How to make explanatory text on the registration page?

[User2]

Hello, how do I make an explanatory text on the registration page?
How do I make an explanatory text for the User name item? I want visitors to assign the specified names, not any.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

I think the best way would be to define your additional help text first, by creating a custom text string in modifications.english.php (and any other languages you use),
then edit /Themes/Default/Register.template.php to echo that text string within the form itself.

[User2]

I'm just a user, I'm not a web programmer. I do not know where and what changes to make.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Well, a custom text string is easy, would be something like this and you can just add it to the modifications.*.php files

Code Select Expand



$txt['register_customhelptext'] = 'This here is the text that will be shown';



Then an echo inside a template would look something like this

Code Select Expand



echo '<p>', $txt['register_customhelptext'], '</p>';


But these are just an example - currently I don't have 2.0 code at hand, so I can't give you an exact solution. If you wait a bit, I'm sure someone else can.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

You can just add text to the username field label.

index.yourlanguage.php

Code Select Expand



$txt['username'] = 'Username - blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah';



Text will wrap in the available space.

[Kindred]

No. bad idea. Don't do that

Add a NEW text field, do not modify the existing ones

[Sir Osis of Liver]

  It's not a bad idea, it's simple and works fine as long as it's not too wordy.

[User2]

Kindred, how to add a textbox? Is there a MOD for this task?

[Illori]

It's not a bad idea, it's simple and works fine as long as it's not too wordy.

if that text string is used anywhere else, then it is a bad idea as that string will now show the edit as well.

Kindred, how to add a textbox? Is there a MOD for this task?

a text box to do what exactly?

[User2]

Illori, the first post contains a question.

[Kindred]

Lex explained how to add the text as a string.
That is the right way to do it.

[User2]

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen, which files need to be changed? I didn't get it from your post.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

To create the custom text:

a custom text string in modifications.english.php (and any other languages you use),

To place it in the register -page, this you may need to experiment with a bit, so keep backups of what you edit.

then edit /Themes/Default/Register.template.php to echo that text string within the form itself.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

if that text string is used anywhere else, then it is a bad idea as that string will now show the edit as well.

Yes, you're correct, it is used elsewhere.  Still think it would be easier to create new $txt['username_reg'] and replace original in Register.template.php, then you don't have to format a new field into the page.

[User2]

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen, which folder is this file in: modifications.english.php?

[Steve]

Themes -> Default -> Languages

[User2]

Steve, where to write this text:?
echo '<p>', $txt['register_customhelptext'], '</p>';

I understand that this needs to be written to the "Register.template.php" file. Where to insert the text?
There are several functions in this file. Need to insert text inside an existing function or what?

[Steve]

This isn't my area of expertise so I'm going to have to defer to someone who knows coding.

[User2]

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen, where to write this text:?
echo '<p>', $txt['register_customhelptext'], '</p>';

I understand that this needs to be written to the "Register.template.php" file. Where to insert the text?
There are several functions in this file. Need to insert text inside an existing function or what?

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

You can try this.

First add the new text string:

Code (FIND in /Themes/default/languages/Modifications.english.php) Select Expand


?>


Code (ADD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, as a new line) Select Expand


$txt['register_customhelptext'] = 'This here is the text that will be shown';


Then add the code to show it right below the Username field:

Code (FIND in /Themes/default/Register.template.php) Select Expand


<span id="smf_autov_username_div" style="display: none;">
<a id="smf_autov_username_link" href="#">
<img id="smf_autov_username_img" src="', $settings['images_url'], '/icons/field_check.gif" alt="*" />
</a>


Code (ADD IMMEDIATELY AFTER, as a new line) Select Expand


<p>', $txt['register_customhelptext'], '</p>


[Sir Osis of Liver]

Still think it would be easier to create new $txt['username_reg'] and replace original in Register.template.php, then you don't have to format a new field into the page.

   

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

You are right that it would be slightly easier, and it would probably work just as well, but my example is also a good example of how things work in general, and trying it might even be educational as a byproduct.
Support isn't always about making things easy

[Sir Osis of Liver]

No, but it's sometimes preferable to provide a workable solution that doesn't cause OP to 

[User2]

Sir Osis of Liver, what solution do you suggest? I am not a web programmer, I simply cannot implement your idea. I need detailed instructions: in which file, where in the file, what changes to make.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Sir Osis of Liver, what solution do you suggest? I am not a web programmer, I simply cannot implement your idea. I need detailed instructions: in which file, where in the file, what changes to make.

It's not much different than my example really, basically

First add the new text string:

Code (FIND in /Themes/default/languages/Modifications.english.php) Select Expand


?>


Code (ADD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, as a new line) Select Expand


$txt['register_customhelptext'] = 'This here is the text that will be shown';


Then add the code to show it right instead of "Username":

Code (FIND in /Themes/default/Register.template.php) Select Expand


$txt['username']


Code (REPLACE with) Select Expand


$txt['register_customhelptext']


This will replace the "Username:" part with whatever you want.

[User2]

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen, is it difficult to do from above (as in the first post)? To be in front of the user's eyes.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Now that I think about it, no. Just as easy as below.


First add the new text string:

Code (FIND in /Themes/default/languages/Modifications.english.php) Select Expand


?>


Code (ADD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE, as a new line) Select Expand


$txt['register_customhelptext'] = 'This here is the text that will be shown';


Then add the code to show it right above the Username field:

Code (FIND in /Themes/default/Register.template.php) Select Expand


<dt><strong><label for="smf_autov_username">', $txt['username'], ':</label></strong></dt>
<dd>


Code (ADD IMMEDIATELY BELOW, as a new line) Select Expand


<p>', $txt['register_customhelptext'], '</p>


[User2]

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen, I write Russian text to the file "Modifications.russian-utf8.php" or "Modifications.english.php" and the registration page becomes empty.
That is, the Russian language is not supported.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Do the edits work if you don't use cyrillics? Just to rule out some other issues first. What editor are you using to edit the files?
Oh, also you should probably edit Modifications.english-utf8.php if you are using UTF8.

[User2]

Yes, all the solutions you suggested work. I want to use the latter solution when the explanations are above the field.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Okay, so the edits work - but changing the text in the language files in to cyrillics breaks something?
What editor are you using the make the changes?

[User2]

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen, yes, the problem was created by the program I was using. I used a rare, unknown program "AkelPad", it is very convenient compared to the usual Notepad.
Then I made the changes using regular Notepad and the problem was not with the Cyrillic alphabet.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

I highly recommend Notepad++

[User2]

I use Notepad++ for some tasks. And for everyday use, I use the program like a regular notepad AkelPad.
There is a lot of excess in Notepad++ and it is a more complex program for normal use.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Yes, but for .php files especially it is pretty good - and it allows you to make sure the text is saved in the right encoding and format.

[User2]

Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen, at first glance, it turned out to do what I wanted. Thank you.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

You are welcome