Hi,

I had two styles installed before I started adding hacks to my board and this obviously meant double work as far as template editing is concerned. (an edit for each style's template).

What I would like to know is how can I install new styles now that I have a few (a lot) of hacks installed without having to reinstall each hack for each new style I add?

Is this even possible? Or does it basically mean each new style added will not contain the hacks until I add them? Can't it "import" the template modifications from my other edited styles somehow, saving me having to do it all over again each time?

If you have 20 styles, and installed a new hack, (assuming the hack only required one template edit) you would need to edit 20 templates, right?
Imagine the hack requires 10 template edits, and you have 20 styles <gasp>!

How does one do this (the right way?)

-snake

if you find an answer to this let me know

I guess this is me bumping my topic up. I hope someone can answer this for me (us)..

-snake

you can do it as A) MASTER TEMPLATE or B) Parent templates or C) the old fashioned hard way :p

Okay, I'm sorry, but I have NO idea what you mean

Could you please spell it out for me?

The only way I understand that you mentioned is the old fashioned hard way, and I'd like to avoid doing that at all costs!

-snake

In includes/config.php add this line, right on top of the other lines that look similar to this:
And then go to edit templates and make the template edits in the master style and they will reflect on all templates.

Keep in mind:
The reason the master template system is hidden by default, for the most part, is to keep the original templates for when you need to revert and such. However, if you'd like for the updated template with the hack edits to be the original template, editing the master templates will not hurt. However, keep in mind that making it an original template will make it so that when you upgrade, the template gets overwritten, as oppose to having it as a custom template. When you have a custom template and you upgrade it won't overwrite it, it may just give you a message (if that template needs to be changed for the upgraded vbulletin).


Your other option is to do this:
Pick one style as your "parent" style (preferably the one with the least custom templates). Then whenever you add a style, go to that style and click the drop down in the admincp styles area, and click "add child style". When you add a child style and edit the "parent", all edits will reflect to the child style (unless the template in the child style is already customized, then you'll have to revert it).

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THat was incredibly informative, than you! I get the general concept and it makes a lot of sense. I just have another question or two:

I have the default vb skin (obviously) and one additional skin. I would now like to add more skins now without having to re-hack all skins. Now that I have used your suggestion to un-hide the master templates, how can I get all the edits already made to my existing skins to be reflected in the master?

Once all my hacks are reflected in the master, would I be able to add new skins and have all the hacks already there?

This would make life MUCH easier. The only thing stopping me from adding more styles/skins is having to re-add all my hacks for EACH ONE. If I can get around that time-consuming task, it would be great.

-snake

i wouldn't change the master

when you import the new skin there should be a box which will allow you to choose a parent style, use your current main skin as the parent, and then your done.