Can I have different custom posts (using the custom portals)on the left side each page of the forum? We want to be able to place difference ads - depending on the type of page it is. If this is possible, can you just give me an idea about how to do it.

Thanks.

You'd have to add logic to your sidebar islands, since they allow php in them you can really customize them to do anything you want, though it'd depend on your familiarity with PHP.

there is almost always the variable $ubb that you can check. this will identify with more granularity what context your sidebar is being displayed in.

I guess the best way to handle this would be to use the same system as the unique header for a forum.

If the forum is x then display y particle box.

And no! without digging into the code, I have no idea LOL

do you mean if then else types of statements. I have a programming history - but just not in .php. is there a good resource you can recommend?

Is there a way to resize the portals?

http://www.phpbuilder.com/ is a pretty good learning resource

As for re-sizing the custom island, it should re-size automagically depending on the size of the content.