Advice: Modifying php concerning overall template width

Odysseus

Hi,

I just found this place and hope it will help me with my goal of teaching myself php script. I haven't worked with any script before and so far modifying script following "recipes" of others has been rather fun.

Now here's my question:

Basically, what sort of time and amount of script am I looking at modifying when I want to modify a template to default to the size the user's browser is set for?

i.e.

A computer at 600x800 has a great view of the webpage without having to scroll the screen from left to right to view all the content.

LIKEWISE, a comp set for 1024X700 has the EXACT same view without any left to right scrolling.

So, if using software like phpbb2 or even PNphpbb2 how many different files do I need to change in order to allow a better view? Not really needing exact info, just an idea if it is something I could tackle as a newbie or if I should just hold out for later.

Second Question
One of my forums is a PostNuke page with a module of PNphpbb2. As you can see from the link, the POSTNUKE template is set for MUCH smaller width than the PNphpbb2 module. How hard would it be to modify my script so that the POST NUKE template would FILL the viewable web space and not quit 2/3rds across the way?

Here's a link for what I am wanting:

http://www.cougarblue.com

Appreciate any response. Even if it is to say, that this is a step I should take when I become better at modifying php. Thank you!

Pig

It would be one or two page for each script. Most scripts have one page that controls the layout of the page, allowing themes, and what not.

That is the good news. The bad news, is that they are nearly all written in OOP, which is more complicated for beginners, yet easier to use for advanced coders. When open up the template page, it mostly likely will make no sense to you. I would not tackle this until you have a basic understanding of OOP, and can understand what the script is doing, so you can follow along and see where the script set's up the page.

Another challenge you will face is getting the javascript variable from to the PHP coding. Once you have the width, you can use javascript to pass it to the query string, and then have a portion of php code look for the query string, and set a session or cookie var based on that resolution.

Odysseus

Originally posted by Pig
Another challenge you will face is getting the javascript variable from to the PHP coding. Once you have the width, you can use javascript to pass it to the query string, and then have a portion of php code look for the query string, and set a session or cookie var based on that resolution.

Thanks for your response. I was believing that only one page or so would need the modification, but never thought it would have been written in another code. OOP, eh? Haven't run across that one yet. Would they really use OOP in the middle of a PHP file?

The above quote was the only paragraph that didn't connect with my knowledge. What exactly do you mean? Which javascript am I going to change to PHP? Are you referring to creating the code that would allow a screen to default to the size settings a certain user's monitor is set for? i.e. 600x800 or 1024x700 screen settings?

On that note, it looks like I have a little while before I attempt to change the size of my forum to be modified to user screen settings. I appreciate VERY much your help in the matter and I will look into OOP and simply wait until I gain a better education on the matter.

Thanks again. 😃

Pig

OOP stands for Object Oriented Programming. Many languages support OOP, including PHP. It is not a different language, but a different way of coding within PHP.

Regarding the quoted paragraph, PHP has no way of knowing the screen size. You would have to use javascript to pass that info to the php script.

Odysseus

Originally posted by Pig
OOP stands for Object Oriented Programming. Many languages support OOP, including PHP. It is not a different language, but a different way of coding within PHP.

Regarding the quoted paragraph, PHP has no way of knowing the screen size. You would have to use javascript to pass that info to the php script.

Ok. I see. Thank you for that information. I'll get started then with PHP and work my into more.

😃