Insert HTML or (pre-processed!) PHP file above specific forum

This is a very simple but very powerful hack for VB 3 which I've not been able to find elsewhere so decided to write.

It inserts a named external file (or files) above a specific forum (or forums). I use it to insert some HTML from HTML AND PHP (!) files above specific forums.
It works perfectly on my forums with over 28,000 members.

It requires editing one file and one template.

The amazing thing I discovered is that if the php function used (file_get_contents) is used on a php file, the php is processed BEFORE the file contents are read into the string.

The first attached image shows this hack 'including' a php file which dynamically builds a list from a database on a different server into a drop-down list box.

The second image shows the inclusion of a banner and beneath it a HTML file showing latest news (which is created automatically).

* Updated August 7 2004. Altered the text file to include instructions on how to insert the file at the top of your forum list *.
Please note that the forum list instructions are untested. If someone uses it, please let me know if it works ok.
One question, though. This hack is so simple but so powerful, howcome nobody has done it before? Or have they already?

[Spinball]

I have used my hack to display banners above and below threads.
Edit showthread.php and find
*********************************************
// ################################################## ###########################
// output page
eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('SHOWTHREAD') . '");');
*********************************************
and add this code before it:
*********************************************
$headerbanner = "<P ALIGN=\"CENTER\" CLASS=\"smallfont\">" . file_get_contents("http://www.url_of_your_script.php?forumid=$forumid&type=h eader") . "</P>";
$footerbanner = "<P ALIGN=\"CENTER\" CLASS=\"smallfont\">" . file_get_contents("http://www.url_of_your_script.php?forumid=$forumid&type=f ooter") . "</P>";
*********************************************
Then in the SHOWTHREAD template, find
*********************************************
$navbar
*********************************************
and after it, put
*********************************************
<if condition="$headerbanner">$headerbanner</if>
*********************************************
and find
*********************************************
<if condition="$bbuserinfo[field11] == 'Yes'">$quickreply</if>
*********************************************
and above it add
*********************************************
<if condition="$footerbanner">$footerbanner</if>
*********************************************

Then write your php script to output banners depending on what forumid is passed and whether it's the header or footer:

PHP Code:

$forumid = $_REQUEST['forumid'];
$type = $_REQUEST['type'];

switch ($forumid) {
 case 36:                                 // for your forum number 36 only...
   if ($type == "header") {
      $banners = array (
      "banner_1.gif|banner_1.pl|The alt text|0|468|60",
      "banner_2.gif|banner_2.pl|The alt text|0|468|60"
      );
   } elseif ($type == "footer") {
      $banners = array (
      "banner_3.gif|banner_3.pl|The alt text|0|468|60",
      "banner_4.gif|banner_4.pl|The alt text|0|468|60"
      );
   }
   break;
 case 37:                                 // for your forum number 37 only...
   if ($type == "header") {
      $banners = array (
      "banner_5.gif|banner_5.pl|The alt text|0|468|60",
      "banner_6.gif|banner_6.pl|The alt text|0|468|60"
      );
   } elseif ($type == "footer") {
      $banners = array (
      "banner_7.gif|banner_7.pl|The alt text|0|468|60",
      "banner_8.gif|banner_8.pl|The alt text|0|468|60"
      );
   }
   break;
}
$banner = $banners[mt_rand(0,sizeof($banners) - 1)];
list($imgsrc,$myurl,$alttext,$border,$width,$height) = explode ('|',$banner);
echo ("<A HREF='http://www.your_domain.com/cgi-bin/$myurl' TARGET='_blank'><IMG src='http://www.your_domain/path_to_your/banners/$imgsrc?" . mt_rand(1,9999) . "' border='$border' width='$width' height='$height' alt='$alttext'></A>"); 


I'm actually working on a complete vBulletin banner solution which enables you to display (rotating) banners above the forum list and also above and below every thread (and anywhere else you want). But it's work-in-progress.

Re your specific code request, I recommend you learn some PHP.

PHP Code:

if ($forumid==76 or $forumid==78 or $forumid==81) 


or if you have lots of forums, use the 'switch' command as per my example above.

Re displaying banners for whole categories, you might be able to do it, but I don't have time to look into it this year

[keithsl]

How would you do this if you want to include something on top of every page of the forum?

[Spinball]

You wouldn't need to use this hack - use the phpinclude_start template instead.

[YLP1]

Originally Posted by Spinball

You wouldn't need to use this hack - use the phpinclude_start template instead.

Are there instructions for the php newbie to use this start tempate? Thanks in advance.

[Spinball]

Do a search on vbulletin.com for phpinclude

[H@K@N]

Hi,

i am going to try, to use the shoutcast status Box, which is availible for vba-portal, on my Forumhome.

When i try to include the shoutcast.php below the $navbar it says :

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: fetch_template() in /srv/www/htdocs/web1/html/shoutcast.php on line 68

On the Line 68 i have following :

eval('$home[$mods[\'modid\']][\'content\'] .= "' . fetch_template('adv_portal_shoutcast') . '";');

what should i change to have that script running ?

th@nks

[sabret00the]

try this, you're eval is a mess as is

PHP Code:

        eval("\$home['content'] .= \"" . fetch_template("adv_portal_shoutcast") . "\";"); 


[H@K@N]

th@nks 4 reply, but i have still this error :

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: fetch_template() in /srv/www/htdocs/web1/html/shoutcast.php on line 68

here i paste the whole script :

PHP Code:

<?php
// Shoutcast Server Stats
// Parses shoutcasts xml to make an effective stats thing for any website

//Configuration
$scdef = "TEst FM";   // Default station name
$scip = "myipadress";       // ip or url of shoutcast server
$scport = "8000";       // port of shoutcast server
$scpass = "yourpass";  // password to shoutcast server
$maxusers = "32"; //max users for your server
//End configuration

$scfp = @fsockopen($scip, $scport, &$errno, &$errstr, 3);

if(!$scfp) {
eval("\$home['content'] .= \"" . fetch_template("adv_portal_shoutcast_off") . "\";"); 
}else{
if($scsuccs!=1){
fputs($scfp,"GET /admin.cgi?pass=$scpass&mode=viewxml HTTP/1.0\r\nUser-Agent: SHOUTcast Song Status (Mozilla Compatible)\r\n\r\n");
while(!feof($scfp)) {
  $page .= fgets($scfp, 1000);
}
}

//define  xml elements

$loop = array("STREAMSTATUS", "BITRATE", "SERVERTITLE", "CURRENTLISTENERS");
$y=0;
while($loop[$y]!=''){
  $pageed = ereg_replace(".*<$loop[$y]>", "", $page);
  $scphp = strtolower($loop[$y]);
  $$scphp = ereg_replace("</$loop[$y]>.*", "", $pageed);
  if($loop[$y]==SERVERGENRE || $loop[$y]==SERVERTITLE || $loop[$y]==SONGTITLE || $loop[$y]==SERVERTITLE)
   $$scphp = urldecode($$scphp);

// uncomment the next line to see all variables
//echo'$'.$scphp.' = '.$$scphp.'<br>';
  $y++;
}
//end intro xml elements

//get song info and history
$pageed = ereg_replace(".*<SONGHISTORY>", "", $page);
$pageed = ereg_replace("<SONGHISTORY>.*", "", $pageed);
$songatime = explode("<SONG>", $pageed);
$r=1;
while($songatime[$r]!=""){
  $t=$r-1;
  $playedat[$t] = ereg_replace(".*<PLAYEDAT>", "", $songatime[$r]);
  $playedat[$t] = ereg_replace("</PLAYEDAT>.*", "", $playedat[$t]);
  $song[$t] = ereg_replace(".*<TITLE>", "", $songatime[$r]);
  $song[$t] = ereg_replace("</TITLE>.*", "", $song[$t]);
  $song[$t] = urldecode($song[$t]);
  $dj[$t] = ereg_replace(".*<SERVERTITLE>", "", $page);
  $dj[$t] = ereg_replace("</SERVERTITLE>.*", "", $pageed);
$r++;
}
//end song info

fclose($scfp);
}

//display stats
if($scfp) {
if($streamstatus == "1"){
//you may edit the html below, make sure to keep variable intact
eval("\$home['content'] .= \"" . fetch_template("adv_portal_shoutcast") . "\";"); 
} else {
eval("\$home['content'] .= \"" . fetch_template("adv_portal_shoutcast_off") . "\";"); 
}
}
?>

i hade the eval twice, so i have tried also to change the eval below the server settings, but still not working.


gr33tz

[sabret00the]

you need to include the global.php

[H@K@N]

Originally Posted by sabret00the

you need to include the global.php

Th@nks 4 help but i can't include that.

if i use :

require_once('./global.php');

into the Header of the php,Forumhome is going to open the shoutcast.php himself on the Index, and i cannot login anymore.

gr33tz