Guide to the New Forum Layout.

[Chris!]

Welcome to the Guide to the New Forum Layout!

Foreword:

The recent forum upgrade has changed the forum layout around quite drastically due to new themes and the obvious version update, which has added or updated features built into vBulletin. Here I will try to explain what things are and what they are used for.

Please note: Pictures in this guide are on the theme 'Metro - Fixed', so certain buttons and features may look different.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Sections of the Forum
   • The Landing Page
   • The Board Index
   • The Navigation Bar
   • The Posts
3. New Features
   • User Tagging
   • Anchors
   • Notifications
   • Bug Issue System
   • Embedded IRC chat
   • Simba Tag Update
4. Themes
5. Author's Notes

Introduction:

Hello SRL. This guide is for people who are dumbfounded by the new look of the forum so that they can understand the forum well enough to use it effectively.

Sections of the Forum:

The Landing Page:

Implemented with the new update, this landing page will appear when you go to http://www.villavu.com.



On this page, there are three buttons:

• The SRL Repository (https://github.com/SRL/SRL-5)
• Forums (http://villavu.com/forum)
• The Simba website (http://www.wizzup.org/simba/)

You can avoid the page by going straight to the forum URL instead of just villavu.com.

The Board Index:

So you've just come to the forum and been presented with a very different layout of the site you knew so well. You will see large blue buttons in the Navigation Bar (See: The Navigation Bar) and the boards you are very familiar with.



At the bottom of the board index, you will see a list of the currently active users, users active in the past 24 hours, the ranks, birthdays and forums statistics.



Don't worry, above that you will see the stats you are so used to seeing!



The Navigation Bar:
Metro:



Default:



You are presented with five beautiful big buttons:

• FAQ (http://villavu.com/forum/faq.php). This is the FAQ supplied with vBulletin packages. This is NOT the FAQ's posted by members of the community.
• Forum (http://villavu.com/forum). This is the forum...
• Bugs (http://villavu.com/forum/project.php). This is the new issue submission system. Works kind of like a ticket system, but users can see issues submitted (unless set to private by the poster).
• Chat (http://villavu.com/forum/chat_irc.php). This is the SRL IRC chat.
• Donate (http://villavu.com/forum/misc.php?do=donate). This is the SRL donation page.

Seven intriguing hyperlinks:

• What's new? (http://villavu.com/forum/activity.php). This is the activity stream. You will find recent posts here.
• iSpy (http://villavu.com/forum/vaispy.php). New posts pop up on this page so you don't have to keep reloading!
• New Posts (http://villavu.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1624). View new posts since your last visit to the forum.
• Private Messages (http://villavu.com/forum/private.php). View your private messages or send some.
• Calendar (http://villavu.com/forum/calendar.php). View the calendar.
• Community
  • Groups (http://villavu.com/forum/group.php). View and/or join social groups.
  • Albums (http://villavu.com/forum/album.php). View and/or create new albums.
  • Friends and Contacts (http://villavu.com/forum/profile.php?do=buddylist). View your friend list.
  • Member List (http://villavu.com/forum/memberlist.php). Take a look at the list of all users registered.
• Quick Links
  • Today's Posts (http://villavu.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1626)
  • Subscribed Threads (http://villavu.com/forum/subscription.php)
  • Open Contacts Popup (http://villavu.com/forum/misc.php?do=buddylist&focus=1)
  • View Site Leaders (http://villavu.com/forum/showgroups.php)
  • Who's Online (http://villavu.com/forum/online.php)

Four useful account related links:

• Your Account (Insert your username here)
• Notifications (Click on this to view a dropdown box of your notifications)
• Settings (http://villavu.com/forum/usercp.php)
• Log Out (http://villavu.com/forum/login.php?do=logout)

And a search bar.

The Posts:

Posts looks quite different now, with features being moved around the display. Here is an example post:

Metro:



Here are what the different buttons mean:

• - This button is the reputation button. Use this button to add to a users reputation, or take from it if you are a member.
• - This button is the report a post button.
• - This button is the reply button. This replies to a thread without the use of quotes.
• - This button is the reply with quote button. This replies to a thread with a quote from another user on it.
• - This button is the multi-quote button. This allows you to select multiple messages to have quoted in a post.

Default:



Here are what the different buttons mean:

• - This button is the reputation button. Use this button to add to a users reputation, or take from it if you are a member.
• - This button is the report a post button.
• - This button is the reply button. This replies to a thread without the use of quotes.
• - This button is the reply with quote button. This replies to a thread with a quote from another user on it.
• - This button is the multi-quote button. This allows you to select multiple messages to have quoted in a post.

Satellite (NEW):



The layout changes quite drastically from the default and metro themes.

Here are what the different buttons mean:

• - This button is the reputation button. Use this button to add to a users reputation, or take from it if you are a member.
• - This button is the report a post button.
• - This button is the reply button. This replies to a thread without the use of quotes.
• - This button is the reply with quote button. This replies to a thread with a quote from another user on it.
• - This button is the multi-quote button. This allows you to select multiple messages to have quoted in a post.

The user bar at the top of each post has slightly changed. Here are the themes:

Metro:



As you can see, there is now no activity/longetivity bars. This is because the plugin has not been ported to vBulletin 4. But, now there is a mention system which effectively is a tagging system. The rest is basically the same, except for slight changes in the CSS and images (reputation bar).

Default:



Satellite (NEW):



New Features:

There are TONS of new features that have been added from the upgrade to vBulletin 4.

Some of these are:

• User Tagging
• Anchors
• Notifications
• Bug Issue System
• Embedded IRC chat

User Tagging:

User tagging, or mentioning a user in a post notifies them that you have tagged them and adds a mention to their statistics. Here's how to tag a user in a post:

Member+ Sections:

All you have to do in these sections is put @username where you want the name to appear.

Non-Member Sections:

In non-member sections, it takes abit more effort to taga user. This is so admins are not spammed with notifications so easily. So what you have to do is:

[mention=userID]Username[/mention]

You can get the user ID by going to the users profile and grabbing the number in the URL, for example: in http://villavu.com/forum/member.php?u=106722 grab 106722. It should turn out like so:

@Chris!

Anchors:

Anchors allow you to make it so when you click a word, it will take you to a different place in that post. Anchors are used a lot in this guide. Here's how to add an anchor to your posts :

]jumpto="example"]example[/jumpto]

]anchor="example"]example[/anchor]

Do NOT forget the "" around the word you're anchoring or jumping to. If you forget them or mess that part up it WILL NOT WORK.

It should turn out like this:

I'm jumping to example.

I am example.

Notifications:

The new notifications system allows users to instantly know if they have been quoted or PM'd (There are more things that give you a notification). At the top of the page you are viewing, you will see:



When you have a notification, you will have an orange circle with a number in it stating how many you have. If you click the number, you can see what notifications you have.

Bug Issue System:

Another new feature in the upgrade was the bug, or issue system. This is now the way to let the staff know if there is a bug that needs addressing. When you click the 'Bugs' button in the navigation bar, you will see this:



To submit an issue, go to Site Bugs/SRL 5/SRL 6 (whatever you're submitting a bug for) and click the 'Post New Issue' button:



Make sure you provide details, pictures and anything that can help identify the bug.

Embedded IRC chat:

Yep, that's right. No more third party programs to connect to the SRL IRC chat. All you have to do now is press the 'Chat' button in the navigation bar and you're set.

Update (20/01/13): In your About Me section on your profile, you can set an IRC Name. This is for if you use a different name on IRC than your forum username. Leave blank to use forum username.

Simba Tag Update:

You can now add line numbers to your SIMBA code tags! To do this, simply put:

[simba=true]yourcodehere[/simba]

program new;
 
  {$DEFINE SMART8}     //Add // before if using browser
 
  {$i SRL/srl.simba}
  {$i SRL/SRL/misc/SmartGraphics.simba}
 
  Const
 
  var
 
 
Procedure DeclarePlayers;
begin
  HowManyPlayers := 1;
  NumberOfPlayers(HowManyPlayers);
  CurrentPlayer := 0;
  Players[0].Name := '';        //Username
  Players[0].Pass := '';        //Password
  Players[0].Nick := '';        //Nickname
  Players[0].Pin := '';         //Bank Pin
  Players[0].Active:=True;
end;
 
begin
  SetupSRL;
  ActivateClient;
  DeclarePlayers;
  LoginPlayer;
end.

That's really useful for debugging!

[simba] or [simba=false] will be the same no line code.

Themes:

With the upgrade, we have 3 different themes available for use (Not including the mobile theme). These are:

• vB4 Default Style (http://villavu.com/forum/project.php?styleid=8)
• Metro - Fixed (http://villavu.com/forum/project.php?styleid=12)
• Metro - Fluid (http://villavu.com/forum/project.php?styleid=13)
• Satellite - Fluid (http://villavu.com/forum/project.php?styleid=15)
• Satellite - Fixed (http://villavu.com/forum/project.php?styleid=14)

The difference between Metro - Fixed and Metro - Fluid is fluid fills the screen and will flow to the confines of your browser by rewrapping paragraphs as the window is resized. This is the same with the Satellite theme.
Fixed looks more compact and does not change in size with the browser.

Author's Notes:

Thank you for reading this guide and I hope it helped you. If you find any grammatical issues in any part of this thread, PLEASE alert me too it! You can help make the guides better by doing this and suggesting this to add to the guide!

Back to Top

Thanks guys,

-Chris!

[YoHoJo]

Moved upon request, great job!

[Hobbit]

Very nice!

[Chris!]

Moved upon request, great job!

Thanks <3.

Very nice!

Thank you!

[Kyle Undefined]

Awesome job! Very well laid out

[Ian]

This is an amazing guide, it goes through pretty much everything you need to know. And beautifully formatted as usual. Perhaps this could be stickied somewhere? Rep+, great job as always Chris!

[Chris!]

Awesome job! Very well laid out

Why, thank you!

This is an amazing guide, it goes through pretty much everything you need to know. And beautifully formatted as usual. Perhaps this could be stickied somewhere? Rep+, great job as always Chris!

Thanks. Stickied you say? Aw shucks. c:

[Mr[S]]

I've got used to metro fluid now, I'm still a bit off put though about posting and stuff but now I found my beloved 'Mark forums as read' I can finally do it like the old days

[Chris!]

Haha. Once you get used to new themes and layouts it's easy to get back to your old routines.

[Benny]

Woah amazing guide. Lots of detail and explanation. Gratz

Repped.


How do you rep now ?

[grats]

Woah amazing guide. Lots of detail and explanation. Gratz

Repped.


How do you rep now ?

bottom left corner of their post, star thing

[J J]

bottom left corner of their post, star thing

Guess you are using another style, for me.
Good guide, talking about rep, you might want to add some information about that and when to give positive, when to give negative, etc. Maybe how rep power is calculated (joindate in years + posts/1000 + rep/100). As an example, if you have been here for 3 years, made 3500 posts and have 250 rep then you will give 3+3+2=8 rep.

You can now view your rep here: http://villavu.com/forum/usercp.php
And you can also view to who you gave rep and when. Might want to add something about rep boxes aswell, each 100 rep you get a green box and you start with one at 0 rep. So 100 rep = 2 boxes, 200 rep = 3, etc. Same for negative. -1 rep is 1 red box, -100 is 2 red boxes, etc. I'm not sure if that also changes your rep power.

Example: joindate is January 2013 (0 years), you made 250 posts (<1000 so 0 rep) and you have -100 rep. Using the formula you would give 0 + 0 -1 = -1 rep.. But I guess rep can only be >= 0. Who knows, there might be a mistake

Now that I was about to post this I saw Post Icons, might want to add something about that? And smilies? :P

[Chris!]

Good guide, talking about rep, you might want to add some information about that and when to give positive, when to give negative, etc. Maybe how rep power is calculated (joindate in years + posts/1000 + rep/100). As an example, if you have been here for 3 years, made 3500 posts and have 250 rep then you will give 3+3+2=8 rep.

You can now view your rep here: http://villavu.com/forum/usercp.php
And you can also view to who you gave rep and when. Might want to add something about rep boxes aswell, each 100 rep you get a green box and you start with one at 0 rep. So 100 rep = 2 boxes, 200 rep = 3, etc. Same for negative. -1 rep is 1 red box, -100 is 2 red boxes, etc. I'm not sure if that also changes your rep power.

Example: joindate is January 2013 (0 years), you made 250 posts (<1000 so 0 rep) and you have -100 rep. Using the formula you would give 0 + 0 -1 = -1 rep.. But I guess rep can only be >= 0. Who knows, there might be a mistake

Now that I was about to post this I saw Post Icons, might want to add something about that? And smilies? :P

I shall add this information to: The Ultimate Guide to Making a Superb Guide!. I don't believe that information belongs on this thread.

[Benny]

bottom left corner of their post, star thing

Guess you are using another style, for me.
Good guide, talking about rep, you might want to add some information about that and when to give positive, when to give negative, etc. Maybe how rep power is calculated (joindate in years + posts/1000 + rep/100). As an example, if you have been here for 3 years, made 3500 posts and have 250 rep then you will give 3+3+2=8 rep.

You can now view your rep here: http://villavu.com/forum/usercp.php
And you can also view to who you gave rep and when. Might want to add something about rep boxes aswell, each 100 rep you get a green box and you start with one at 0 rep. So 100 rep = 2 boxes, 200 rep = 3, etc. Same for negative. -1 rep is 1 red box, -100 is 2 red boxes, etc. I'm not sure if that also changes your rep power.

Example: joindate is January 2013 (0 years), you made 250 posts (<1000 so 0 rep) and you have -100 rep. Using the formula you would give 0 + 0 -1 = -1 rep.. But I guess rep can only be >= 0. Who knows, there might be a mistake

Now that I was about to post this I saw Post Icons, might want to add something about that? And smilies? :P

Thanks guys. It's just taking me a while to adapt! Thanks again!

[grats]

Guess you are using another style, for me.
Good guide, talking about rep, you might want to add some information about that and when to give positive, when to give negative, etc. Maybe how rep power is calculated (joindate in years + posts/1000 + rep/100). As an example, if you have been here for 3 years, made 3500 posts and have 250 rep then you will give 3+3+2=8 rep.

You can now view your rep here: http://villavu.com/forum/usercp.php
And you can also view to who you gave rep and when. Might want to add something about rep boxes aswell, each 100 rep you get a green box and you start with one at 0 rep. So 100 rep = 2 boxes, 200 rep = 3, etc. Same for negative. -1 rep is 1 red box, -100 is 2 red boxes, etc. I'm not sure if that also changes your rep power.

Example: joindate is January 2013 (0 years), you made 250 posts (<1000 so 0 rep) and you have -100 rep. Using the formula you would give 0 + 0 -1 = -1 rep.. But I guess rep can only be >= 0. Who knows, there might be a mistake

Now that I was about to post this I saw Post Icons, might want to add something about that? And smilies? :P

I'm on whatever default is!

[Silentcore]

@Chris! Great Job on this guide. Is there a way we can see our Rep like we used to see it before. Like when you clicked on User CP and the recent Reps were under Fractions.

[The Killer]

@Chris! Great Job on this guide. Is there a way we can see our Rep like we used to see it before. Like when you clicked on User CP and the recent Reps were under Fractions.

Yeah click on settings (right up the top of villavu.)

[Tickyy]

is this normal???

[Hobbit]

Thats the default theme. He wrote the tutorial using the Metro theme. (Change using the drop box at bottom left of page)

[Mr[S]]

Thats the default theme. He wrote the tutorial using the Metro theme. (Change using the drop box at bottom left of page)

+ You might need to go into your account settings and change it through there, I found that my theme always changed back to default after I logged out until I changed it from the settings

[Chris!]

To expand the guide, I might show pictures with the Default theme aswell as the Metro theme.

[chongc]

Hehehe the read/unread icon changed.

[Chris!]

What do you mean, chongc?

[Zyt3x]

I love this! Great job!

[Chris!]

I love this! Great job!

Thanks Zyt3x!