forums in the forum its posting into, the same as it would eithout the spacer plugin hack. Anyone got a solution for this ?