Miscellaneous Hacks - Randomize your background every refresh!

this is a simple .php file, and small "Style Vars" edit to make it so your background changes on your forum every time you refresh the page, using the popular extensions, such as .jpg, and .png.


rotate.php

PHP Code:

<?PHP 
$dir = 'images/blood/backgrounds/'; //change this to the directory where your background images are from the root directory!
$images = array(); 
$extensions = array('png', 'jpg', 'gif'); 
 
if (!file_exists($dir)) 
 die('directory not found'); 
 
$fp = @opendir($dir); 
 
while ($file = @readdir($fp)) 
{ 
 $info = pathinfo($file); 
 if (in_array($info['extension'], $extensions)) 
  $images[] = $file; 
} 
 
@closedir($fp); 
 
$bg = mt_rand(0, count($images) - 1); 
header('Location: ' . $dir . $images[$bg]); 
?>

put this file into your root directory.

Make sure to change the directory to the background images you want!


Changing the Style Var via doc_background

1. Go to your admincp, click "Style Manager"
2. select your favorite skin on the drop down menu select "Style Vars"
3. in the Style Vars menu, search for "doc_background"
4. Once there replace the Background Image field with url(location of your rotate.php) ex: url(phpfiles/rotate.php) then hit save.

And your finished!

Demo: http://gamingsync.com


Credits
Darkness
I did not create this, but tested it, and had the idea for it, had permission to share this.

[JasonReynolds]

Originally Posted by Bouncer222

I installed this, but it's not working for me. Can anyone help me? You can only see it while the page is changing. But once its finished loading, its the same background on it, the one that's set by the style.

My guess is the style is custom coded differently or something? IDK.
Would appreciate any help. I set the stylevar image url to: url(images/backgrounds)

Did you already have a pre-set background with CSS built on with your layout? If so you got to clear the CSS off that...

[JasonReynolds]

Originally Posted by jimfries

I attempted to use this, thought it would be a fun update for the website, however I only get a black background when I try.

Location of rotate.php: Root directory
- www.distortedguild.com/rotate.php

Location of background images: /images/backgrounds/
- http://www.distortedguild.com/images.../Cataclysm.jpg

Second line of rotate.php: $dir = 'images/backgrounds/';
(attempted using $dir = '/images/backgrounds/'; also, but still was not successful.

The background image field of doc_background in Style Vars: url(rotate.php)


Hope that info helps.

Here you go JimFries.... use this rotate.php file. Tell me if works or not, Thankyou.

[CRDeveloper]

Installed on v4.1.2

[NPGamers.Net]

Originally Posted by CRDeveloper

Installed on v4.1.2

How?? Just uploaded 4.1.2 & not working at all for me.

[katim110]

does this work for vb 4.1.3?

thank u

[HagbardCeline]

I've seen this php code to get randomized images from a folder. The idea is really good, but we can do it better. I don't like the solution, to send headers with the randomized image, but first step, a little code cleanUp.

Works with php 5.3+

PHP Code:

<?php

$images = array();

try {
    foreach (new FilesystemIterator(dirname('images/YOURFOLDER/*')) as $file) {
        
        if (!preg_match('#^(.*)\.(gif|png|jpg)$#i', $file)) {
            continue;
        }
        
        $images[] = $file->getPathname();
    }
}
catch (Exception $e) {
    // do something like -> header('Location: images/background/alternativeImage.jpg'); 
}

$image = mt_rand(0, count($images) - 1); 
header('Location: ' . $images[$image]);

Don't use

PHP Code:

?> 


to close the php code! We don't need it...

Cheers

[Lemonwater]

screenshot please...

[socialteenz]

Any one got this working?

[temsamane]

is this working on vb 4.1.5

[hivitro]

@HagbardCeline: Nice clean up. Thank

@Lemonwater: Why you need an Screenshot? simple. you can change the background or any css variable and random it.

@temsamane: its an external php code, to ramdom images, if the php server run, it will run..

@ALL: If you put too many big pictures to the background, your server will have a serveral load tranfering images.

Ex. If you have: 10 diferents images, of 100kb. 200 users, read 5 diferent post, you will tranfer: 200x5x100= +-100 mb only to show a diferent background?