Layouts by: JLK

Matching Guestbook

It is very easy to make a matching guestbook when using one of my layouts. Especially if you have an account with SignMyGuestbook. These directions assume that you are using such a guestbook.
1. choose which of my layouts you would like to use for your diary and guestbook. Copy the code for the entry section and paste it into Notepad or Editpad... so that you can edit a few things.
2. find the line that says <div class="entry"> and select everything in this section including the ending </div>, delete what you selected and replace it with the following code. (Note: you may have to change where it says %%username%% to your SignMyGuestbook username cuz I don't know if that tag works w/ SMG or not.) %%entries%% <HR> older guestbook entries: %%links_to_older_entries%% <HR> sign my guestbook here: <form method=post action="http://members.signmyguestbook.com/edit/sign"> your name: <input type=text name=signername size=18> your email: <input type=text name=email size=18> your url: <input type=text name=url size=36> your message: <textarea name="message" ROWS="10" COLS="36" wrap="virtual"></TEXTAREA> <input type=hidden name="username" value="%%username%%"> <input type=submit value="sign my guestbook!"> </FORM> </div> 3. Go here for the layout of the guestbook, select everything in the box and delete it, then replace it with the code you just edited above.
4. Next you want to change what the idividual entries look like, you would do that by going here, deleting everything that is in the box, and replacing it with the following code:

5. Next you're going to check your guestbook and make sure it looks right. You may see something that says:
get your own guestbook at SignMyGuestbook.com
DiaryLand diaries - NotifyList mailing lists - Pitas weblogs
covering part of your layout. If so, go back here and find the part that you added that looks like this: continue to add a few more to the end of this until the text isn't covering any part of your layout anymore.
5. Once the guestbook looks right to you, you're going to want to link it from your diary. Depending on your layout, the links are coded diferently. If your layout has a drop down menu, then you would add a link to your guestbook like this:
<option value="http://USERNAME.signmyguestbook.com">Guestbook </option>
If your layout using text links it would be coded like this:
<a href="http://USERNAME.signmyguestbook.com">Guestbook</a>
In some cases the text link would have an image or something else in front of each link. To put this for your new link, just copy that part from one of the other links and add it in front of this new link you just made. You would add this new link anywhere in the navigation section on both the entry and archive templates. The most logical place would be after or before the link to your Notes page. Check your diary and click the link to make sure that it works properly.

If you need help understanding or implementing these changes for your guestbook, please feel free to contact me thru e-mail or instant messeger and I will try to help you as best as I can. My contact information can be found in the About/Terms of Use section of this page.