[vB3 RC3] Welcome Hack v1.2

Hack Author:
Name: Hwulex
E-Mail: vbhacks[at]hwulex[dot]com
Forums: http://forums.xaprief.com


History:
I'm sure most of us are aware of trilOByte's popular Welcome Hack that was available for vBulletin 2.
I myself had it installed on my vB2 forums, and after upgrading to vBulletin 3 missed it, so, seeing as nobody else had, I decided to make my own version.


Description:
This hack does two things:
1. It alters the look of your forum's index page by reducing the size of the "What's Going On" box to just one line (more if birthdays / calendar events present). This box is also shifted up to the top of the page, beneath the navbar.
2. The information that it strips out of that box is not lost though as it is moved up in to the navbar box at the top of the page. The general statistics are only displayed on the forum homepage, as well as your avatar, and the number of new-posts and active-threads since your last visit. On all other pages, the navbar remains as it was.


Zip Contents:
welcome_hack_vb3_v1_2.zip
|- instructions.html :: Instruction on how to install this hack.
|- forumhome_loggedin.gif :: Shows what your ForumHome will look like after installation with a logged in user.
|- others_in_and_out.gif :: Shows screenshots of the hack in various states, plus a screenie of the vB2 version.
|- noavatar.gif :: Placeholder for those users who don't have an avatar set.
`- guestavatar.gif :: Placeholder avatar for guest viewers.

Testing:
Tested on vBulletin 3 RC 2


Files to Modify:
forumroot/index.php


Templates to Modify:
forumhome
navbar


Phrases to Add:
active_threads
info_forum
info_user
info_visitor
online_now


Phrases to Edit:
$vbphrase[welcome_to_our_newest_member_x]
$vbphrase[last_visited_x_at_y]
$vbphrase[forum_contains_new_posts]
$vbphrase[forum_contains_no_new_posts]
$vbphrase[forum_is_closed_for_posting]
$vbphrase[most_users_ever_online_was_x_y_at_z]
$vbphrase[private_messages]


Images to Upload:
noavatar.gif
guestavatar.gif


Notes:
If you do install this hack, please click on the INSTALL button.
You will receive updates in your e-mail whenever I add new features to it.
Please also post a reply with your comments, they are appreciated.


Updates:
1.1
- Fixed 'X' problem for NewPosts and ActiveThreads.
- Added noavatar.gif, and accompanying instructions, to the package.
1.2
- Made NewPosts and ActiveThreads display on forumhome only.
- Moved queries to index.php reducing per-page queries by two.
- Added guestavatar feature for indexpage.

[msimplay]

lol thank god someone updated it i was wondering is that x for no posts
coz i know that no one would be posting on my forum since its closed so i couldn't tell :$

[Rida]

Nice hack
Thank you.

[Zelda-King]

It would seem that this welcome panel needs to be made more compatible with 800x600 resolution. Also, the presentation doesn't work well with larger avatars.

I'll post a screenshot of what I'm getting on 800x600 resolution;

[Hwulex]

Originally Posted by Zelda-King

It would seem that this welcome panel needs to be made more compatible with 800x600 resolution. Also, the presentation doesn't work well with larger avatars.

I'll post a screenshot of what I'm getting on 800x600 resolution;

There's nothing I can really do abuot that. Obviously, the larger the avatar you use, the worse it's going to look.

As for the 800x600 resolution; you could try shortening some of the phrases?

Actually; looking again at your screenshot, you've not actually done any of the phrase edits! I would imagine that would reduce the problem by about half at least!

[Zelda-King]

Yes, that's right. I didn't do the phrase edits in that screenshot. I took it while I was trying something, but it didn't occur to me that shortens the sentences so I'll be back with an update.

EDIT: Actually that did sort out the problem. I owe you an apology.

[Hwulex]

Originally Posted by Zelda-King

Yes, that's right. I didn't do the phrase edits in that screenshot. I took it while I was trying something, but it didn't occur to me that shortens the sentences so I'll be back with an update.

EDIT: Actually that did sort out the problem. I owe you an apology.

No worries.

That's the main reason I edited the phrases because I had the same problem to start with.

[porouian]

this looks great, will install soon. thanks!

[M.C.]

is it possible to put REGISTER avatar for not login user like it was in 2.x version?

Cool hack anyway, thanx!

[Hwulex]

Originally Posted by M.C.

is it possible to put REGISTER avatar for not login user like it was in 2.x version?

Cool hack anyway, thanx!

I'm not sure I understand what you mean, sorry.

At the moment, if a guest views the boards they will get an avatar reading 'Guest Please Register', and this avatar is a link to the registration page.

If you would like the avatar to read something different, then just create your own new one.


@porouian: Cheers. Let me know how it goes.

[M.C.]

sorry, didn`t see that on screen shots so didn`t realize that hack do this
thanks!