Can I pre-fill $messagearea in a certain forum on New Thread?

[afullcup]

Yes, I know I could use a form hack, but I'd really like to just stick an extra piece of code in whenever I need it if possible. I am comfortable coding, just can't seem to quite figure this out.

I'd like to be able to pre-fill the messagearea on a New Thread only in certain forums - for instance, when someone is submitting a support ticket in the support forum, I'd like to pre-fill with questions about things we like to know about (browser, OS, etc) in order to help them.

What I know so far is that in template newthread, there is this code which makes the messagearea appear:

PHP Code:

        <!-- message area -->
        <div class="smallfont">$vbphrase[message]:</div>        
        $messagearea
        <!-- / message area --> 


And that in newthread.php there is code to set up the new thread. I added the following code and tested it so that I know it knows when we're posting to the forum in question:

PHP Code:

        if ($foruminfo[forumid] == 410)
        {       
            //  What to put here?
        } 


As for "what to put here?" I have tried several things and can't seem to make it populate...

PHP Code:

$message = $vbphrase['new_techie_post'];
OR
$newpost['message'] = $vbphrase['new_techie_post']; 


If anyone has more insight into the variables that would work here, I'd sure appreciate it!

[Opserty]

Either use or have a look at this modification and see how its done: Thread Stencil

[afullcup]

well lookie there - reinventing the wheel.

Thanks Opserty!!