Integration with Vanilla

Before you begin

• You are supposed to have BlaB! AX Pro installed and running in standalone mode. How to install
• Make sure that BlaB! AX Pro and Vanilla are installed in the same database.
• The best place to put BlaB! AX Pro is under Vanilla so that BlaB! AX Pro is able to read Vanilla session or login cookies:
  • BAD: website.com/forum/ » website.com/chat/ (might work in some cases)
  • BAD: forum.website.com » chat.website.com (will NOT work in most cases)
  • GOOD: website.com/forum/ » website.com/forum/chat/
  • GOOD: forum.website.com » forum.website.com/chat/
• A common www issue: if you login to Vanilla from www.website.com BlaB! AX Pro will not be able to read Vanilla session cookie if loaded without www and vice-versa. If possible set relative links only. A solution with a .htaccess file for Apache - Google Search.
• The MySQL table prefix of Vanilla can be seen from phpMyAdmin. Alternatively, use Adminer which is an excellent one-file MySQL manager.
• The easiest way to determine the name of the required login/session cookie of Vanilla:
  • Login to Vanilla with Chrome/Chromium
  • Press CTRL+SHIFT+I to open Developer tools » Network » press F5 to reload » Select the 1st URL » Cookies
  • You'll have a hint what to look for in the instructions below.
  • How to find a cookie name (This one is for WordPress, the process is identical): YouTube Video
• In case you login to both: Vanilla and BlaB! AX Pro your BlaB! AX Pro login is preferred! Since you are most probably logged in as SuperAdmin when you adjust settings in BlaB! AX Pro AdminCP use another browser to test the integration.

Integration

1. Have you read carefully Before you begin above? All clear?
2. Go to BlaB! AX Pro AdminCP » Integration and set:
   • Bulletin Board or CMS you want to integrate with: Vanilla
   • Session or other cookie set by your BB or CMS: Vanilla
   • Vanilla MySQL table prefix, probably: GDN_
   • Review the other variables and SAVE
3. Open config.php with a text editor and set (an example is set at the bottom of the file):
   • CookieHashMethod - can be found in vanilla/conf/config-defaults.php probably md5 or sha1
   • CookieSalt - can be found in vanilla/conf/config.php
   • Save and reupload the file
4. Go to BlaB! AX Pro AdminCP » Groups and click on Delete and link groups.
5. If the integration variables are set properly, and you are logged onto Vanilla, you should be able to enter the chat directly with your Vanilla username.
6. How to embed BlaB! AX Pro in Vanilla:
   • Navigate to Vanilla ACP » Appearance » Message and add a new message with the following content:

     <iframe src="PATH_OR_URL_TO_BLAB/index.php" border="0" frameborder="0" style="width:100%;height:400px;border-width:0px"></iframe>

   • Page: Discussion Page
   • Position: Above main content
   • Save