Last times explanations updated : 6 january 2008 (removed gzip hack)

The purpose of this section is to describe hacks/modifications required for the Joomla-Phpbb bridge. Please read the main section first, because it might not be necessary to apply any of the hacks below.

Hacking login.php file

Inside your Phpbb's folder, edit the file login.php. Look for the following Line:
$username = isset($HTTP_POST_VARS['username']) ? phpbb_clean_username($HTTP_POST_VARS['username']) : '';

Replace it with the following line:


Now look for the following line:

Then copy and paste just before the following lines:
//------------------------------------------- if( ! ($row['user_active']) ) message_die(GENERAL_ERROR,"User account not active"); //is the user trying to access to administration panel ? //check password only in this case if(isset($HTTP_POST_VARS['admin']) ) $checkPasswordTest = md5($password) == $row['user_password']; else $checkPasswordTest = true; //-------------------------------------------

Now look for the previously mentioned line i.e:

Replace the line by this one:

Batch processing phpbb's files

Now you'll have to process some files. You can do this quickly with the help of the dos batch file quickprocess.bat (tested with Windows XP) . For convenience, a quickprocess.sh shell file is also provided for Linux users . Although the shell Linux script works fine, I consider it to be "experimental".

How to use the batch file (windows) :
In a folder, copy exactly 13 files from your phpbb's root: faq.php, groupcp.php, index.php, login.php (previously hacked), memberlist.php, modcp.php, posting.php, privmsg.php, profile.php, search.php, viewforum.php, viewonline.php, viewtopic.php. Now, in the same folder copy both files provided quickprocess.bat and begin.txt . Then double-click on the file quickprocess.bat. You end up with 26 .php files. Now move these processed files in your forum's root (you'll overwrite 13 existing files).

Warning ! : Do you plan to bridge a modded Phpbb install ? If your mods introduce new frontend pages , then these ones should be processed too. Files that need to be processed are root files, not indirectly included by other files, and that contain the first instruction define('IN_PHPBB', true) . File quickprocess.bat only process the 13 default files that you get with a non-modded install. You'll have to hack quickprocess.bat to process more files (See line set fileList= etc...).

If you cannot run the batch file quickprocess.bat, you'll have to append content of begin.txt file to the begin of the 13 previously listed files. In doing so, be careful to not add any space, line return etc... before each php codes sections. Then rename all these files with the prefix inc_ . Now get the 13 files from "phpBB-2.020/processed files" with same names i.e without prefix and copy them in your forum's root.

Adjusting the phpbb template

• Now here's some hints to edit your phpbb template: (if you don't use default one)
• Get rid of the login form you see on main phpbb index page (if there's one). For this, edit the file index_body.tpl of your current Phpbb theme.
• Fix CSS issues by editing files overall_header.tpl and simple_header.tpl of your current Phpbb theme. I recommend that you cut all CSS definitions on theses files, and paste them in an external CSS file.
• You can dynamically define which CSS file is used when visual integration is enabled or not (all settings in your joomphpbb_conf.php file) . When integration is enabled, the default tag %JOOMPHPBB_STYLESHEET% is replaced by the css file defined by the variable $integrateCss ; whereas when integration is disabled this tag is replaced by the css file defined by the variable $defaultCss. Note: for some particular pages, integration is automatically disabled (smileys, review thread, search user).
• You can change the default tag by editing $patternCss variable (don't use brackets).
• Administration panel is not affected by the bridge.
• The CSS Integrator page allows to perform automatically all essential CSS fix. Just browse and indicate the stylesheet of your current phpbb theme, submit, rename the processed CSS if you wish , and then put it in your theme folder. Reminder: Indicate the final name of the processed CSS in the variable $integrateCss.

Performing automatically a redirection with com_login

If you wish to be sent back to Phpbb after using the the login page of Joomla ( i.e com_login), you'll have have to hack some files.

• Notes:
• This doesn't apply if you already use hacks for Community Builder.
• Not indispensable, if you use visual integration and the regular login module of Joomla.