4.     Download / Upload Styles

There are two methods of importing a style, uploading the .xml file to the admincp folder or selecting the file from the hard drive, each will have the same outcome. I recommend selecting the file from hard drive.

Step 1)
Select the location of the file (will be a .xml document), either on your hard drive on in the admincp.

Step 2)
Select if you wish to overwrite an existing style or if you would like to create a new style using this.

Step 3)
Select if you would like to ignore style version, I would only recommend doing this if the style is made for something along the same lines, not importing a vB3 RC4 style onto Beta7 or Gamma.

Step 4)
  If overwriting style or keeping settings as stated in .xml document for new style then click import, other wise fill in the details for the new style (title, parent style, display order and if a user can select it) although these can be changed at a later point.

Exporting a file is just as simple.

Step 1)
Select the style you wish to download from the drop-down selection box.

Step 2)
Choose a title for the style

Step 3)
Choose a filename for the style, anything will work as long as it ends in .xml

Step 4)
Select whether you want only the styles own customizations or the customizations of the parent style as well. I recommend using the parent styles customizations as well if the style is a child otherwise it may not look correct.

Step 5)
Select Download and save it to your hard drive

On-line manual and more detailed information about the Download / Upload Styles group can be found on vBulletin.com's vB3 Manual > Download / Upload Styles > (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/style_files)

> Downloading a Style
  > Uploading a Style

When you share your .xml files- don't forget to include your images! They are not in the database, but in the web server!

5.     Find Updated Templates

The final group that we will go through is almost as important as any of the others. I use this at least once each time I upgrade my vBulletin. I revert what requires to get reverted and re-apply my customizations to the templates again. Don't ignore this feature for it can help debug errors that occur after upgrading from one version to another. Keeping your templates up to date is important to avoid problems with loading pages or scripts.

The page that loads will show which templates from which style are changed. You can choose to edit them or revert to original. A great way to see what requires attention.

On-line manual and more detailed information about the Find Updated Templates group can be found on vBulletin.com's vB3 Manual > Find Updated Templates. (http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/style_findupdates)

Well, that is about it, I hope it gives some insight on how we experienced this important section from the Admin Control Panel and shows you where to look for what - with additional resources you can use on-line to improve your skills to let the forum work for you!
   

Copyright ©2004-2005 Disjunto & Floris http://www.vBulletin-Fans.com/ (The vBulletin Fan Web Site)