Some basics of vB3(mini howto)
also some basic php junk
the most important thing if you want to make pages based on templates or anything of the such would be to first know how to "
connect" to vbulletin, and then learn how to call and eval templates. so lets take a look at the most BASIC page we can do
PHP Code:
<?php // ## Changes Directory so it can accesss vBulletin IF we are outside the forums folder, if not this is not nessary ## chdir("./forums");
// ## Error Reporting ( we use error reporting in php so we can control the display of error messages // ## we will use this because all vBulletin files follow the same error reporting rules) ## error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);
// ## this action here cache's the templates so that everytime their needed a querry wont be needed to run // ## the names in there are just the template names :), there must be a comma after everyone but the last ## $globaltemplates = array( 'main' );
// ## Grabs global.php this grabs vbulletins global.php so we can use the most basic of vBulletins functions ## require_once("./global.php");
// ## this calls to print out one main template ## eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('main') . '");'); ?>
So theres a basic file, if your going to make one, that would i think be the mininum needed. now if you are going to be making
somthing abit more advanced. suchas calling more than one template, or doing an action it becomes abit more complicated
PHP Code:
<?php // ## Changes Directory so it can accesss vBulletin IF we are outside the forums folder, if not this is not nessary ## chdir("./forums");
// ## Error Reporting ( we use error reporting in php so we can control the display of error messages // ## we will use this because all vBulletin files follow the same error reporting rules) ## error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE);
// ## this here defines the "this_script" function, which if you use template conditionals, it will come in handy :) ## define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'page');
// ## this action here cache's the templates so that everytime their needed a querry wont be needed to run // ## the names in there are just the template names :), there must be a comma after everyone but the last ## $globaltemplates = array( 'main', 'big', 'small' );
// ## Grabs global.php this grabs vbulletins global.php so we can use the most basic of vBulletins functions ## require_once("./global.php");
// ## ok this next set of lines "eval"'s our templates so they can be called inside the template we will print out ## eval('$big = "' . fetch_template('big') . '";'); eval('$small = "' . fetch_template('small') . '";');
// ## this calls to print out one main template ## eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('main') . '");'); ?>
PHP Code:
// ## if were going to use actions and their templates // ## arnt used anywhere else in the file but the actions we add this // ## under $globaltemplates = array(); // ## where small is would be the action name // ## and other is the template used ## $actiontemplates = array( 'small' => array( 'other' ) ); // ## this is a action, and it can be added before the final // ## eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('main') . '");'); // ## anything done before this request can be called inside the template // ## so lets say if you evalled the template big, as $bit, it can be called // ## here with other. ## if ($_REQUEST['do'] == 'small') { eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('other') . '");'); }
one more note
if your going to write a script that is ALL actions you should add somthing like this right after the call to gobal.php
PHP Code:
if (empty($_REQUEST['do'])) { $_REQUEST['do'] == 'small'; }
this will ensure that if the usergoes to foo.php instead of foo.php?do=small they will still see the correct page
Mini Tut by Faranth
(with some help from Brad.loo fixing my silly newbie mistakes )
Quality work there Faranth. DEFINITELY a good resource for those wanting to make a custom page but don't know where to start! This might inspire me to chime in myself and write up a few mini tutorials. Keep up the good work bro! Cheers!
Just a little note, if you are going to be writing scripts that are a bit more advanced. Sometimes you will need to retrive information from vBulletin datastore templates, to do so add this above the call to global.php
PHP Code:
// get special data templates from the datastore
$specialtemplates = array(
'smiliecache',
'bbcodecache'
);
That will pull the smilie and bbcodecache which would be needed if you where say, pulling post information from the database (think news scripts). If you need to pull something from the datastore look in the vBulletin file that emulates what you would like to do and find out what it is pulling from the datastore.
Just a little note, if you are going to be writing scripts that are a bit more advanced. Sometimes you will need to retrive information from vBulletin datastore templates, to do so add this above the call to global.php
PHP Code:
// get special data templates from the datastore
$specialtemplates = array(
'smiliecache',
'bbcodecache'
);
That will pull the smilie and bbcodecache which would be needed if you where say, pulling post information from the database (think news scripts). If you need to pull something from the datastore look in the vBulletin file that emulates what you would like to do and find out what it is pulling from the datastore.
01-08-2004, 10:00 PM
01-09-2004, 03:36 AM
