Make a simple SMF blog using 3 existing mods

Started by Mick., January 16, 2011, 08:32:19 PM

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Mick.

Per request on how i made 3 mods to work together to create an actual blog.

http://www.chevyavalancheclub.com/index.php?action=blog

For SMF 2.0 only!

Mods needed and installed:
SSI Multiple Board News
SMFBlog
Custom Action

Creating the category and boards

1. Let's create our new forum category by going to:
    admin---->forum---->create new category     

    a. Name it: ie, "Blog"

2. Lets create a few boards inside the newly created category. ... (for blog categories purposes)
    admin----->forum---->add board

   a. board #1
   b. board #2
   c. board #3
   d. board #4
   e. board #5
   f. make sure to checkmark: "Use this board as a blog?".

3. Lets hide the "Blog" category from the forum:
    admin---->features & options--->Blog

    a. checkmark: "Hide blog boards?".



Creating the custom actions

1. Lets create the main "blog" page.
    admin---->features & options--->custom actions

   a. Action Name: Blog
   b. Action URL: blog
   c. Type: PHP
   d. Permissions Mode: Visible to everyone
   e. Enabled: yes

2. The code.

   a. rename ('board' => array(1,2,3,4,5)) with the actual board ID's you want to use.
   b. rename "yourforum.com" with your own URL
   c. rename the board category and action.

   echo'
<div align="center"><table width="915px" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" bgcolor="f9f7f5">
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<div> <h3 class="titlebg grid_header"><span class="left"></span>
Blog Home - blog description goes here
</h3>
<div class="roundframe grid">';
$parameters = array(
  'limit' => 10,
  'board' => array(1,2,3,4,5),
  'board_disp' => false,
  'category_disp' => false,
  'length' => '300',
  'attachments' => 'none', 
);
ssi_multiBoardNews($parameters);
echo'
</div>
</td>
<td>
<div>
<h3 class="titlebg grid_header"><span class="left"></span>
Categories
</h3>
<table class="tborder" width="100%">
<tr class="windowbg">
<td><li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=blog">Blog Home</a></li>
<hr />
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category1">category 1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category2">category 2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category3">category 3</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category4">category 4</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category5">category 5</a></li></td></tr>
</table>
<br />

echo'
<span class="lowerframe"><span><!-- // --></span></span>
<br class="clear">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table></div>';



3. The code for the second, third, fourth, fifth category.

1. Lets create the main "category 1" page.
    admin---->features & options--->custom actions

   a. Action Name: Category 1
   b. Action URL: category1
   c. Type: PHP
   d. Permissions Mode: Visible to everyone
   e. Enabled: yes

2. The code.

   a. rename ('board' => array(99999,1)) with the actual board ID's you want to use. (leave 99999 alone)
   b. rename "yourforum.com" with your own URL
   c. rename the board category and action.

   echo'
<div align="center"><table width="915px" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" bgcolor="f9f7f5">
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<div> <h3 class="titlebg grid_header"><span class="left"></span>
Category 1 - category 1 small description goes here
</h3>
<div class="roundframe grid">';
$parameters = array(
  'limit' => 10,
  'board' => array(99999,1),
  'board_disp' => false,
  'category_disp' => false,
  'length' => '300',
  'attachments' => 'none', 
);
ssi_multiBoardNews($parameters);
echo'
</div>
</td>
<td>
<div>
<h3 class="titlebg grid_header"><span class="left"></span>
Categories
</h3>
<table class="tborder" width="100%">
<tr class="windowbg">
<td><li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=blog">Blog Home</a></li>
<hr />
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category1">category 1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category2">category 2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category3">category 3</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category4">category 4</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category5">category 5</a></li></td></tr>
</table>
<br />

echo'
<span class="lowerframe"><span><!-- // --></span></span>
<br class="clear">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table></div>';



3. The code for the second category.

1. Lets create the main "category 2" page.
    admin---->features & options--->custom actions

   a. Action Name: Category 2
   b. Action URL: category2
   c. Type: PHP
   d. Permissions Mode: Visible to everyone
   e. Enabled: yes

2. The code.

   a. rename ('board' => array(99999,2)) with the actual board ID's you want to use. (leave 99999 alone)
   b. rename "yourforum.com" with your own URL
   c. rename the board category and action.

   echo'
<div align="center"><table width="915px" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" bgcolor="f9f7f5">
<tr valign="top">
<td>
<div> <h3 class="titlebg grid_header"><span class="left"></span>
Category 2 - category 2 small description goes here
</h3>
<div class="roundframe grid">';
$parameters = array(
  'limit' => 10,
  'board' => array(99999,2),
  'board_disp' => false,
  'category_disp' => false,
  'length' => '300',
  'attachments' => 'none', 
);
ssi_multiBoardNews($parameters);
echo'
</div>
</td>
<td>
<div>
<h3 class="titlebg grid_header"><span class="left"></span>
Categories
</h3>
<table class="tborder" width="100%">
<tr class="windowbg">
<td><li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=blog">Blog Home</a></li>
<hr />
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category1">category 1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category2">category 2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category3">category 3</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category4">category 4</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.yourforum.com/index.php?action=category5">category 5</a></li></td></tr>
</table>
<br />

echo'
<span class="lowerframe"><span><!-- // --></span></span>
<br class="clear">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table></div>';




Continue creating more custom action.  That's it! Have fun ;)





   





Mick.


Masterd


Chair

This tutorial doesn't work at all on my site :( I tried it 10 times and I don't see what I'm doing wrong...



Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '<' in /home/speed64/public_html/Sources/Load.php(2185) : eval()'d code(20) : eval()'d code on line 1

I'm using smf 2.0 rc4, emulated the SSI_boardnews mod install for 2.0rc3

Mick.

Quote from: Chair on January 23, 2011, 12:06:46 PM
This tutorial doesn't work at all on my site :( I tried it 10 times and I don't see what I'm doing wrong...



Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '<' in /home/speed64/public_html/Sources/Load.php(2185) : eval()'d code(20) : eval()'d code on line 1

I'm using smf 2.0 rc4, emulated the SSI_boardnews mod install for 2.0rc3

Yeah, i forgot to add the echo on line 1.

Masterd


Mick.


Chair

Okay I fixed both instances of code but the blog is all squashed and the titles have no padding and the news isn't showing up on the blog! have a look:

www.speedscapers.com/index.php?action=blog

www.speedscapers.com/index.php?action=news

kingkingston


Masterd


kingkingston

Quote from: Masterd on January 27, 2011, 07:09:17 AM
Quote from: kingkingston on January 27, 2011, 05:23:12 AM
make it in to a mod lol

I'm confused with this. He is already useing 3 mods.
i mean join the 3 together and think up a name for it

Arantor

Except that it requires permission from all three of the original mod authors to do that (not the current maintainers, but the original owners where copyright's concerned) and I wouldn't give permission for that for ssi_multiBoardNews.
Holder of controversial views, all of which my own.


Matthew K.

Don't worry. I'll eventually write a strong blog mod for SMF.
Quote from: kingkingston on January 27, 2011, 05:23:12 AM
make it in to a mod lol

Masterd

Quote from: Labradoodle-360 on January 27, 2011, 12:33:30 PM
Don't worry. I'll eventually write a strong blog mod for SMF.

I wanted to that in the near future. :'(

kingkingston


donjazzy

@ BlueDevil, I like your master piece handwork here, such a nice blog/smf powered  http://www.chevyavalancheclub.com/. Actually I have been looking for a way to start my blogging website but low skill/know skill at all would never allow me to until I stumble upon that link above. From A-Z modding of that website, I simply love everything more especially the "pause and play" picture display powered by JavaScript.

I just want to start my SMF blog-like website from the scratch to capture what you have there with mine totally taking a different NICHE. I will like to pay for the service (themes and others) otherwise please please please you will take me along on every bit of steps as I embark on this wonderful journey. I am a lover of SMF but I never knew smf has such a remarkable software teaks, you are a coding genius to the core. Hope you will help. Thank you.

Mick.

Quote from: donjazzy on February 24, 2011, 03:53:28 PM
@ BlueDevil, I like your master piece handwork here, such a nice blog/smf powered  http://www.chevyavalancheclub.com/. Actually I have been looking for a way to start my blogging website but low skill/know skill at all would never allow me to until I stumble upon that link above. From A-Z modding of that website, I simply love everything more especially the "pause and play" picture display powered by JavaScript.

I just want to start my SMF blog-like website from the scratch to capture what you have there with mine totally taking a different NICHE. I will like to pay for the service (themes and others) otherwise please please please you will take me along on every bit of steps as I embark on this wonderful journey. I am a lover of SMF but I never knew smf has such a remarkable software teaks, you are a coding genius to the core. Hope you will help. Thank you.

Thank Don for the kind words.  Really everything ive done to my forums is 'trial & error'.  Usually i use an original theme in my test site and tinker there before i make the edits to my live site.  That way i dont break the website.

Im not good at coding or designing.  I am good at modding existing mods to my own likings and i surf the web looking for websites to see how they've done theirs.   I also read a lot here in SMF and search google a lot.

The code provided above is straight forward.  On that note im not for hire but i can help you or anyone.

The slider you saw on my front page is a paid slider for Joomla and any PHP based sites.
http://www.joomlaworks.gr/content/view/24/42/

Here are some free ones as well.
http://visionwidget.com/inspiration/web/295-jquery-content-sliders.html

Harry33

Quote from: bluedevil on February 24, 2011, 05:06:26 PM
Quote from: donjazzy on February 24, 2011, 03:53:28 PM
@ BlueDevil, I like your master piece handwork here, such a nice blog/smf powered  http://www.chevyavalancheclub.com/. Actually I have been looking for a way to start my blogging website but low skill/know skill at all would never allow me to until I stumble upon that link above. From A-Z modding of that website, I simply love everything more especially the "pause and play" picture display powered by JavaScript.

I just want to start my SMF blog-like website from the scratch to capture what you have there with mine totally taking a different NICHE. I will like to pay for the service (themes and others) otherwise please please please you will take me along on every bit of steps as I embark on this wonderful journey. I am a lover of SMF but I never knew smf has such a remarkable software teaks, you are a coding genius to the core. Hope you will help. Thank you.

Thank Don for the kind words.  Really everything ive done to my forums is 'trial & error'.  Usually i use an original theme in my test site and tinker there before i make the edits to my live site.  That way i dont break the website.

Im not good at coding or designing.  I am good at modding existing mods to my own likings and i surf the web looking for websites to see how they've done theirs.   I also read a lot here in SMF and search google a lot.

The code provided above is straight forward.  On that note im not for hire but i can help you or anyone.

The slider you saw on my front page is a paid slider for Joomla and any PHP based sites.
http://www.joomlaworks.gr/content/view/24/42/

Here are some free ones as well.
http://visionwidget.com/inspiration/web/295-jquery-content-sliders.html
I appreciate your support so much as that poster has saie. I run a small forum only here www.appiiforum.com and I have so much passion for blogging but I don't have the web-skill for blogging templates like wordpress to tweak things the way I desire. But after taking a close look at www.bluedevilcustoms.com, www.chevyavalancheclub.com, it is proper I saw the need for me to stick to SMF while having the front page turn into blog.  Hopefully let me see how things work out when I install those mods. Thanks

NHWD

when I try the first code for the main blog page, I get this error
QuoteParse error: syntax error, unexpected T_CLASS, expecting ',' or ';' in /home/sftestgb/public_html/rfg/f/Sources/Load.php(2200) : eval()'d code(20) : eval()'d code on line 37

what do you think it is?

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