Frequently Asked Questions

peregrine · November 2014

- 18 How do I change text formatting? e.g. BBCode, Markdown and Html

you can change it in /conf/config.php.

by changing the InputFormatter statement to ONE of the commonly used types below

$Configuration`['Garden']['InputFormatter'] = 'Markdown';

or

$Configuration`['Garden']['InputFormatter'] = 'Html';

or

$Configuration`['Garden']['InputFormatter'] = 'BBCode';

Note: if you change to a different InputFormatter in the config.php, it will only affect NEW posts.

if you want to change formatting for old posts, you need to change the value in the Format column in the Discussion and Comment tables

If you use Buttonbar plugin - your current InputFormatter will be reflected in a message in Post Box.

e.g. this shows Markdown

peregrine · November 2014

- 21 Help! I don't know css or how to change it.

you can change the css in the custom.css in the design folder of your theme.
you can add rules and change rules.

See theme guides and tutorials for vanilla

http://vanillaforums.org/docs/themequickstart
http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/19915/deploying-a-new-forum-and-adding-a-theme-for-everyone
http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/24813/how-to-go-about-editing-the-default-theme

if you make css changes and have problems seeing the changes working, maybe it is due to caching or cloudflare then try this link for info and turn off caching and cloudflare or use the cssedit plugin.

more info here on cssedit and a great theme tutorial:
http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/217104/#Comment_217104

CSS Tutorial sites

http://www.csstutorial.net/
http://www.htmldog.com/guides/css/beginner/
http://www.tizag.com/cssT/
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/css/

also see these links which will be very helpful after you reviewed some of the tutorial links above.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/04/07/css-specificity-and-inheritance/

http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS2/cascade.html

Development tools for CSS

Next stop learn how to use Firebug or some other web developer tools

you can google "firebug tutorial" or "inspecting css tools"

http://css-tricks.com/video-screencasts/15-introduction-to-firebug/
https://developer.chrome.com/devtools
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd565627(v=vs.85).aspx
https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/AppleApplications/Conceptual/Safari_Developer_Guide/Introduction/Introduction.html

peregrine · November 2014

- 22 How do I make pretty urls and how do I change .htaccess

.htaccess is a hidden file in the root of your vanilla forum folder.

this line #RewriteBase / should be changed in your .htaccess file

must be uncommented (i.e. remove the # ). The symbol # signifies a comment

and changed to reflect your folder

The original .htaccess from a vanilla install below:

    # Original
    # If you modify this file then change the above line to: # Modified
    <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    # Certain hosts may require the following line.
    # If vanilla is in a subfolder then you need to specify it after the /.
    # (ex. You put Vanilla in /forum so change the next line to: RewriteBase /forum)
    # RewriteBase /
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
    RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php\?p=$1 [QSA,L]
    </IfModule>

Changing:

so if your vanilla forum resides in folder /vanilla

the rewrite base line would be

RewriteBase /vanilla

and it would look like this with changes.

        # Modified
        # If you modify this file then change the above line to: # Modified
        <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
        RewriteEngine On
        # Certain hosts may require the following line.
        # If vanilla is in a subfolder then you need to specify it after the /.
        # (ex. You put Vanilla in /forum so change the next line to: RewriteBase /forum)
        RewriteBase /vanilla
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
        RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php\?p=$1 [QSA,L]
        </IfModule>

if you vanilla forum resides in folder /forum

the rewrite base line would be

RewriteBase /forum

and it would look like this

        # Modified
        # If you modify this file then change the above line to: # Modified
        <IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
        RewriteEngine On
        # Certain hosts may require the following line.
        # If vanilla is in a subfolder then you need to specify it after the /.
        # (ex. You put Vanilla in /forum so change the next line to: RewriteBase /forum)
        RewriteBase /forum
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
        RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php\?p=$1 [QSA,L]
        </IfModule>

ALSO

The config statement to conf/config.php needs to be added (or changed if it exists in config.php)

in conf/config.php change or add this line to:

$Configuration['Garden']['RewriteUrls'] = TRUE;

if you still have problems, your apache server may not be set up with rewrite.

then ask your host or change

so mod re-write enabled in apache.

a2enmod rewrite

you can verify your rewrite libraries with the

the version checker plugin (which contains phpinfo)

or create a phpinfo.php file with these lines in it and run from browser.

<?php

phpinfo();

http://php.net/manual/en/function.phpinfo.php

peregrine · December 2014

- 23 How do I change the maximum size for file uploads, pictures, etc ?

you can add a config statement (or modify it if it exists already) in /conf/config.php

e.g. config statement below would set a max size of 8 MB

$Configuration['Garden']['Upload']['MaxFileSize']= '8M';

However, there may be a limitation set via php.

you may need to alter php settings as well via php.ini

e.g.

upload_max_filesize = 8M

see links for more details:

http://php.net/upload-max-filesize

http://css-tricks.com/snippets/php/increase-maximum-php-upload-size/

the smallest setting from setting php or from the conf/config.php is the maximum allowed upload size.

i.e. if php shows upload_max_filesize = 2M and your config statement is $Configuration['Garden']['Upload']['MaxFileSize']= '8M'; You are still limited to max 2M.

- 24 How do alllow other file extensions allowable for upload? e.g. I want to allow uploads of mp4 files.

you can add a config statement (or modify it if it exists already) in /conf/config.php

$Configuration['Garden']['Upload']['AllowedFileExtensions']=array('txt','jpg','jpeg','gif','png','bmp','mp4');

anything in the array above is allowed you can add other file extensions to the array.

add any extensions you want to allow to the array.

e.g.

$Configuration['Garden']['Upload']['AllowedFileExtensions']=array('txt','jpg','jpeg','gif','png','bmp','mp4','pdf','doc','xls','ppt','docx','xlsx','log','rar','7z','wav','aiff','mov');

peregrine · December 2014

- 25 How can I stop spam (or at least reduce it) and report it? What about stopping Spam Applicants?

Well it depends ....

Depending on your needs a combination of the plugins below, may reduce the impact of spammers.

You can use "Report Spam" plugin, which lets you delete & ban.

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/reportspam-plugin
additional info here: http://blog.vanillaforums.com/help/stop-forum-spam/

Akismet plugin - Akismet spam protection integration for Vanilla.

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/akismet-plugin
newer version of akismet available on github https://github.com/vanilla/addons

To deter spam applicants by adding a question to registration form

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/addregistrationquestion-plugin

To filter, log, and restrict registration attempts, use the

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/registrationrestrictlogger-plugin

you can also use applicant approval registration method.

to filter capabilities of an applicant or confirm e-mail role

remove permission in that role for viewing activity and profile.

prohibiting web links in posts and comments per role

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/preventweblinks-plugin

for cleaning mass spam applicants, etc.

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/cleanser-plugin

bulk editing

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/bulkedit-plugin

vrijvlinder · December 2014

.

peregrine · December 2014

- 26 How do I allow users to flag or report posts and receive an email notification that a post has been flagged.

enable the flagging plung that comes with the vanilla core distribution.
go to the dashboard roles and permissions. select the admin role and check flagging notify

you can also add this to other roles perhaps moderator.

next edit your profile, then select notification preferences, you will see a new notification preference.

check what preferences you want.

peregrine · December 2014

- 27 Where is the official documentation for vanilla forums? Why should I read it?

It may be obvious to some, but others might not be aware....
You can see a link for Documentation on the top menu bar of this forum!
Reading the documentation can help you). It give you insights about Vanilla.
It can be really helpful to skim it, scan it, read it, peruse it!
if you are using the open-source version of vanilla, meaning you are hosting vanilla yourself, check out the links relating to open source, Developers, Themes, and Features.

click here. ---> http://docs.vanillaforums.com/

if you click on developers it give you insights on many aspects of the open-source configuration, etc.

http://docs.vanillaforums.com/developers/

e.g. if you have questions about the configuration, config.php, adding or changing config statements see....

http://docs.vanillaforums.com/developers/configuration/

peregrine · August 2015

- 28 How to change order ( position ) of items in side panel, modules and How to change order of menu items.

explanations:

via config.php

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/24995/tutorial-how-to-change-the-order-of-modules-and-menu-items

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/25574/v2-0-18-8-moving-the-profile-page-s-about-box-to-the-top-above-edit-profile-new-user#latest

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/20636/can-the-navigation-menu-items-be-reordered

via plugin (allows the changing order of modules in panel)

http://vanillaforums.org/addon/modulesort-plugin

peregrine · September 2015

- 29 What are some basic troubleshooting steps?

troubleshooting mysterious problems

Got a mysterious problem occurring. But can't figure out if it is theme or plugin or core or database structure related.

A ) run /utility/update and /utility/structure to update structure of database.

to run /utility/structure and/or /utility/update type

e.g. if your forum is located at http://example.com then

http://example.com/index.php?p=/utility/structure
http://example.com/index.php?p=/utility/update
 or
http://example.com/utility/update
http://example.com/utility/structure

B ) Have you recently changed theme or added css files or added a locale or created new definition files?
- delete the .ini files in /cache folder.
- getting a bonk or blank page after changing themes. check the permission on your Smarty/compile folder and make sure it exists.
C ) other mysterious issues.

change theme to default
if problem goes away - check your theme for errors
if problem still occurs
disable plugins one by one
if problem is fixed - identify plugin and post question under offending plugin
if problem still occurs, download core files again.
- if problem still occurs (no plugins and default theme) , file issue on github.
- if problem is fixed - you made a change to core that caused the problem.
D ) if you see a blank page (or something has gone wrong page).

In order to reveal full descriptive error messages:
add the following configuration statement to conf/config.php
```
  $Configuration['Debug'] = TRUE;

     if you see
    $Configuration['Debug'] = FALSE;
    change it to
    $Configuration['Debug'] = TRUE;
```
Remember to remove the config statement or change it to FALSE, when you are done.
E) miscellaneous can't see effects of plugin in mobile view

also for plugins to make them mobile friendly:

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/196078/#Comment_196078

locale and mobile:

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/25641/how-to-tutorial-theme-specific-definitions-mobile-vs-non-mobile

miscellaneous info

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/199091/#Comment_199091

tip: always good to enable plugins via dashboard instead of modifying config.php.

peregrine · November 2015

- 30 Addendum to troubleshooting steps for item 29.

if your upgrade fails or you have mysterious issues.

if you see any of these files in your conf folder (make sure they don't create the errors)
and mention that you have them if posting on the forum.

created and bootstrap.early.php, bootstrap.before.php, bootstrap.after.php or bootstrap.late.php

whu606 · March 2016

I've edited this thread to add a Table of Contents here

If any of the replies are out of date or you can improve on them, please do, and let us know on here, so we can edit them.

If you regularly answer questions, and a FAQ isn't on here, please add it.

vrijvlinder · September 2017

Bumping this !! It is still very relevant today... @whu606 can you remove the necro tag ?