How can I integrate my guestbook into an existing site?

Hi there,

I've just got the guestbook working on my site (actually, it's a pre-installed script from my hosting company

) but I want to integrate the guestbook so it looks like it's one of the site's main pages - have my links at the top, same footer etc.

Is there an easy way to do this? I'm guesing you just copy and paste bits of code.

I'm new to all this, so be gentle!

Thanks

Jon

Three options.

1 - Change the header and footer files in templtes to reflect your sites design.

2 - Edit the header and footer files so they only contain a space then use your own header and footer files.

3 - As above except you then place <?php include('path/to/guestbook/index.php') ; ?>in the page where you want the guestbook to be. This page must end with the php extension and is not tested.

Sorry, call me REALLY daft, but I don't understand!

I guess what I'm asking is this:

Is there a way to copy and paste the guestbook code, into an existing html file that uses the same template as the rest of this site? I don't have header and footer files

No is the answer to your question. You would have to transplant your html code in the header.php and footer.php files found in templates.

Carbonize, there are pages out there that do it that way. It's just that you would have to perform the integration for every page you wanted like that, whereas your method with the header and footer makes it appear on all pages. See: www.afrovoices.com/guestbook/index.php. The header appears on the guestbook index page but not the addentry page because the Admin wanted it that way.

Some of my own pages were done that way before you showed up and taught us the easy way.

Yes part of the upgrades I am working on will include making it easier for site integration, at some point anyway.

That's exactly what I want - is there an easy way of doing this? My web design skills really are at a minimum! I've had a look at the code, but can't work out what he's done...

Thanks

dunno if this will help,
on my guestbook:
http://flynnsbeefarm.co.uk/GuestBook/index.php

I just changed the colours in the style settings to match then exchanged the gbook gif with my own banner gif

gbook gif is

open templates/body.php then look for

<img src="$GB_PG[base_url]/img/gbook.gif" width="140" height="15">

not perfect - but easy to do

jonathanhubbard wrote:That's exactly what I want - is there an easy way of doing this? My web design skills really are at a minimum! I've had a look at the code, but can't work out what he's done...

Thanks

Carbonize's way is the easy way, because once you do it, it's done for all guestbook pages:

Include your header, by Carbonize:
http://proxy2.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3460

In that thread JTD mentions some samples you can download. Perhaps they are still there and you should try that.

The way the page at http://www.afrovoices.com was done is:

Make a backup copy of guestbook/index.php

Take a copy of the existing home page (or other site page) and save it as guestbook/index2.php

Leave the header, menu and footer but delete the page's other contents

Copy all the code from the original guestbook/index.php file and paste it in the guestbook/index2.php file where the deleted contents were.

View guestbook/index2.php in your browser to see if it works. If it does, rename it to guestbook/index.php.

You have to repeat the same procedure for every guestbook page you want the header, menu, footer to appear on.

That's the hard way, but perhaps less technical sounding.

Amber, you are wonderful!!!! Unfortunately for me, the "easy" way was not the easy way. LOL Your instructions on the more "difficult" way were wonderful. Now my guestbook and review book look just the way I want them to (the index page was the only page I really cared how it looks).

Here's a link for anyone who wants to see the final product:

http://datalorefiction.net/guestbook/index.php

BTW, if anyone decides to check out the rest of the site, I want to warn you. Yes it is a fan fiction website (that's not what I'm warning you about

). Most of the fan fiction has a NC17 rating however there are no graphic images on the site - just graphic words.

There is a middle ground. Copy all the code you want to appear before the guestbook into header.php, remembering to keep the css and javascript there. And do the same for all the code after putting it into footer.php.

Sorry amber222 but the downloads i had are now gone.

Takara wrote:Amber, you are wonderful!!!! Unfortunately for me, the "easy" way was not the easy way. LOL Your instructions on the more "difficult" way were wonderful. Now my guestbook and review book look just the way I want them to (the index page was the only page I really cared how it looks).

Here's a link for anyone who wants to see the final product:

http://datalorefiction.net/guestbook/index.php

BTW, if anyone decides to check out the rest of the site, I want to warn you. Yes it is a fan fiction website (that's not what I'm warning you about ). Most of the fan fiction has a NC17 rating however there are no graphic images on the site - just graphic words.

Thanks, Takara. I am glad you found the information useful.

I visited your site.

Data is my favorite from TNG.

JTD wrote:Sorry amber222 but the downloads i had are now gone.

I made a new template file. I just need to upload it but like many things it is on the TODO list along with uploading the third gender mod. I intend to make a page where people can download files on how to modify the Advanced Guestbook to various ends such as Email Encryption, Third gender, Email as required field, Remove private message option, Increase input sizes, change the variable names, add Yahoo & MSN fields etc etc. Any othre modifications you can think of?

amber222 wrote:

jonathanhubbard wrote:That's exactly what I want - is there an easy way of doing this? My web design skills really are at a minimum! I've had a look at the code, but can't work out what he's done...

Thanks

Carbonize's way is the easy way, because once you do it, it's done for all guestbook pages:

Include your header, by Carbonize:
http://proxy2.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3460

In that thread JTD mentions some samples you can download. Perhaps they are still there and you should try that.

The way the page at http://www.afrovoices.com was done is:

Make a backup copy of guestbook/index.php

Take a copy of the existing home page (or other site page) and save it as guestbook/index2.php

Leave the header, menu and footer but delete the page's other contents

Copy all the code from the original guestbook/index.php file and paste it in the guestbook/index2.php file where the deleted contents were.

View guestbook/index2.php in your browser to see if it works. If it does, rename it to guestbook/index.php.

You have to repeat the same procedure for every guestbook page you want the header, menu, footer to appear on.

That's the hard way, but perhaps less technical sounding.

Hi Amber. I tried this and all I end up with is a lot of code between the <body> tags. I must be doing something wrong.

This is the site I'm trying to work on www.vickiwillingham.com. I uploaded all the guestbook files to the surver is that the right thing to do? I haven't touched on this side of things yet and need help!

If you are able to offer your expert advice it would be appreciated.

Thank you.