BoardMod Support Forum - How to add a new Template to YaBB2

Carsten

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11.01.05 at 04:24:44

YaBB 2 introduces a new way of 'Skinning YaBB'. A complete template-set for YaBB 2 includes:

a CSS file
a html template
a BoardIndex template
a MessageIndex template
a Display template
a HelpCentre template
a set of images

All elements in a Template-set are optional - meaning, if you only want to make changes to the looks of the Board Index you only have to include the "cgi-bin/yabb2/Templates/templatename/BoardIndex.template" file in your Template-set.

The folder-structure for a Template-set is:

public_html/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/templatename.css (style sheet)
public_html/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/templatename/*.gif (images)

cgi-bin/yabb2/Templates/templatename/BoardIndex.template
cgi-bin/yabb2/Templates/templatename/MessageIndex.template
cgi-bin/yabb2/Templates/templatename/Display.template
cgi-bin/yabb2/Templates/templatename/HelpCentre.template
cgi-bin/yabb2/Templates/templatename/templatename.html

Further more you can add a configuration file to have YaBB 2 automatically add the new template-set to the system:

cgi-bin/yabb2/Templates/templatename/templatename.cfg

The configuration file is a simple text file in this format:

Code:


###############################################################################
# Template Configuration                                                      #
###############################################################################

$template_name = "Templatename";	# This is the name of your new template set (max. 50 characters).
$template_css = 1;			# Set to 1 if your template set includes a style sheet else 0 to use default.
$template_images = 1;			# Set to 1 if your template set includes a images folder else 0 to use default.
$template_head = 1;			# Set to 1 if your template set includes a head file (.html) else 0 to use default.
$template_board = 1;			# Set to 1 if your template set includes a BoardIndex template else 0 to use default.
$template_message = 1;			# Set to 1 if your template set includes a MessageIndex template else 0 to use default.
$template_display = 1;			# Set to 1 if your template set includes a Display template else 0 to use default.

1;

The config. file will add the template-set to YaBB 2's 'template.cfg' file and then automatically be deleted.

In the images folder you only need to add the images you want changed - YaBB 2 will automatically use the 'default' images for the rest.

Use the attached template-set as example - enjoy!

« Last Edit: 09.09.05 at 16:43:14 by Carsten »

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cd01_template.zip (20 KB | 198 )

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TopHouse

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Reply #1 - 24.03.05 at 01:29:46

Carsten, I used your nicer color setup mod on my Yabb board, I think you said a version of it is included in Yabb2, it the above the same thing?

I'm have my board set up with a really nice design and colors that took me ages to get right and I'm really happy with it. It's at :-

http://www.thetophouse.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi

When Yabb2 is is in final, will I be able to make it look the same as this?

I'm so happy with it that if I knew how I'd submit a template to the template vault for it.

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George Williams Guest	Reply #2 - 06.08.05 at 13:24:39 I installed Yabb 2 RC 3 and everything is working - If I want to modify the the main board screen what is the name of the file and location ? Thanks
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Curtiss Grymala

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Reply #3 - 06.08.05 at 15:29:42

Quote:

I installed Yabb 2 RC 3 and everything is working - If I want to modify the the main board screen what is the name of the file and location ?

Thanks

Go to your Admin Center and click on Templates. The first file that will be displayed in the editor is your main template file. This will control everything above, below, and around the YaBB contents. Then, if you choose default.BoardIndex from the dropdown menu, that will bring up the template for your YaBB content that displays on the main page.

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Skyflame Bloody Novice Offline Posts: 14	Reply #4 - 10.09.05 at 11:45:10 How do I replace the menu buttons...without erasing the originals?
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Curtiss Grymala

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Reply #5 - 10.09.05 at 15:56:50

I don't think you can, unless you make some modifications to your Source YaBB files (I don't remember for sure which images are always used from the default template and which images are customisable for each template).

However, before I tell you what modifications you might need to make (which puts a lot more responsibility on you as an admin), try going to /yabbfiles/Templates/Forum in your FTP program, and then uploading the images you want to use into your directory that's been set up for the new template you're creating. Then, make sure you elect to use images from that template in your Admin Centre (Template Configuration).

Then, return to your forum, make sure you choose that template in your profile, and press Shift+Reload to completely reload all of the images in the template. If that works, then you won't have to make any modifications.

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Outumuro Hacker God Offline Posts: 569	Reply #6 - 14.10.05 at 15:50:44 Hi Carsten, I know you have a lot on your plate right now, but when you get the time can you check the template here for Y2F compliance? I'm using it now, seems to be working fine... but still looking just in case.
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MrDale

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Reply #7 - 01.11.05 at 18:36:33

im in the midst of creating another stylesheet for mu members to have another opyion as far as colors concerned.

however i want to change out my banner logo for something i have that coordinates better with the new color chemes. the place where i have to edit the banner is in the default.html file. how do i create another html that i can edit in the admin center?

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dougconran Bloody Novice Offline Posts: 1	Reply #8 - 22.02.06 at 22:17:49 I'm sure I'm missing something here but how do I get new templates? I've just installed YaBB 2.1 onto a Linux server and have had a look at the Template Vault and seen a number of tasty designs. But how on earth do I actually get a template set???
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Xavier Hacker Expert Offline Posts: 442	Reply #9 - 03.03.06 at 04:06:22 The template vault is only templates for YaBB 1. The templates for YaBB 2.x are among the post in the template section on this board. If i'm right Michael is working on a Template Vault for YaBB 2.x
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thaliagoo Bloody Novice Offline Posts: 1	Reply #10 - 06.04.06 at 18:18:18 This isnt working for me- all i see is the default start page. WHen I click on a post, the new template shows up. Under configurations, the general template shows up correctly but doesn't appear on the webpage. I uploaded the files into the location you said- do I need to do anything else? I even used a mod to choose my own template and it still fails!!
	« Last Edit: 06.04.06 at 19:43:41 by thaliagoo » IP Logged

javajoe96

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Reply #11 - 03.05.06 at 00:43:00

After creating a new template in YaBB 2, there are two places you need to select the new template:

1. In the Admin Centre -> Forum Settings -> Registration and Member Settings -> Select the default forum template.
This sets it as the default template for the forum. This means that guests and users not currently logged in will see this template, and new users that register will have this set as their current template (Untill they change it)
2. In your profile -> Options -> Which template would you like to use?
This sets the active template of the current user. Existing users will only see the new template after their profiles have been modified.

One smart trick if you wish to have existing users updated when you edit your template is to immediately create a new template when you start your forum, setting this as the default template (This template can be identical to the default template, no need to create new css files etc if you don't want to change it at this point). This will cause all users registering to use your template instead of the default one. When you at a later stage edit this template, users will immediately see the changes (Unless they have manually changed their template back to the default one)

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au Bloody Novice Offline Posts: 4	Reply #12 - 08.06.06 at 06:37:36 Hi, am new here. Thank you Carsten for the detail on installing new template So till now, new template for YaBB2 available only on this forum? What available on http://www.boardmod.org/templates/templatevault.php is for the old version only?
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Xavier Hacker Expert Offline Posts: 442	Reply #13 - 08.06.06 at 08:43:16 That's right i think Michael is creating a new Template Vault for Y2.1 soon
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au Bloody Novice Offline Posts: 4	Reply #14 - 09.06.06 at 08:52:23 Xavier wrote on 08.06.06 at 08:43:16: That's right i think Michael is creating a new Template Vault for Y2.1 soon Ic, I can't wait! Btw, can we use flash for forum logo? I tried and it didn't work.
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