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[HOW-TO vB4] Create a Widget using Plugins and Templates
Mythotical
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,428

 

Booneville, AR, USA
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Mythotical Mythotical is offline 02-17-2010, 10:00 PM

In this tutorial I am hoping to enlighten many in wondering how to do their own custom widget without confusion.

I came across someone needing help with a widget issue, they could not get javascript to work nor PHP in the widget so I dug right in, keep in mind this is my first widget so I was doing this blindly, but upon digging in I realized it was easy once I learned what each portion of the system did, only took about 15 or 20 mins to figure it out. So I feel anyone can learn to do a widget faster than their own modification.

Lets begin, keep in mind that this is explained on how I did it and if you have questions with any aspect explained or not then just ask, I will gladly answer.

Step 1. - Widget Creation

With this step you want to create your widget first, I prefered to create the widget first as it seemed logical but you can rearrange the steps once you are used to the system.

Go to: AdminCP > vBulletin CMS > Widgets



Step 1a. - Widget Creation - Details

Click Create Widget at the bottom of this new page.



We now have a new page with boxes for: Widget Type, Title, and Description. Lets get the boxes filled in.

Widget Type: Static HTML
Title: My Widget (Name your widget whatever you would like)
Description: Make the description explanatory of what this widget does.



Click Save to create your new widget.

Step 2. - Widget Location

You'll need to go to AdminCP > vBulletin CMS > Layout Manager

The new page will load, on this page you have a list of layouts you have created or default layout. Find the layout you want to have this widget appear on and click GO next to the dropdown that is in line with your layout you have chosen, make sure Edit is selected from the dropdown.



Step 2a. - Widget Select and Add

From the box to the left, you will see all available widgets that have been created. Select your newly created Widget and click the > that is the right of that box.



Step 2b. - Move Widget

Once you have added the widget, a new box will appear with your Widget's title, mine is titled My Widget. You can click the darker bar with your widget title in it to move it to which ever column you choose.



Then click Save at the bottom to save the location.

Step 3. - Configure Widget

Head back to your left menu and click on Widgets.

When the page loads, find your widget and at the far right click Configure as the screenshot shows below.



Step 3a. - Configure Widget Page

A box will popup and turn the background black. In this new window or box do the following.

Enter Static HTML: Empty the box of everything
Template Name: Enter the name of your template you plan to create for use with this widget.



Step 4. - Add Widget Template

Go to: AdminCP > Styles & Templates > Style Manager



On that page, find the style you want this widget to appear with, then from the drop down to the far right choose Add New Template.



Step 4a. - Template Information

When the Add New Template page loads fill the boxes as listed below.

Title: Enter the name of your template, it is the same name that you entered when configuring your widget in Step 3.
Template: Enter the following html into this area.
HTML Code:
<div class="cms_widget">
    <div class="block">
        <div class="cms_widget_header">
        <h3>{vb:raw widget_title}</h3>
        </div>
        <div class="cms_widget_content">
        Testing my widget, this is my username: {vb:raw myusername}
        </div>
    </div>
</div>
Click save once you have entered the template info.



Step 5. - Plugin Creation

Go to: AdminCP > Products & Plugins > Plugin Manager (You can create yourself a new product but if you are new to any type of vB modifying then I suggest you don't attempt to create a product)



On the new page, scroll to the bottom and click on Add New Plugin



Step 5a. - Plugin Info (Keep in mind this is for testing purposes)

On this page, fill in the boxes as provided below.

Product: Choose vBulletin CMS (If you created a product, choose it from the drop down)
Hook Location: global_start (Choose the plugin that fits best into where you want this to be shown, global_start is the best option for now)
Title: Give descriptive title
Execution Order: Leave this field alone
Plugin PHP Code:
PHP Code:
$myusername =  $vbulletin->userinfo['username'];

vB_Template::preRegister('vbcms_widget_mywidget',array('myusername'  => $myusername)); 
Plugin is Active: Set this to YES

Then click save and done



You are done. Now load your page and view your widget in action.

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  #12  
Old 03-07-2010, 03:01 PM
Mythotical Mythotical is offline
 
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If you want it on the profile only then fine a hook that begins with profile, you can open the .php file for that page then just find the hook that is closest to what you want. You can search the file for hook to find them.
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Old 03-08-2010, 02:24 AM
Joseph Witchard Joseph Witchard is offline
 
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Okay, this question might be a little late, but for the sake of understanding, I'm going to ask it anyway: what does a widget exactly do? I was a little confused by your end example on your first post.
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Old 03-10-2010, 02:19 AM
heywho heywho is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve M View Post
heywho: You would do it just the same way. I haven't tested it but the script code would go in the same place that html code would go in the template. If you tested it, I will attempt to figure it out once I've had some sleep.

Sorry for the delay, somehow the email regarding a new reply to this thread snuck by me.
Hey, TY for info, I'll give it a try tonight.. sometimes, I forget I asked a questoin if I don't subscribe -- appretiate
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  #15  
Old 03-11-2010, 01:46 AM
Mythotical Mythotical is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joseph Witchard View Post
Okay, this question might be a little late, but for the sake of understanding, I'm going to ask it anyway: what does a widget exactly do? I was a little confused by your end example on your first post.
A widget is simply an info box in a sidebar that you can have appear on your forum or CMS page.

heywho: No problem, good luck
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  #16  
Old 03-11-2010, 02:10 AM
Joseph Witchard Joseph Witchard is offline
 
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Must you put it in a sidebar? Could you put it in the header, for example?
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Old 03-11-2010, 02:21 AM
Mythotical Mythotical is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joseph Witchard View Post
Must you put it in a sidebar? Could you put it in the header, for example?
Nope, widgets are meant for the columsn in the CMS or a sidebar on your forum only.
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  #18  
Old 03-11-2010, 02:59 AM
Joseph Witchard Joseph Witchard is offline
 
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All right. Thanks
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  #19  
Old 05-18-2010, 02:52 AM
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Crimm Crimm is offline
 
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I just wanted to tell you that as I get my mods updated ... this article has been wonderful.

BRAVO

Thank you!
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  #20  
Old 05-18-2010, 12:27 PM
ragtek ragtek is offline
 
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If you would use the php execution widget instead of the html widget, you wouldn't need to deal with variables and the templatse in global plugins!!!

Specialy if you have db queries or other stuff it isn't neccessery to run it global if you don't need it...
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  #21  
Old 08-17-2010, 06:32 PM
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clubvr4 clubvr4 is offline
 
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I can't get this working on 4.0.6 - repeated process twice, anything changed?

I'm very keen to get this up and running, modifying widgets via templates ftw.
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