phpBB from tables to css

Tony the forum owner manually slogged his way through the files, I don't think there's a guide to it just a matter of rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in. Tony may have some further suggestions.

Hugo.

Thats what I thought, I spent a few hours googling for some way to do it with a guide because I know almost nothing about CSS

There is a fellow that replaced all the tables and released a theme called phpBBlite.

Check here

the problem i see with this lite version is support and updates...
what happens when new versions of phpBB come out ? and if we have questions, who could we turn to ?

but again, i'm new to all this (css, design, php and mysql...) (yes, i know, i'm pretty much new to everything... so i tend to get scared easily)

the best would be to get the css templates to the real phpBB package, don't you think ?

Why not just go to the forum at the link I just posted. The latest version (v1118) was released on November 17, 2005.

Have at it. Do they offer css templates?

Hi Triumph
you're right, they don't offer css templates...

i was just hoping to get templates from this forum, written almost all in css if i'm correct, then it would seem easier to customize my own templates.

i just have to dig more into the programming part... sorry, i'm a newbie

i was just hoping to get templates from this forum, written almost all in css if i'm correct, then it would seem easier to customize my own templates.

i just have to dig more into the programming part... sorry, i'm a newbieYes, I understand.

I was just giving you another option, take it or leave it, doesn't matter.

If you modify the original phpbb theme you will not only have to modify the .tpl (template) files but also some includes (including bbcode.php and many others).

Starting from here or jupix will have most of the work done and then you'll just have to adjust the css files to taste.

Hey Triumph,
(keep in mind i'm a beginner)

i was just looking a phpBBlite and realized it is a set of css templates for the phpBB package. i thought it was a forum application on its own and that's why i was concerned with updates earlier...

so, correct me if i'm wrong, but phpBBlite is indeed just the css templates, right ? and i use them to replace the subsilver that phpBB comes with, right ?

in which case, it is exactly what i'm looking for... thanks for insisting !!!
(please can you confirm i'm correct in this assumption, or again, tell me if i'm wrong)

Sort of, drop the files in your "templates" folder and then sign into your admin panel and under "Styles admin" select the "add" link.

You will install it from there.

Don't replace the subSilver folder. This will work along side it. You can force all users to use the theme of your choice by setting your forum configuration (again in the admin panel). Set forum default style to phpBBlite and check the box that overrides users choice.

There are some additional styles in phpBBlite which you can switch to with firefox (under View -> Page Style) Or you can use the one you like by switching your <link> to use one of the optional css files in the phpBBlite folder (my favorite is elegant-yellowish). Of course I take it you plan to make you own.

Cool triumph
thanks a bunch.
i'll work on that all week and i'll let you know how i do.
Thanks again, you showed me the way to start.
Cheers

Hey triumph,
i just took a look at imaginekitty
i don't know if you are the one who implemented that site, but i enjoyed reading it... till the "but who reads this anyway"
makes me realize how much learning i need. i can't even get my admin panel to recognize the phpbblite templates...
oh well (sigh) back to work !

one more thing again Triumph...
(let me know if i start bugging you, i promise i'll be considerate)

i installed easyphp on my machine so i could test locally.
i am trying to setup the phpBBlite templates by following the instructions given here :
http://www.phpbb.com/kb/article.php?article_id=21
but when i go in the admin panel, under styles admin, nowhere do i find the option to switch to the phpBBlite set of templates.
do you have any idea what i'm doing wrong ?

(btw, to let you know, i also just posted a similar message into the phpBB forums)

ooops, never mind, i got it

Thank you. It is my personal site that I've had running since 2001. I think you're my first visitor.

i am beginning to fiddle with phpBBlite

i want to change the whole layout completely, like for instance having 2 categories next to each other instead of one under the other...

the way to start is to fiddle with tpl files, is that it, and modify the html code within ? or should i start looking somewhere else ?

i should not bother with the .cfg file for now, right ?

thanks

Hi lostnerd,
It sounds like you are on the right track.
Start by getting the structure right then style it.

Make sure you keep backup's.

Hey there.

I had a look at phpBBlite and it's certainly impressive. I like the simplicity of what was done with the templates and the layout. Sometimes simpler is better.

If you are curious, I have also been working on something similar, with the addition of Web Accessibility concerns, multiple style switcher, and accounting for the latest version of phpBB version 2.0.18.

Please feel free to check out the phpBB WASO.

And no disrepect to phpBBlite. That is some fine work as well

Regards,
cb

I just wanted a simple yes or no answer to this question. I know that PHPBB themes require tables, but I like div's. I can code it all myself, but don't want to start and end up finding out that it won't work. So will a theme work in PHPBB if it is using div's instead of tables in the .tpl files?

Thanks in advance