Filling some deadspace in the SHOWTHREAD template

[scottkoz20]

I am looking at potentially filling some dead space at the bottom of the SHOWTHREADS template. Currently, I have a sidebar forced on for most of my users (removable for my staff and donors) and on some of the thread pages (especially those with 1 or 2 posts), there is some deadspace.

I am wondering if there is an easy way to create 2 or 3 columns that I can add information that could also be on the sidebar (like last 5-10 posts on the site) or something else that can be added in using the same type of structure as the Forum Blocks.

If there is a mod that exists to facilitate with this, awesome... if not, how hard would it be to create blocks like this for content? It could be for paid content potentially as well...

Thanks,
Scott

[scottkoz20]

bumping this up to see if there any thoughts/ideas/known mods

[snakes1100]

You would have to custom code an addon to share info from the showthread page & a sidebar.

[scottkoz20]

probably would need to be custom code as well for non-side bar information. This is a lower priority item for me.

Thank you for the reply

[alfuzzy]

Originally Posted by scottkoz20

Currently, I have a sidebar forced on for most of my users (removable for my staff and donors)...

Hey there Scott. I have some sidebars on my site at the moment...and at the moment they are still "hideable" by users using the vBulletin open/close tab.

How did you "force" the sidebar on non-donating members (can't close or hide it). Was this via tweaking some code...or did you use a 3rd party plugin product?

Also a 2nd question. Do you have this sidebar on just your home page or all website pages?

My understanding is by default...vBulletin 4 only does the sidebar on the forum home page but not other pages. I did see there's a 3rd party product called "Sidebar Anywhere"...didn't know if you were using this.

Thanks

[scottkoz20]

Originally Posted by alfuzzy

Hey there Scott. I have some sidebars on my site at the moment...and at the moment they are still "hideable" by users using the vBulletin open/close tab.

How did you "force" the sidebar on non-donating members (can't close or hide it). Was this via tweaking some code...or did you use a 3rd party plugin product?

Also a 2nd question. Do you have this sidebar on just your home page or all website pages?

My understanding is by default...vBulletin 4 only does the sidebar on the forum home page but not other pages. I did see there's a 3rd party product called "Sidebar Anywhere"...didn't know if you were using this.

Thanks

I am using the Sidebar Anywhere mod for vB4. In the settings, you have the ability to identify what usergroups can collapse the sidebar. In addition, I have made several templates in the BLOCK TEMPLATES section where I commented out

		<div class="blocksubhead">
			<a class="collapse" id="collapse_block_html_{vb:raw blockinfo.blockid}" href="{vb:raw relpath}#top"><img alt="" src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_button}/collapse_40b.png" id="collapseimg_html_{vb:raw blockinfo.blockid}"/></a>
			<span class="blocktitle">{vb:raw blockinfo.title}</span>
		</div>

Then in the Sidebar blocks, you have to ensure you are changing the TEMPLATE TO USE in the block setup.

I also have built a sideblock that has no headings and just allows for Ad Content (using this for 300x250 and 300x600 ad types)