Thread

Example URL: http://tinyurl.com/c4qqwo

Hi,

I am installing and using the Forum module for the first time. I want to use it inside an existing template, so it sits inside the existing shell of the site. I have followed the necessary instructions to do this, but when I load up the page (see URL above)  I notice that there are lots of conflicting style issues.  I assume the forum theme has its own set of CSS that is overriding the standard CSS for this page.

What is the best way to retain my existing site style (the shell), drop a forum into a template but have it retain its own theme, whilst leaving my existing styles alone?

I am quite happy to use the “Shares” theme as a starting point - but as you can see at the URL provided above, it is not displaying as it should.

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum, but feel free to move it anywhere more appropriate.

Moving to HowTo by Moderator

Instead of using the Shares theme as a starting point, use the Minimalist Forum Theme instead.

That’s what it’s designed for.

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum, but feel free to move it anywhere more appropriate.

We may eventually move it to HTML and CSS, but not quite yet. 😊

Thanks very much Sue. I will give it a go and see how I fare. 😊

Just let us know how it goes. 😊

Having an extremely frustrating time! Managing to change the look and feel of the theme a little bit by altering the theme’s css, but how do I get access to the actual HTML of each section… for example, when I view the source code I have an h1 tag in the top bar that is appearing on every page. I want to get rid of that, but do not know where to find the HTML for the top bar… and other forum pages, etc.

I thought it would be easier than this… I just wanted a very simple standard theme where I could change the colour scheme slightly. It didn’t occur to me that my existing site styles would conflict with the forum theme styles… (I should have realised this I suppose!).

Perhaps if this was moved over to How-To I might get some gurus who have modified the forum module successfully in the past!

Modifying theme files can be challenging. Moving to HowTo.

Thanks Sue, really hoping someone can chip in, and point me in the right direction.

Just an update on this… I have started to use the Minimalist theme as a starting point, as suggested and finding that I have a lot of styling to do… I have managed to get it so it doesn’t look broken at least, but a long way to go I reckon, considering there are so many different page templates I need to style!

Not sure there is much for anyone to help me with now that I realise that you cant just drop in an existing theme and expect the styling to remain intact - unless I have gone about this the complete wrong way of course! (ideas and suggestins welcome!).

Anyway, just wondered how long on average you think it should take to style up a full forum theme - I can envisage this taking me days and days to complete..

angstman,

I had tried this approach only once, and just like you’ve discovered, it quickly becomes an exercise in patience. You not only have to find where the styles are conflicting, but you have to dive in and out of the many templates in the forum to find what you need. Not ideal.

I’m glad that you’re using the approach that you are now. I switched modes and left all of the styling up to the forum, and incorporated images and formatting from my site to aesthetically tie both the forum and the main site together. I would suggest running the forum natively, and not worry about placing it in a template, if at all possible. Use the stylesheet of the forum to your advantage. Take a look at my forum by clicking on that link down there in my sig. Also, when it comes to the HTML in the forum, let me know what your looking for. I can find it for you. It generally only takes me a few hours to skin up a forum using Firefox/Firebug, Control + F, and two open tabs.

-James