How do I integrate phpBB into my store's look & feel?

[i-make-robots]

I love that people who shop in my store already have a phpbb account, that saves a lot of time.

I have my wordpress blog integrated into zencart, works great and doesn't look like some other website.

I'd like to do the same with phpBB. I know adafruit.com worked it out and I'm sure others here have done the same.

phpBB forum people sent me back here.

Please, can you advise me on how to proceed? Is there a better forum program that integrates more easily?

Thank you!

[swguy]

Click on Plugins at the top of this page and look at some of the integrations that are available.

[i-make-robots]

I did before I posted, that's how I knew about the phpbb account creation plugin.

"I love that people who shop in my store already have a phpbb account, that saves a lot of time."

None of the existing plugins do what I want. http://forums.adafruit.com/ manages to get the same sidebar and top level menu as their zencart installation and I'm looking to do the same. Please: What is the recommended method?

[stevesh]

The header stuff is easy - just hard code the header image and menu into overall_header.html.

I don't know what file they edited to add the categories sidebox.

Check the Plugins for Sidebox Anywhere - that might do the trick.

[i-make-robots]

Hard code? So... if I change one, I have to remember to change the other? Doesn't that defeat the point of php?

[stevesh]

I don't know if it really 'defeats the purpose of PHP', but yes, you would have to make changes in both manually. I didn't understand you were looking for someone to re-write the PHP code in Zencart and phpBB. That's beyond my skill set. The method I described will work if you just want the forum to match your store.

[i-make-robots]

I'm an experienced php developer. It's no rush to do the integration. I'm looking for tips and advice so that my integration can be done faster and more efficiently when I sit down to do it. I'm sure I'm not the first to try to do this. What better way to avoid pitfalls then ask those who have come before me?

[swguy]

Have you asked Adafruit whether they'd be willing to share their work?
If not, you may well be the first (other than them) to do this. When you're done, please package up your work and share it with other users.