UBB.Developers Forums UBB.threads 7 Development How Do I? Xtra boxes for sponsors ads?

The question is two fold...
- Although the IIP allows for 3 custom boxes. I use them for site news and Birthdays, so I would like the ability to add more for sposnors ads/banners

- I would also like to have the banners on the Main Index, too. I was thinking of making a side bar (I think this is done i templates)

Any suggestions?

Yeah,

You can do a sidebar by adding a table open into the header and/or footer.

You can add custom boxes to your regular site by editing the templates.

I've added an amazon banner box to the top of my main index page.
Need to add some smaller links into the sidebar.

http://www.measurection.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

Wow... you have quite a few sonsor boxes on the IIP Entrance page. I suspect that you hard coded them?

I was actually thinking of adding a banner inbeween catagories on the Main Index, but I like what you did, which is under the navigation bar. I have a banner in my header now, but may redesign the site and need the realestate up there.

Hi Mike,

I have noticed in your IIP that you are using the 5.1 version. I would suggest that you port towards the newest one 5.1.1 - unless I am mistaken and the version in the Entrance has not been updated.

The latest version of IIP uses custom boxes (custombox1pal.php, custombox2pal.php, etc). These are three or four of them, but nothing stops you from copying one and naming it to customboxYpal.php - where Y is a number of your choice. Then all you have to do is (assume that you have just copied custombox5pal.php)

- Open custombox5pal.php and edit the contents to show what you want (sponsor)
- Open configpal.php and find:

code:

$index_include[0]['custombox3'] = "0";
$index_include[1]['custombox3'] = "0";
$index_include[2]['custombox3'] = "0";
$index_include[3]['custombox3'] = "0";

---

and BELOW it add

code:

$index_include[0]['custombox5'] = "0";
$index_include[1]['custombox5'] = "0";
$index_include[2]['custombox5'] = "0";
$index_include[3]['custombox5'] = "0";

---

- Open index.php
Find

code:

					if ($index_include[1]['custombox3'] == $x && !$xused) {
						include "{$palspath}/pals/custombox3pal.php";
						$xused = 1;
					}

---

and BELOW it add

code:

					if ($index_include[1]['custombox5'] == $x && !$xused) {
						include "{$palspath}/pals/custombox5pal.php";
						$xused = 1;
					}

---

Find

code:

					if ($index_include[2]['custombox3'] == $x && !$xused) {
						include "{$palspath}/pals/custombox3pal.php";
						$xused = 1;
					}

---

and BELOW it add

code:

					if ($index_include[2]['custombox5'] == $x && !$xused) {
						include "{$palspath}/pals/custombox5pal.php";
						$xused = 1;
					}

---

Find

code:

					if ($index_include[3]['custombox3'] == $x && !$xused) {
						include "{$palspath}/pals/custombox3pal.php";
						$xused = 1;
					}

---

and BELOW it add

code:

					if ($index_include[3]['custombox5'] == $x && !$xused) {
						include "{$palspath}/pals/custombox5pal.php";
						$xused = 1;
					}

---

Now open editconfigpal.php
Find

code:

	$CustomBox3Checked[$i] = "checked="checked"";
	if ((!$index_include[$i]['custombox3']) || ($index_include[$i]['custombox3'] > 19)) {
		$CustomBox3Checked[$i] = "";
	}
	$CustomBox3Selections[$i] = $blankselection;
	if (($index_include[$i]['custombox3']) && ($index_include[$i]['custombox3'] < 20)) {
		$selectedselection = "";
		$psel = "";
		for ($p=0; $p<20; $p++) {
			if ($p > 0) {
				$psel = $p;
			}
			if ($p == $index_include[$i]['custombox3']) {
				$selectedselection .= "<option value="$p" selected="selected">$psel</option>";
			}
			else {
				$selectedselection .= "<option value="$p">$psel</option>";
			}
		}
		$CustomBox3Selections[$backone] = $blankselection;
		$CustomBox3Selections[$i] = $selectedselection;
	}

---

and BELOW it add

code:

	$CustomBox5Checked[$i] = "checked="checked"";
	if ((!$index_include[$i]['custombox5']) || ($index_include[$i]['custombox5'] > 19)) {
		$CustomBox5Checked[$i] = "";
	}
	$CustomBox5Selections[$i] = $blankselection;
	if (($index_include[$i]['custombox5']) && ($index_include[$i]['custombox5'] < 20)) {
		$selectedselection = "";
		$psel = "";
		for ($p=0; $p<20; $p++) {
			if ($p > 0) {
				$psel = $p;
			}
			if ($p == $index_include[$i]['custombox5']) {
				$selectedselection .= "<option value="$p" selected="selected">$psel</option>";
			}
			else {
				$selectedselection .= "<option value="$p">$psel</option>";
			}
		}
		$CustomBox5Selections[$backone] = $blankselection;
		$CustomBox5Selections[$i] = $selectedselection;
	}

---

Find

code:

if (!$CustomBox3Checked[1] && !$CustomBox3Checked[2] && !$CustomBox3Checked[3]) {
	$CustomBox3Checked[0] = "checked="checked"";
}

---

and BELOW it add

code:

if (!$CustomBox5Checked[1] && !$CustomBox5Checked[2] && !$CustomBox5Checked[3]) {
	$CustomBox5Checked[0] = "checked="checked"";
}

---

Find

code:

<tr class="lighttable">
<td align="right" nowrap="nowrap">
Custom Box 3
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox3" value="1" {$CustomBox3Checked[1]} />
</td>
<td>
<select name="CustomBox3Select_1">
{$CustomBox3Selections[1]}
</select>
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
 
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox3" value="2" {$CustomBox3Checked[2]} />
</td>
<td>
<select name="CustomBox3Select_2">
{$CustomBox3Selections[2]}
</select>
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
 
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox3" value="3" {$CustomBox3Checked[3]} />
</td>
<td>
<select name="CustomBox3Select_3">
{$CustomBox3Selections[3]}
</select>
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox3" value="0" {$CustomBox3Checked[0]} />
</td>
</tr>

---

and BELOW it add

code:

<tr class="lighttable">
<td align="right" nowrap="nowrap">
Custom Box 5
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox5" value="1" {$CustomBox5Checked[1]} />
</td>
<td>
<select name="CustomBox5Select_1">
{$CustomBox5Selections[1]}
</select>
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
 
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox5" value="2" {$CustomBox5Checked[2]} />
</td>
<td>
<select name="CustomBox5Select_2">
{$CustomBox5Selections[2]}
</select>
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
 
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox5" value="3" {$CustomBox5Checked[3]} />
</td>
<td>
<select name="CustomBox5Select_3">
{$CustomBox5Selections[3]}
</select>
</td>
<td align="center" nowrap="nowrap">
<input type="radio" name="CustomBox5" value="0" {$CustomBox5Checked[0]} />
</td>
</tr>

---

Now open doeditconfigpal.php
Find

code:

      $index_include[$x]['custombox3'] = "0";

---

and BELOW it add

code:

      $index_include[$x]['custombox5'] = "0";

---

Find

code:

   $index_include[$CustomBox3]['custombox3'] = ${"CustomBox3Select_$CustomBox3"};

---

and BELOW it add

code:

   $index_include[$CustomBox5]['custombox5'] = ${"CustomBox5Select_$CustomBox5"};

---

Find

code:

\$index_include[0]['custombox3'] = "{$index_include[0]['custombox3']}";
\$index_include[1]['custombox3'] = "{$index_include[1]['custombox3']}";
\$index_include[2]['custombox3'] = "{$index_include[2]['custombox3']}";
\$index_include[3]['custombox3'] = "{$index_include[3]['custombox3']}";

---

and BELOW it add

code:

\$index_include[0]['custombox5'] = "{$index_include[0]['custombox5']}";
\$index_include[1]['custombox5'] = "{$index_include[1]['custombox5']}";
\$index_include[2]['custombox5'] = "{$index_include[2]['custombox5']}";
\$index_include[3]['custombox5'] = "{$index_include[3]['custombox5']}";

---

Repeat these steps as many times as you want to create new custompal boxes for your needs. Then enter the configuration screen of IIP and make your selections on position and index.

Warm regards

Nikos

PS: Dave, please correct me if I am completely wrong in this.

You explained it better than I even understood it.

Thanks.

Warm regards

Nikos

Thanks!

That is what I was looking for.

I really appreciate the help given here. I'm a CPA by trade and have been doing my own sites for some time, but tyring to learn Linux/Apache, HTML, DHTML, CGI (no more!), PHP and MySql... I found I'm good enough to get buy, but just can't find enough time in the day to get proficient with the website stuff!

THANKS!

Installed it and worked PERFECT!

THANKS!

I actually use a little thing on my IIP page with 8 or 10 amazon links. Then I've got a little script which rotates them..... so that they are in different places each page load.. thus the page looks fresh for each visit.

When I update it for the next version... I need to write it up and post it. By the time I got it working... I was too confused to come up with instructions. LOL

Josh,

[]I actually use a little thing on my IIP page [/]

Don't know about that... but I did set up 3 extra boxes and will rotate banners in them using phpAdsNew. I'm pretty happy with the banner system, especially coming froma cgi script that almost never had banners ready when the page compiled.

OH yeah.... .phpAdsnew will do the trick.

Josh how did you create that cell table on the main page with the ads inside?

dimopoulos,

One bug(?) I noticed... since I did the update, when I go into the IIP Admin page, it sets the new customboxes (4-6) to "Off".

I have to remember to turn the on, before I leave...
Is anyone else having this problem?

Hi Mike,

I reinstalled the modification according to the instructions and it works fine.

You need to open the editconfigpal.php and have a close look at the sections where the new custom boxes are defined (their values I mean). Perhaps there is a small typo there from cutting and pasting.

Warm regards

Nikos

Nikos,

WOW. 6 typos regarding the proper custombox numbers. Finally found them by searching for "custombox"

Found where I added the new box number, but in my haste forgot to remve the original number from the paste.

Thanks. At first I didn't think the script would run if I made typos, but now I understand the editconfig better

In my ubbthreads.tmpl file.... above this line:

for($c=0;$c<$catsize;$c++) { //UBBTREMARK


I put this:

code:

$thispath = "/home/measurection/htdocs/forums";
include "{$thispath}/pals/banneradmainindexpal.php";

---

$thispath is the Path to my threads directory


Then in my pals directory.... I put a file named banneradmainindexpal.php which looked like this:

code:

<?
$palspath = "/home/measurection/htdocs/forums";
	include "{$palspath}/pals/languagepal.php";
	include "{$palspath}/pals/configpal.php";
	include "{$palspath}/pals/tablewrappers.tmpl";
	require_once "$palspath/main.inc.php";


	echo "{$wrapper[$wrapnum]['table_header']}"; // Table Start
	
	echo "<div align="center"><b>Support Our Site - Visit Our Sponsors this Holiday Season!</b>"; // Table Heading
	
	echo "{$wrapper[$wrapnum]['table_center']}"; // Close Header and Open Content

 	echo "PUT THE CODE FOR YOUR BANNER HERE";
 	
	echo "{$wrapper[$wrapnum]['table_footer']}</div>"; // Close Content and End Table

?>

---

$palspath is the path to my threads directory.

Hope that helps.

I basically did the same design but embedded my banner program into a table in my header. It looks the same as yours except above the links bar.

No problem Mike. Glad I could help.

Warm regards

Nikos