New to vB, a few questions.

[IR15H]

Hello,

In regards to installing mods, is it important to install forum skins (and language packs) before adding mods, or does it not matter? If I install mods then add a new skin will the skin work fine with the mod without me having to do anything? Is a style how something looks (colours, fonts size etc.) and a template the layout of the actutal thing (header, borders etc.)? Will any mods for pbpBB work on vB, will it cause any problems if it's possible?

Next, i'm not sure what all the ticks on the mods means

Supported - I assmue this means that the author will provide help on the mod.

DB Changes - Changes to SQL? What does this mean if I unistall the mod, or upgrade vB?

Installer included - Most of the steps are automatic, just click through?

Uses Plugins - No idea.

Template changes - Changes something to do with the forum style? If I add a style after I add this will I need to edit the template? If I unistall/upgrade?

Additional files - I get this

The server I will install vB on is going to have mysql 5 and php 5, will this cause any problems with older mods avaliable?

As you can no doubt tell, I'm not very technical.

[TTG]

Originally Posted by IR15H

Supported - I assmue this means that the author will provide help on the mod.

In most cases, yes .. the mod creator will provide support as long as you click his / her install button on the hack you are using.

DB Changes - Changes to SQL? What does this mean if I unistall the mod, or upgrade vB?

Some hacks require changes / additions to your database. These changes will normally be automatically removed if you later remove the hack.

Installer included - Most of the steps are automatic, just click through? .. Yep

Uses Plugins - No idea. .. Hack will install required plugins to make the hack work .. all done via the hack product installation.

Template changes - Changes something to do with the forum style? If I add a style after I add this will I need to edit the template? If I unistall/upgrade?

Template changes are normally listed in the readme provided by the coder and must be completed in most cases to make the hack work correctly.

Additional files - I get this

The server I will install vB on is going to have mysql 5 and php 5, will this cause any problems with older mods avaliable?

May do .. worth reading the thread of the hack you are looking to install to check if anyone has had problem installing on php5 .. the coder may list requirements and restrictions on the 1st post of the hack.
As you can no doubt tell, I'm not very technical.

We ALL have to learn at some time .. keep asking questions and there is always someone around to help ya

[IR15H]

Thanks for your reply.

EDIT: Nevermind previous message that was here.

Although, for

$config['Database']['force_sql_mode'] New versions of MySQL (4.1+) have introduced some behaviors that are incompatible with vBulletin. These behaviors are enabled by default with MySQL 5. Setting this value to "true" disables those behaviors. You only need to modify this value if vBulletin recommends it.

Not sure what it means by vB recommending it.. but I assume I set this value to true, seeing as it is php5 and mysql 5?

Also, does it matter if I install styles after I've added a mod, will I have to manually update them to work with the mod, or will it do it automatically? Is it dependant on the mod (ie template changes)?

[IR15H]

How do I know if I'm using postbit or postbit_legacy?

[HMBeaty]

Postbit is when the user information is at the top, above their posts, and postbit legacy is the same but on the left

But sometimes I can't remember so I just edit both when making additions or changes to templates

[Xplorer4x4]

Originally Posted by IR15H

How do I know if I'm using postbit or postbit_legacy?

Is your post info along the top of your post as seen on vb.org or does it run down the side like on all the other forum scripts?

If it runs across the top then that is postbit, if it runs down the side it is postbit_legacy. There is an option in the admincp_>vbulletin options to select which setting you prefer, or you can install a hack to allow users to choose.

Not sure what it means by vB recommending it.. but I assume I set this value to true, seeing as it is php5 and mysql 5?

If your having problems with certain things then yes you may want to enable it but if your smooth sailing you may not need it for now. Ask over at vb.com for a precise answer.

Also, does it matter if I install styles after I've added a mod, will I have to manually update them to work with the mod, or will it do it automatically? Is it dependant on the mod (ie template changes)?

You can addd styles after you mod as long as there updated with any template edits for the mods your using. You will have to do this manually unless you
A)have hack like vbplazza which can update styles automatically upon your command.
B)There is a template manager hack for 3.5 which can help but it can also screw up styles so use it carefully.
C)Some hacks (like Andreas' thread bump mod) will update the style itself when you install the style.

Hope that helps.

[IR15H]

Thanks for your replies, I've found out how to change from horizontal to vertical for the user post info. I'll just edit both in case I change my mind in future.

In regards to updating templates, the find and replace feature doesn't work, at least not for me (v3.6.4), here's what I do;

Admin CP> Styles & Templates > Search in Templates

Search in Style: Search in All Styles
Search for: example 1
Replace with: example 2
Test Replacement Only: No

Hit "Find"

Get presented with a list of templates, hit "Next Page" until I see the template that has been edited, it states "Done" in yellow.

Now, theres no confirm or OK button so I just repeated the process from the start for all the templates I wanted to edit. After I had finished I checked my board and none of the templates were updated. After screaming in rage I tried again. This time I repeated the same process as above, but I clicked on the template that had "done" beside it, it was NOT done. I had to re-search the line I wanted to change, insert the change, then hit save. That worked.

Am, I using the system wrong or does it seem whacked? Is there a way to make it so that you can update multiple styles simultaneously, but NOT all. If say in future I add 5 skins together and I want to update them, but keep my current ones as they are.

I'll look into this vbplazza thing.


Thanks again for your replies.

EDIT:

vbPlaza seems to have been removed temporarily as there's an exploit problem with it - Thread.

[Princeton]

I suggest taking a look at the vBulletin Manual.
I'm sure it will answer many of your questions.

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/

[IR15H]

Already have it bookmarked It's just I can't always find the specific information I'm looking for, lots to try and take it all at once.

[IR15H]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but it seemed to make more sense than starting a completly new one.

I'm trying to install the vB Image Hosting mod. A requirement for it is GD 2.0.1, or later.

Having run vb_teset.php on my site the GD test comes up as Fail. I managed to find A beginner's insight on fixing GD (thumbnails, image verification) but couldn't make it too work from the instructions there. I visited http://www.libgd.org/Downloads and downloaded the .tar.gz file as PHP (5.2.1) was already running on my site. I unzipped it twice but couldn't find the php_gd2.dll mentioned within the article. I though it best to stop there before editing the php.ini file, jsut incase it screws it up by not being able to find it or something.