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Forums > Home› Star Trek Online General Discussion

Don't like the gigantic header? Problem solved.

djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
edited June 2012 in Star Trek Online General Discussion
Don't like the gigantic header in the new forum theme? Browse on a small monitor and don't like having to scroll to see anything except the header? Don't like getting blinded in single-post view? Well, I've got a solution for you! There's this awesome extension called Stylish which lets you create custom styles for websites. The extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Plus, I've got instructions on how to do the same thing in Opera and Internet Explorer.

CHROME, FIREFOX, OR SAFARI (NOTE: I have not tested this in Safari)
Step 1: Install Stylish (Chrome Install Page OR Firefox Install Page OR Stylish for Safari)
Step 2: Choose one of these two styles: (With Background Image OR Without Background Image)
Step 3: Click "Install With Stylish"
Step 4: Use the Forums.

OPERA
Step 1: Save one of these two files somewhere on your computer: No Background OR With Background. Right click the link and choose Save Linked Content As...
Step 2: Click that Opera button in the upper-left.
Step 3: Settings -> Quick Preferences -> Edit Site Preferences.
Step 4: Under "site" put: sto-forum.perfectworld.com
Step 5: Go to the Display tab. Down at the bottom hit Choose... and navigate to the saved CSS file. Hit OK.
Step 6: Use the Forums.

INTERNET EXPLORER
Step 0: There IS a way to do custom styles in IE9 and (hopefully) above, but I don't advising going that route, since the custom style applies to EVERY website you vist, instead of just the STO forums. I advise installing Chrome or Firefox. But if you really want to stick with IE, here are the instructions...
Step 1: Save one of these two files somewhere on your computer: No Background OR With Background. Right click the link and choose Save Target As... (Yes, these are different than the ones for Opera, see NOTE)
Step 2: Click the Gear in the upper right (or hit ALT+X) then go to Internet Options.
Step 3: Down at the bottom, click Accessibility.
Step 4: Make sure "Format documents using my style sheet" is checked. Then under Style Sheet click Browse and select the css file you downloaded.
Step 5: Click Ok to get out of Accessibility, Click Ok to get out of Internet Options.
Step 6: Use the Forums.
NOTE: IE does not have the code that makes the change that gets rid of the white background when viewing a single post. Why? Because if I implemented it, every website you viewed would have a black background.

Here's what the style changes:
-Background Image: Gone! (unless you choose a version that is indicated as With Background Image)
-Header Image: Removed, and content pulled up so you don't have to scroll anymore
-Section Headers: Underlined so that they are more distinct
-Default Text Color: All that eye-burning white text is now eye-pleasing grey.
-No more white background on single-post view!
-Reading old posts with lists in them? Yeah, I fixed that too.

By request, here are some previews:
Without Background
With Background

Q: How does this work?
A: Website styling is done through what's known as CSS (Cascading Style Sheet). CSS code is sent along as a separate file linked to in the source code of a web page, or the code can be embedded inside a the webpage itself. What Stylish (or the Opera User Styles or IE Accessibility Option) does is allow you to override elements of the pre-existing CSS code with code of your own choosing. This takes place inside your web browser, so it doesn't affect any other computer that views the forums.

Q: What did you use to make this?
A: For me, the most indispensable tool when working on something like this is the Web Developer Toolbar plugin for Firefox. I use that to examine the layout of sites, I then write my CSS in notepad++, and I then test the code in Chrome.

Q: I browse on a widescreen monitor, can you make a version of this that increases the width of the forums?
A: CAN I? Yes. Would it be aesthetically pleasing? No. You see those black vertical bars to the left and right of the forums? That's actually an image repeated as many times as needed to provide a border for the forums. Widening the forums would require a widened version of that image. Could I do that? Yes, but I would have to host the image on my own server. Plus, I don't know what Forum/PWE Policy would say about me modifying their assets to do a thing like this. Now, if I were to get approval to do such a thing, I'd totally take a stab at it. Why? Because I browse on a widescreen monitor too :rolleyes:

Got a suggestion, comment, question, or concern? Post it, shoot me a PM, send me a carrier pigeon.
-Concentus
:cool:
The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
Post edited by djconcentus on
«1

Comments

  • jjumetleyjjumetley Member Posts: 281 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Using Opera - install one of many extensions or use user css :D
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    Hmmm...I probably should write up instructions on how to use this with Opera...
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    OP updated with instructions for Opera and Safari, as well as advice for IE users.
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • daveynydaveyny Member Posts: 8,227 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    djconcentus wrote: »
    OP updated with instructions for Opera and Safari, as well as advice for IE users.

    ah TRIBBLE... I like using IE... oh well...
    STO Member since February 2009.
    I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born!
    Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
    upside-down-banana-smiley-emoticon.gif
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    daveyny wrote:
    ah TRIBBLE... I like using IE... oh well...

    Fear not, I think I might have figured out how to do custom CSS in IE. Keep an eye on this thread over the next 30 minutes or so.

    Also, the custom themes now have grey text instead of eye-blinding white text now, at least when reading a thread. I'll go back to adding more grey text after I test this possible IE solution.
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    Actual bona-fide IE instructions added. I don't recommend it though, since the custom theme will apply to every website on the internet, possibly breaking some sites.
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • phyrexianherophyrexianhero Member Posts: 768 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Thanks! Its nice not having to start reading with the lower half the screen.
    Playing since January 2010. STOwiki administrator. Accolade hunter.
    My STOwiki page | Reachable in-game @PhyrexianHero
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  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    phyrexianhero wrote: »
    Thanks! Its nice not having to start reading with the lower half the screen.

    You're welcome! :biggrin:

    I got out of the web development industry almost two years ago, but the drilled-in habits from back then have been making me go "Who in the world designed this?" Especially with how the header takes up too much space on the screen.
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • daveynydaveyny Member Posts: 8,227 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    djconcentus wrote: »
    Actual bona-fide IE instructions added. I don't recommend it though, since the custom theme will apply to every website on the internet, possibly breaking some sites.

    OK.. thanks for the option anyway... I guess I'll have to put up with the glaring white on black stuff.

    I'm not going to mess around with it..., to many other sites I like as-is.
    STO Member since February 2009.
    I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born!
    Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
    upside-down-banana-smiley-emoticon.gif
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    Pretty sure I've changed all the white text to grey now. Plus, I've fixed the eye-burning white background on the single-post view to black.

    Share and Enjoy
    -Concentus
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • lan451lan451 Member Posts: 3,386 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Oh...OH! OMG thank you! Just installed this with Firefox, it's SO much better now. Thanks again!

    Edit: I installed the one without the gigantor header image. So nice.
    JWZrsUV.jpg
    Mine Trap Supporter
  • forjoatinxanforjoatinxan Member Posts: 88 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Such a shame that this thread has to exist.

    Good work OP (and others). Bad show, PWE.

    -Forjo
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    Stop the easily abused and unfair auto-silence "feature"!
  • daboholicdaboholic Member Posts: 265 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    forjoatinxan wrote: »
    Such a shame that this thread has to exist.

    Good work OP (and others). Bad show, PWE.

    -Forjo

    Agreed, a big thank you to djconcentus for helping to put right PWE's mess.
  • thoroonthoroon Member Posts: 409 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Thank you for the CSS-Work. :smile:
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • psiameesepsiameese Member Posts: 1,650 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Just added this on my Firefox browser. Well done and thank you.
    (/\) Exploring Star Trek Online Since July 2008 (/\)
  • tacofangstacofangs Member Posts: 2,951 Cryptic Developer
    edited June 2012
    THE HEADER IS TOO DAMN BIG!

    image.jpg
    Only YOU can prevent forum fires!
    19843299196_235e44bcf6_o.jpg
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    tacofangs wrote: »
    THE HEADER IS TOO DAMN BIG!

    image.jpg

    Glad to see you amongst the non-Archived Users :wink:
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • atatassaultatatassault Member Posts: 1,008 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Can anybody post a screenshot of what it looks like?
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    atatassault wrote: »
    Can anybody post a screenshot of what it looks like?

    Sure thing

    Without Background
    With Background
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • sabrevt1100sabrevt1100 Member Posts: 83 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    djconcentus wrote: »
    Don't like the gigantic header in the new forum theme? Don't like getting blinded in single-post view? Well, I've got a solution for you (assuming you use Chrome or Firefox). There's this awesome extension called Stylish which lets you create custom styles for websites.

    CHROME, FIREFOX, OR SAFARI (NOTE: I have not tested this in Safari)
    Step 1: Install Stylish (Chrome Install Page OR Firefox Install Page OR Stylish for Safari)
    Step 2: Choose one of these two styles: (With Background Image OR Without Background Image)
    Step 3: Click "Install With Stylish"
    Step 4: Use the Forums.

    [... snip
    -Concentus
    :cool:
    Thanks. The Chrome Stylish set you created works great
    "Bite Me! It's Fun." - Crow T. Robot
  • tankalot42otankalot42o Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    we shouldnt have to download programs to beable to stand coming to the forums......
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    join date: Jan. 2012
  • snoge00fsnoge00f Member Posts: 1,812 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Rightclick (Lefty) adblock FTW. :cool:
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  • sparhawksparhawk Member Posts: 796 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    I use Adblock plus myself on Firefox (plus NoScript) to kill all the annoying stuff. I then selectively allow stuff thru NoScript.
  • daveynydaveyny Member Posts: 8,227 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Now...,

    If somebody could just put the TOP button back at the bottom... :frown:
    STO Member since February 2009.
    I Was A Trekkie Before It Was Cool ... Sept. 8th, 1966 ... Not To Mention Before Most Folks Around Here Were Born!
    Forever a STO Veteran-Minion
    upside-down-banana-smiley-emoticon.gif
  • crypticvyper#7920 crypticvyper
    crypticvyper#7920
         Member Posts: 47 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    phyrexianhero wrote: »
    Thanks! Its nice not having to start reading with the lower half the screen.

    I'm running IE9 x64.. applied the CSS to my Internet Options under Accessability.. seems to be applying to this site only so far.. but I will test it more.. but it hasn't overridden any other site forum as of yet.
    _______________________________________________

    STO Forum Account Creation Date: June 9, 2008 (Perpetual Entertainment at the time)

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    Proud member of Xenocorp

    "Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead." - Kyle Reese, 'Terminator'
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    pestalencexc wrote: »
    I'm running IE9 x64.. applied the CSS to my Internet Options under Accessability.. seems to be applying to this site only so far.. but I will test it more.. but it hasn't overridden any other site forum as of yet.

    For the most part, it shouldn't interfere with any other site forum. The site I'm reasonably sure it would interfere with would be the Neverwinter forums, but it would basically just be the same theme changes over there. The likelihood of the themes interfering with another website is low, and most likely if they do, its just going to be to change the color of some fonts.

    If IE would support the @-moz-document css function, I could restrict it to the STO forums (and thus solve the single-post view issue as well in IE), but sadly I don't see Microsoft adding in that functionality any time soon.
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
  • crypticvyper#7920 crypticvyper
    crypticvyper#7920
         Member Posts: 47 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    OK.. I see what you mean about the CSS.. After I relaunched my browser other sites text changed.. wierd that it didn't happen until I relaunched the browser..

    Anyhow thanks for the effort you put into it.
    _______________________________________________

    STO Forum Account Creation Date: June 9, 2008 (Perpetual Entertainment at the time)

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Pestalence_XC
    Proud member of Xenocorp

    "Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead." - Kyle Reese, 'Terminator'
  • naeviusnaevius Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    I've tried to use Stylish to reduce the space on the sides of the forum, but without any luck.
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  • mustrumridcully0mustrumridcully0 Member Posts: 12,963 Arc User
    edited June 2012
    Nice work. Thanks for the style!
    Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
  • djconcentusdjconcentus Member Posts: 177 Media Corps
    edited June 2012
    naevius wrote: »
    I've tried to use Stylish to reduce the space on the sides of the forum, but without any luck.

    What do you mean by the space? If you're trying to widen the actual forum to take up more space on a larger monitor, it might be possible.

    I'll look into this :biggrin:

    mustrumridcully0 wrote: »
    Nice work. Thanks for the style!
    You're welcome! :cool:
    The opinions expressed in my posts are not necessarily those of my employer or Subspace Radio.
    Host of the Borg Boombox, 0300 GMT on Fridays on Subspace Radio
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