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.

[PenPusher1000]

working on 3.7.0?

[dune3000]

Any idea how I can add link to that flash logo?

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by dune3000

Any idea how I can add link to that flash logo?

What do mean specifically? A home url on the actual flash movie?

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by PenPusher1000

working on 3.7.0?

Yes, this will work on vBulletin 3.7.0 - the demo is running on 3.7.0

[mark|3]

it does not work in firefox. it aligns to the left instead of center. any help wil be appreciated thanks

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by mark|3

it does not work in firefox. it aligns to the left instead of center. any help wil be appreciated thanks

It is designed to replace the existing vBulletin logo which is left-aligned. You can easily center the flash movie by adding a new div, using the code below:

<!-- vbFlash Header Start -->
<div align="center">
<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.write("vbheader");
</script>
</div>
<!-- vbFlash Header End -->

Hope that helps.

[mark|3]

thanks alot cyrus

[vbboarder]

This mod does not work in Firefox 2. The fix requires the Flash object to have transparent wmode.

Solution: FIND in Header template:

fo.addParam("quality", "high");

Before that, ADD:

fo.addParam("wmode", "transparent");

Save the edited template and the Flash Header should now show.

[syrus.xl]

Originally Posted by vbboarder

This mod does not work in Firefox 2. The fix requires the Flash object to have transparent wmode.

Solution: FIND in Header template:


Before that, ADD:


Save the edited template and the Flash Header should now show.

Thanks vbboarder... I'll add this parameter. Strangely enoughly it must be one I've missed, however most people do not have DHTML menus above the header, but if they do then certain dropdowns would drop behind this flash object.

Regards.

[vbboarder]

Originally Posted by Lighting90

Went back to the site today, to find that the header is not showing the pictures on the home page, but it does show a blank box with "powered by vBflash Headers"

See attachment.

Have tried also adding the full path to the XML file as well... still no joy...

If anyone else has got it working, let me know... all works fine in the main forum pages....

Most likely I have missed something somewhere... been a novice...

Originally Posted by syrus.xl

It requires the full path to the flash file to work inside a portal. I did add the instructions how to do this earlier.

But here's what you'll need to do.

Find the following line in javascript call within the header template:

   var fo = new FlashObject("vbflashheader.swf", "vbheader", "800", "150", "8,0,0,0", "#e1e1e2");

You'll see "vbflashheader.swf" - you will need to prepend this file with the full url to the flash file, for example:
"http://www.domain.com/forums/vbflashheader.swf"

This ensures the code looks in the correct directory for the flash file. The XML file should be automatically picking up the images if you haven't changed the xheader folder name.

Hope that helps!

I also could not get the images to display when vbAdvanced is not at the forum root (ie: one directory above forum root). It appears that the vbflashheader script loads but cannot display the images (the powered by vbFlash Headers shows, but no images). Solution:

Since the vbflashheader.swf uses a relative path to link to the images.xml file, you need to copy the images.xml file and xheader folder to the portal directory (ie: one directory above forum root). Optional: if you don't want to move the xheader folder (but still need to move images.xml), then you'll need to change the image paths to absolute paths in images.xml. Your images should now display on the portal page