Description: This is a guide to creating your own modifications to the user page. This includes discussions of PHP, MySQL, and other things you will need to know in order to modify your user page.

Requirements: eFiction 2.0

This guide is also written as though you currently have user.php, viewuser.php, and your database open as you’re reading.

Mod History:
29 June 2006 — Created this guide and submitted to developers for review
09 July 2006 — Guide Released
14 July 2006 — Edited for clarity

Download HTML version

Modification & Support: eFiction.org

Table of Contents

• Page 1: Introduction & Requirements
• Page 2: Understanding your Database Structure
• Page 3: Planning your Database Addition
• Page 4: Inserting your new field
• Page 5: Introduction to user.php
• Page 6: Understanding SQL statements
• Page 7: The Edit Bio Form

INTRODUCTION

So you want to create a custom user page? Great! Customizations to the user page are probably one of the areas that receive the most modification requests for eFiction 2.0. While this page may look confusing, it’s actually pretty straight forward once you get the hang of it.

As with any mod, making frequent backups is essential. If you want to be really safe, I suggest making multiple copies of your modifications as you progress through each step, for an easy return to that step should something go wrong.

Another thing to note is that eFiction 3.0 will allow you to add your own custom fields to the user profile. I’ll update this guide or release a new one once it is released to explain how to customize your install and how to do further modifications.

*hugs* Thanks everyone for your support.

Well, my fight with Netbunch is getting me nowhere. They finally canceled my account after I wrote them and informed them that I would be reporting them to the BBB.

I am apparently reached the end of what I can do with them. In my first letter, I informed them that I had written and specifically requested that my account be canceled. Three e-mails later, I’m told that they’re “sorry” (bullshit) that my account was auto-billed. Did I tell them to cancel my account? *head-desk* YES, you idiot! I told you three months ago to cancel my account! I wrote them back and informed them that yes, it had, gave the support ticket number, and the person’s name who responded.

And that is it. They stopped responding. I swear, this is shades of AOL.

I suppose it’s officially time to begin my dialogue with the BBB and my credit card. yay. really. i’m really, super excited. …*sigh* I hate phone menus…

I probably should just buckle down and get an account with Paypal so I can begin accepting donations.

I suppose I should expect this, if you do a web search on Netbunch or Webhostplus and you get tons of results from people like me who have been burned by them. That’s probably one of the reasons they keep changing names every year or so. (My first suspicion being that they’re doing it to try and hide from the BBB/Attourney General due to the number of complaints they keep getting.)

Either way, avoid Netbunch / Webhostplus / Mesopia like the plague. If they buy out your hosting company, find a new one QUICK. They aren’t a good (or particularly safe) company to go with.

*growls* Remember three months ago when I moved my server? Remember how I said I canceled my services with that old host?

Guess what? I just checked my old Jinxandjedi yahoo account where I used for my old domain’s contact e-mail. I was thinking I could safely let it die. When they answered my cancelation e-mail, I removed all my credit card and contact information. They didn’t need it anymore.

Instead, I checked it this afternoon and guess what I discovered?

Note the date that I indicate with the blue arrow; they’ve been charging our credit card for three months. What’s more, they charged me $12 for renewing my domain which they don’t even have anymore! All my credit card information was back on the account, even though I deleted it. But for some strange reason they had my address mostly correct too and I didn’t even give it to them!!! (They had me listed as #17; I’m at #47)

As soon as I calm down I’m writing a complaint to the BBB and seeing if the bank can refuse any and all future charges from those assholes. Originally, I wasn’t even going to bother, but now I’m absolutely livid!