New Code Support FAQ [June 2009]

[Ross]

ProBoards Code Support FAQ

I know this thread may look a little daunting to some of you who are new to ProBoards or who know little about "Codes". But this thread is here to help you and guide you through how to customize your forum. You don't have to read every post, but you may be surprised just how much this thread can help you and just how much time it could save you in the long run.

• Getting Started
  - What is a "Code"?
  - Where to Place Codes
  - Can I use more than one code in each Header / Footer?
  - How to Edit the Code to Suit You and Your Forum
  - Where to Find Codes for your Forum
  
  
  
• I've got a code that isn't working! What can I do?
  - Code Conflicts
  - Editing Mistakes
  - Duplicate Codes
  - Remotely Hosted Codes Won't Load
  - I can no longer enter my forum
  - If after trying the above your code is still not working then please create a New Thread including your Forum URL and a detailed description of your problem.
  
  
  
• I need a code
  - Commonly Requested Codes
  
  • List of HTML Welcome/Info Tables
    
  • Adding more than 4 Rank Stars / Images
    
  • Increase the signature character limit
    
  • Hiding the PM information
    
  • Moving the welcome table below the ad?
    
  • Adding music to your forum
    
  • Hide the post area in one board
    
  • Center Category Titles
    
  • Can I put a border around my forum?
    
  • Change the color of Horizontal Rules (lines) in posts
    
  • How can I shrink the width of my forum to give a centered effect?
    
  • Center your background image
    
  • Add another row of menu text links
    
  • Disable right click (includes image version)
    
  • Hide your [shoutbox, cbox, chatroom etc.] from Guests
    
  • Expand / Collapse Content
    
  • Expand / Collapse Content with Memory
    
  • Replace any Text with any Other Text (SwitchIt)
    
  • Showing Users in the Chat Room
    
  • Adding Scrollbars to a DIV
    
  • How do I resize my welcome table?
    
  • Where do I get a Pop-it menu?
    
  
  
  
  
  - If the code you require is not listed above please check in the Code Database, try searching for key words to help you find the code. For example, if I wanted to remove the "« Last Edit: 17/1/07 at 11:06am by Ross »" message that appears below posts I would search for "Last Edit".
  
  - If the code you require is not listed above and you cannot find it in the code database, then you will need to request a new code. To do this, go to the Code Request Board and create a new thread. Please ensure the code you require is not on our "Requests which will be Rejected" list and that you have complied with all other rules before posting your request (eg. Request limit, Descriptive Title)
  
  
  
• Other Questions
  - Can I remove the "Copyright" from a code
  - Can I edit a code that has a copyright notice?
  - Can I repost codes at another forum
  - How come this forum has Sub-Sub Boards. Can I do it?
  - How to find a 'Skin ID' or a 'Group ID'
  - Can I have a different skin on just one board?
  - What TOS limitations are there in regards to codes
  - Can I get an "Official Code Helper" title
  - A Guide to Using Money on your Proboard (ver 3.0)
  - Working With Multiple Skins
  
  
• Useful Links
  - HEX Color Chart
  - Image Randomizers
  - Button Generator
  - SayBox (Shoutbox)
  - cBox (Shoutbox)
  - Stat Counter (Hit Counter)
  - Precision Counter (Hit Counter)
  - Tiny Counter (Hit Counter)
  
  

[Ross]

• What is a "Code"?
  
  A code (sometimes called a Hack or a Mod) is something used to modify the way your forum looks or behaves. It can be anything from simple text shown above your forum to completly changing the way your forum looks.
  
  No forum needs to use codes. It really is a matter of preference. For more information, have a read of the topic here
  

[Ross]

• Where to Place Codes
  
  Codes are placed in the "Headers/Footers" of your forum.
  
          Header - This is the space between your Welcome Table and the start of your Forum
          Footer - This is the space below your forum but before the copyright / adverts
  
  To access this area, go to your "Admin" page and click on the "Headers/Footers" link; it will be in the middle column (Click For Image) On this page, is a drop down menu where you can choose which Header or Footer you wish to modify.
  
          Global Header/Footer - Anything entered here will appear on all pages
          Main Header/Footer - Anything entered here will appear on all pages except the boards
                                      (ie. main page, pm pages, admin panel)
          Board Header/Footers - Anything entered here will appear when viewing a particular board
  
  From the next page, you can simply copy and paste the code into the relevant text area (Click For Image). All codes found within the code database should give instructions as to which Header or Footer the code should be placed in.
  
  For more Information regarding editing your Headers/Footers, please check out the "Headers and Footers" section on our Help Page
  
  

[Ross]

• Can I use more than one code in each Header / Footer?
  
  Absolutely! There's no limit to the number of codes you can use, although more codes may increase the time your forum takes to load. When modifying your Header / Footer, you can place each code above or below any other code. Just be careful that you don't place a code within another code. It is usually best to leave a few blank lines between each code to ensure they do not get mixed up.
  

[Ross]

• How to Edit the Code to Suit You and Your Forum
  
  A lot of the codes found within the code database will have parts that can be edited to suit your needs and to suit your forum. For the majority of the codes that require editing, they will give specific instructions on what needs to be edited (often highlighted in a different color) and how it needs to be edited. If you're unsure of what you're doing, then try using it with the default values and seeing what it is you want to change.
  

[Ross]

• Where to Find Codes for your Forum
  
  The Code Database here is one of the largest resources of codes for your forum with over 500 seperate codes. These codes are all listed in an easy to use code index which can be quickly searched for key words by pressing "Ctrl" + "F" on your keyboard.
  
  However, this isn't the only place containning codes for your forum, ProBoards also boasts a number of seperate coding and design forums/communities which may also suit your needs.
  

[Ross]

• Code Conflicts
  
  When a particular code is not working on your forum but works perfectly on another it is often the case that you have two or more codes on your forum that are conflicting with one another and therefore are not working as expected. For example, if you have two codes trying to modify the same area of the forum.
  
  If you try reordering your codes it can often solve this. For example, moving the code which isn't working to the very top of the header or footer and if that doesn't work, you can try moving it to the very bottom too.
  
  Another solution to this issue is to have a look at what else is in your Header/Footer. Most codes should have some sort of label so you should be able to see if you have a code elsewhere on your forum doing the opposite of what you want to happen.

[Ross]

• Editing Mistakes
  
  It can be easy to make a mistake when editing a code. Below are some of the most common errors with examples.
  

  
  Missing an opening/closing apostrophe/speech mark:
  Any text variables, eg.
      var my_variable = "Hello World";
  Must start and end with either apostrophes or speech marks. The following examples would not be valid:
      var my_variable = Hello World; - No speech marks or apostrophes
      var my_variable = Hello World"; - No opening speech mark
      var my_variable = "Hello World'; - Mixed apostrophe and speech mark
  
  
  Fancy Speech Marks:
  Not all speech marks are alike. Certain rich text editors such as Microsoft Word use fancy ones which are not valid in your Header/Footer. Notice how “ and ” are different to "
  To avoid this, we would not recommend editing any code in such Rich Text Editors and would instead encourage the use of a Plain Text Editor such as Notepad (Available on most computers via "Start -> Program Files -> Accessories")
  
  
  Escaping Certain Characters:
  No matter which delimiters are being used around a variable (either speech marks, apostrophes or in some cases, forward slashes) you may not use the same characters as part of the variables value. For example, the following would cause an error:
      var my_variable = "Welcome to "My Forum". We hope you enjoy your stay!";
  Those speech marks are the problem. However, this can be rectified by placing a backward slash (\) before them, the same would apply to apostrophes or forward slashes. But don't worry, this backward slash won't show up as part of the code.
      var my_variable = "Welcome to \"My Forum\". We hope you enjoy your stay!";
      var my_variable = 'Sorry. You can\'t view this page.';
      var my_variable = /Hello\/Welcome/;
  
  
  
  Cutting off the start or end of a code:
  When copying a code from the Code Database, please ensure you copy the entire thing. Make sure you don't miss off the very first < or the very last >. It's also been known for users to miss the entire closing </style> or </script>. As a rule of thumb, all opening tags must have a corresponding closing tag.
  
  
  Missing commas in Arrays:
  An Array is basically a list of information where everything is separated by a comma. So when adding to an array, you should ensure all items (apart from the last) are followed by a comma. eg.
  Valid Array
  var my_array = [
      "Item 1",
      "Item 2",
      "Item 3",
      "Item 4" // No comma on the last line
  ];
  
  Invalid Array
  var my_array = [
      "Item 1",
      "Item 2",
      "Item 3" // This line is missing a comma
      "Item 4", // This line has a comma but shouldn't
  ];
  

[Ross]

• Duplicate Codes
  
  You should (in most instances) only ever have one copy of each code in your header or footer. Having more than one, can cause problems. This is particually true when using codes to modify the posting form or modify profile page. So double check that you only have one copy of each code.

[Ross]

• Remotely Hosted Codes Won't Load
  
  There are some codes found in our code database which are "Remotely Hosted". This basically means a portion of the code is hosted on a separate server, usually a server owned by the code creator. We do our best to ensure that codes are not unnecessarily remotely hosted since they can cause problems when their server crashes or the file is removed from the server. However, it is necessary for some codes due to their size or other factors.
  
  You can tell if a code is remotely hosted by having a read of the topic found here. If you feel that there is a problem with a remotely hosted code on your forum then you can check if the host the code is on is down by copying/pasting the URL to the remotely hosted portion into your browser. If you get a "Page Cannot be Displayed" message, then the host is down; before making a thread about it please ensure there are no current threads or stickies addressing the issue. (Note, if when trying this you are prompted to download/save a file just click cancel, this is an indication that the host is in fact working)
  

[Ross]

• I can no longer enter my forum
  
  If you can no longer access your forum and in particular your Headers/Footers in order to rectify a code problem then you have two options.
  
      a) If this has just happened and you still have your forum open then you can try using the "Back" button at the top of your browser to return to the Headers/Footers page before you made a mistake.
  
      b) Adding &NOHEADERS=1 onto the end of your Forums URL. This will stop the Headers/Footers from loading. eg.
  http://username.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=login&NOHEADERS=1 would allow you to login
  http://username.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=headersfooters&NOHEADERS=1 will let you edit your Headers/Footers
  

[Ross]

• Is it Possible to use more Rank Stars/Images?
  
  If you want to use more than the default four rank images, you need to first of all go to either "Modify Rankings" or "Modify Group". Set the Stars as 0 then use this as the Group/Rank Name:
  
  Group Name[br][img]Image URL

[/img]


To use more than one image repeat this part, [img]Image URL[/img]
[/li][/ul]

[Ross]

• Can I increase the signature character limit?
  
  There is no code to increase the number of characters you can use in your signature, the limit is built into the forum itself. However, there is a 'workaround' by using the censored words list. You can use the censored words list to convert a word or two into a full signature.
  
  As the 'Censor Word' use a unique word for your signature. For example, '#ross_sig#'
  Then as the corresponding 'Replacement Word' put the code to make up your signature. For example, '[center][i][size=3]Spammers feed from responses, [b]DON'T FEED THE SPAMMERS![/b]
  [/size][/i][/center]'
  
  So then by putting '#ross_sig#' as my signature, would make 'Spammers feed from responses, DON'T FEED THE SPAMMERS!' appear in it's place.

[Ross]

• Hide the private message information?
  
  Use this code in your global header...
  
  
  <script type="text/javascript">
  <!--
  
  document.getElementsByTagName("td").item(2).style.display = "none";
  
  //-->
  </script>

[Ross]

• Add music to your forum
  
  Your basic code for music is as follows:
  
  <embed src="URL to music" />
  
  
  The embed tag can be sized, and also has additional attributes...
  
  xx = a number
  
  width="xx"
  Change the width
  
  height="xx
  Change the height
  
  autostart="true"
  If this is set, then the music will start automatically.
  
  loop="true"
  If you wise to have the music play over and over again, set it to true, if not just set it to false
  
  hidden="true"
  This will hide the control buttons from the user
  
  
  Relevant Links:
  Let User Select Music
  Music Demo Forum