Sidebox include external file?

**bizshop1** · 3 Apr 2009, 04:36 PM

I'm trying to get an external menu included in sidebox

Sidebox shows up ok, but I'm trying to have:

PHP Code:


<?PHP include("menu.php"); ?>

in there.

I've tried putting it in the
/language/english/CUSTOM/sideboxes/menu_sidebox_defines.php

if I put plain text in the contents section it shows, but not the PHP code. It should be trying to include it from the site html directory, right?

**bunyip** · 4 Apr 2009, 03:13 AM

You first need to thouroughly understand how the sideboxes are generated.
The file includes/modules/sideboxes/sidebox_name.php retrieves relevant data from the database if required, and/or from the defines within it. It also determines the sidebox template file to be used, and the final layout box that is used to display the information.
The sidebox template (includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_sidebox_name.php) formats the content, and puts it all into the variable $content.
The final rendering is then done by the file includes/templates/template_default/common/tpl_box_default_left.php (or right.php).
That file simply takes the content of the variable $content that is sent to it by the sidebox template.

What you will need to do is customize your sidebox module and sidebox template, and use a separate tpl_box_my_left.php to display it - that way you will be able to put your include statement where you need it to be so your content gets included correctly.

**limelites** · 6 Apr 2009, 08:57 PM

Not sure what sidebox you're trying to modify, but I use the blank_sidebox_2-0 mod as the boxes are pretty versatile.

I have about a dozen custom sideboxes, all with menus inside them, although my menus are html.