vBadvanced not "inside" forums

[NathanLedet]

Well there's one thing that's keeping me from using vBadvanced. I notice that on every forum I visit that has vBadvanced, as soon as I go into the forums, vBadvanced disappears. No left columns, just the forums. I need a system that will always have left columns, no matter where you are inside the forums. Is this possible?

Also what about right side columns when browsing the forums...is that possible? Thanks.

[nymyth]

im pretty sure you can add modules to different pages inside your forums through the admincp

Peace

[Brian]

There is an "Integration" link with the CMPS options in the Admin CP which can be used to include the CMPS columns with your forum pages.

[NathanLedet]

can right side columns be added?

[Brian]

Yes, any column or module can be added.

[Slave]

just like ..

http://www.yaxleyvillage.com/forums.php

:)

[sly ls1]

I have done the same

http://www.toughstreetcars.com/forum/forum.php

[abroad]

Where is this "Integration" link with the CMPS options in the Admin CP ???

Cant find it!

[sly ls1]

Where is this "Integration" link with the CMPS options in the Admin CP ???

Cant find it!


last link in the "vBa CMPS" section in the admincp

[abroad]

you mean the "Quick Permissions Editor"?

[Brian]

It's the last link if you're running v3.0.

[abroad]

"Quick Permissions Editor" is the last link in CMPS...and I just upgraded to 3.0 (and its not working as my forum does not appear within vbadvance anymore...)

[Brian]

Then you either haven't refreshed the Admin CP page you're viewing since you upgraded, or you didn't upload the files in the includes/xml folder when you upgraded.

[abroad]

Ok, it seems that I didnt upload all files.

[abroad]

Which file do I have to integrate if I want to see the Forum within vbadvance?

[Brian]

Whatever forum files you want to be integrated...

[RhinoForums.net]

I can't figure this out either. Initially I get an error saying there are no pages that can be integrated. After I create a module, and select the forumIndex.php page to be included, and put a few modules on the left, I end up with only the modules on the left, and no forum. I'm lost.

[Brian]

The 'Custom Page Content' module is what displays that content from an integrated page. Did you make sure that was active on the page you integrated with?

[tekguru]

Guys what aM I missing here - new to vbad and managed to get everything working excepting integration with the main forum page - can some kind soul take me through it step by step.

When I click on the Integration option I get the "You do not currently have any pages that meet the qualifications necessary to be used for integration. Click Here to add a new "Module" page to be used for the integration." message......

[Brian]

So... Do as the message says and add a new page to be used. ;)

[tekguru]

Yep page added. I chose the option to integrate with index.php, as well as the navigation block module.

If I open the created page though I only get the navigation block and not the index showing up.

Again what am I missing?

[Brian]

The page you've added can only act as a wrapper for any page it's integrated with. It doesn't have any way to know what pages it's supposed to be integrated with, or the ability to show content from any of these pages. When you visit your normal forum's index.php file now though, you should see the CMPS modules wrapped around it.

[tekguru]

Well I added a page and chose to integrate it with the forumdisplay page - noting seemed to change so I removed the page.

This resulted in the forumdisplay page not being available. I can't remember what the error was.

The only solution was to remove vBadvanced and then reinstall it - this meant that I had to spend a good 2 hours resetting it up from scratch.

So what is the correct way of doing the integration and safely removing it if one makes any errors.

Sorry for all the questions, but even though I've run PhpBBS and IntegraMod forums for years this one aspect of vBadvanced confuses the heck out of me and seems very dangerous!

I still think this aspect of the procedure needs documenting in detail so folks can get it set up correctly.

I know without clear safe instructions I'll be avoiding integration like the plague. It looks like I want to use it but can't risk another problem like last nights.

We're about to go live with our migrated forum tomorrow evening and want it working 100% for the users.

[Brian]

Well, you integrated the file, and then removed the page you used to integrate it with... So the script still thought it should be looking for that page to integrate since you didn't go back to change anything in the "Integration" link.
All you have to do to integrate a page is to add your page to use for the integration, and then select the filenames (or THIS_SCRIPT constants) to integrate. Once you save, any files selected will have the page you've selected wrapped around them.

[ferocity302]

Well I added a page and chose to integrate it with the forumdisplay page - noting seemed to change so I removed the page.

This resulted in the forumdisplay page not being available. I can't remember what the error was.

The only solution was to remove vBadvanced and then reinstall it - this meant that I had to spend a good 2 hours resetting it up from scratch.

So what is the correct way of doing the integration and safely removing it if one makes any errors.

Sorry for all the questions, but even though I've run PhpBBS and IntegraMod forums for years this one aspect of vBadvanced confuses the heck out of me and seems very dangerous!

I still think this aspect of the procedure needs documenting in detail so folks can get it set up correctly.

I know without clear safe instructions I'll be avoiding integration like the plague. It looks like I want to use it but can't risk another problem like last nights.

We're about to go live with our migrated forum tomorrow evening and want it working 100% for the users.

I vote for step by step instructions because I've read this thread over and over several times and because not all of us know exactly what is needed (or all the lingo that it looks like most know) it's a bit scary to try.

I've wanted to do this for a while but I agree, it's not really clear exactly what you need to do. I've spent way too many hours messing things up and struggling to get them back to where they ALMOST work but I'm not willing to pretend I'm not tech challenged.

Is there instructions that I'm just missing somewhere? (wouldn't be the first time)

[TCooper]

I vote for step by step instructions because I've read this thread over and over several times and because not all of us know exactly what is needed (or all the lingo that it looks like most know) it's a bit scary to try.

I've wanted to do this for a while but I agree, it's not really clear exactly what you need to do. I've spent way too many hours messing things up and struggling to get them back to where they ALMOST work but I'm not willing to pretend I'm not tech challenged.

Is there instructions that I'm just missing somewhere? (wouldn't be the first time)

I to would like step by step directions on at least how to integrate the modules to the forum index as i would like the navigation module on the side.

[gdavis480]

could you give me some step by step instructions on how to integrate the modules to the forum index also becuase I can't figure out how to do it.
and what do you mean by "THIS_SCRIPT Integration Method"

[Brian]

I really think you guys are making this out to be something much harder than it really is. I don't know how I can reword the instructions to make them any easier, but I'll give it a try.


1). Click the "Add Page" link in your Admin CP and add a new Module page, making sure that the 'Custom Page Content' module (and any others you wish to display) is active.

2). Click the "Integration" link in the Admin CP.

3). Select the new page you just added in the "CMPS Page to Integrate With" select box.

4). Select the vB filenames that you wish to integrate the CMPS with in the "vBulletin Files to Integrate" section. Or, if you want to integrate your main forum's index page, enter 'index' (without the quotes) in the "THIS_SCRIPT Integration Method" section at the bottom instead. Once the files or THIS_SCRIPT constants are selected, click "Continue".

5). The next page will give you a conformation of which files/THIS_SCRIPT's you're integrating along with the page they should be integrated with. If you need to change the page any of the files/THIS_SCRIPT's will use, do so here. Otherwise, click "Save" to finalize the integration.

[ferocity302]

Ok. So I'm incredibly stupid.

I've talked to my tech guy and even after this post he said..........

Yup, would make perfect sense to me if I had been the one who wrote all the script.

I'll attempt to look through this and see if I can figure it out but, it's not much clearer than anything else that has been said on this subject.

by the way, I've also attempted to go by this "step by step" again with this post and now I have no forums at all anywhere on my site.

so, I guess I keep playing with it until I either get my site back together or I just scrap it and say, what a waste of time on vbadvanced because I'll have to delete everything (a year's worth of work and posts) and start fresh.

I'll definately be thinking twice before I install new products or use new "hacks" for anything again. If it's not absolutely clear.... stay away from it because not everyone is a script writer, hacker, cracker, coder in life and if the common person can't use it, it's not worth messing with.

[tekguru]

Heres hoping you manage to sort it out. Still as clear as mud to me, maybe all us thick-ose need a tutorial with screen shots showing each little stage?

[Brian]

by the way, I've also attempted to go by this "step by step" again with this post and now I have no forums at all anywhere on my site.

Can you elaborate a little here? Are you getting an error message, a blank page, or what exactly?

[ferocity302]

yes, on your last post you "attempted" to give some kind of direction.

I attempted to follow it and things just got worse. So, as I stated on my other post:

nah, pretty much fixed now.

uninstalled vbadvanced and later when the tech guy comes home, he will either get things set up again or I'll be so ticked by then that I will just get my main url directed to my forums and not even bother with vbadvanced.

The only thing really clear about this whole process is that it's not clear to many people on how this is supposed to all work.

Brian, I know you can see clearly how things are supposed to work but we can not see into your mind to see what you are talking about. I think as tekguru has stated, we obviously need screen shots or something.

until then, I'll be debating if it's really worth the problems it can cause for those of us that just don't quite get it.

IF I choose to use vbadvanced as my main page, it will definately be done a while lot differently this time - as is out of the box and don't even attempt to do anything extra that it supposedly can do "so easily".

[Brian]

now I have no forums at all anywhere on my site

I attempted to follow it and things just got worse.
Just positng general "it's broken" posts like this doesn't exactly give us much to go on. If/when you try things again and if you have problems, please post exactly what you have done, and exactly what the problem you're having is. Otherwise, you're not giving us much of a chance to help you.

The only thing really clear about this whole process is that it's not clear to many people on how this is supposed to all work.
I'm sorry, but I'd have to disagree with this one. v3.0 has been downloaded by thousands of unique members since it was released, and there have been a lot more posts about how easy it is to integrate other pages now than there have been from users having problems. Yes, a few members have had problems at first, but almost all of them have understood after describing their problem and after telling them where they may have gone wrong.

[ferocity302]

Right now I've uninstalled vbadvanced and reinstalled it. But I have to wait until I get help to redirect my main url to it again as I wasn't here when those steps were taken last time.

Which is probably going to wait until my fiance gets home.

Until then I have a really nifty, redirect link and nice message stating that I am having software problems. It's a nice touch for gaining the confidence of hopeful members.

Angry, and cranky at this point? Yes, because although there may have been thousands of people who have had no problems, it only takes a few that have had problems and no real clear help for resolution to start a ripple affect to spread the word that the product may not be common folk user friendly. It's the common folk that seem to fall through the cracks without real concern because there are so few. Better to focus on the best students as they are the ones probably buying the products for money anyway. I am definately going to think twice before I buy a product that may not be common folk user friendly.

I have made many many personal and professional webites and helped hundreds of people with technical issues on several different types of sites, and software. Unfortunately my knowledge is limited to basic html and reading websites with clear instructions and user friendly tools.

But again, if I decide I want to give it a go again, it will be an out of the box use, no more adding or hacking or attempting to integrate anything, because it can really screw things up.

Sometimes what we post as the problem is just as clear as the answers we are given as to the solution.

I guess none of us are immune to not being able to read minds.

I thought I was pretty clear actually. And I'm not the only one with the same complaint as seen from above threads.

I followed your steps as clearly as they were to me and still had no resolution. That is as clear as I can be. Now, if you are not sure of the steps I took, go back and read what you wrote, Those ARE the steps I took as clearly as I could understand them as they are written.

[Brian]

Until then I have a really nifty, redirect link and nice message stating that I am having software problems. It's a nice touch for gaining the confidence of hopeful members.
Why not redirect to your forums, or something more along those lines then? Although, if you say you've successfully installed the CMPS, then I don't see why that would really be necessary or have anything to do with the problems you're having here in the first place... I don't know what you were using for your homepage before, but integration problems with the forum shouldn't have anything to do with that.


Sometimes what we post as the problem is just as clear as the answers we are given as to the solution.
Well, how do you expect to receive a clear answer when the question is still hazy?


I followed your steps as clearly as they were to me and still had no resolution. That is as clear as I can be. Now, if you are not sure of the steps I took, go back and read what you wrote, Those ARE the steps I took as clearly as I could understand them as they are written.

You're still not giving us any clue as to what the problem you had afterwards was. "It's not working" or similar posts really do not tell us a thing. If something is not working, then you must be seeing an error message, blank page, or something along those lines. Whatever it is that you're seeing that makes you think it's not working, we need to know. Until we actually know what the issue is, we can't exactly suggest any ways to fix it.

[ferocity302]

I attempted integration.

It didn't work as I obviously can not understand plain english as to the directions given to do it.

After I deleted the "module" I attempted to create, I thought everything would be fine.

I never even went back to do anything on my forums until later in the day then realized when I clicked on a forum heading I got the error message.

here is the original post that I posted on vbulletin.org:
Now what did I do?

I was attempting page integration today (into vbadvanced), that's the only thing I did, honest!!

But since I'm tech challenged, it just wasn't working so I gave up.

It wasn't until later today that I clicked on one of my forums to post a new thread and got the error message:

Invalid Page Specified

Panic set in!!

What have I done, what have I done.

I see everything on the main page but when I click on it, that's what I get.

I've logged out, deleted cookies, logged back in and got the same error.

anyone have any ideas what I've broke this time?

Then I was told it wasn't a vbulletin issue that it was a vbadvanced issue and to come here.

So.. I posted on this thread and another thread I found with the same issues.

The other thread is shown here http://www.vbadvanced.com/forum/showthread.php?p=114812#post114812

and I WILL redirect to my forums OR to the vbadvanced. BUT like I said before I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SET UP THE REDIRECT, that is why I have to wait until my fiance gets home so he can do it again or he can show me how to do it.

Yes I have installed the CMPS again but again, I don't know if originally in my root directory or my forums root directory. (yes, HE asked me this today on the phone and I didn't have an answer for him either) So, as it stands I'm on a holding pattern. Because until we figure out where it was before, it wont pull the information it needs to get the basic .com addy to see it.

I was using vbadvanced as my homepage before. It was my basic url directed at the index.php file for the vbadvanced. (not sure if that was what you wer asking but hey, trying to be clear in what I'm writing)

and no I didn't say that integration problems had anything to do with not having my homepage up right now.

The integration problems that I and a few others were having pissed me off enough that I uninstalled vbadvanced just to see if it would get that original error fixed (remember that original so far back in this whole string of problems? The Invalid Page Specified problem, if it wasn't clear before.)

So unless I have a volunteer to actually walk me through things. I'll still have to wait to get my site back to at least something that resembles normal.

I think you're working off two different thread for the same issue and as confusing as it is to me I have to believe it has to be a just a bit confusing to you as to which thread you are in and what has been said and tried and explained in both.

I also ask how do you expect us to have a resolution or the ability to know what you need to know if the directions given are hazy or specific questions are not asked?

I honestly don't have a clue what information you need to help me out. So unless I know that and can give it to you, there is no way you can help me out. Catch 22

[Brian]

After I deleted the "module" I attempted to create, I thought everything would be fine.
Just to be sure since you've said "module" a few times when you should have been referring to a page... You are adding a new "Module" *page* using the "Add Page" link in the Admin CP, and then clicking on "Module", right? And you then deleted that page after you attempted the integration, right?

I think you're working off two different thread for the same issue and as confusing as it is to me I have to believe it has to be a just a bit confusing to you as to which thread you are in and what has been said and tried and explained in both.
Yea, I think that has contributed some to the confusion. I think I was remembering bits and pieces from the other thread as this one has gone along, but not the whole thing.


So, we've narrowed down the original problem you were having to the fact that you deleted the page you used to integrate your forums with. I didn't mention this before since my main concern was to let you know how it happened and how to fix it, but we will add a check for that when deleting pages in the next version to make sure that doesn't happen. Until then, just don't delete a page you integrate your vB files with. Or, if you do, go back to the integration link, de-select or remove anything you've integrated (either in the "Current Integrated Pages" section when you have pages integrated, or the areas below), and continue through to save the settings there and remove the integration.
You said that you had tried the integration again and then had no forums... Did you delete the page again that time too, or were you having a different problem? Or was this just still left over from the original problem with the page being deleted?
Now that hopefully everything is clear on how you had a problem with your forums, which part is it that you're not understanding as far as the integration goes? Do you not understand what you need to do as far as adding the page, selecting the files to integrate, or what exactly? When you tried the other times and it didn't work, what exactly was the problem? Was there no change at all, did you see an error message, or what exactly?

I see that your domain seems to be pointing to the CMPS now, so I'm assuming you're no longer having a problem with that part? For future reference, there are instructions here (http://www.vbadvanced.com/membersarea.php?do=viewusermanual&productid=4&pageid=7) that explain how to set things up for the CMPS in differrent situations. Redirects will work, but I think it's generally better and a *little* easier on the server just to place the cmps_index.php file in your root directory and rename it to index.php.

[gdavis480]

ok I got it to work but now it duplicates the Navigation and the forum twice.

took a look here

http://www.usm-clan.net/forum/

How do I fix that?

[Brian]

I haven't seen anyone with a problem like that before and can't really think of a way it could happen off the top of my head, so would you mind submitting a support ticket via the Members' Area here so I can take a look at things?

[gdavis480]

sure

[ferocity302]

Just to be sure since you've said "module" a few times when you should have been referring to a page... You are adding a new "Module" *page* using the "Add Page" link in the Admin CP, and then clicking on "Module", right? And you then deleted that page after you attempted the integration, right?

Yup, exactly.



So, we've narrowed down the original problem you were having to the fact that you deleted the page you used to integrate your forums with.


Sounds about right.


I didn't mention this before since my main concern was to let you know how it happened and how to fix it, but we will add a check for that when deleting pages in the next version to make sure that doesn't happen. Until then, just don't delete a page you integrate your vB files with. Or, if you do, go back to the integration link, de-select or remove anything you've integrated (either in the "Current Integrated Pages" section when you have pages integrated, or the areas below), and continue through to save the settings there and remove the integration.


I knew exactly how it happened. I failed at integration and then deleted the page thinking it would just all go back to normal. LOL

You lost me again but that's ok because I'm not looking at the integration stuff in my cp and will not attempt integration again.


You said that you had tried the integration again and then had no forums... Did you delete the page again that time too, or were you having a different problem? Or was this just still left over from the original problem with the page being deleted?


Nope, tried it again that same day but was using the THIS_SCRIPT section this time and that's where it got really ugly and so yes you are right, deleted it again. I had forums it's just that none of the links on the cmps would actually get to them. I've not lost anything from my forums (which was where the panic and fear and frustration was thinking I had). I didn't know I had forums until I went....I wonder.... and put in the direct url to them and went to them that way.


Now that hopefully everything is clear on how you had a problem with your forums, which part is it that you're not understanding as far as the integration goes? Do you not understand what you need to do as far as adding the page, selecting the files to integrate, or what exactly? When you tried the other times and it didn't work, what exactly was the problem? Was there no change at all, did you see an error message, or what exactly?


All of it and then some. The only reason my other page that I had made even had the modules that it had added to it form the basic ones is that I somehow stumbled through an "add on" that worked for me from the forums here and since it worked, I duplicated it for a couple others that I needed. I need a step by step ... ok here is where you click and these are your options, this is what those options mean. Because quite frankly I've attempted to make pages and modules before (thank goodness nothing integrating from my vb files) and nothing seemed to work. LOL no offense to those out there that are geniouses and blondes but I need it in dumb blonde language. (nope, I'm not blonde either)


I see that your domain seems to be pointing to the CMPS now, so I'm assuming you're no longer having a problem with that part? For future reference, there are instructions here (http://www.vbadvanced.com/membersarea.php?do=viewusermanual&productid=4&pageid=7) that explain how to set things up for the CMPS in differrent situations. Redirects will work, but I think it's generally better and a *little* easier on the server just to place the cmps_index.php file in your root directory and rename it to index.php.

Yes it is pointing to the new cmps that I had installed. I thank you for the directions but yes, it does look like my sweety had done exactly what you were talking about with the cmps_index.php in the root directory and renaming it to index.php. I have absolutely no idea why when I did it earlier this morning it didn't work for me but, hey that's why he's the genious in the family and can build things a heck of a lot more complex than I can.

Brian, you and I have developed a strange "relationship" on these forums. We get really ticked off at each other because we are not communicating with each other very well and then all of a sudden things click and there is a fix.

I appreciate your patience in holding out until that click finally happens.

now, I'll be using vbadvanced of course because it does do some of the things I want but until I really get a grasp on the whole module vs page thing and then can understand how that is all connected with integration, I think I'll stick with the really simple things and get the rest of what I want to work with basic html. LOL ;)

Because I have to struggle to read instructions as it is to make things work. I'm a visual learner by someone showing me not just reading instructions. The first time I did my first few skins and even hacks on my forums themselves I had my sweety (yes my tech guy) do them and then he said, nope you do them and I'll sit and watch.

Now, I'm able to go to the read me files and follow along pretty good. Reading through usually 4 or 5 times before I start the process and then read each step probably that many times before I go on to the next one.

So, enough about my learning and following instructions issues. But, there are many out there like me that would probably love to be forum owners and to use your products too, but are shyed away because of the same reasons I am. But I'm just too darn stubborn to let it stop me. :p

Thank you for not giving up on me.

[Brian]

Brian, you and I have developed a strange "relationship" on these forums. We get really ticked off at each other because we are not communicating with each other very well and then all of a sudden things click and there is a fix.

I appreciate your patience in holding out until that click finally happens.
Don't worry, it takes a lot more than a few forum posts to tick me off. I know I'm not always the best at explaining things and sometimes assume a customer knows more about what they're doing than they actually do. But like you, I try not to give up. :)

All of it and then some. The only reason my other page that I had made even had the modules that it had added to it form the basic ones is that I somehow stumbled through an "add on" that worked for me from the forums here and since it worked, I duplicated it for a couple others that I needed. I need a step by step ... ok here is where you click and these are your options, this is what those options mean. Because quite frankly I've attempted to make pages and modules before (thank goodness nothing integrating from my vb files) and nothing seemed to work. LOL no offense to those out there that are geniouses and blondes but I need it in dumb blonde language. (nope, I'm not blonde either)

It's really not hard, I promise you. :p
I'll copy my step-by-step instructions from before and see if I can re-word them a bit and add some more details so that if you're brave enough to try it again, hopefully you'll be sucessful on the first try.



1). Click the "Add Page" link in your Admin CP. On the next page, click on the "[Module]" link to add a new "module page".

2). Once you are to the section to add a new page, enter anything you'd like for the "Page Title" section (I'd go with "Integration" to make things easy).
For the "Page Identifier", just enter 'integration' (without the quotes).
Leave the other options just below those alone as it's not necessary to change any of them.

3). Still on the same page, skip down to the "Inactive Modules" and "Modules Enabled" section. You will see that the "Custom Page Content" module is already active and listed in the "Modules Enabled" section for you. That module is what is used to print the normal content from a vB file that you are integrating, so wherever you place that module is where you will see the normal content from the file(s) you integrate. Now, back to the "Inactive Modules" section... You will see the rest of your modules listed there. Use the "Move to" select boxes and "Order" text inputs to activate any other modules that you wish to appear in the forum page(s) you plan to integrate. Once you have selected the columns and display order for each module, save the page.

4). Now click on the "Integration" link in the Admin CP.

5). Select the new page you just added in the "CMPS Page to Integrate With" select box.

6). Select the vB filenames that you wish to integrate the CMPS with in the "vBulletin Files to Integrate" section. Or, if you want to integrate your main forum's index page, enter 'index' (without the quotes) in the "THIS_SCRIPT Integration Method" section at the bottom instead. Once the files or THIS_SCRIPT constants are selected, click "Continue".

7). The next page will give you a conformation of which files/THIS_SCRIPT's you're integrating along with the CMPS page they should be integrated with. If you need to change the page any of the files/THIS_SCRIPT's will use, do so here. Since you're doing this for the first time and only added the one page for integration though, it's not necessary to change anything here. This is only if you're integrating multiple files and you want to use a different CMPS page for some of them. Click on the "Save" button at the bottom of the page, and that will finalize the integration.

[ferocity302]

ok this is starting to look better. But I have some definitions if you might be able to help me with or actually some more questions.

Can you give me some insight to what the integration function is all about. I guess I'm asking, what's it's purpose and the nuts and bolts behind integration.

What exactly are we integrating? Is there more than one file that I need to include if I want all of my forum to be in the "module"? If so, what are those files?

What is the difference between a Module and a Page because they seem like they are being used intertwined and swapped depending on what you are doing.

Are we integrating a page or are we just integrating a module?

On the new integration page, are we supposed to put the other modules we had on our main cmps or will this happen automatically when we integrate?

If you use the THIS_SCRIPT Integration Method and only integrate the main forums index page, does that make the whole forum show up even when someone clicks on a link to a thread or specific forum topic?

I guess what I should ask is, is integration what I want? What I'm looking for is that the modules I have on the left (or right) side of my cmps be on either side of my forums and the forums to basically be the center section of my cmps. Is what I'm looking for integration or should I just figure out a way to add modules to either side of my forum?

I'm sure I'll come up with more before I'm sure I'm ready to take it on again.

[g00gle]

Don't worry, it takes a lot more than a few forum posts to tick me off. I know I'm not always the best at explaining things and sometimes assume a customer knows more about what they're doing than they actually do. But like you, I try not to give up. :)



It's really not hard, I promise you. :p
I'll copy my step-by-step instructions from before and see if I can re-word them a bit and add some more details so that if you're brave enough to try it again, hopefully you'll be sucessful on the first try.



1). Click the "Add Page" link in your Admin CP. On the next page, click on the "[Module]" link to add a new "module page".

2). Once you are to the section to add a new page, enter anything you'd like for the "Page Title" section (I'd go with "Integration" to make things easy).
For the "Page Identifier", just enter 'integration' (without the quotes).
Leave the other options just below those alone as it's not necessary to change any of them.

3). Still on the same page, skip down to the "Inactive Modules" and "Modules Enabled" section. You will see that the "Custom Page Content" module is already active and listed in the "Modules Enabled" section for you. That module is what is used to print the normal content from a vB file that you are integrating, so wherever you place that module is where you will see the normal content from the file(s) you integrate. Now, back to the "Inactive Modules" section... You will see the rest of your modules listed there. Use the "Move to" select boxes and "Order" text inputs to activate any other modules that you wish to appear in the forum page(s) you plan to integrate. Once you have selected the columns and display order for each module, save the page.

4). Now click on the "Integration" link in the Admin CP.

5). Select the new page you just added in the "CMPS Page to Integrate With" select box.

6). Select the vB filenames that you wish to integrate the CMPS with in the "vBulletin Files to Integrate" section. Or, if you want to integrate your main forum's index page, enter 'index' (without the quotes) in the "THIS_SCRIPT Integration Method" section at the bottom instead. Once the files or THIS_SCRIPT constants are selected, click "Continue".

7). The next page will give you a conformation of which files/THIS_SCRIPT's you're integrating along with the CMPS page they should be integrated with. If you need to change the page any of the files/THIS_SCRIPT's will use, do so here. Since you're doing this for the first time and only added the one page for integration though, it's not necessary to change anything here. This is only if you're integrating multiple files and you want to use a different CMPS page for some of them. Click on the "Save" button at the bottom of the page, and that will finalize the integration.

this works thanks!

but how can I remove the Integration link from site navigation menu?

[Brian]

Can you give me some insight to what the integration function is all about. I guess I'm asking, what's it's purpose and the nuts and bolts behind integration.
To integrate, or "wrap", a CMPS page around your vBulletin files. When you select some filenames or THIS_SCRIPT constants to integrate in the Admin CP, some code is added to tell the CMPS and vBulletin that whenever someone is viewing one of the files selected, it should pull the info for the CMPS page that you've specified. It will then grab the content that's normally displayed from the file you are viewing, place it into the "Custom Page Content" module, and then print out the CMPS page along with that content.

What exactly are we integrating? Is there more than one file that I need to include if I want all of my forum to be in the "module"? If so, what are those files?
If you want everything with your forums to have the CMPS wrapped around it then you would need to select all of the filenames listed there, with the exception of login.php (that will be removed from the list since some have experienced problems when integrating it, and there's really nothing to integrate).

What is the difference between a Module and a Page because they seem like they are being used intertwined and swapped depending on what you are doing.
A "Page" is a web page.
http://www.vbadvanced.com/
http://www.vbadvanced.com/?page=demo

There's 2 different CMPS pages, one being our "Homepage" page, and another we added for a demo.

A "module" is any of the blocks you see on those pages. Site Navigation, Online Users, Latest Threads, Current Poll, etc.

So a page is just that (a page), and a module is a block of content that can be placed on any of your pages.


Are we integrating a page or are we just integrating a module?
I guess that depends on how you look at it. You're actually integrating a CMPS page with your vB forums. That page will contain other modules for content though, so in a way those modules are being integrated too I guess.

On the new integration page, are we supposed to put the other modules we had on our main cmps or will this happen automatically when we integrate?
That's up to you. You activate whatever modules you would like displayed in your forums on that page. It will not automatically add any modules if they are not enabled there.

If you use the THIS_SCRIPT Integration Method and only integrate the main forums index page, does that make the whole forum show up even when someone clicks on a link to a thread or specific forum topic?
No, that part will only integrate your 'index.php' file (your main vB homepage). It's recommended to use the THIS_SCRIPT method instead of selecting index.php in the filenames for that case since you can access most forums by going to either of these URLs:
http://yoursite.com/forum/
http://yoursite.com/forum/index.php

If you went to the first link, the script would not recognize the filename as being 'index.php' since there's no filename added to the end, so the integration would not work properly with your index.php file in that case.

I guess what I should ask is, is integration what I want? What I'm looking for is that the modules I have on the left (or right) side of my cmps be on either side of my forums and the forums to basically be the center section of my cmps. Is what I'm looking for integration or should I just figure out a way to add modules to either side of my forum?

Yes, integration is what you want.
To activate modules on the left or right columns, just be sure to select those modules and activate them in the column you'd like it to appear in once you make it to the 3rd step in the little "guide" I wrote a few posts above.

[Brian]

this works thanks!

but how can I remove the Integration link from site navigation menu?

Edit the module and you will see a setting called "Pages to Exclude".

[g00gle]

Edit the module and you will see a setting called "Pages to Exclude".

ahh aite! thanks man!

[ferocity302]

Thanks Brian!!

I'll be having my techy next to me when I feel I'm ready for integration. The answers helped explain a lot to me and I'm sure it will help him in helping me to get it all together.

[smithxxl]

Is there any way to make the "Forums" link in the Navigation block to be bold or highlighted when in one of the pages that is Integrated (ex forumdisplay.php or showthread.php)?

Much Appreciated,

Brad Smith

[wwws]

I would like to say installing the vbadvanced was a breeze:) modifying or adding a module or pages is not quite clear for me. I have 8 years of online making web pages and installing cms which never was a problem that I can't find help on.

I find it difficult to add a module, currently I have the default and would like to add a module(s) or make vbadvanced sitewide, I cannot find on how to do this right now, but i'm sure I will figure it out;) when I do I will write a step-by-step with images:D on how to do it. In the mean time, I'll be back here or at vBulletin and will gather some infos on how it is done.

Fine product you have here Brian and will one day return such a favor for offering it for free, currently what I can offer is a link back to your page and when I get some advertisement I will use that money to buy the link removal from you:p

I had bookmark this page and will follow the details when I feel the time is ready, I am no hurry at this time.

Thank you and thank you!