[Solved] Sub Forum Layout  

Posted by: @jwhit16

1) Show main forum content before sub-forums.

2) Enable a sub-forum drop down menu.

3) Enable sub-forum pagination.

Thank you for the suggestions @jwhit16,

We've added this in our to-do list. Currently, let's try to create the #2 using a simple custom code. But it'll look like this and it'll jump to selected sub-forum once you choose it:

Please follow the instruction below:

1. Put this function in your active WordPress theme functions.php file:

function wpforo_custom_subforum_dropdown(){
    if( function_exists('WPF') ){
       if ( WPF()->current_object['template'] == 'topic' && wpfval(WPF()->current_object, 'forum', 'url')
        ) {
          $args = array( "parentid" => WPF()->current_object['forumid'], "type" => 'forum' );
          if( $forums = WPF()->forum->get_forums( $args ) ){
             ?>
                <div class="wpf-sub-wrap">
                    <select class="wpf-sub-forums" onchange="window.location = this.options[this.selectedIndex].value">
                        <option value="<?php echo esc_url_raw(WPF()->current_object['forum']['url']) ?>"><?php wpforo_phrase('Sub-Forums'); ?></option>
                   <?php
                   foreach ( $forums as $forum ){
                      if( WPF()->perm->forum_can( 'vf', $forum['forumid'] ) ) {
                         $forum_url = wpforo_forum( $forum['forumid'], 'url' );
                         echo '<option value="' . esc_url_raw( $forum_url ) . '">' . $forum['title'] . '</option>';
                      }
                   }
                   ?>
                    </select>
                </div>
             <?php
          }
       }
    }
}

2. Put this CSS code in Dashboard > Forums > Settings > Styles Tab > Custom CSS Code textarea. Save it, delete all caches and reset optimizer / minifier plugins cache if you have any:

#wpforo #wpforo-wrap.wpft-topic .cat-stat-questions,
#wpforo #wpforo-wrap.wpft-topic .cat-stat-answers,
#wpforo #wpforo-wrap.wpft-topic .cat-stat-posts{display:none;}
#wpforo #wpforo-wrap.wpft-topic .wpf-sub-wrap{width: 100%; background: #f5f5f5; padding: 10px; }
#wpforo #wpforo-wrap.wpft-topic .wpf-sub-forums{width: 90%; margin:0 auto 0px auto!important; display:block;}
#wpforo #wpforo-wrap.wpft-topic .forum-wrap {border-top: #cccccc 1px solid;display: none;}

3. Create an update-safe copy of wpForo Q&A layout forums.php file,

3.1 Create /wpforo/ folder in WordPress active theme directory,

3.2 Copy /wp-content/plugins/wpforo/wpf-themes/classic/forum.php file to the /wpforo/ folder,

3.3 Edit the copied /wpforo/forum.php file, find this part of code:

else : ?>
   <p class="wpf-p-error">
      <?php wpforo_phrase('No forums were found here.') ?>
   </p>
<?php endif;

3.4. Add the new custom wpforo_custom_subforum_dropdown() function before that code. It should look like this:

wpforo_custom_subforum_dropdown();
else : ?>
   <p class="wpf-p-error">
      <?php wpforo_phrase('No forums were found here.') ?>
   </p>
<?php endif;

When I made these updates, subforums display in view of entire community. When I click on main forum in which I have sub forums, the sub forums disappear completely. 

It's actually not a bad layout for the time being, but I would be curious to see the drop-down. I have cleared cache through WP Rocket

Thanks for your response. I was able to resolve after review. 

My only concern is whether I created the update safe copy correctly. I copied the forom.php part of the plugin and I have used File Manager in my hosting to create a WP Foro folder and save it under wp-content > themes. 

It is next to the folder I used for my child theme.

Is there a tutorial for this to check if I have saved correctly?

I have followed these steps exactly. After adding /wpforo/ folder to child theme the changes have not been made.

The changes worked originally but it is not update proof, I lost changes on last update to plugin