how to access and partially replace CSS code

[nnako]

Hi,

what steps do I have to go in order to create a self-configured header content on my nabble site as shown on this example page:
http://honda-cb750-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/

Here, I find a settings menu where I seem to be able to insert CSS code:

Options > Application > Change view

But how does that relate to the "original" CSS code active on the pages? And where do I find it as a whole file in order to change it according to my needs? Is this covered in some online documentation?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
nnako

[GregChapman]

I offer the following with the caveat that my researches may not be the whole truth. Treat with appropriate caution.

nnako wrote

what steps do I have to go in order to create a self-configured header content on my nabble site as shown on this example page:
http://honda-cb750-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/

A look at the source of the page shows the following code:

<div id="forum-header">
  <h1 id="forum-title" class="app-title-456789 adbayes-content">Honda CB750'S</h1>
    <div id="description-box" class="adbayes-content">
        I just wanted to have a place for all CB750 enthusiasts to share their latest news. If you want to
        buy, sell, or find something for your bike. Or if you need advice, want to share an experience, or
        just want to show off your photo's. This may be the place. This is a new forum so it may take
        some time to get noticed, but don't give up on it. Let your Fellow Honda CB 750 riders know!
       <b>&quot;If you build it they will come!&quot; Enjoy</b><br/>
       <img src="http://honda-cb750-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/file/n456789/22494-honda-logo.jpg"
       border="0"/>
    </div>

That confirms it is formatted entirely using the standard fields on the "Edit Name & Description" page, with some of the text emboldened and a centred image. As for the colour scheme. Go to:
Options > Application > Change Appearance > Color > Color Schemes > Darkness

Here, I find a settings menu where I seem to be able to insert CSS code:

Options > Application > Change view

But how does that relate to the "original" CSS code active on the pages?

The default CSS appears to be served from the linked stylesheet file "/nabble.pack.css?v=28"
Following that in the code is a link to the file "/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=site_style"
As it follows in the HTML file any code in that file will take precedence over the earlier file.

Now for the question of how you access and populate the second file within the Nabble interface.

In my test forum where I use the default colour scheme but have added code to the CSS box at:
Options > Application > Change Appearance > CSS
I can see that anything that is in that dialogue appears in that second linked file.

On the Honda forum I see that the contents of the file appear to reflect selected colour scheme.

If add the "Darkness" colour scheme to my test forum both blocks of code appear to be added to the file.

Although the first time I tried it, the added colour scheme appeared to load - BUT ONLY while the Change Appearance toolbar remained in view. As soon as I closed the Change Appearance toolbar and the page reloaded, I had lost the colour scheme and only my code in the CSS box was reapplied. I think this may be related to the order I did things. It needs a little more testing.

My initial conclusion was that any code added to the CSS drop-down on the Change Appearance Toolbar replaces and over-rides a selected colour scheme, but that doesn't appear to be the case after my second attempt.

(While testing all this I discovered that the styling for the toolbar is added as an internal stylesheet on the page.)

And where do I find it as a whole file in order to change it according to my needs? Is this covered in some online documentation?

Unfortunately, there is no detailed documentation. Hopefully, the information above will be sufficient for your needs.

For someone like me who can cope with HTML and CSS but struggles with NAML, the two BIG disappointments with giving a forum the appearance you want are that:

• There is quite a bit of styling code that is added within NAML macros. That is added to the HTML file as inline styling so that will always take precedence over CSS code in an external stylesheet (i.e. added in the Change Appearance Toolbar).

• There is simply not enough ID and classes inserted in the in the HTML. As a result it can be impossible to to style a forum using CSS alone.

[nnako]

Hi Greg,

thank you very much for your reply. I think, I understand all of your information and suggestions. Your responsiveness and commitment is just astonishing :-) . I will try to apply your ideas. Maybe I will be able how to explain an easy and logical connection between CSS/HTML and the current NAML implementation (in order to help overcoming the two big disappointments you mentioned).