Creating a forum within a website

Firstly you should never ask for help urgently, secondly it's the weekend so response times are greatly reduced.

Your question is a little open ended and slightly large in scope.

What exactly is the problem placing the forum files in a sub-directory off your root folder and linking to it from your index page?

Hi. Sorry about that. Well, I would rather like to have the forum contained within my website page (even if it has to be the external forum because I don't know how to create a forum myself) than linking to an external page. The forum that I am creating is done through phpbbserver.com

Why would you want a forum contained within a page :? you can do this with blogs where your main index page calls up something like your most recent blog entries and I guess the same could be done with forum topics but you would still want to navigate at some point to the forum itself wouldn't you?

If that forum software you link to is run on someone else's servers then it's not a good choice why don't you look at something like http://www.simplemachines.org/ and integrate that into your site, shouldn't be too difficult and there will be support forums to help you out.

Hi Hugo. Thanks I went and created a forum at simplemachines. Was wondering if you know how to integrate the forum so that I can still see my menu buttons and header around the forum? They seem to be a bit slow with answering to posts and I always get quick answers here.

Hi Hugo. Just thought I'd send you the html for my forum index page. I'd like to create the main menu of my site around the forum or somewhere so ppl can navigate but I'm not sure where to add it. Could you perhaps help?

<?php /********************************************************************************** * index.php * *********************************************************************************** * SMF: Simple Machines Forum * * Open-Source Project Inspired by Zef Hemel ([email protected]) * * =============================================================================== * * Software Version: SMF 1.1.4 * * Software by: Simple Machines (http://www.simplemachines.org) * * Copyright 2006-2007 by: Simple Machines LLC (http://www.simplemachines.org) * * 2001-2006 by: Lewis Media (http://www.lewismedia.com) * * Support, News, Updates at: http://www.simplemachines.org * *********************************************************************************** * This program is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under * * the terms of the provided license as published by Simple Machines LLC. * * * * This program is distributed in the hope that it is and will be useful, but * * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES; without even any implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY * * or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. * * * * See the "license.txt" file for details of the Simple Machines license. * * The latest version can always be found at http://www.simplemachines.org. * **********************************************************************************/

/* This, as you have probably guessed, is the crux on which SMF functions.
Everything should start here, so all the setup and security is done
properly. The most interesting part of this file is the action array in
the smf_main() function. It is formatted as so:

'action-in-url' => array('Source-File.php', 'FunctionToCall'),

Then, you can access the FunctionToCall() function from Source-File.php
with the URL index.php?action=action-in-url. Relatively simple, no?
*/

$forum_version = 'SMF 1.1.4';

// Get everything started up...
define('SMF', 1);
@set_magic_quotes_runtime(0);
error_reporting(E_ALL);
$time_start = microtime();

// Load the settings...
require_once(dirname(__FILE__) . '/Settings.php');

// And important includes.
require_once($sourcedir . '/QueryString.php');
require_once($sourcedir . '/Subs.php');
require_once($sourcedir . '/Errors.php');
require_once($sourcedir . '/Load.php');
require_once($sourcedir . '/Security.php');

// Using an old version of PHP?
if (@version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '4.2.3') != 1)
require_once($sourcedir . '/Subs-Compat.php');

// If $maintenance is set specifically to 2, then we're upgrading or something.
if (!empty($maintenance) && $maintenance == 2)
db_fatal_error();

// Connect to the MySQL database.
if (empty($db_persist))
$db_connection = @mysql_connect($db_server, $db_user, $db_passwd);
else
$db_connection = @mysql_pconnect($db_server, $db_user, $db_passwd);

// Show an error if the connection couldn't be made.
if (!$db_connection || [email protected]_select_db($db_name, $db_connection))
db_fatal_error();

// Load the settings from the settings table, and perform operations like optimizing.
reloadSettings();
// Clean the request variables, add slashes, etc.
cleanRequest();
$context = array();

// Determine if this is using WAP, WAP2, or imode. Technically, we should check that wap comes before application/xhtml or text/html, but this doesn't work in practice as much as it should.
if (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_ACCEPT']) && strpos($_SERVER['HTTP_ACCEPT'], 'application/vnd.wap.xhtml+xml') !== false)
$_REQUEST['wap2'] = 1;
elseif (isset($_SERVER['HTTP_ACCEPT']) && strpos($_SERVER['HTTP_ACCEPT'], 'text/vnd.wap.wml') !== false)
{
if (strpos($_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'], 'DoCoMo/') !== false || strpos($_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'], 'portalmmm/') !== false)
$_REQUEST['imode'] = 1;
else
$_REQUEST['wap'] = 1;
}

if (!defined('WIRELESS'))
define('WIRELESS', isset($_REQUEST['wap']) || isset($_REQUEST['wap2']) || isset($_REQUEST['imode']));

// Some settings and headers are different for wireless protocols.
if (WIRELESS)
{
define('WIRELESS_PROTOCOL', isset($_REQUEST['wap']) ? 'wap' : (isset($_REQUEST['wap2']) ? 'wap2' : (isset($_REQUEST['imode']) ? 'imode' : '')));

// Some cellphones can't handle output compression...
$modSettings['enableCompressedOutput'] = '0';
// !!! Do we want these hard coded?
$modSettings['defaultMaxMessages'] = 5;
$modSettings['defaultMaxTopics'] = 9;

// Wireless protocol header.
if (WIRELESS_PROTOCOL == 'wap')
header('Content-Type: text/vnd.wap.wml');
}

// Check if compressed output is enabled, supported, and not already being done.
if (!empty($modSettings['enableCompressedOutput']) && !headers_sent() && ob_get_length() == 0)
{
// If zlib is being used, turn off output compression.
if (@ini_get('zlib.output_compression') == '1' || @ini_get('output_handler') == 'ob_gzhandler' || @version_compare(PHP_VERSION, '4.2.0') == -1)
$modSettings['enableCompressedOutput'] = '0';
else
ob_start('ob_gzhandler');
}
// This makes it so headers can be sent!
if (empty($modSettings['enableCompressedOutput']))
ob_start();

// Register an error handler.
set_error_handler('error_handler');

// Start the session. (assuming it hasn't already been.)
loadSession();

// What function shall we execute? (done like this for memory's sake.)
call_user_func(smf_main());

// Call obExit specially; we're coming from the main area ;).
obExit(null, null, true);

// The main controlling function.
function smf_main()
{
global $modSettings, $settings, $user_info, $board, $topic, $maintenance, $sourcedir;

// Special case: session keep-alive.
if (isset($_GET['action']) && $_GET['action'] == 'keepalive')
die;

// Load the user's cookie (or set as guest) and load their settings.
loadUserSettings();

// Load the current board's information.
loadBoard();

// Load the current theme. (note that ?theme=1 will also work, may be used for guest theming.)
loadTheme();

// Check if the user should be disallowed access.
is_not_banned();

// Load the current user's permissions.
loadPermissions();

// Do some logging, unless this is an attachment, avatar, theme option or XML feed.
if (empty($_REQUEST['action']) || !in_array($_REQUEST['action'], array('dlattach', 'jsoption', '.xml')))
{
// Log this user as online.
writeLog();

// Track forum statistics and hits...?
if (!empty($modSettings['hitStats']))
trackStats(array('hits' => '+'));
}

// Is the forum in maintenance mode? (doesn't apply to administrators.)
if (!empty($maintenance) && !allowedTo('admin_forum'))
{
// You can only login.... otherwise, you're getting the "maintenance mode" display.
if (isset($_REQUEST['action']) && ($_REQUEST['action'] == 'login2' || $_REQUEST['action'] == 'logout'))
{
require_once($sourcedir . '/LogInOut.php');
return $_REQUEST['action'] == 'login2' ? 'Login2' : 'Logout';
}
// Don't even try it, sonny.
else
{
require_once($sourcedir . '/Subs-Auth.php');
return 'InMaintenance';
}
}
// If guest access is off, a guest can only do one of the very few following actions.
elseif (empty($modSettings['allow_guestAccess']) && $user_info['is_guest'] && (!isset($_REQUEST['action']) || !in_array($_REQUEST['action'], array('login', 'login2', 'register', 'register2', 'reminder', 'activate', 'smstats', 'help', '.xml', 'verificationcode'))))
{
require_once($sourcedir . '/Subs-Auth.php');
return 'KickGuest';
}
elseif (empty($_REQUEST['action']))
{
// Action and board are both empty... BoardIndex!
if (empty($board) && empty($topic))
{
require_once($sourcedir . '/BoardIndex.php');
return 'BoardIndex';
}
// Topic is empty, and action is empty.... MessageIndex!
elseif (empty($topic))
{
require_once($sourcedir . '/MessageIndex.php');
return 'MessageIndex';
}
// Board is not empty... topic is not empty... action is empty.. Display!
else
{
require_once($sourcedir . '/Display.php');
return 'Display';
}
}

// Here's the monstrous $_REQUEST['action'] array - $_REQUEST['action'] => array($file, $function).
$actionArray = array(
'activate' => array('Register.php', 'Activate'),
'admin' => array('Admin.php', 'Admin'),
'announce' => array('Post.php', 'AnnounceTopic'),
'ban' => array('ManageBans.php', 'Ban'),
'boardrecount' => array('Admin.php', 'AdminBoardRecount'),
'buddy' => array('Subs-Members.php', 'BuddyListToggle'),
'calendar' => array('Calendar.php', 'CalendarMain'),
'cleanperms' => array('Admin.php', 'CleanupPermissions'),
'collapse' => array('Subs-Boards.php', 'CollapseCategory'),
'convertentities' => array('Admin.php', 'ConvertEntities'),
'convertutf8' => array('Admin.php', 'ConvertUtf8'),
'coppa' => array('Register.php', 'CoppaForm'),
'deletemsg' => array('RemoveTopic.php', 'DeleteMessage'),
'detailedversion' => array('Admin.php', 'VersionDetail'),
'display' => array('Display.php', 'Display'),
'dlattach' => array('Display.php', 'Download'),
'dumpdb' => array('DumpDatabase.php', 'DumpDatabase2'),
'editpoll' => array('Poll.php', 'EditPoll'),
'editpoll2' => array('Poll.php', 'EditPoll2'),
'featuresettings' => array('ModSettings.php', 'ModifyFeatureSettings'),
'featuresettings2' => array('ModSettings.php', 'ModifyFeatureSettings2'),
'findmember' => array('Subs-Auth.php', 'JSMembers'),
'help' => array('Help.php', 'ShowHelp'),
'helpadmin' => array('Help.php', 'ShowAdminHelp'),
'im' => array('PersonalMessage.php', 'MessageMain'),
'jsoption' => array('Themes.php', 'SetJavaScript'),
'jsmodify' => array('Post.php', 'JavaScriptModify'),
'lock' => array('LockTopic.php', 'LockTopic'),
'lockVoting' => array('Poll.php', 'LockVoting'),
'login' => array('LogInOut.php', 'Login'),
'login2' => array('LogInOut.php', 'Login2'),
'logout' => array('LogInOut.php', 'Logout'),
'maintain' => array('Admin.php', 'Maintenance'),
'manageattachments' => array('ManageAttachments.php', 'ManageAttachments'),
'manageboards' => array('ManageBoards.php', 'ManageBoards'),
'managecalendar' => array('ManageCalendar.php', 'ManageCalendar'),
'managesearch' => array('ManageSearch.php', 'ManageSearch'),
'markasread' => array('Subs-Boards.php', 'MarkRead'),
'membergroups' => array('ManageMembergroups.php', 'ModifyMembergroups'),
'mergetopics' => array('SplitTopics.php', 'MergeTopics'),
'mlist' => array('Memberlist.php', 'Memberlist'),
'modifycat' => array('ManageBoards.php', 'ModifyCat'),
'modifykarma' => array('Karma.php', 'ModifyKarma'),
'modlog' => array('Modlog.php', 'ViewModlog'),
'movetopic' => array('MoveTopic.php', 'MoveTopic'),
'movetopic2' => array('MoveTopic.php', 'MoveTopic2'),
'news' => array('ManageNews.php', 'ManageNews'),
'notify' => array('Notify.php', 'Notify'),
'notifyboard' => array('Notify.php', 'BoardNotify'),
'optimizetables' => array('Admin.php', 'OptimizeTables'),
'packageget' => array('PackageGet.php', 'PackageGet'),
'packages' => array('Packages.php', 'Packages'),
'permissions' => array('ManagePermissions.php', 'ModifyPermissions'),
'pgdownload' => array('PackageGet.php', 'PackageGet'),
'pm' => array('PersonalMessage.php', 'MessageMain'),
'post' => array('Post.php', 'Post'),
'post2' => array('Post.php', 'Post2'),
'postsettings' => array('ManagePosts.php', 'ManagePostSettings'),
'printpage' => array('Printpage.php', 'PrintTopic'),
'profile' => array('Profile.php', 'ModifyProfile'),
'profile2' => array('Profile.php', 'ModifyProfile2'),
'quotefast' => array('Post.php', 'QuoteFast'),
'quickmod' => array('Subs-Boards.php', 'QuickModeration'),
'quickmod2' => array('Subs-Boards.php', 'QuickModeration2'),
'recent' => array('Recent.php', 'RecentPosts'),
'regcenter' => array('ManageRegistration.php', 'RegCenter'),
'register' => array('Register.php', 'Register'),
'register2' => array('Register.php', 'Register2'),
'reminder' => array('Reminder.php', 'RemindMe'),
'removetopic2' => array('RemoveTopic.php', 'RemoveTopic2'),
'removeoldtopics2' => array('RemoveTopic.php', 'RemoveOldTopics2'),
'removepoll' => array('Poll.php', 'RemovePoll'),
'repairboards' => array('RepairBoards.php', 'RepairBoards'),
'reporttm' => array('SendTopic.php', 'ReportToModerator'),
'reports' => array('Reports.php', 'ReportsMain'),
'requestmembers' => array('Subs-Auth.php', 'RequestMembers'),
'search' => array('Search.php', 'PlushSearch1'),
'search2' => array('Search.php', 'PlushSearch2'),
'sendtopic' => array('SendTopic.php', 'SendTopic'),
'serversettings' => array('ManageServer.php', 'ModifySettings'),
'serversettings2' => array('ManageServer.php', 'ModifySettings2'),
'smileys' => array('ManageSmileys.php', 'ManageSmileys'),
'smstats' => array('Stats.php', 'SMStats'),
'spellcheck' => array('Subs-Post.php', 'SpellCheck'),
'splittopics' => array('SplitTopics.php', 'SplitTopics'),
'stats' => array('Stats.php', 'DisplayStats'),
'sticky' => array('LockTopic.php', 'Sticky'),
'theme' => array('Themes.php', 'ThemesMain'),
'trackip' => array('Profile.php', 'trackIP'),
'about:mozilla' => array('Karma.php', 'BookOfUnknown'),
'about:unknown' => array('Karma.php', 'BookOfUnknown'),
'unread' => array('Recent.php', 'UnreadTopics'),
'unreadreplies' => array('Recent.php', 'UnreadTopics'),
'viewErrorLog' => array('ManageErrors.php', 'ViewErrorLog'),
'viewmembers' => array('ManageMembers.php', 'ViewMembers'),
'viewprofile' => array('Profile.php', 'ModifyProfile'),
'verificationcode' => array('Register.php', 'VerificationCode'),
'vote' => array('Poll.php', 'Vote'),
'viewquery' => array('ViewQuery.php', 'ViewQuery'),
'who' => array('Who.php', 'Who'),
'.xml' => array('News.php', 'ShowXmlFeed'),
);

// Get the function and file to include - if it's not there, do the board index.
if (!isset($_REQUEST['action']) || !isset($actionArray[$_REQUEST['action']]))
{
// Catch the action with the theme?
if (!empty($settings['catch_action']))
{
require_once($sourcedir . '/Themes.php');
return 'WrapAction';
}

// Fall through to the board index then...
require_once($sourcedir . '/BoardIndex.php');
return 'BoardIndex';
}

// Otherwise, it was set - so let's go to that action.
require_once($sourcedir . '/' . $actionArray[$_REQUEST['action']][0]);
return $actionArray[$_REQUEST['action']][1];
}

?>

Unfortunately, you haven't shown a single piece of html. Try parsing it first.

Hi. How do you mean parse it? I just copied the text directly from the forum index page.

taliets - I answered your question a week ago in the other thread you started on the same subject, so why are you keeping this thread going and why did you start two?

If you don't understand what unparsed code is, I would suggest that what you are trying to achieve is a little bit beyond your knowledge at this time. That said, if you do some research on the SMF website - as I suggested - you'll no doubt find all the specific information and help you need to improve your skills with this task.