Major Additions - vBFlash Header (Lite) - Alternative to default vBulletin logo/header

vBFlash Header (Lite)

Design: Syrus XL Media ? Professional Flash Development
Support Only: http://www.digitalport.co.uk
Site Demo: [Removed by Staff]
Header size: 600x150 pixels
Revision: v1.0
vBulletin version: ALL VERSIONS - Unless vBulletin changes a lot!
Templates Edits: 2
Extra Files: 8
Full instruction manuals supplied in Text and Acrobat formats within package.

LOG:
Updated: 7th March 2007 - Updated to 1.1 - small bug in javascript code, preventing flash movie loading. Package updated with bug fixed.
headinclude template code should be this:

<script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/flashobject.js"></script>

About
Bring your forum header to life with this ?vBFlash Header? modification. The vbFlash Header is an alternative header/logo for the default vBulletin style. It uses an easy to configure XML file to setup the header the way you want it to display the images. The package includes 5 example images, which you will need to change for your own website/forum. vBFlash Header supports multiple images, image pause and 9 transition effects. This ?Lite? version is based on a default vBulletin forum, it can be adapted to suit other custom styles quite easily. It is designed to work with fixed and fluid styles, from 800 pixels wide upwards. A dark version will be added shortly.

The flash loader only adds 7k to your page load, so it's light-weight for any forum.

Creating Your Images
Your images should be 600 pixels wide and 150 pixels high and saved in a non-progressive jpeg format. The quality of your images may vary, depending on how you want the overall look. We have created example images in Photoshop and entered the ?Website Name? text on the top layer, this gives the impression that the text is static in most of the effects, even though it is changed upon each image load.
Note: If you change an image and overwrite an example image, make sure you empty your browser cache, should the image fail to change. Browsers will cache flash animations, so this is important.

Configuring the XML file
The enclosed ?images.xml? file controls how the flash file shows the images, hence you can change a few aspects of your header. Make sure all your images are correctly labelled and are reflected within the XML file. The ?Pause? function is the delay which an image stays on view ? the default is set to 6 seconds (value=6000). Transition value can be any number between 1 and 9, if you set this value to ?0? it will randomize the effects. You may add more images by adding more image tag lines, and adding the images to the ?xheader? directory.

Installation
Upload the contents of the ?UPLOAD? folder to your forum root. If you receive a warning about overwriting the ?flashobject.js? file, you can overwrite or skip - this normally happens if you have installed previous modifications released by us (we use the flashobject.js file to correctly embed flash objects into pages - this maximizes browser compatibility).

File map:

• forum/clientscript/flashobject.js
• forum/images.xml
• forum/vbflashheader.swf
• forum/xheader
• forum/xheader/img1.jpg
• forum/xheader/img2.jpg
• forum/xheader/img3.jpg
• forum/xheader/img4.jpg
• forum/xheader/img5.jpg

vBulletin Template Edits
You will know need to login to your AdminCP panel and follow these instructions on which templates require editing. Only 2 are required for this modification.

Style & Templates -> Style Manager -> Default Style -> Edit Templates

headinclude template

Find:

<script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/vbulletin_global.js?v=$vboptions[simpleversion]"></script>

Before add:

<script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/flashobject.js"></script>

Header template

Find:

<tr>
	<td align="$stylevar[left]"><a href="$vboptions[forumhome].php$session[sessionurl_q]"><img src="$stylevar[titleimage]" border="0" alt="$vboptions[bbtitle]" /></a></td>
	<td align="$stylevar[right]">
		&nbsp;
	</td>
</tr>

And replace with this code:

<!-- vbFlash Header Start -->
<div id="vbheader">
Warning!!! To view enable JavaScript and Flash! 
</div>
      <script type="text/javascript">
   var fo = new FlashObject("vbflashheader.swf", "vbheader", "800", "150", "8,0,0,0", "#e1e1e2");
   fo.addParam("quality", "high");
   fo.addParam("wmode", "transparent");
   fo.write("vbheader");
</script>
<!-- vbFlash Header End -->

End of template edits.

Enjoy your new flash-based header!

Note: Adding this modification to a Portal system outside the forum root.
If you are using a portal with this modification outside the forum root you will need to make one small change to the code in the header template. The line with the "vbflashheader.swf" in will need to have an absolute path. Example: "http://www.yourdomain.com/forums/vbflashheader.swf".

Additional Notes:
This modification is fully supported at http://www.vbulletin.org ? should you require advice or help. Please note, unless you click INSTALL, your question maybe ignored.

If you require a branding free version, simply donate $30 and state the domain where it will be used upon, and an email address where we can send you the package.

[haytham]

ok never mind. I just added the your code under "logo". Thanks. I'll go play with the images. Just 1 question. Can't I change the width? I'd like to make it 800.

[syrus.xl]

I just checked your sites source code, and received some strange errors (they only show up in Firefox Web Developer tools).

PM me the header code and I'll have a look. It's hard to tell just from the source code.

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by haytham

ok never mind. I just added the your code under "logo". Thanks. I'll go play with the images. Just 1 question. Can't I change the width? I'd like to make it 800.

You might find it will stretch images at 800px and pixelate.

[haytham]

I just sent you the header with a question about an empty space on the right. Thanks in advance.

[MDK-Indy]

Salü,

How i can the Background on the right side make Black.

Sorry for my english ;-)

Greeting Indy

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by haytham

I just sent you the header with a question about an empty space on the right. Thanks in advance.

PM'd replied to...

Originally Posted by MDK-Indy

Sal?,

How i can the Background on the right side make Black.

Sorry for my english ;-)

Greeting Indy

It was designed specifically for a 'virgin' vBulletin board with no color alterations, as most mods are. However, I'll make a black version a little later.

[kylek]

This is so cool!!

One question, our page background is #E4E4E4 and is very close to the color that the graphics fade to on the right hand side. Where can one adjust that color or what is the color that you have there now so we can adjust our page background to match?

Thanks!!

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by kylek

This is so cool!!

One question, our page background is #E4E4E4 and is very close to the color that the graphics fade to on the right hand side. Where can one adjust that color or what is the color that you have there now so we can adjust our page background to match?

Thanks!!

The background color is set within the actual flash file. It uses an alpha gradient to merge the image into the background color, this is done within a movieClip, which isn't set externally.

But I will customize it for $40 - this would include the modification being a non-branded version, resized (if required) and color HEX matched. If you're interested just PM me.

[kylek]

Originally Posted by syrus.xl

The background color is set within the actual flash file. It uses an alpha gradient to merge the image into the background color, this is done within a movieClip, which isn't set externally.

But I will customize it for $40 - this would include the modification being a non-branded version, resized (if required) and color HEX matched. If you're interested just PM me.

Thanks we will be getting back to you about this more, as will have several sites that will be running the vbflash header.

Another question please, one site has the forums installed in "forums" directory, we just uploaded everything and did the template edits but the images do not show, could this be because its "forums" and not "forum"? Looking but cant seem to find if there is any forum paths that can be changed.

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by kylek

Thanks we will be getting back to you about this more, as will have several sites that will be running the vbflash header.

Another question please, one site has the forums installed in "forums" directory, we just uploaded everything and did the template edits but the images do not show, could this be because its "forums" and not "forum"? Looking but cant seem to find if there is any forum paths that can be changed.

It does vary from site to site, with various configurations - but making sure all paths are absolute rather than relative will usually solve this problem. The paths that need to be absolute are the headinclude edit and all references to the swf file, within the header template.

There is a code update coming very soon for this modification, which changes the way the swf file is embedded in to vbulletin. It will be updated once I've finished a couple of other jobs I got.

Hope that helps!