UBB.Developers Forums UBB.threads 7 Development How Do I? Modifying the "Add new topic" format

First, my apologies for a long winded question.

I want to make some changes to the form displayed with a person clicks on the "Add Topic" icon on one or two of our forums.
Listed next is what a poster normally sees when creating a new topic.
http://206.128.27.142/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=newtopic;f=1

Listed next is how I propose the form to appear after all the changes.
http://www.portone.com/aghatch1/misc/new_post_rev.html

The changes are:
1. Add a Link along middle left margin titled "Assistance".
2. Remove the buttons titled "Add new topic" and "Preview post" which are located in middle of page.
3. Insert a new table (multi-colored) of instructions underneath the text input window as illustrated by my sample attachment.
4. Re-arrange the 5 vertical rows of Instant UBB code icons so they are aligned horizontally and only consuming two rows.
5. Relocate the lower "add new topic and preview post buttons so that they are aligned vertically with multi-colored text under each button--as per illustration.
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What changes are needed to achieve this goal?

Is it the "public_new_topic.pl" form which has to be modified?

Are there other forms involved?

Should some of this new data be created in new wordlets?

The sample changes illustrated were made by clicking/saving the forum "new topic" icon and adding html, but this form does not appear to match the "public_new_topic.pl" form.

Am I spinning my wheels or can this goal be reasonably accomplished? I am not a programmer.
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PS: a belated thanks to "David Dreezer, Ian Spence, usr bin geek and Ron M" for the info needed to get the question this far.

If the changes are accomplished, then I want to perform some similar type changes to the "post reply form (sample below) which I believe to be (public_new_reply.pl).
http://www.portone.com/aghatch1/misc/post_reply_rev.html

You are correct in the files that will need to be edited, tho it will take a good amount of work to do that. The best way to learn here will involve a lot of trial-and-error, tho it seems like you have some html experience and that's mostly what you need here.

Since it's just for your site, I wouldn't worry about wordlets - it only matters if someone else needs to translate it for use on another site.

Allen,
Thank you for responding.
Can you explain a little further as to what is changed?
Yes, I have a fairly good understanding of html and the changes you saw were mine.

Are the changes on the perl template to be done in html coding? Is the new text added to the template or is it placed in another file and called by template? I am trying to read and understand Perl but just now on the very beginning. Hopefully, I will find the "Perl for Dummies" cd version so I can test changes.

Listed below is a link to all the my forums:
http://206.128.27.142/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

Listed below is a link to the Q&A forum where the change would be implemented.
http://206.128.27.142/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum;f=1;

Changing the template files will probably be all you need to do, it doesn't look like you're trying anything that will need a whole lot of perl work, html is about all that's needed.

Your help is much appreciated.

Are the text additions performed in an ascii editor or what venue is used to save the revised file?

Does the revised file carry the same name except in a different folder?????