Logo with link to (any) homepage

[TheCore]

When the Forum is part of another Homepage, some of us like to incorporate a link back to the Homepage.
The solutions I found was rather complex and involved some mods. I like faster and more dirty
solutions, like this one, making that linked logo available anywhere in the Forum tree.
I assume you know as good as nothing, so I add some details you may skip if you know your
way around.

Most have the Forum installed as a subdomain of hxxp:mysite.com [nonactive] (like: hxxp:forum.mysite.com [nonactive])
You'll figure that out I guess. It's normal to have the directory "Forum" (or what you call it) in
your public_html directory, or folder as the Mac'ers call it - where your Homepage content is.

First, upload your logo to the Theme images folder.
It's located something like this: hxxp:mysite.com/Forum/ [nonactive]/Themes/MYTheme/images/MYLogo.jpg

Next, login as forum Admin and add your logo to the Header.
You do this in: Configuration>Current Theme>Themes and Settings by adding
the path into the Logo image URL field like this:
hxxp:forum.mysite.com/Themes/MYTheme/images/MYLogo.jpg [nonactive]
If you see the logo in the head after "Save" you are close to genius. IQ rules. (luck too).

Now we add a link to that logo so users can jump from
hxxp:forum.mysite.com [nonactive] to your Homepage hxxp:mysite.com [nonactive]
with a click on the logo.

Do this:
On that same setup page: (Configuration>Current Theme>Themes and Settings),
at the top is a link saying: Modify the index template. (the main template).
Stare at it - and then Click on it. The Edit Theme - index.template.php page show up.
Scroll down to the code field named: Beginning on line 59.. Your almost there...
Scroll that field to approx middle. You are looking for this little line of code:

Code Select Expand


else
echo '<img src="', $settings['header_logo_url'], '" style="margin: 4px;" alt="', $context['forum_name'], '" />';


Change this code to:

Code Select Expand

else
echo '<a href="http://www.MYSite.com"><img src="', $settings['header_logo_url'], '" style="margin: 4px;" alt="', $context['forum_name'], '" /></a>';

..and don't forget that </a> at the end of that code. You are only adding the link. DON'T modify anything else. That's it, click save and look smart! 

TheCore

[babjusi]

There is already a mod for this.

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1381

[probeman]

When the Forum is part of another Homepage, some of us like to incorporate a link back to the Homepage.
The solutions I found was rather complex and involved some mods. I like faster and more dirty
solutions, like this one, making that linked logo available anywhere in the Forum tree.
I assume you know as good as nothing, so I add some details you may skip if you know your
way around.

Most have the Forum installed as a subdomain of MYSite.com (like: forum.MYSite.com)
You'll figure that out I guess. It's normal to have the directory "Forum" (or what you call it) in
your public_html directory, or folder as the Mac'ers call it - where your Homepage content is.

First, upload your logo to the Theme images folder.
It's located something like this: MYSite.com/Forum//Themes/MYTheme/images/MYLogo.jpg

Next, login as forum Admin and add your logo to the Header.
You do this in: Configuration>Current Theme>Themes and Settings by adding
the path into the Logo image URL field like this:
forum.MYSite.com/Themes/MYTheme/images/MYLogo.jpg
If you see the logo in the head after "Save" you are close to genius. IQ rules. (luck too).

Now we add a link to that logo so users can jump from
forum.MYSite.com to your Homepage MYSite.com
with a click on the logo.

Do this:
On that same setup page: (Configuration>Current Theme>Themes and Settings),
at the top is a link saying: Modify the index template. (the main template).
Stare at it - and then Click on it. The Edit Theme - index.template.php page show up.
Scroll down to the code field named: Beginning on line 59.. Your almost there...
Scroll that field to approx middle. You are looking for this little line of code:

Code Select Expand


else
echo '<img src="', $settings['header_logo_url'], '" style="margin: 4px;" alt="', $context['forum_name'], '" />';


Change this code to:

Code Select Expand

else
echo '<a href="http://www.MYSite.com"><img src="', $settings['header_logo_url'], '" style="margin: 4px;" alt="', $context['forum_name'], '" /></a>';

..and don't forget that </a> at the end of that code. You are only adding the link. DON'T modify anything else. That's it, click save and look smart! 

TheCore

This solution for adding a URL link to the forum logo is rather old and seems to require editing a file.  I have our own logo image loaded, but is there no other way to add a URL link to the logo image?

[Kindred]

no. The only way to CHANGE the URL that the logo points to is to edit the code in index.template.php -- unless your theme allows a defined URL (some might, the default theme does not)


although, it looks like the mod posted just before your post may actually work in 2.0.x as well as 1.1.x (you would have to use the emulate version feature, to get the installation option)

[GigaWatt]

although, it looks like the mod posted just before your post may actually work in 2.0.x as well as 1.1.x (you would have to use the emulate version feature, to get the installation option)

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Yeah, seems it was removed from the modsite years ago - don't know why though.

[probeman]

no. The only way to CHANGE the URL that the logo points to is to edit the code in index.template.php -- unless your theme allows a defined URL (some might, the default theme does not)


although, it looks like the mod posted just before your post may actually work in 2.0.x as well as 1.1.x (you would have to use the emulate version feature, to get the installation option)

Forgive my ignorance, but if I do edit the index.template.php file for the logo URL, do I have to re-edit it every time after future updates?

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

No, patches will not overwrite edits like that.

[probeman]

So I was going to attempt to edit the index.template.php file, but I think the line numbers have changed since the original post above.

That is, I looked for the line:

else
echo '<img src="', $settings['header_logo_url'], '" style="margin: 4px;" alt="', $context['forum_name'], '" />';

but can't locate it.  Can someone help?

[skb]

You can do a Cntrl+F and Search for the text string. The line should be in the vicinity of the line number given.

[probeman]

You can do a Cntrl+F and Search for the text string. The line should be in the vicinity of the line number given.

I can do that from the browser GUI?  Cool.

[Kindred]

Search for the header_logo_url

[probeman]

So it's in the section labeled "Beginning on line 168", here:

            <a href="', $scripturl, '">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>

But it says "header_logo_url_html_safe". Is this what gets edited?  Can you show me an example?

Sorry to bother you all, but I'm just a newbie.

[Kindred]

that URL is a setting that displays the IMAGE as defined in the theme setting in the admin
the edit you would be replacing is this


', $scripturl, '

replace that with your actual URL

[probeman]

OK, so it would be:

<a href="http:\\myurl.com">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>

?

Also, by the way, it there an SMF posting setting that defaults to always "Return to this topic"?

[Kindred]

yes, that would be the correct code.

yes, in your profile setting

[probeman]

That does not work.  It sets the logo link to myurl.com/myurl.com

What should I do?

[probeman]

OK, I figured it out (on my own!).  It needs to be set to:

<a href="http:\\">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>

[Kindred]

no, that can't be right. you need an actual url in there

[probeman]

You know more than me, but I'm just glad it's working!

Our forum is here:

http://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php

I edited the index.template.php file in the SMF Default Theme (2.0.14) right?  Not the Core Theme (2.0), right?

[GigaWatt]

I edited the index.template.php file in the SMF Default Theme (2.0.14) right?  Not the Core Theme (2.0), right?

Yes, that's the one that should be edited .

no, that can't be right. you need an actual url in there

<a href="http:\\">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>

He's right, you need to have an actual URL in there, otherwise, it won't work. Have no idea how it works on your site with the "unfinished" URL.

[probeman]

I edited the index.template.php file in the SMF Default Theme (2.0.14) right?  Not the Core Theme (2.0), right?

Yes, that's the one that should be edited .

Why the wink emoticon?   Are you saying I edited the wrong file?   I don't enjoy this being non-standard, I prefer to get it right.

Let me set it back to the original text and walk through the steps just confirm.  I went to Themes | Themes and Layout Settings  | Modify Themes menu, Then under Modify Themes | SMF Default Theme Curve (2.0.14) I clicked the "Browse the templates and files in this theme" link.

Then I clicked on index.template.php and edited these lines back to the original text"

function template_body_above()
{
   global $context, $settings, $options, $scripturl, $txt, $modSettings;

   echo !empty($settings['forum_width']) ? '
<div id="wrapper" style="width: ' . $settings['forum_width'] . '">' : '', '
   <div id="header"><div class="frame">
      <div id="top_section">
         <h1 class="forumtitle">
            <a href="', $scripturl,'">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>
         </h1>';

   // the upshrink image, right-floated
   echo '

Then I clicked Save Changes and with this original text our forum logo link points to our forum as before.  So then I replaced the above red text to this text in red:

function template_body_above()
{
   global $context, $settings, $options, $scripturl, $txt, $modSettings;

   echo !empty($settings['forum_width']) ? '
<div id="wrapper" style="width: ' . $settings['forum_width'] . '">' : '', '
   <div id="header"><div class="frame">
      <div id="top_section">
         <h1 class="forumtitle">
            <a href="http://probesoftware.com">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>
         </h1>';

   // the upshrink image, right-floated
   echo '

Then clicked Save Changes.  Then when I put my mouse over our logo... wait a minute, that's weird.  It works now.

Hmmm, I'm pretty dyslexic so I have to wonder if it's because I had put http:\\probesoftware.com instead of http://probesoftware.com

Weird.  I'm really sorry for all the trouble.  It's working now with the full URL so I'm happy.  Thanks and sorry again.

[Kindred]

glad its working.

incidentally.... although you CAN use the online/admin editor like that - best practice is to use your hosting file manager or FTP to edit php files
(and making bad edits directly could make your site inaccessible to correct the edit)

also, remember, with any updates, you may need to clear the cache after the change is applied...  both server side and browser side (ctrl-f5 on the page)

[probeman]

incidentally.... although you CAN use the online/admin editor like that - best practice is to use your hosting file manager or FTP to edit php files
(and making bad edits directly could make your site inaccessible to correct the edit)

I was wondering about that, but was also scared of ftp'ing the file back with the wrong file permissions...

Thanks for all your help.

[GigaWatt]

Why the wink emoticon?   Are you saying I edited the wrong file?   I don't enjoy this being non-standard, I prefer to get it right.

It's a smiley... as far as I know ... emoticons are symbols, smileys are formed using a combination of ASCII characters.

Beside the point... I used the wink smiley to say "you're right, that's the file that should be edited". I rarely use sarcasm in posts. If I wanted to be sarcastic, I would have written something like "Yeah, that's the one ".

Let me set it back to the original text and walk through the steps just confirm.  I went to Themes | Themes and Layout Settings  | Modify Themes menu, Then under Modify Themes | SMF Default Theme Curve (2.0.14) I clicked the "Browse the templates and files in this theme" link.

Correct . (Not being sarcastic.)

As for the rest of the post (not to quote the whole thing), yes, you did the right corrections . In your previous post, you wrote that you only added http://, not http://probesoftware.com... in which case it wouldn't have worked. I think that's what Kindred was trying to say, it can't work with an "unfinished" URL, you have to have the full URL in that field, the way you explained it in you next post (again, not being sarcastic).

[brenth]

I found this thread that described what I was trying to do with my new installation of SMF, however I seem to be having trouble making it work. I uploaded my logo image and that is displayed. I then found the header url line in the index template and edited it.

I changed this line

<a href="', $scripturl, '">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>

to this

<a href="mysiteurl">', empty($context['header_logo_url_html_safe']) ? $context['forum_name'] : '<img src="' . $context['header_logo_url_html_safe'] . '" alt="' . $context['forum_name'] . '" />', '</a>

But when I attempt to save it I get this error.

Template Parse Error!
There was a problem loading the /Themes/default/index.template.php template or language file. Please check the syntax and try again - remember, single quotes (') often have to be escaped with a slash (\). To see more specific error information from PHP, try accessing the file directly.

You may want to try to refresh this page or use the default theme.
syntax error, unexpected 'header_logo_url_html_safe' (T_STRING), expecting ',' or ';'

I have been careful not to change any other part of the template, so I do not know how to correct this error and was wondering if anyone might have a suggestion.

[Shambles]

Please download and attach that file to your next post and we'll have a look at it.

[Kindred]

we need to see the ACTUAL line of text, with the actual url... I suspect that you changed something that should not have been changed....

[brenth]

The above is the actual line of text, and the actual URL was hxxp:arkansaschurchsecurity.org/ [nonactive]. I too thought I must have altered something though, as I mentioned I was careful not to change anything but what I indicated above.

In any case, after I could not get it to work I restored the original index.template file so that things would work again. Today I had the chance to go reinstate the change so I could upload the altered file here. However, this time it worked properly with no error. I am not able to determine what might have been different this time, but apparently there was some difference.

This is my first time to install and use the Simple Machines Forum and I appreciate your willingness to help me with my question.

[Arantor]

It would be helpful if you showed us the *exact* code you had, not 'here's what I did and here's the other part of it' because it sounds like when you edited it the first time, it wasn't edited correctly, and seeing exactly what you did matters for getting it right, though I guess it was right the second time.