as basic integration you can duplicate your index.php file in your theme direcotry and name it bbpress.php. then make changes in that file. it is wrapper file that bbpress will use. bbpress checks for wrapper file in given order: ‘bbpress.php’, ‘forum.php’, ‘page.php’, ‘single.php’, ‘index.php’
If you want custom sidebar for bbpress pages then use “bbPress WP Tweaks” plugin from wordpress plugin repository.
If you want different sidebar to be displayed instead of blog sidebar in your theme then you can use this plugin that replaces your blog sidebar with forum specific sidebar.
On forum sidebar you can list forums, login box or login and register links, latest topics. While on blog you would list latest posts, categories, pages etc.
Also you can select default forum wrapper using this plugin.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/bbpress-wp-tweaks/
Also you can use it to display login link for not logged in user. usually bbpress will say you need to login and not display link or form for login.
bbpress checks for ‘bbpress.php’, ‘forum.php’, ‘page.php’, ‘single.php’, ‘index.php’ files in your theme directory. uses first file that exists in this order.
You can copy your index.php as bbpress.php and make changes on it.
Is there documentation on how you can integrate your current them to bbpress? I see all these replies yes you can but no documentation. I mean I have dropped my theme into the bbpress folder etc etc.. and no luck. If anyone can help me out I would appreciate it.
Hi djoep, the converter would be awesome, but I had actually tried the manual instructions that you wrote up here in this thread. I got a good ways through it but then got stuck. 
I meant AWJunkies. I had offered to try to make the smf converter if only I could get a little help figuring out how to use their database query system. It is still a bit baffling to me why they chose to add a layer on top of SQL but there is where I ran into my roadblock.
I’m afraid I cannot help with the smf conversion until I can get some answers regarding use of the converter’s internal query mechanisms.
and… you just pointed out an error in my profile… should be bigtreestech.com.
joe
Hi djoep, are you meaning me that you tried to email about my SMF forum or are you talking the AWJunkies?
If you mean me, I never received it and would LOVE LOVE LOVE to contact you about how you converted your SMF forum. I’ll email you now to touch base with you. I originally have an SMF forum and had converted it to phpBB and waited on this phpBB converter. But I’m just having no luck and not sure what I’m doing wrong. I’ve thought of going back to the SMF forum and looking your instruction over again.
I hope you don’t if I contact you and try it again. Thx!
IF AWJunkies/Alex did make the SMF converter next, that might very well solve my problems so I’m not double converting to get it to bbpress.
ETA: djoep, your profile doesn’t have an email in it. I tried your site link but it doesn’t seem to be a working website anymore. My email is dianna@diannamangus.com if you would or want to contact to help me with the my SMF conversion. I did get pretty close with it, so I’m sure it’s just something stupid that I’m not doing correctly.
Thanks a lot, yeah I figured that out. I was confused between the 1.x and 2.x versions. Then I realised the 2.x version is basically a completely new thing that just kept the name, and is no longer stand alone.
Just finding that 2.x needs more plugins!
When you are actively using the plugin already, the bbPress admin area is under Settings/Forums. When you initially wish to install bbPress sitewide forums, you do that from the BuddyPress Tab, under Forums.
Setup is rather easy, and you can actually use both bbPress sitewide as well as the original BuddyPress Group Forums. Follow these important step however:
1) Install Group Forums as usual, from BuddyPress. Instead of using the original slug of “Forums”, please instead create a new page called “Group Forums” (or anything other than “Forums”), and select that as the active page to host Group Forums;
2) Go to your Pages area in WP and DELETE any “Forums” page. Be SURE to also delete it permanently from the TRASH because otherwise the slug is still being reserved and can’t be used by sitewide forums;
3) If you have not done so yet, go into BuddyPress tab and the Forums sub menu, and click on the option to install bbPress Sitewide Forums;
4) Go into your Appearance / Menus menu and manually create new menu item that has “/forums” as the url and whatever name you prefer (such as “Forums”). Save this menu item and add it to your primary or other menus.
5) Go into Settings/Permalinks and hit “Save” to be sure you have updated your permalink structure.
When you reload your page you will find that you now have bbPress AND BuddyPress Group Forums. Voila!
Cheers!
Spence
http://LabSecrets.com
I just installed the bbpress plugin and it seems to work great. I am working on stylizing it to match my site. How do I get it to use a specific page template for the forums? Can I make the forums pull into a specific page that I create and then set a page template?
What ever happened to SMF? I tried using the contact info given but have never received a response.
joe
Hi Begis,
Your 1) solution isn’t really an option. The automatic updating mechanism from WordPress will overwrite the whole plugin’s folder. And trading automatic update for manual… well, it’s likely that some time someone will run the automatic by mistake.
The 2) solution sounds good, but I guess it involves quite some work to develop the plugin ?
Does anyone knows if the WordPress team has some guidelines, I’m too new to plugin development to know, and I didn’t seem to find anything.
Is there anybody who can clarify whether there is a method of installing and/or setting up the bbPress plugin to access the blog and forum separately via virtual /blog and /forum subfolders respectively, having physically installed WordPress files in domain.com/wp subfolder?
Is there any news regarding the method of installing and/or setting up the bbPress plugin to access the blog and forum separately via virtual /blog and /forum subfolders, having physically installed WordPress files in domain.com/wp subfolder?
Is there any news regarding the method of installing and/or setting up the bbPress plugin to access the blog and forum separately via virtual /blog and /forum subfolders, having physically installed WordPress files in domain.com/wp subfolder?
Hi, I just finished installing bbPress and also enhanced with bbPress Moderation. But when trying to add a forum, topic or reply me –myself– as administrator also including in moderation. Do anyone have solution?
Thanks in advance.
Hi, I pimp my bbPress forum on my directory themes site at http://howtotheme.info/
How-to Theme brings together all the premium themes directory listing services you’ll ever need in one convenient site. We are the premier themes directory, specially in how-to themes directory.
Basically its just a clients support forum and located at http://howtotheme.info/forums with just basic bbPress installation and some css customization to serve support for my clients.
Great forum software and thanks bbPress.
I have read through the following topics below and tried the mentioned plugins on bbpress 1.1 and none of them seem to work. It stops external links working all together.
http://bbpress.org/forums/topic/open-links-in-new-window
http://bbpress.org/forums/topic/target-_blank
I would like to have external links open in a new window. I have filled my domain in like in _ck_ post-20612
Is there some reason why it would not be working on a later version?
Well guys, I don’t think so… Plugin and everything for it ought to be stored in one folder insidie plugin folder. How to keep translations?
1) not to delete them while updating (however don’t know, if it is possible)
2) after update, automatical download of language file based on locales… (as i.e. NextGen Gallery does…)
I realize this is a total noob question, and yet I’m not sure what the answer is.
Basically, I’d like to have a wordpress page, “Forum,” link directly to the bbpress forum.
Apparently, just setting up a page called “forum” doesn’t cut it.
What is the proper protocol?
The forum is set up here:
http://www.lsatwin.net/forum/lsat/score-higher/
Thanks.
Nope, bbPress 2x doesn’t have that but you can add it to your own theme if you choose.
I would start by deactivating all other plugins and also activate the default twentyeleven theme, then choosing one of the default url settings, click save. Then go to settings -> forums, and click save.
It sounds like maybe another plugin or a theme setting is interfering.
If it fixes the problem, then activate one plugin at a time to find the problem one..
My best guess…
To do that you would need to install WordPress in network subdomain multisite setup. Then you would create a new site ‘forum’ and put bbPress onto that site.
There may be other ways, but that is the only way I know how to do it.
