Joomla template question (re keeping SMF wrapped but showing full screen)

[Homer_J_S]

OK I have looked all over and I have found half my answer but looking for the other half. 

I am using the latest version of Joomla and SMF 1.1 RC2. I have modified the default Joomla template rhuk_solarflare_ii to where when I get rid of the left column the forum shifts over wonderfully. Now if anyone has any suggestions on what to change to get the Forum to fill up the right column also I would greatly appreciate it and yes I would like to keep the forum wrapped. Here is a link to my forum http://usccampus.com/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,30/ notice how the forum does not extend into the right column. I know this may not be the appropriate forum but this is really the last piece of the puzzle for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.       

[Kindred]

1- the solarflare template is absolutely horrible for trying to wrap the forum...
2- you'll have to modify your joomla template file (index.php) to make the right column remove itself when no modules are present.

[Homer_J_S]

Yeah I am beggining to realize I chose poorly but Im kinda in too deep at this point to change. 

Here is the code in my template for the right column

<?php
            if (mosCountModules('$right')>0){
            ?>
              <div id="right_outer">
                 <div id="right_inner">
                 <?php mosLoadModules ( 'right', -2 ); ?>
                 </div>
              </div>
            </td>
            <?php
                 }
                 ?>         

I have tried tweaking this a million times even tried creating a different template for the forums and taking out the right column and still no success. Any ideas on what I could try other than starting over with a brand new template.

[Kindred]

why is that </td> included within the if?

[Homer_J_S]

why is that </td> included within the if?

I have no idea, but when I take it out there is still no change. I am trying to learn PHP but I am still a noob. 

[Kindred]

well, since there are obviously tables being used, I suggets moving the start of the if statement to before the openning <td>

[Homer_J_S]

OK I have tried everything and unfortunately the template is winning the fight.

I am starting to look for a suitable template that I might could modify to get the look of the solorfare banner and menu at the top AND it also works properly for a SMF wrapped forum but so far I am not finding anything that comes close. 

Update -- I was able to play with the tables and expand the tables. I am still messing with the sizes of them but at least I am one step closer. 

The only problem I have left is the formatting of my SMF forum. If I look at the forum in unwrapped mode it is formatted perfectly. However when it is wrapped the button placement is off and no matter how wide I set my table widths in Joomla the SMF formatting (mainly the button placement) is still off.
Does anybody have any ideas?   

[Kindred]

what do you mean by button placement?   Looks fine to me (although you have the forum wider than the screen at that point, which does not look good... but the buttons look fine.)

[Homer_J_S]

yeah I am still playing around with the widths of the tables but the button placement I am talking about is the "main buttons"  (Home, Help, Search, Login, Register) should be centered. At least they are on the unwrapped version which looks better. And when you get into the categories the (Print, Mark as read, Notify, New Topic and New Poll buttons) Are in the center and in the unwrapped version they are Right justified which IMHO looks better and is easier to read. I know this is a small thing in the Grand Scheme of things but it just makes such a big difference. I have a feeling there is a setting in either the Joomla Template or SMF template that is not expanding the Forum 100% and its probably messing with the buttons but I can't find where that is.   

[Homer_J_S]

Well as you can see if you click on the link I gave above, I have given up on trying to make the default mambo template work. In my searches I did run accross a template that you (kindred) created in the past and I am modifying it now to fit the theme I had in mind. So thank you for all your input and for making that a free template. Besides I am starting to like that template better than the solarfare anyway.       

[Kindred]

be aware that the SMF version of that template was not designed for 1.1RC2...   there will be alot of errors if you try to use it for the new version of SMF.

Also, the code in the <head> section is NOT up-to-date either...   replace all the code in the head section with the new bridge code...

[Homer_J_S]

be aware that the SMF version of that template was not designed for 1.1RC2...   there will be alot of errors if you try to use it for the new version of SMF.

Also, the code in the <head> section is NOT up-to-date either...   replace all the code in the head section with the new bridge code...

I am only using the Joomla template. Do I need to change the bridge software for the Joomla template in the Index? 

[Kindred]

yes... replace all the bridge code in the joomla template index.php <head> section with the one from the 3.20 bridge readme (or the combined readme post)

One of these days, I will get around to updating that combo-theme...