New to smf (need help badly)

[machawk]

So when you tried to use the SMF installation, what details did you put in to the installer? It asks you for a database name, database user and password. What did you tell it?

the database user and password? i put a name there like "smf" etc and left the password blank it didmt work, then i left both blank and still didnt work

[Arantor]

Well, no, of course it won't since this is not a database user set up with the database. As I said before, use 'root' as the database user and blank for the password (leave it empty)

[machawk]

Well, no, of course it won't since this is not a database user set up with the database. As I said before, use 'root' as the database user and blank for the password (leave it empty)

okay. i will do that and get back to you shortly.

[machawk]

viola! it worked. just made "root" the username and it work. thanks mehn. really greaful. next step is customizing d smf forum to my design. eg changing appearances, adding more boards,adding forum logo etc. any help with that?

hope. i'm not asking for too much?

[Justyne]

Don't worry we are happy to answer questions and when you get stuck with anything. Don't hesitate to be in touch.

[machawk]

thanks pal. I'm stuck at creating a new category. I want more categories under my "general discussion" but whenever i create one it doesnt show beneath the "general discussion" what could be the problem?
ps: i created the category via my admin sections

[Justyne]

When you are on the create category screen hit the "order" dropdown. Be sure to put After General Discussion there and not In the first place.

[Arantor]

Also note that categories won't show up on the front page with all the boards on it until you put a board in it.

[machawk]

how do i put a board on it?

[Arantor]

Admin > Forum > Boards, find the category you want, and select Add Board just under it.

[machawk]

thanks. that solve it. great mehn! you guys are just so great! you are solving problems here and there. i'm also taking my time to learn all i could as i wana provid answers to people to.

since i'm test runing my forum. i decided to attach a picture on a post a created but i cant view as guest. why? how can i solve that?

[Arantor]

Because by default, attachments are not shown to guests.

It's not generally recommended (since search engines are also listed as guests, which means a non-trivial addition of workload gets added), but it can be changed by changing the permission for guests in the permissions area.

[machawk]

yeah! that solved it! now i want to change the colour with a background image. i also want to add my logo at the top

[machawk]

i also want to remove this  from my home screen:


Simple Machines Community Forum
Shrink or expand the header.

    Home
    Community
    Download
    Customize
    Support
    Online Manual
    About
    Contribute
    Development

[Justyne]

Admin > Configuration > Themes and Layout Settings > Manage and Install

Scroll down and create new copy of the default theme.

Make this copy your forum default.

When you have that:

Current theme > Modify the stylesheets. (colors, fonts, etc.)

When you have that find

body
{

And put in your background image there after the open bracket.

background: url(../image path);


The logo:

Admin > Configuration > Current theme >  Theme Options and Preferences

Just put the logo URL in there.

[Kindred]

And that menu would not be on your own home screen, since that is specific to this site...

[machawk]

Scroll down and create new copy of the default theme.

i cant find that option of create new copy of default theme here

[machawk]

I'VE done that. I just patiently looked around and found it lying at the scrow down menu at the bottom of the "modify theme" section . I'm happy at my progress mehnnn. thnks buds. i can do some basic modifications. Now i see myself editing some css,html and scripts. damn it! my programing skills are rustier than i had thought!   

[Justyne]

Glad you found it. Sorry, for not responding sooner. I didn't see you'd updated.

[machawk]

yeah. now i'm trying to add a logo. i followed ur steps but my logo didnt show up there but i notice a change. "my community" became smaller. what can i do?