SMF Files and Their Meanings

Root

The root directory of the forum.

• agreement.txt - What registrars have to agree by in order to successfully Register on any SMF forum, when the "Show and require agreement letter when registering" option enabled.
• index.php - The file used to show your forum to visitors.
• install.php - The file used to setup the initial SMF forum. This file configures database information, Forum information and the initial administrator's account. Can be a security threat if left dormant.
• upgrade.php - Upgrades any version of an SMF Forum to a newer version. Can be a security threat if left dormant.
• repair_settings.php - Edits the paths to different directories, URLs and database connection information. Can be a security threat if left dormant.
• license.txt - As the operator of an SMF forum, you have to agree to the terms contained in this file.
• Settings.php - Contains information about the forum, server settings, database connection information, etc.
• Settings_bak.php - A backup of "Settings.php".
• SSI.php - Some functions from your Forum to be used on your website, if you wish (i.e. login system, show last posts, etc.).
• ssi_examples.php - Examples of how to integrate SSI's functions in a PHP file.
• ssi_examples.shtml - Examples of how to integrate SSI's functions in an SHTML file.
• readme.html - A wealth of information about SMF, what's required to it, etc.

attachments

The directory where attachments are stored in a default installtion.

• index.php - Does not allow contents of the directory to be listed.

avatars

The directory where avatar packages are stored. Avatars uploaded by users are instead stored in the #attachments directory.

• index.php - Does not allow contents of the directory to be listed.

cache

In this directory are stored files generated by SMF for caching informations.

• index.php - Does not allow contents of the directory to be listed.

Packages

In this directory are stored the packages to be used through the package manager.

• index.php - Does not allow contents of the directory to be listed.
• installed.list - The list of currently installed packages (packages installed through the Package Manager).
• server.list - A list of packages' servers to which you can connect and get new or updated packages.
• backup - A directory where are store the backups created by SMF every time a mod is installed or removed.

Smileys

Here are stored the smiley packs, one per each subdirectory.

• index.php - Does not allow contents of the directory to be listed.

Sources

In this directory are stored the core files of SMF.

• Admin.php - A file that handles basic administration.
• BoardIndex.php - Used to display the Board index.
• Calendar.php - Displays the calendar.
• Class-Graphics.php -
• Class-Packages.php -
• DbExtra-mysql.php -
• DbExtra-postgresql.php -
• DbExtra-sqlite.php -
• DbPackages-mysql.php -
• DbPackages-postgresql.php -
• DbPackages-sqlite.php -
• DbSearch-mysql.php -
• DbSearch-postgresql.php -
• DbSearch-sqlite.php -
• Display.php - This file controls topic, message and Attachment display.
• DumpDatabase.php - Used to backup an SMF forum's SQL database through the admin panel.
• Errors.php - Logs Forum and database errors.
• Groups.php -
• Help.php - This file takes care of help messages and the help center.
• index.php - Does not allow contents of the directory to be listed.
• Karma.php - Handles the "karma" feature in SMF.
• Load.php - The file used to load nearly every page of an SMF forum.
• LockTopic.php - Handles the locking and stickying of topics.
• LogInOut.php - File used to log members in and out.
• ManageAttachments.php - Handles the managing of attachments.
• ManageBans.php -
• ManageBoards.php - Manage your forum's boards (create, edit and remove boards, assign moderators to boards, authorize access to boards to certain membergroups, etc.).
• ManageCalendar.php -
• ManageErrors.php -
• ManageMail.php -
• ManageMaintenance.php -
• ManageMembergroups -
• ManageMembers.php - Handles the managing of members.
• ManageNews.php -
• ManagePaid.php -
• ManagePermissions.php - Handles the managing of permissions.
• ManagePosts.php -
• ManageRegistration.php -
• ManageScheduledTasks.php -
• ManageSearch.php -
• ManageSearchEngins.php -
• MAnageServer.php -
• ManageSettings.php -
• ManageSmileys.php - Handles the managing of smileys.
• Memberlist.php - contains the functions for displaying and searching in the members list.
• MessageIndex.php - Shows the listing of topics in a board.
• ModerationCenter.php -
• Modlog.php - Controls the moderation log.
• MoveTopic.php - Contains the functions required to move topics from one Board to another board.
• News.php - Contains the files necessary to display news as an XML feed.
• Notify.php - Controls the toggling of notifications.
• PackageGet.php - Tool used by the Package Manager to retrieve package files.
• Packages.php - The Package Manager of SMF.
• PersonalMessage.php -
• Poll.php - Contains the functions for voting, locking, removing and editing polls.
• Post.php - Handles everything related to posting replies, new topics, quotes and modifications to existing posts. Also handles quoting posts by way of a popup.
• PostModeration.php -
• Printpage.php - File used to format a Topic to make it printer-friendly.
• Profile-Actions.php -
• Profile-Modify.php -
• Profile-View.php -
• Profile.php - Handles user profiles.
• QueryString.php - Handles the query string, request variables and session management.
• Recent.php - Finds and retrieves information about recently posted topics, messages, etc.
• Register.php - Manages registrations.
• Reminder.php - Used to send members password reminders.
• RemoveTopic.php - Used to completely remove an entire topic.
• RepairBoards.php - Used when searching for and repairing data errors or corruption.
• Reports.php -
• ScheduledTasks.php -
• Search.php - Files used to search an SMF forum.
• SearchAPI-Custom.php -
• SearchAPI-Fulltext.php -
• SearchAPI-Standard.php -
• Security.php - Insures Forum security.
• SendTopic.php - File that deals with sending topics to a friend.
• SplitTopics.php - This file handles merging and splitting topics.
• Stats.php - Provides a display for Forum statistics.
• Subs-Admin.php -
• Subs-Auth.php - Handles authentication, user handling, etc.
• Subs-BoardIndex.php -
• Subs-Boards.php - Handles marking boards and topics read, collapsing categories and quick moderation.
• Subs-Calendar.php -
• Subs-Category.php -
• Subs-Charset.php -
• Subs-Compat.php -
• Subs-Db-mysql.php -
• Subs-Db-postgresql.php -
• Subs-Db-sqlite.php -
• Subs-Editor.php -
• Subs-Graphics.php - Handles all aspects of users' avatars.
• Subs-List.php -
• Subs-Membergroups.php -
• Subs-Members.php -
• Subs-MembersOnline.php -
• Subs-Menu.php -
• Subs-MessageIndex.php -
• Subs-OpenID.php -
• Subs-Package.php - Contains functions for handling .tar.gz and .zip files, as well as a simple XML parser to handle the XML package stuff. Not to mention a few functions to make file handling easier.
• Subs-Post.php - This file contains those functions pertaining to posting and other such operations, including sending emails, IMs, blocking spam, preparsing posts, spell checking and the Post box.
• Subs-Recent.php -
• Subs-Sound.php -
• Subs.php - Contains many of the general-use functions the Forum needs to work.
• Subscriptions-PayPal.php -
• Themes.php - Handles Theme administration.
• ViewQuery.php - This file is concerned with viewing queries and is used for debugging.
• Who.php - Handles the "Who's Online" list.
• Xml.php -

Themes

In this directory are contained all the themes installed in the forum, one theme for each subdirectory.

• index.php - Does not allow contents of the directory to be listed.