CF Greasemonkey Themes

[mep916]

For years, many of us have complained of the look and the layout of the forum. Eventually the site will upgrade to vB4 and, by design, that update will change the look, but in the meantime, we'd like to explore more options via browser plug-ins or anything that allows the end user choice and full customization, without making any changes on the back end.

In this thread, I'd like users to discuss and offer skins they recommend, where to get them, how to install, customize, etc. Moreover, though, if you have a background in CSS and/or javascript and would like to build some skins specific to CF, that would be AWESOME!

Apparently you can use Greasemonkey and/or stylist to create the code, or you can download templates. I'm not familiar with coding and only briefly researched before creating this thread, so if I'm missing anything please post your ideas, thoughts, suggestions, etc. Again, we're only looking for skins that can be created and/or implemented by the end user, nothing in the form of vB plug-ins, for example.

Hope all that makes sense. Basically, we want simple skin solutions that work with the forum in a browser add-on/plug-in format. If they exist, post em up. If they don't and you know how to create them, please do.

 

[Machin3]

+1 on this thread, been waiting for this for like 3 years .

But anyways, I think you really have two options for this:
1.) You can just create a new skin to replace this skin.
-or-
2.) I know VB has an option that allows you to pick and modify their own skins.

Oh, and one more thing to mention, i've seen this on other forums, there can also be an option where the user scrolls to the bottom and there is a drop down menu with like 5 different styles and the user can choose which ever they want.

 

[mihir]

If I get coding sometime, will try to make something awesome, and also get Kesava's lazy ass into some designing.He has been complaining about the site look for soo loong.

 

[linkin]

The only thing I'd like to see is a fixed-width/centred theme of cofo.

 

[massahwahl]

Long due for an update! Cant wait to see the new design!

 

[mep916]

+1 on this thread, been waiting for this for like 3 years .

But anyways, I think you really have two options for this:
1.) You can just create a new skin to replace this skin.
-or-
2.) I know VB has an option that allows you to pick and modify their own skins.

Oh, and one more thing to mention, i've seen this on other forums, there can also be an option where the user scrolls to the bottom and there is a drop down menu with like 5 different styles and the user can choose which ever they want.

Again, for the purposes of this thread, we're not discussing anything in the form of vB plug-ins. I'd like to see if we can accomplish this in the form of browser plug-ins. What you've mentioned is true, and perhaps one day we'll make some of these options available.

Our goal is to give everyone the opportunity to collaborate on different designs and share them with each other. Browser plug-ins allow for more customization and creativity than what's built into the vB stuff.

If I get coding sometime, will try to make something awesome, and also get Kesava's lazy ass into some designing.He has been complaining about the site look for soo loong.

Plenty of people have complained of the look. On the flip side, many users are happy with it. For those of you that don't like it, if you want to take the time to browse through some templates or learn how to write these scripts, you can find a theme you're happy with and share it with everyone else! That's the idea here anyway.

 

[NyxCharon]

I've themed some stuff with greasemonkey before. I'll mess around with it for this if I get the chance.

Just a fyi, my themes will probably be dark, minimlast ones, if i actually make any.

 

[salvage-this]

I've themed some stuff with greasemonkey before. I'll mess around with it for this if I get the chance.

Just a fyi, my themes will probably be dark, minimlast ones, if i actually make any.

+1 That is what I like about the current theme. Does not get in the way. Not too flashy. Easy to look at for a while. Too many forums are hard on the eyes.

 

[Troncoso]

I definitely think we need a new modern theme, not necessarily more colorful or flashy though

edit: And I just realized in 9 posts that no one has come up with an idea

 

[mep916]

I've been told by cromewell that we may be limited to changes in only color and fonts, due to the way things are coded in the vB software. Still, that's fine. We need sheets that work in both FF on Chrome. I'm not really concerned with IE tbh.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

I have a vB3 license that I can play with some styles and let you check them out, if you'd like? There's a million free styles available, but there's next to no consistency between any of them, if say you wanted to have a light style similar to this, and a dark style for those with light sensitive eyes. If I get a chance today, I'll play around with some in a test forum on my laptop, otherwise I definitely can tomorrow.

 

[mep916]

I have a vB3 license that I can play with some styles and let you check them out, if you'd like? There's a million free styles available, but there's next to no consistency between any of them, if say you wanted to have a light style similar to this, and a dark style for those with light sensitive eyes. If I get a chance today, I'll play around with some in a test forum on my laptop, otherwise I definitely can tomorrow.

Right now I'm only interested in scripts that can be installed using a browser plug-in, like what I've outlined in my OP. If that's what you have in mind, that's great, go for it. Otherwise don't bother. ian has a license and access to all that.

The goal of this thread is to avoid forum wide changes that will affect all users. I'd just like to see a few examples posted and go from there. If I have time today, I'll try to produce one myself.

 

[Geoff]

Not related, but you should implement an Android app for CF.

 

[mep916]

Not related, but you should implement an Android app for CF.

we might install tapatalk and/or forumrunner at some point

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Right now I'm only interested in scripts that can be installed using a browser plug-in, like what I've outlined in my OP. If that's what you have in mind, that's great, go for it. Otherwise don't bother. ian has a license and access to all that.

The goal of this thread is to avoid forum wide changes that will affect all users. I'd just like to see a few examples posted and go from there. If I have time today, I'll try to produce one myself.

The beauty of having multiple skins is that they could choose which skins they wanted to use, or it could also be limited by usergroup (vBulletin.org mod). I'm not really sure how to accomplish a change like that otherwise. It's well beyond my abilities.

 

[Motorcharge]

I've been told by cromewell that we may be limited to changes in only color and fonts, due to the way things are coded in the vB software. Still, that's fine. We need sheets that work in both FF on Chrome. I'm not really concerned with IE tbh.

You're only limited if whoever is in charge doesn't feel like individually editing each theme with consistent images and the like.

I can understand not changing the default for everyone, but frankly I've never understood why any forum limits everyone to the default as the only option. Who care's what other people use on their end?

Frankly I hate light forum themes, I can't stand stand anything that's not a black or dark grey background with white font. Just personal preference. Not to keep complaining, but it is sort of annoying how stubborn this site is against updating and changing. The community here is great and why I keep coming back, but the site itself feels like it's stuck in 1998. I remember signing up and almost not coming back because I thought it was an old, dead site. I know it's Ian's forum, and I respect that and try not to complain unless the topic is already being discussed.

 

[jonnyp11]

i'm fine with the look but i agree that options would be nice, although motor's emo/goth themes may be a little too much which considering i would like those more i can't say much. it is a very old and bland styling atm.

 

[Motorcharge]

i'm finw with the look but i agree that options would be nice, although motors emo/goth themes may be a little too much which considering i would like those more i can't say much

It's neither, I've just always prefered darker themes. Staring at a bright screen hurts my eyes, esp if I dont have a light on in the room, even on non-CRT screens. I just don't get the point in limiting people from having a color scheme that suites them on their end. It's certainly not limited to this site.

If someone want's hot pink text on a purple background, who cares if it's on their end? I certainly understand not having it as the default though.

 

[jonnyp11]

you'd think their'd be a simple app or something for this stuff since so many people use this layout, then it would just change the values on the bits of coding for the colors, doesn't sound like a hard task really, but i'm sure there's more to it than that.

 

[Motorcharge]

There are tons of themes already that can be installed, it's simply a matter of installing them and allowing permissions for users to change them from the control panel.

Only issue, and it's kinda minor since it only effects user end, is that things like the banner, images, ect have to be customized for each theme.

For example, this image would have to be set for each individual theme if you couldn't set it via an image set.