vBulletin Options, Variables

[ImagenSkins]

Hello, I am trying to create a feature on my website that enables us to showcase content. The content boxes contain a basic header and a caption for the background image. What I want to do with is to add an option inside vBulletin Options or create a new block on the left of admincp/modcp that would allow my mods or other admins to change the image URL and the redirect URL easily without having to go inside style/templates and mess with the code.

This is what we have at FORUMHOME:

<div class="bg-right">
          <div class="featuretitle">
               <a href="{vb:raw link2}">Featured Title 2</a>         
          </div>
           <div class="featurecaption">
               <a href="{vb:raw link2}">{vb:raw caption2}</a>
          </div>
</div>

<div class="bg-left">
          <div class="featuretitle">
               <a href="{vb:raw link1}">Featured Title 1</a>
          </div>
          <div class="featurecaption">
               <a href="{vb:raw link1}">{vb:raw caption1}</a>
          </div>
</div>

This is what we have in the CSS Stylesheet:

.bg-right {
      float: right;  
      background:#303030 url({vb:raw img2});
      height:200px;
      width:400px;      
      margin-right: 50px;
      margin-top: 25px;
      margin-top: 20px;
      position: relative;
      border: 1px outset #aaa;
}   

.bg-left {
      float: left;  
      background: #303030 url({vb:raw img1});
      height:200px;
      width:400px;   
      margin-left: 50px;      
      margin-top: 20px;
      margin-bottom: 25px;
      position: relative;
      border: 1px outset #aaa;
}   

.featuretitle {
      background: #01B1F1 url(/images/titlebg.png) repeat-x;
      padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;
} 

.featuretitle a{
      color: #FFF;
      font-weight: bold;
      font-size: 14px;
} 

.featurecaption {
      background: #000;
      opacity:0.4;  
      position: absolute; 
      bottom: 0;
      width: 400px;
      height: 20px;
} 

.featurecaption a{
      color: #FFF;
      font-weight: bold;
      font-size: 14px;      
}

How do I create these variables and allow for an input from users in admin/mod cp?

Thanks In Advance,
iS

[calorie]

There isn't a simple answer for this. The best thing might be to look at a simple add-on here that does something similar in structure to what you are wanting to do. You can also enable debug mode by placing this in your vB config.php file:

// best if used on a test site
$config['Misc']['debug'] = true;

A file titled cpnav_addonname.xml would go inside the /includes/xml directory to make the side menu. Take a look at other cpnav_*.xml files to see the format.

[ImagenSkins]

What does the debug mode do?

Also, I took a look at the cpnav_dbtech and cpnav_vBulletin folder and I noticed a similar format however I am confused as to where those are redirected to. The vBulletin XML contains phrases while the dbtech doesn't (custom mod) and that one links to thanks.php which I can't find the source to anywhere.

[calorie]

Debug mode places your forum into a special mode whereby you can make add-ons, change settings, add options, display query information and more, but don't do anything until you are sure of what the option does. Check here for stylevars and here for other useful articles.

[ImagenSkins]

Awesome, i'll test it out later tonight after I get a chance to backup everything. Also, if I use stylevars I can also change the background image and the link options in stylevars for my newly created variable instead of vb options, right?

[calorie]

Stylevars should be for CSS type things. For links and phrases, you would go into debug mode, create a product via the ACP and use the "hidden" options in the ACP that appear when in debug mode to add options and phrases. If you go to the ACP options, you can add an option group to your product, then add options in that option group, and then use {vb:raw vboptions.link1} in the template. Similar for phrases with {vb:rawphrase caption1} in the template. Remember though that if using 'raw' whatever, that includes HTML so don't inadvertently open yourself up to potential exploit.

[ImagenSkins]

Thank you very much, everything was a success. I think I might have fallen in love; in love with the debug mode, lol. Will definitely enjoy my time playing around with it in a test forum. Thanks once again for letting me explore a whole new world.

[calorie]

Great! Good to hear.