Front Page Modification Help

[Zetan]

edit:  Actually I do not see a TPortal.template.php with this theme.

If a Custom file isn't included with the theme, then it will use the default theme files.. always.

• Use some simple SSI to do something similar, SSI News for example?

This would be the best stop-gap measure, but I don't have a clue how to accomplish it.

Here is a simple code that I use in several PHP blocks/articles on my home page. Each one features news from a particular board. There are scripts that will pull news from several boards. These simply use an array.

Code Select Expand


ssi_boardNews($board = 27.0, $limit = 4, $start = null, $length = 300, $output_method = 'echo');


• board = board ID number, found by hovering over the board title, the ID is displayed in the notification area of your browser.
  
• limit = number of topics to pull
  
• length = character count, ie; 300 letters
  
  You can have a look through the Block Code Snippets board where you can probably find snippets that will have more control than the above. It works well enough for me.

[clickbouyow]

What type of block do I use for SSI?  I select SSI Function and I get a list of preset functions.  If I select NONE, then nothing appears in the box.

Edit:  Got it!  PHPBlock works.

Thanks for your help!

[clickbouyow]

Almost....almost.  The block works fine on the front page, but now it is showing in every article, even though I have not checked the box for it to show in visibility settings.  In fact, there is no front page option in the article visibility settings.

[Zetan]

You'll need to play with the options. I have no idea how you have it all set up.
i'm now on my Blackberry... I'll try to look in on this when I get home.

[clickbouyow]

Well, I can't find any option that turns off the SSI in articles.  It seems to have attached itself to every article.  ZTN, I can give you admin access if you think it would help.  I'm completely stumped.

[Zetan]

PM me.. I don't have long though.

[clickbouyow]

Done.  And Thanks!

these are the block settings:

[clickbouyow]

If I select "Do not use SMF Templates" it turns off the news in every article.

[clickbouyow]

I figured it out.  I changed it from a Frontpage Block to a Lower Block and now it works.  Apparently, with Alienation_tp 1.1, front page blocks are shown in all articles.  this is probably something Bloc should address.

[Zetan]

I don't think this has anything at all to do with Alienation.

The code I posted will work in a php block or single article.. It should have no affect from any theme.
I have 1 News Front block and 2 single articles on my home page, I did also have 2 Reviews blocks which featured just the topic titles, authors and dates in the left panel. These have now been replaced with Dragooons Reviews Snippets from his Reviews module.

All of which worked fine in any theme.. bearing in mind my home page is set...

I have mine set to: Featured article and front page blocks

This topic has now moved away from Alienation and I've moved it to Support instead.
I hope this helps.. If you need to continue with any Alienation problems, please start a new topic in the Alienation board