Add a smiley set

Work in progress, expect frequent changes.

Installing New Smiley Sets

There are two ways to install new smiley sets. Administrators can either use the Package Manager, or upload it directly to their server.

Install a Smiley Set Using the Package Manager

The Package Manager can be used to install new smiley sets to the forum. This is the best way to install smiley sets which have been downloaded from the SMF Customization site, or other SMF sites. It works the same way as installing new modifications.

Smiley packages from SMF sites usually already meet the multiple set rules described in the Multiple Smiley Sets section, but not always. Administrators should double-check this after installing them. See the Enter Smiley Data section below, to learn how.

Upload a Smiley Set Directly to the Server

The other way to add a smiley set is to create a new directory inside the "Smileys" server directory. First, give it an appropriate name, like "blue_smiley_set", for example. Then upload all the actual graphic files (primarily PNG and/or GIF files, probably) into that directory.

Next, go to Admin Center > Smileys and Message Icons > Smiley Sets and click on the New Smiley Set button in the bottom right corner.

• Name - Type a name for the set, which would likely be the same name that was given to the server directory, "blue_smiley_set" in this case.
• URL - Click the dropdown menu and choose "blue_smiley_set".
• Default Smiley Set - Check this box if this set is going to be the forum's default set.

Be sure to click the Save Changes button in the bottom right corner, when you finish.

This is the best way to install a custom set of smileys, which administrators may have compiled themselves. However, this technique may result in sets which do not meet the multiple sets rules, explained in the Multiple Smiley Sets section. Please see the next section, Enter Smiley Data, to learn how to configure them.

Enter Smiley Data

No matter which way the new smiley set has been installed, administrators should go next to Admin Center > Forum > Smileys and Message Icons > Edit Smileys and make sure all the individual data for each smiley is correct. The Admin Center is set up to configure smileys for the multiple sets rules, but you should always double-check. In any case, any of the smiley data can be edited here. Please see the Edit Smileys section for details.

On this page is a table containing all the individual smileys, and their unique data as described below. In the top right corner, be sure to select the newly installed set, or whichever set you need to edit. There are seven columns in this table.

• The far left column has no title, but obviously is displaying the actual smiley graphics. You can edit any of the smiley's data by clicking on them, or by clicking Modify, five columns to the right.
• Code - This column shows the combination of characters which will display the smiley when entered in the message editor.
• Filename - This column gives the name of the smiley's file.
• Location - This shows the location of the smiley. It can either be displayed in the message editor, or post form, More, or hidden. More is a small button in the row of smileys where they are displayed above the message editor. If all the smileys you have installed do not fit above the editor, you can put them in a popup window, which is activated by clicking the More button. Hidden means the smiley is installed, but cannot be used or even seen anywhere.
• Tooltip or Description - This is the name of the smiley, which should match the equivalent smileys in all the other sets that are installed.
• Modify - Click this text link if you want to edit any of the previous smiley data.
• The last column on the right does not have a title, but contains checkboxes. This will allow you to edit the same data as the Modify text button, except you can edit more than one smiley at a time. In the bottom right corner is a dropdown menu titled With Selected. If you click on that, there are four choices for whichever smileys are checked:
  • Make Hidden - This option hides the selected smileys but does not remove them.
  • Show on Post Form - This option displays the selected smileys above the message editor.
  • Show on Popup - This is the More button which is described above under Location. The selected smileys are displayed on the popup window.
  • Remove - This removes the selected smileys from the forum.

Organize Smileys

At this point, administrators may also wish to set the order in which the smileys appear, in whichever place they have chosen for them to appear. On the Admin Center > Forum > Smileys and Message Icons > Set Smiley Order page, it is simple and intuitive to set the order. Please see Set Smiley Order for details.