memobug
01-03-2005, 05:46 AM
For various reasons I thought it would be a good idea to have a full width module at the top of my homepage. I am using it as a welcome block, but I can see other applications.
I thought I would share this template hack because it's pretty darn simple.
IN ACTION:
I am using this template hack at http://www.bonsaiTALK.com It's used to create the the "About bonsaiTALK" block that is only visible to folks not logged in.
HOW TO DO IT
Creating the block requires creating a new template, attaching it to a module and activating it.
Posted below is a template modification that you can use to create a full width module. You want to install it in the left column and make sure that it is the FIRST block rendered on the page where it's used.
1. First create a new template - I called mine "adv_portal_fullwidth" and put the code below in it. You can leave out the comment lines if you wish.
2. Replace the PUT YOUR STUFF HERE with the contents of the block that you want to appear across the top. You can use the code taken from any existing module or create something new. Whatever you put there will bridge all the columns beneath it.
3. Replace the part that says
td width="180" towards the bottom with your actual first column's width as you've set it up in your vbadvanced options.
4. in your admincp VBA_CMPS tool, create and enable a new module called topspan or something. Point it to "fullwidth" for the template (leave off that adv_portal part). Enable it and select for whom it should be viewable. I made mine visible only to Unregistered/Not Logged In users because I want to use it as kind of a splash page bit that will disappear once they've joined
5. Make sure it is first in the sequence and put it in the leftmost column.
<!-- START Full width module -->
<!-- closing off the existing table, as unused -->
</td></tr></table>
<!-- opening the new fullwidth table -->
<table align="center" class="page" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="100%">
<!-- PUT YOUR NEW TEMPLATE RIGHT HERE!!! -->
<!-- closing the new fullwidth header -->
</td></tr></table>
<!-- Now we need a dummy block first column -->
<table align="center" class="page" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"width="100%">
<tr valign="top">
<!-- change this 180 to your column width? -->
<td width="180">
<!-- End Full width module -->
How it works:
This template modification works basically by closing off the table that VBA_CMPS generates to open the first row. This enables us to open a new full-width row (in a new table) without regard to the number of columns that will follow it. After the module is rendered, the new table is closed and the VBACMPS code that will reopen the normal VBA table is repeated, leaving everything (I hope) as it should appear
Regards,
Matt
I thought I would share this template hack because it's pretty darn simple.
IN ACTION:
I am using this template hack at http://www.bonsaiTALK.com It's used to create the the "About bonsaiTALK" block that is only visible to folks not logged in.
HOW TO DO IT
Creating the block requires creating a new template, attaching it to a module and activating it.
Posted below is a template modification that you can use to create a full width module. You want to install it in the left column and make sure that it is the FIRST block rendered on the page where it's used.
1. First create a new template - I called mine "adv_portal_fullwidth" and put the code below in it. You can leave out the comment lines if you wish.
2. Replace the PUT YOUR STUFF HERE with the contents of the block that you want to appear across the top. You can use the code taken from any existing module or create something new. Whatever you put there will bridge all the columns beneath it.
3. Replace the part that says
td width="180" towards the bottom with your actual first column's width as you've set it up in your vbadvanced options.
4. in your admincp VBA_CMPS tool, create and enable a new module called topspan or something. Point it to "fullwidth" for the template (leave off that adv_portal part). Enable it and select for whom it should be viewable. I made mine visible only to Unregistered/Not Logged In users because I want to use it as kind of a splash page bit that will disappear once they've joined
5. Make sure it is first in the sequence and put it in the leftmost column.
<!-- START Full width module -->
<!-- closing off the existing table, as unused -->
</td></tr></table>
<!-- opening the new fullwidth table -->
<table align="center" class="page" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="100%">
<!-- PUT YOUR NEW TEMPLATE RIGHT HERE!!! -->
<!-- closing the new fullwidth header -->
</td></tr></table>
<!-- Now we need a dummy block first column -->
<table align="center" class="page" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"width="100%">
<tr valign="top">
<!-- change this 180 to your column width? -->
<td width="180">
<!-- End Full width module -->
How it works:
This template modification works basically by closing off the table that VBA_CMPS generates to open the first row. This enables us to open a new full-width row (in a new table) without regard to the number of columns that will follow it. After the module is rendered, the new table is closed and the VBACMPS code that will reopen the normal VBA table is repeated, leaving everything (I hope) as it should appear
Regards,
Matt