How to change Homepage to Articles like vBulletin 4.X

[albanah]

I'm new to vb5 and have some queries.
I want my forums to be displayed like vb4 as my home page with tab highlighted.
Tried every thing using site builder but could not find the template which displays forum in this way.

[Wayne Luke]

You're describing the default installation of vBulletin 5.

What does your vBulletin 5 load like now?

[albanah]

How to go back to default layout?

[Lynne]

What is your site currently showing when you load it? What is it you want it to show instead?

[albanah]

I'm trying to make forums look like vb4
and cms my home page as before

[Trevor Hannant]

Having a link to your vB5 site would help us look at what you've got just now so we can then give you best advice. Currently we're shooting in the dark...

[Wayne Luke]

You would need to set your Articles Page as your Home Page to do what you want. To do this follow these steps:

1. Backup your database completely.
2. Click on the Forums tab.
3. Click on Edit Page in the Site Builder Menu.
4. Click on Save Page in the new dialog.
5. Change the URL of the Forums page from blank to forums.
6. Continue saving the page.
7. Click on the Articles tab.
8. Click Edit Page in the Site Builder Menu.
9. Click on Save Page in the new dialog.
10. Change the URL of the Articles page from articles to blank.
11. Continue saving the page.
12. Clear the System Cache in the AdminCP under Maintenance.

To get the 3-column layout like you have in vBulletin 4 do this:

1. Click on the Articles Tab.
2. Click on Edit Page in the Site Builder Menu.
3. Click on the Layouts tab in the new dialog.
4. Choose the 3-column layout that you prefer.
5. Click on Modules.
6. Add any modules you want using the tools provided.
7. Click on Save Page and save your Articles page.

To update the tabs in your navigation bar do this:

1. Click on Navigation Bar in the Site Builder Menu.
2. Drag and drop the existing tabs so they are in the order that you want them to appear in.
3. Click on the Pencil icon for the Articles tab.
4. Change the text from Articles to Home.
5. Save the Navigation Bar.

If something goes wrong and you can't access your site properly after these changes, restore the database backup that you created.

[Wayne Luke]

If all of that seems too complicated, then you should vote for this issue: http://tracker.vbulletin.com/browse/VBV-15800

[albanah]

When I reach step 6, it gives the error attached.

Change the URL of the Forums page from blank to forums.
Continue saving the page.

[Mark.B]

As the error suggests, that URL is already being used, you probably have a custom page using it.

Just pick something else like boards. (Not forum though, that is already used by default).

[albanah]

Now forums tab only highlighted but showing cms articles content.
The articles tab does not get selected. When I click on it, it directs to forum tab.

[Wayne Luke]

Please restore the database backup and try again. Each step has to be followed in the exact order.

[albanah]

I followed steps in exact order.
Adding modules and templates in vb5 is very difficult.
I find it very strange when reverting to default set up needs database restore!

[Wayne Luke]

Changing the home page isn't something the system was designed for. An oversight in my opinion.

[albanah]

Thank you Wayne
I will wait until vb5 is stable. vb4 is far better in my long experience with vb.

[Mark.B]

Thank you Wayne
I will wait until vb5 is stable. vb4 is far better in my long experience with vb.

It's stable now.
The issue is that this functionality was never designed to be in it. The steps we've described are a workaround and do work for most people.