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This section contains detailed articles elaborating on some of the common issues phpBB users encounter while using the product. Articles submitted by members of the community are checked for accuracy by the relevant phpBB team. If you do not find the answer to your question here, we recommend looking through the Support section as well as using the improved search feature.

Below is a list of all articles currently in the Knowledge Base. If you would like to narrow down your search, please select the phpBB version with which you need assistance.

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Add a New Custom Page to phpBB
Need to add a new page to your web site that matches the look and feel of your forums? Then read this how-to article.

phpBB3
Improvements

80737

pentapenguin
Aug 21, 2008 7:38 pm

Add an extra image to the right the of site_logo
Why? Well maybe you want to place an animated image for advertising purposes there or an image you change on a regular basis. Whatever the reason this is how to do it.

phpBB3
Styles

3139

Mixstar
Mar 28, 2009 11:28 am

Adding a new link and icon to your header
This article describes how to add a new link and icon to the standard header of prosilver based styles.

phpBB3
Styles

13747

camm15h
Jan 17, 2009 11:14 pm

Adding a Random Header Image
Want to spice up your board's header with a random header image? Read this article for how to do it.

phpBB3
Improvements

45046

pentapenguin
Oct 01, 2007 11:30 pm

Adding Custom BBCodes in phpBB3
Find out how to customise your board with custom BBCodes in this article.

phpBB3
Miscellanea

68119

pentapenguin
Oct 02, 2007 2:24 am

Additional Menus
How to add additional menus to both prosilver & subsilver2 styles with very little changes to core phpBB3 files.

phpBB3
Miscellanea

2926

ChrisRLG
Dec 30, 2008 11:28 pm

Admin user activation emails to one Admin only
With account activation set to Admin this small change will direct registration notifications to an Admin of your choice rather than them all.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

19632

karlsemple
Jun 24, 2007 6:45 pm

Advertisements in phpBB3
Learn in this article how to add advertisements in phpBB3.

phpBB3
Administration

68081

pentapenguin
Oct 07, 2007 8:57 pm

Allowing both local and remote access to forum
Allowing remote access to a forum you've created on a local computer can present problems with proper configuration of the cookies and host name.

phpBB2
Administration

13044

espicom
May 04, 2007 4:11 pm

Can't see changes editing styles? Changes have disappeared?
This article will explain why changes do not show, or why your changes have disappeared.

phpBB3
Styles

3280

HardStyle
Apr 14, 2009 3:46 pm

Change the background color of unread topics
Change background color of unread topics in viewforum - for prosilver and subsilver2.

phpBB3
Styles

18765

FabryDesign
Sep 12, 2007 1:01 am

Changing the Registration Agreement
Step-by-step guide on changing the Registration Agreement terms, age, and links.

phpBB2
Styles

28014

Erisar
Jun 03, 2007 9:42 am

Changing the registration agreement of your board
Want to change the registration agreement? Why not take a look how.

phpBB3
Styles

9867

hc2995
Dec 29, 2007 6:56 am

Changing your board logo
How to change the logo in the header of your phpBB3 board.

phpBB3
Styles

44233

camm15h
Sep 07, 2009 3:26 pm

CHMOD Permissions
How to set correct file/ folder permissions on a Linux server.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

31459

karlsemple
Jul 01, 2007 5:38 pm

Coding new pages
This article helps people when they are to build a page on their site which integrates with phpBB2.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

21741

aled owen
Jun 03, 2007 1:29 pm

Configuring domain/script path/cookie settings
If you're experiencing trouble logging in, follow the instructions in this article to make sure your domain/script path/cookie settings are correct.

phpBB2
Administration

58323

Marshalrusty
Jun 29, 2007 7:07 am

Convert 'How To' (Outside Link)
A basic 'How To' for converting from one board software to another, including phpBB2 -> phpBB3.

phpBB3
Installing/upgrading/converting

N/A

phpBB Team
Sep 29, 2008 9:56 am

Create a private forum
How to create a forum that only certain members or groups can view.

phpBB2
Administration

28745

dhn
Jun 25, 2007 7:48 am

Creating a new Admin Page
This article explains how to create a new page within the admin panel with links in the left-hand menu pane.

phpBB2
Modifications

13966

Graham
Jun 09, 2007 8:25 am

Creating a new config.php
I deleted my config.php file. What do I do? This article will help you create a new one.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

17915

will_hough
May 14, 2007 3:57 pm

Custom Profile Fields as an Anti-Spammer Tool
How to use the phpBB3 Custom Profile fields as an Anti-Spam Bot registering tool

phpBB3
Administration

27244

ChrisRLG
Oct 08, 2008 2:32 pm

Default Shadow Topic Checkbox - Off
This change will make the default action of the "leave shadow topic" checkbox as unchecked when moving a topic.

phpBB3
Styles

10939

AOCpzck
Aug 03, 2007 1:05 am

Difference between encryption and hashing
This article attempts to give a basic explanation of how encryption and hashing are different.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Information and notices

4807

Techie-Micheal
Dec 17, 2008 11:42 pm

Display Quick Reply by default in prosilver
How to have the Quick Reply window appear in a topic, rather than having to click the Quick Reply button.

phpBB3
Modifications

205

stevemaury
Nov 17, 2009 10:28 pm

Doesn't have a default value errors
Development team script for fixing the error on phpBB3 boards using MySQL.

phpBB3
Miscellanea

29722

karlsemple
Nov 21, 2009 10:28 pm

Everything you need to know about ranks
This KB article contains information about what a rank is, what it's for, how to add them and the different kinds you can use.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

29701

Kevin Clark
May 17, 2007 9:07 am

Everything you need to know about smilies
This article explains what they are, how to add them and order them.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

29612

Kevin Clark
Jul 22, 2008 1:20 am

Executing SQL Queries in phpMyAdmin
Get the steps to executing SQL queries for MODs in phpMyAdmin

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Miscellanea

15782

morpheus2matrix
Nov 03, 2007 5:52 am

Explanation and solutions for emailer.php line 234 error
Offers an explanation and possible fixes for the common error: Failed sending email :: PHP :: Line : 234 File : emailer.php

phpBB2
Administration

27571

Marshalrusty
Sep 20, 2007 7:13 am

Extending Prosilver's navigation bar
This article explains how to extend the "prosilver" and "prosilver_se" navigation bar, so users can add links without cluttering up what's already there.

phpBB3
Styles

3325

HardStyle
Jun 11, 2009 12:18 pm

Fixed width prosilver
How to make prosilver a fixed width and centered.

phpBB3
Styles

33776

Thatbitextra
Dec 05, 2007 8:49 pm

Fixing 1016 and 1030 errors from MySQL
A guide to repairing MySQL tables

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Administration

15595

espicom
Dec 20, 2007 12:34 am

Fixing incorrect cookie settings
This article contains useful information to correct your board's cookie settings.

phpBB3
Administration

12627

JimA
Sep 22, 2008 2:00 am

Forum breaking out of frames after login
This is a simple change to stop the forum popping out of a framed site after logging in.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

11757

Anon
Apr 23, 2007 4:03 am

FTP
How to connect to your website via FTP and transfer files.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Miscellanea

13513

DualFusion
Nov 20, 2008 2:27 pm

How to backup and restore your database with SSH
How to backup and restore your database with SSH

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Miscellanea

20119

r6untouchable
Jun 20, 2007 8:00 am

How to create a new phpBB3 style
This article explains how to clone prosilver / subsilver2 to start developing a new style.

phpBB3
Styles

20691

Raimon
Jul 28, 2008 3:34 pm

How to create a Style [Basics]
This article will explain the basic things you Need to know about styling.

phpBB3
Styles

44773

Darkelarious
Jan 20, 2008 3:47 pm

How to fix "Username already taken" error
This article explains how to fix the "Sorry, that user name is already taken." upon registration.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

12427

battye
May 29, 2007 3:20 pm

How to fix missing images on your style
This article explains how you can fix the issue, when you are missing images on your style.

phpBB3
Styles

6182

Raimon
Dec 15, 2008 1:07 am

How to install a MOD (Outside Link)
Found a MOD you want to install? This tutorial will explain how!

phpBB2
Modifications

N/A

phpBB Team
May 05, 2007 12:46 am

How to install a MODX Modification
Summarised a list of things about using a MODX modification file

phpBB3
Modifications

23903

ycl6
Oct 07, 2007 12:40 pm

How to Install MODs
Explains how to install MODs for phpBB, based on the text file usually accompanied with all MODs.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Modifications

44828

Raimon
Sep 02, 2007 5:40 pm

How to install styles on phpBB3
This article describes how to install new styles on your board.

phpBB3
Styles

99113

Raimon
Oct 09, 2007 9:48 am

How to localise/translate phpBB
Information on localisation of phpBB, and how to create a language pack.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

13726

psoTFX
May 13, 2007 6:13 am

How to move a phpBB 2.0.x board to a new server
Detailed instructions on backing up and restoring the files and database, regardless of database size.

phpBB2
Administration

53197

Marshalrusty
Jul 03, 2007 6:06 pm

How to start a new phpBB2 style
This article explains how to clone subSilver to start developing a new style

phpBB2
Styles

28521

CyberAlien
May 30, 2007 6:26 am

How to: template_bitfield and BBcodes
This article tells you what the template_bitfield does, what bbcode templates can be replaced and how you can produce your own template_bitfield value.

phpBB3
Styles

2164

Double_J
Apr 24, 2009 2:59 pm

Installing a new theme/template/style
How to install other themes than subSilver to add more variety to your board.

phpBB2
Styles

66466

karlsemple
Apr 30, 2007 5:37 am

Installing and Setting Up Your Own Web Server
Read this article to see how to install your own personal web server for use with phpBB.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Miscellanea

24289

pentapenguin
Nov 08, 2008 4:49 am

Installing MODs the Right Way
There's installing MODs then there's the right way of installing MODs. Read this article for the best way to install modifications on your board.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Modifications

16545

pentapenguin
Oct 28, 2007 9:44 pm

iPod and iPhone home screen icon
This article will show you how to create the image and add the code to your website so users can add a Home Screen icon to their iPod or iPhone that you created.

phpBB3
Styles

3312

will_hough
Mar 08, 2009 7:33 am

KB Guidelines
This will be the KB guidelines

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Information and notices

13704

Marshalrusty
Oct 04, 2009 1:25 am

Links Opening New Windows
Describes how to make links on phpBB3 boards open new windows.

phpBB3
Miscellanea

59518

zeroK
Jan 13, 2008 2:32 pm

List of $userdata variables
A list of all of the columns you can use in a $userdata variable.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

6117

battye
Aug 30, 2007 11:43 am

Manually update database schema
If update_to_latest.php has failed, this script will update the schema to the latest version

phpBB2
Installing/upgrading/converting

17171

Marshalrusty
Apr 27, 2007 9:47 pm

Missing admin/confirm_body.tpl
How to fix the "Template->make_filename(): Error - file admin/confirm_body.tpl does not exist" error

phpBB2
Styles

10321

karlsemple
May 07, 2007 7:01 am

Modify prosilver's header (Outside Link)
A simple 'How To' on changing several parts of prosilver's header.

phpBB3
Styles

N/A

phpBB Team
Sep 05, 2009 8:44 pm

Offline Conversions
Offline Conversions for users with timeouts, blank pages or '500 Internal Server' errors

phpBB3
Installing/upgrading/converting

28699

Kevin Clark
Dec 28, 2007 5:52 pm

Parse error: eval()'d code
How to fix 'eval()'d code' errors with templates.

phpBB2
Styles

13108

Ladd
Apr 27, 2007 6:50 am

Permission System Overview For MOD Authors
A overview of permissions system that is geared towards MOD authors

phpBB3
Modifications

12842

poyntesm
Oct 10, 2007 1:17 pm

Permission System Overview For MOD Authors - Part Two
A overview of permissions system that is geared towards MOD authors

phpBB3
Modifications

9416

poyntesm
Oct 10, 2007 1:26 pm

phpBB2 Auth Constants
A list of reserved auth constants for phpBB2.0 MODs.

phpBB2
Modifications

8099

smithy_dll
Jul 27, 2007 4:16 am

phpBB2 Page Constants
A list of reserved page constants for phpBB2.0 MODs.

phpBB2
Modifications

9786

wGEric
Jun 02, 2007 4:58 am

phpBB2 Sessions Integration
How to access phpBB session information from your own pages, allowing you to check user's logged in status, user name, user id, and more.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

52835

Brainy
May 02, 2007 3:46 am

phpBB2 Template Tutorial
Information on how the phpBB2 Template system works

phpBB2
Styles

35838

Xore
May 25, 2007 7:48 am

phpBB3 Chmod Permissions
How to set correct file/ folder permissions on a Unix based server.

phpBB3
Miscellanea

21668

karlsemple
Jan 30, 2008 8:59 am

phpBB3 Cross-site Sessions Integration
A small tutorial on integrating phpBB3 sessions into a website (eg; shared logins information).

phpBB3
Miscellanea

15297

NBishop
Apr 08, 2008 12:08 pm

phpBB3 Permissions
A list of the permissions types in phpBB3 and how to use them properly.

phpBB3
Administration

38985

Brf
Mar 18, 2009 4:06 pm

phpBB3 Sessions Integration
This article will show you how to integrate phpBB3's sessions into your existing website.

phpBB3
Miscellanea

21715

pentapenguin
Oct 08, 2007 12:43 am

phpBB3 Styles' files list
A list of all files used within the styles of phpBB3 (Olympus).

phpBB3
Styles

10346

TheIlluminative
Nov 04, 2008 1:16 am

Portals for phpBB 2.0.x
A non-exhaustive list of portals which work with phpBB 2.0.x

phpBB2
Miscellanea

16507

battye
Nov 01, 2007 12:00 pm

Preventing SPAM - Bots and Humans (Outside Link)
Having trouble with spam? This article will explain everything you need to know

phpBB2
Information and notices

N/A

phpBB Team
Jun 23, 2007 4:49 am

Private_message_info as an image replacing the text link.
A built-in feature waiting to be activated.

phpBB2
Styles

9447

Dogs and things
Jun 04, 2007 5:08 pm

Prosilver: Profiles on Left
Directions on how to switch prosilver viewtopic profiles from right side of the page to left side of the page.

phpBB3
Styles

25218

Snowcone
Jun 21, 2009 7:49 pm

Quick way to get the phpBB version number
A quick method to find the phpBB version number stored in the database

phpBB2
Miscellanea

12305

who_cares
Apr 23, 2007 9:10 am

Re-install / Update phpBB2
This article explains how to update or reinstall your phpBB board while keeping all data (thus the SQL database) intact

phpBB2
Installing/upgrading/converting

27633

Vic D'Elfant
Jun 20, 2007 8:35 am

Rebuilding Your config.php File
I deleted my config.php file--Help! This tutorial will help you get back on your feet.

phpBB3
Administration

24971

iWisdom
Jul 16, 2008 12:31 pm

Remove 'View Topic' and 'View Forum' From Titles
This article describes the process required to remove "View Topic" and "View Forum" from your board titles.

phpBB3
Modifications

5758

iWisdom
Jul 21, 2008 4:37 am

Remove RE: from replies
Here is how to remove the RE: from replies.

phpBB3
Modifications

6891

EY
Apr 14, 2008 6:27 pm

Remove search box & add search icon in navbar
For whatever reason you may want to get rid of the search box in the header and or add a search icon to the navbar. You can do either with this.

phpBB3
Styles

2430

Mixstar
Jun 12, 2009 9:46 am

Replacing a deleted group moderator using phpmyadmin
this will show you how to change the group moderator for a group which has had its group moderator deleted.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

9978

slice1
Apr 27, 2007 7:47 am

Reporting A Hacked Board (Outside Link)
These are the steps to follow in order to submit a report to our Incident Investigation Team. The IIT will investigate and if possible help fix your board.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Incident Investigation Team (IIT)

N/A

phpBB Team
May 07, 2007 6:33 am

Sessions and SIDs (append_sid)
This article deals with the often misused append_sid() function.

phpBB2
Modifications

14365

sj26
May 01, 2007 7:23 am

Set subSilver as the default template
This article contains a script that can be used to reset the board and all users back to subSilver without access to the administration panel

phpBB2
Administration

21233

Marshalrusty
Aug 05, 2007 7:04 pm

Share members, sessions, bans, across multiple phpBB boards
Use multiple forums sharing a user database. Also will share avatars, private messages, groups and themes.

phpBB2
Modifications

15170

smigit
Apr 25, 2007 5:48 am

Template Changes [up to version 2.0.23] (Outside Link)
Are you using a template made for an earlier version of phpBB? Update it yourself using these changes.

phpBB2
Styles

N/A

phpBB Team
May 05, 2007 8:46 am

Testing your templates for compatibility with Visual Confirmation
This article will help you test your templates to check they support Visual confirmation and if not help you fix them.

phpBB2
Styles

18163

espicom
Apr 23, 2007 9:24 am

Thwarting The Googlebot (and other helpful tips)
Tips for controlling where Googlebot and other good bots can crawl.

phpBB2
Miscellanea

13117

nlcaldwell
Oct 17, 2007 10:55 am

Tools needed to set up and customise phpBB
Here's a recommended list of tools and programs for setting up and customising phpBB.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Administration

24735

pentapenguin
Oct 29, 2007 7:39 pm

Transferring Your Board to a New Host or Domain
This article explains in-depth how to move your forum from one hosting provider to another or from one domain name to another.

phpBB3
Installing/upgrading/converting

6451

AdamR
Jul 19, 2009 12:02 am

Transparent gif's [how to]
I see lots of posts on here asking how to make transparent images for things such as site_logo.gif etc. This tutorial shows you to do it very easily using a free tool downloadable from the internet.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Styles

1594

Mixstar
Mar 28, 2009 10:12 am

Userguide 2.0.x (Outside Link)
The phpBB2 Userguide gives you an overview over all important features and options in phpBB2.

phpBB2
Administration

N/A

phpBB Team
May 04, 2007 1:57 am

Userguide 3.0.x (Outside Link)
Learn about working with phpBB3 as an Administrator, a Moderator, or even as a User. This has everything you need to know.

phpBB3
Administration

N/A

phpBB Team
May 04, 2007 1:57 am

Users can't upload their avatars on my IIS server
Tired of the same 'ole "Filetype must be .jpg, .gif or .png" & "Unable to upload file" errors? Perhaps we can help!

phpBB2
Installing/upgrading/converting

9525

Gork
Jul 24, 2007 6:09 am

What is MODX? (Outside Link)
MODX is an extended version of the current MOD Template which we have ported to XML.

phpBB2 / phpBB3
Modifications

N/A

phpBB Team
May 05, 2007 12:56 am

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