Support Forum
Support Forum
Offline
I have not been having many problems with this forum in the past, however, I have encountered an issue that currently has me stumped and I would like some help in the matter. It is a css issue, however, it is somehow rooted in my theme settings. I am using the latest FlexSqueeze template which allows me to modify the template files of each page. I currently need simple press to run on a page which is NOT my default page template. The default template includes dual sidebars, however, I need the forum to be bigger, on a page with only left side bars.
I am using the iForum theme for simple press, due to the fact that there was a display problem behind the "post topic" window in the default theme in which there was a white area being displayed on the top and bottom borders of the frame when I used colored overlays. This was an issue for me, because I did not want to use a solid white container color. If anyone knows the solution to this issue via css edits, I would appreciate it. (I tried changing the page background color to mirror the color of the forum, but to no avail. There was still a small white box on the top and bottom of the add topic window. A bit disappointing when it occurred. I had not tried overlays in the past, but now I need to use them without css bugs if possible.
But I digress,
The main problem is this, the (iForum) forum displays wonderfully when using the default page template, but it does not display properly on the page template with only the left side bar. The problem lies in the fact that the css/java script for the #postcontent box is not loading properly to fully encompass the expanding #spEditor box of the forum. Everything else works fine within the forum and I do not know enough about the inner coding of the php files to correct the problem manually. It seems to be a php issue within my wordpress theme, since I have not been able to correct the problem via css editing. And like I said, the forum works fine using my default page template which is more integrated with my theme I believe... However, I need to make other page templates as integrated with simple press (As is my default page template) in order to continue using it. So, please, experts, take a look at the attached screenshot below if anything is unclear about my description of this problem, its all right there.
Also, there is one other thing to mention that I forgot to mention... The problem only occurs on pages that are extensions of the main forum page... i.e. http://www.domainname.com/foru.....forum-page. The forum displays fine on the homepage of the forum... but when I access the sub forums within the installation, thats when the display problem comes up. There is some coding which is not loading properly from my theme settings to the ENTIRE permalink structure of my simple press forums... And I can't figure out how to fix it.
I would really appreciate any expert advice on this matter, seeing as this is one of the only problems left to be resolved on my nearly completed website. Thanks in advance... If I manage to solve the problem before anyone posts a solution, I will post it here, however, I have been unable to do so up until this point and would appreciate any feedback on the matter.
Regards,
JDM
John 3:16
Offline
If you mean you want the editor to go full-width then that is not the way that theme is currently set up to display - it is displaying as designed.
If you would like to switch it back to the default theme then we should be able to sort out the 'white' areas easily enough but we will need a link to your forum page. We can take a look at the other issue at the same time.
 |
YELLOW
SWORDFISH
|
Offline
I was hoping that there was some way to make the post wrap expand with the topic editor on the sub forums like it does on my default page template. It expands fine on the homepage of the forum, but not on the sub forums... on sub forums it expands about an inch and then stops, leaving the above display hidden behind the topic editor. And if it works fine using my default page template, then the problem is in the coding of either the forum or the individual page template for my theme.
Also, the site is currently down for construction. I can not allow any access to it at this time. Sorry... Here is a picture of the second problem I described:
Thank you for your support on the matter. As you can see, the css issue is taking place within the forum display... I tried changing the background of the page post wrap itself, but there was no change to the issue. Somewhere there is a css command for a white background, and I have not tried to find it yet. The way the forum incorporates php for color settings is rather confusing for manual edits. I am not as familiar with php as I am with css. Is there a standard css file anywhere within the forum files? I have been unable to find it thus far. The css element in which the background problem is taking place is in the .sppostform section.
John 3:16
Offline
Update: Fixed the CSS issue of the white borders around the topic window. Went into the default.php file and found the correct line to edit. I figured thats where the CSS comments were, I just never got around to digging through it. I will probably just end up using the default template now that I got that issue solved... unless there is some way to correct the first issue I brought up. The iForum template is pretty slick, just annoying how it doesn't expand to my content like I expected. I am happy that I figured out how to edit the default template though. It's slick as well. 🙂
And rest assured, once the site is done, I will post the links to the forum just so you and everyone else who supports the forum will be able to see yet another example of how this software has been put to go use.
John 3:16
Offline
What was the CSS change you made please? It would be useful to know. Remember - As always we recommend that you create your own SP theme so that any customisation is not lost during a future update. (http://codex.simple-press.com/.....g-a-theme/)
As to the first issue I have not seen any problem with my test sites and am having difficulty visualising quite what you mean. Perhaps when you are up and running you could switch to that theme and let me come over and take a look...?
|
YELLOW
SWORDFISH
|
Offline
Yeah sure, here's the line I pinpointed in the theme's default.php css file... This change was actually relatively easy to make. I am finding however, that subsequent changes to the layout are rather difficult to make post installation. I did notice that in the raw files, there's a more readable css file. I'm assuming that during the installation process all these css settings are converted to php encoding in order to more closely sync up with individual theme installations? That's what I figured anyway... Makes editing the layout anything but intuitive, but I suppose setting up a forum to certain specifications isn't really supposed to be.
Anyway, to fix the white border thing, this is what I did...
Looked up this line in the default.php theme style on line 652. Its the parent element for spPostForm.
652. background: <?php echo($mainBackGround); ?>;
to
652. background: #EBE1C8;
Basically just changed the <?php echo ?> to the exact number instead of the php command. In this case, it was the color for the Brown-Creme theme overlay. Worked simply enough... Like I said though, modifying additional aspects of the layout is more difficult. I've made significant progress though. Definitely glad I purchased the upgrade after seeing all the plugins you guys made for this forum too. I had no idea how many were out there. You should advertise them so people have more incentive to purchase the memberships.
*If you read my original post, it has been modified and I apologize for the error. This is the correct line and I just tested it.
John 3:16
Offline
Also, on line 1494 you will find the settings for the add topic form. The settings were not properly set on my theme and I had to add a line to correct another css error.
#spMainContainer textarea.spControl,
#spMainContainer select.spControl,
#spMainContainer input.spControl {
1494. resize: vertical;
If anyone else has problems with the post content box expanding beyond the limits of the post wrapper settings, that's how you fix it. Pretty simple css edit I suppose. I have a little experience on these matters at this point me thinks. Lol. 🙂
John 3:16
Offline
If I notice any other easy modifications to the theme I will post them here. Also, if I ever figure out how whats causing my initial problem, I will post the solution to that as well. I did end up going with the default theme. I did end up having extensive difficulties trying to constrain all my proportions in the forum to roughly 600px or so... So I ended up freeing one sidebar in order to accommodate the default settings. I managed to get it pretty small, but certain proportions were linked to eachother in the css so it it became a domino affect when trying to correct one margin here and one padding there... Perhaps someone can come out with a micro version of the forum? That would be sweet! hah. I'd spend more time on it and do it myself, but I really have other things to accomplish right now. Thanks again for a great forum plugin.
John 3:16
Offline
yeah, 600px is extremely narrow... you could remove the images from all the buttons - that would free up some space...
or try the stacked theme where the user info is displayed above the post content vs on the side...
did you make your own theme before the changes as pointed out by Andy in post 5?? otherwise your changes will get overwritten if you update the core theme...
Visit Cruise Talk Central and Mr Papa's World
Offline
Thanks for the response. I did not create my own theme yet, as I have had to work on other aspects of the site, however, I will either have to do that, or annotate all my changes for future upgrades. Considering it operates well as of right now with only 2 css edits, I will probably just annotate my changes and redo them once an update comes up. I am pretty used to tweaking wordpress plugins at this point.
I'll give the stacked theme a try. I never really thought of it. I appreciate the suggestion. It would still be cool to have it operate seamlessly at a smaller width, simply because it would be more accommodating to the layout of my site. However, most forums are simply built to have that extra girth on the hips it seems. 🙂
I'll let ya know. And if I decide to markup my own theme, I'll give you guys a holler... It seemed a bit daunting when I skimmed over the article that Swordfish posted in all honesty. Would just take time me thinks.
John 3:16
All RSS1 Guest(s)