That article that the link points to mentions already being familiar with ubb.classic html templates. Can you point me to that information, as I'm not sure where to start? Or, any resources you have for creating your own html templates from scratch?
Yes, that link didn't help me either. Right now, I'm just working from the JCTemplates and trying to customise those so I can have one consistent set of templates for future upgrades.
However, I can't tell which CSS file(s) it's using as I can't find the reference. I think I just need as much details as you can give or a user manual on HTML Templates. I know HTML, so I'm not in over my head. But guessing is creating a negative and frustrating feeling.
Sorry, I was in a bit of a rush yesterday as I posted that.. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Let me start at the beginning..
First, ensure that everything's uploaded in ASCII mode. Including the JCTemplates folder and the styles/importexport folder. (Graphics go in binary of course <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ).
Then go: CP -> Style Templates -> Import a Style Template Pick one of the files, give it a name and import. Customize as necessary through the edit style interface.
When you use one of those styles on a forum or section of the board, you have to then select "JCTemplates" on the Template Associations page. Make sure you match JCTemplates with imported styles. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Graeme
Moderator: UBB6 How Do I?
NOTE:Any email requests for support will be ignored.
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't." --Douglas Adams
Question: I am looking for a permanent solution whereby I can create a look for my forums so that every time I upgrade, I do not have to spend hours customising how pages lay out. I am assuming that HTML Templates are the way to go, and accomplish that. Can you confirm that I'm understanding this correctly?
I don't want to put hours into making an HTML Template for each possible public .pl page if it's just going to disappear AGAIN with the next upgrade.
We're getting into unofficial and undocumented territory here (I hope Dave doesn't mind me posting this <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )..
You have a couple of options here.. You might want to consider creating your own template set (like JC created his - the JCTemplates).
The way the system works is you can create a subdirectory in the noncgi/Templates directory, say aswasTemplates. In there, you MUST have a public_common.pl, and then you can have any number of other replacement files. If a file doesn't exist, then the default is used.
I would strongly suggest taking copies of either the default or JC (depending on which design you prefer), customizing them, and then uploading them to the new directory. Also create a new style, based on either the standard or JC design, and use that. Make sure you're consistent. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Once you've got your own directory, you're pretty much safe from any upgrades since you're 99% guaranteed that there will never be an aswasTemplates in the stock distro (unless they include yours! <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ).
OK, that's a start.. Let me know how it sounds or if you need more explanations. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Graeme
Moderator: UBB6 How Do I?
NOTE:Any email requests for support will be ignored.
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't." --Douglas Adams
Say I have a customized header with sidebar layout that provides the basic look and feel for all pages in my UBB.classic. Do I have to update all those templates? Or is there ONE place I can insert my html?
Is the addition & modification of the HTML templates by board administrators encouraged? If so, will there be more detailed documentation available as to how to go about this process?
Finally - will more templates be available from JC and/or Infopop?
I'm really liking it, I just want to figure out what I'm doing before I try to jump in and do it.
Essentially the JCTemplates will work the same as the stock ones. You add the html for your header and footer in the same way as before, only you will use the new style template section of the control panel. (it has more options etc).
UBBDesign.com Custom web devlopment and enhancement of the ubb.classic & ubb.threads
Ok Graeme, that's what I thought. I exported the standard template, copied that, and reimported it so I have a new style and new html template evidently.
My concern is still this. Whenever you've upgraded the software, many if not all pages in /Templates have changed. So even if I make /Templates/gratuitous and have all kinds of customised .pl files in there, what happens when you change the functionality? What happens with /Templates (the default) and /Templates/gratuitous are totally different animals. Won't I be missing features???
Heard of it, and don't trust it to get it right to be honest. How does it know what I do and don't want? Is it psychic? <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
In reality, if we could build some sort of layout elements into the control panel, then I wouldn't have to redo heaps of templates every time there's an upgrade. I don't want CSS, so the customisations I make go beyond font size/colour/face and td backgrounds.
I know they do. That's why I'm using your original Templates for my custom template. Also, I tend to do more with moving layouts and where certain elements are seen than font stuff.
I'm done customising for now on the GC forum linked from my sig. It's not that exciting, but there's enough customising there to keep me busy and avoid some of the smaller updates. Luckily, I can now mostly do it from public_common, public_forum_summary, and ubb_lib... but that's mostly because I gave up on some of the flashier customisations that required me to change things on EVERY page. I used to do that... <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I am staying away from CSS right now so that I can use the feature on my mouse that lets me increase and decrease font size. I don't like forums who think that 9 point type is cool! I can blow it up for myself, but I've noticed that if you use point sizes and not percentages that you can't blow it up, at least not using my mouse (Cirque CruiseCat).
So the main thing I'm looking toward is more flexibility in layouts and templates while not having to kill myself on each upgrade. That's not CSS-dependent... it's more dependent on what's in the .pl and .cgi pages and what is built into wordlets or styles. I get the feeling that with the next upgrade, I'll be redoing my templates anyway as always. Wouldn't you say?
ps: by "your" original templates, I wasn't talking to you, JC. I was talking to Infopop... I'm using THEIR files from /Template as yours had all the CSS for which I wasn't ready. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Now I'm TRYING to use the CSS, but it's not working. It's not recognising my sheet. I made a new style, gratuitous.cgi, and I have it going to a CSS file in a certain place. Yes, I'm sure it's right!
How come when I tell it to edit a JC style, I get a neato box letting me change the CSS right there. But when I go to change the standard one or the one I'm working on, there is no CSS textarea box? Maybe this is the key...
The section without the css box is for the stock templates only. It doesn't have any effect if you are using the new ones (at least no proper effect LOL)
UBBDesign.com Custom web devlopment and enhancement of the ubb.classic & ubb.threads
Originally posted by JC: Essentially the JCTemplates will work the same as the stock ones. You add the html for your header and footer in the same way as before, only you will use the new style template section of the control panel. (it has more options etc).
As far as I can tell, the HTML templates are the public .pl pages that are in /Templates. JC has made a bunch if you want yours to look like those. My concern is just that even if I customise things as I always have, the next update will have changes to those .pl pages, and you'll have to redo all of your "HTML templates."
We generally do not break previous HTML templates - they SHOULD work fine after the update, but you will need to manually bring them up to date with any new features added.
-- Charles Capps UBB.classic™ Developer Having problems? Open up a support ticket!
Can we use sub-folders for graphics, cause the control panel seems to discourage that, but I'd rather not have 143 items just floating in the main directory... whatever programmer that's left in me thinks that's sloppy.
As long as they're in subdirectories of the NonCGI directory, that's fine. (That's what we used for JCImages anyway.. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )
Graeme
Moderator: UBB6 How Do I?
NOTE:Any email requests for support will be ignored.
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't." --Douglas Adams
We delayed the upgrade to give our posters a chance to download their messages from the hacked PM system we were using on the old UBB.
The questions I have on the JC templates are: - How do I add a style to the "Contact Us"|"Web Page" line? It shows up as Times New Roman in both IE and NS.
- I'd like to use the JC template on the main summary page, but how do I get the "on" and "off" icons to line up correctly? Everything seems to slide to the left, which is we're sticking with the standard template for now. I've also noticed this behavior at the 3D Realms UBB summary page with their radioactive icons, so I'm thinking that's a bug
you guys are awesome.. now can someone help with an upgrade problem? It's posted in the upgrade forum. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
(and Graeme, the live link was using the standard template with the same color scheme)
