Need phpBB help!

[Cap'n Tech]

Hi guys, I recently started a phpBB forum for the first time, http://theforumtech.com

And I need some help installing some phpBB mods. I want to get a few mods, one allowing the user to login at the top of the page, one getting rid of that stupid "your message has been posted" prompt, and one having the new PM bar appear clearly at the top of the page.

I don't actually need you to come onto my forum as an admin with FTP rights, but if you could point me in the right direction to some great mods, and tell me what to do to install them, that'd be great.

Now, before everyone starts saying "go on phpBB's site and look it up", I already have, and they make NO sense to me. Also, before you say "then don't go with phpBB", well, I chose it for a reason, and that reason is that I love phpBB's themes and myBB themes are very overused.

Thanks guys,

tech

 

[CyberFreak]

All phpBB mods come with an install.xml file. If you open that in a web browser, you should see instructions to install the mod. It will say what files need editing, what files to upload, what edits to do to what files and any other steps needed such as db changes.

Installing mods are usually just finding a line of code and pasting some code after or before. Sometimes you have to actually modify the line of code you are told to find.

Best thing to do is install a test phpBB forum and try installing mods there. If you mess up, just delete and re install. That is how I learned many years ago. As it is a forum just for you to install mods to, it doesn't matter how many times you destroy it.

Start with simple mods first like instant post redirect and then move on to bigger mods with more edits and more steps such as SQL queries etc.

 

[Cap'n Tech]

I know this might be kind of "personal" to FP, but what are some major mods that all phpBB forums should have? Links would be nice, but a name would be fine as phpBB's site has a mighty nice search feature 🙂

 

[CyberFreak]

Personally I feel that you should install mods based on what type of forum you run. The Ultimate Point System is a popular mod but it is quite useless in my opinion if your forum doesn't really have a need for a point system. It is better to not overload your forum with mods as it will cause headaches down the line and can introduce security issues into your forum.

Some mods that can fit a large number of genres of forums are mods like Anti Spam ACP, Quick Edit (there are a couple of QE mods) and Who was here.

I don't have time to grab the links for you but all should be on phpBB.com.

 

[Cap'n Tech]

Ok; thanks a ton Fowler! I posted this in the help section, but I was honestly hoping to myself that you would answer. You've done such an amazing job with FP that I was just hoping to get advice from the best. I'm planning on getting all the MODs but the Point System, as I have absoluetly no need for it, as you said. If I may ask, how did you get the Featured Forums thing down near the quick reply? Is it just a QE MOD?

Thanks a ton Fowler, you're a huge help to my start-off forum.

Also, if you don't want to answer any of my questions so I don't copy you, don't worry about it. My forum will never look anything like yours.

Oh, and I almost forgot -- is there a MOD or is it just a setting on getting the user info on the left rather than the right? I've gotten so used to the user info sidebar on the left that my forum feels bare. 😛

If anybody else can answer my questions feel free, this isn't like a PM conversation between me an Fowler 😛 😛

Thanks!

 

[Taz]

I suggest that you use automod.

 

[Cap'n Tech]

Yes, I have automod but it doesn't always work.

As far as some decent addons, do you have any suggestions?

 

[death180]

Oh, and I almost forgot -- is there a MOD or is it just a setting on getting the user info on the left rather than the right? I've gotten so used to the user info sidebar on the left that my forum feels bare. 😛

Someone please correct me if I am wrong I am just reaching into the dark I haven't tested this.

Go into your ACP then to Styles > Theme > Your Style > Edit.

Then search for

/* Poster profile block
----------------------------------------*/
.postprofile {
/* Also see tweaks.css */
margin: 5px 0 10px 0;
min-height: 80px;
color: #666666;
border-left: 1px solid #FFFFFF;
width: 22%;
float: right;
display: inline;
}

And change 'float:right' to 'float:left' .

Then again, I could be wrong, or there could be an easier method. It would be best if you tested that on a test board like Fowler suggested rather than on your live board.

 

[Cap'n Tech]

Oh, and I almost forgot -- is there a MOD or is it just a setting on getting the user info on the left rather than the right? I've gotten so used to the user info sidebar on the left that my forum feels bare. 😛

Someone please correct me if I am wrong I am just reaching into the dark I haven't tested this.

Go into your ACP then to Styles > Theme > Your Style > Edit.

Then search for

/* Poster profile block
----------------------------------------*/
.postprofile {
/* Also see tweaks.css */
margin: 5px 0 10px 0;
min-height: 80px;
color: #666666;
border-left: 1px solid #FFFFFF;
width: 22%;
float: right;
display: inline;
}

And change 'float:right' to 'float:left' .

Then again, I could be wrong, or there could be an easier method. It would be best if you tested that on a test board like Fowler suggested rather than on your live board.

Doesn't work

 

[CyberFreak]

Take a look here - http://www.phpbb.com/kb/article/prosilv ... s-on-left/

Also try clearing the cache.

Ok; thanks a ton Fowler! I posted this in the help section, but I was honestly hoping to myself that you would answer. You've done such an amazing job with FP that I was just hoping to get advice from the best. I'm planning on getting all the MODs but the Point System, as I have absoluetly no need for it, as you said. If I may ask, how did you get the Featured Forums thing down near the quick reply? Is it just a QE MOD?

Thanks a ton Fowler, you're a huge help to my start-off forum.

Also, if you don't want to answer any of my questions so I don't copy you, don't worry about it. My forum will never look anything like yours.

Oh, and I almost forgot -- is there a MOD or is it just a setting on getting the user info on the left rather than the right? I've gotten so used to the user info sidebar on the left that my forum feels bare. 😛

If anybody else can answer my questions feel free, this isn't like a PM conversation between me an Fowler 😛 😛

Thanks!

We do use a mod for the quick reply here (we don't use the standard phpBB quick reply) but the quick reply is nothing to do with the featured forums. The Featured Forums is just custom code placed to the right of the quick reply box and a few tweaks to make the 2 sections equal sizes and to improve the look to guests who don't see the quick reply.

In regards to auto mod, I really don't recommend it. Not all mods install properly. Sometimes you have to force the install and if it goes wrong and you don't understand the concept of mod installation, the process and basic coding then you can be left in a messy situation trying to correct any errors. My experience with playing with it is that it can be useful but you need to be careful and it probably isn't good for beginners to use (in my opinion).

 

[death180]

No? oh well, it was a stab in the dark.

 

[Darthmaul]

No? oh well, it was a stab in the dark.

Looks like you got it partly right, better than nothing! 😛
As for mods, check this thread out viewtopic.php?f=26&t=77320