Style Installation into vBulletin

Installing a style into vBulletin , i feel every one can do it .
If you are able to install the software , add plug ins and do minor custom things there is no reason to pay for such a simple thing .

That is unless you have no time : 10 minutes , and if you refer to these instructions every step of the way , 10 as it takes time to read and look at the pictures for a reference .

Will refer to our styles as you would get them , most any style that is free or bought all will be installed pretty much the same , have maby a few slight differences depending on your installation setup and plug ins, external programs .

What you will need to install a style is a program that will unZip or open the archive into its files in its directories - unarchived .
Windows has a built in one where clicking on the file will open it and make the directories and separate the files, or are programs thru out the internet that are free or freeware or you may buy one .

An ftp - file transfer protocol - program to upLoad the files to your server . The web hosts cPanel or control panel that are installed may not do the entire transfer of a directory with files , the time needed to make each directory and then up load the files 1 to 6 at a time ? - plan on being there a whyle .

10 to 15 minutes.

Unarchived and upLoad

Unarchived the files onto your hard drive , make sure that you know where they are or will be when you are finished .

They may be uPloaded to the website from here or moved into what ever the directory that your vBulletin install is in , we use the root or public_html here , and are using the PewterP style .

harddrive-unzip.jpg harddrive-moved.jpg

If you move them make sure to use the directory with all of the other directories as they include the files needed . We as do most others will include Psds' and maby fonts .
Do Not upload the xml file , this is the file that contains the style properties in a format that vBulletin understands .

Open your FTP program and set it up so that you can upLoad into the vBulletin root directory . The directory for the files we use must be there or the style will not be able to find them . If you need them in another location you will need to change the file paths after you have uPloaded the style file .
Image files are uploaded in 'binary' format , or they will look wrong - funny if they display at all . Most FTP programs set in auto know what to do .

- top half of the image is before - bottom half of the image is after -
ftp-files.jpg

With WSFTP pro (shown here) as do most FTP programs you can mark and upLoad the main directory , the program will make its' directory , the folders in it and then up load the files into them with out intervention .
Done upLoading the files .

Installing into vBulletin

Open the admin cp
-- left side look and find "Styles and templates , expand it
-- click on Download / uPload styles . This opens the window in vBulletin to install the style or xml file into the software itself .

admincp-open.jpg

In the main window there is a browse button in the bottom box , click on it and will give you this screen .

admincp-upload.jpg

-- In the choose file window locate the style file , xml that came with the style .
-- Open the file , click on it then open , some times it will do it all at once .
__ Should be in the window next to the browse button you clicked to open .

-- The 3 settings in the top part of the block can be left alone .
__ import the XML from the server (./install/vbulletin-style.xml )
__ Merge into Style - we need to make a new style , leave it at Create New Style ( un less you know what your doing )
__ Ignore style version - never do this unless you are sure of what can and will happen , parts of vBulletin itself might not work , the display of the style may be corrupted .

-- In the bottom settings of the block :
__ Title for uploaded style is blank - you can give it any name you wish after its uPloaded
__ Parent style is No Parent
__ Display order , Can be left as it is at 1 or changed - you can change its order later very easy
__ Allow user selection - No - can be set to Yes, but is always best to check it before letting your users see and use it .

-- When everything is set , click Import .

__vBulletin will upLoad the file from your hard drive to the server then install it for you . Depending on which style you are importing and the speed of your internet connection this could take a whyle as some of the style files are close to/ over 600k . The Speed of your server , it sometimes may take a few to import the style , have seen up to 45 seconds for this to happen - wait till its done or you will most likely have a corrupted style and need to re import it. vBulletin is pretty good at recovering and making thing happen right in such cases . How long -- after 5 minutes - something is very wrong with the server or ?? .
You will see the following screens as it progress after uploading :

admincp-importing.jpg admincp-rebuilddone.jpg

Click Done

Basic Settings

The first thing i want to do is "See it"

Click on its name and it will be there if everything went right .

usercp-optionsmenu.jpg

To rename the style or change it display order from the drop down use "Edit settings"
You can turn you style to active , On from here or from the interface by checking the styles block and then Saving the display order .

I use to thought it was hard, but then i found out it was pretty easy to do..