Change Style of First Post

This is a rather old hack I did some time ago for someone, but never really released it as a full hack.

Very simple, this hack lets you change the template the first post is using (in either all forums or only one), so it can look differently.
Great for article and review forums.

Before installing the hack, create a new template named "postbit_first" from the current "postbit" template. After you're done, you can edit that template and it will control the first post in the threads.

Everything else you need is in the attached file, have fun!

Chen

[Tim Wheatley]

There is definately a bug with this of some sort, it's that to see the 1st post on my board, you have to click 'contract all'

So I just have to edit my template. Maybe you could mention this in your first post Firefly? Thanks to the guy who said about this

[SirSteve]

I have the same hack installed (contract/expand) and mine works just fine. I do have another bug though...

Warning: Missing argument 2 for getpostbit() in /usr/www/users/gandalf/starwarsguide.com/forums/admin/functions.php on line 57

[amykhar]

Gang, this is a very easy hack to do but it can take hours of work to get the templates right - depending on what you want to do with it. If these directions aren't quite right, check out the original instructions on vbulletin.com.

Amy

[SirSteve]

Originally posted by amykhar
Gang, this is a very easy hack to do but it can take hours of work to get the templates right - depending on what you want to do with it. If these directions aren't quite right, check out the original instructions on vbulletin.com.

Amy

Can you provide the direct link? Thanks.

[Tim Wheatley]

Thanks Amy. It took me a while to figure out that the invisble post was because it was 'minimised', to only visible when I clicked expand all. Then I had to setup the template to counter this. Once I did it now works like a dream.

[Tim Wheatley]

If anyone wants the template I've used to make this:


Use and modify this: (NOTE: this uses the expand/contract hack!)

<table bgcolor="{pagebgcolor}" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td width="10"><img width="10" height="1" src="{imagesfolder}/space.gif" alt=""></td><td width="100%"><!-- spacer -->

<table cellpadding="{tableouterborderwidth}" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="{tablebordercolor}" {tableouterextra} width="{contenttablewidth}" align="center"><tr><td>
<DIV id="p$post[postid]h" style="display:$ph">
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {tableinnerextra} width="100%">
<tr>
	<td bgcolor="$post[backcolor]" valign="top" nowrap><nobr>$plusimg <normalfont>This news item was posted at <a href="http://www.racesimcentral.com" target="_blank">Racesim Central</a> or <a href="http://www.gplea.org" target="_blank">GPLEA.org</a> at
      $post[posttime] $post[postdate]</nobr></td>
</tr>
</table>
</DIV>

<DIV id="p$post[postid]e" style="display:$pe">
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {tableinnerextra} width="100%">
<tr>
	<td bgcolor="$post[backcolor]" valign="top" nowrap>
    <p align="left">
	<a name="post$post[postid]"></a>
    $post[firstnewinsert] <nobr>$minusimg <normalfont>This news item was posted at <a href="http://www.racesimcentral.com" target="_blank">Racesim Central</a> or <a href="http://www.gplea.org" target="_blank">GPLEA.org</a> at
    $post[posttime] $post[postdate]</nobr>
    <p align="center"><nobr> </normalfont></nobr></p>
      <table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><normalfont><b>News:</b></normalfont></td></tr><tr><td style="BORDER: #000000 1px solid; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #D0D0D0;"><normalfont>$post[message]</normalfont></td></tr></table>
      <p align="center"><br><smallfont>News Item: $usertherdcoun | Forum News Views: $personal<br>
<b>ADMIN:</b> <smallfont><a href="http://www.racesimcentral.com/news.html" target="_blank">POST RSC</a> | <a href="http://gplea.racesimcentral.com/news.html" target="_blank">POST GPLEA</a> | <a href="editpost.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&amp;action=editpost&amp;postid=$post[postid]">EDIT</a>
      $post[iplogged]<br><b>USERS:</b> <a href="http://forum.racesimcentral.com/newthread.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&action=newthread&forumid=122" target="_blank">SUPPLY RSC NEWS</a> | <a href="mailto:kotr@gmx.net">SUPPLY GPLEA NEWS</a> | <a href="search.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&amp;action=finduser&amp;userid=$post[userid]">SEARCH</a>&nbsp;|
      <a href="newreply.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&action=newreply&postid=$post[postid]">QUOTE</a></p>
    </td>
	
</tr>
</table>
</DIV>
</td></tr></table>

<!-- spacer --></td><td width="10"><img width="10" height="1" src="{imagesfolder}/space.gif" alt=""></td></tr></table>

[SirSteve]

Is your style still showing the other forum options like Author, New Thread and Post/Reply buttons?

[Tim Wheatley]

Yes it is - but I need it to anyway

[SirSteve]

Do you see a way of getting rid of it?

[Tim Wheatley]

No because the first post hack this is just edits what's shown on my screenshot, and then only on the first post. But what you want to do can be done (VERY EASILY).

Create another set of templates, edit the showthread and postbit templates, then under 'Forums & Moderators' click modify, then edit the forum you want to use those templates, and simply under 'Style Options' select the style you want it to use then 'yes' to 'Override users custom styles'...

There ya go.

I'm sure someone with a bigger talkin tongue can type this out for more of an explanation.