myspace civilized
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customizing your contact table
Customizing your myspace contact table is perhaps the most counterintuitive among the many counter-intuitive techniques required to pimp your profile (so to speak). Much of this is drawn from the mikeindustries hack.

Step 1: Create Your Custom Contact Menu Background Image
The first step is the creative one. You can use the image below as a template (left-click -> right-click -> save as) for creating your own contact table menu using your favorite graphics editor. (I use Macromedia's Fireworks.)



Step 2 : Upload Your Image
Upload your image to a server where it will be accessible by the code below. I have my own server, so I host mine there. I suspect you could upload it to your myspace photos, then right click -> properties to get the URL, and use that. There are also a number of free image hosting services out there that cater to myspace, though I don't know which one is best.

Step 3 : The Code
The only edit you should have to make to the code below is to replace YOURIMGURLHERE with the url for your background image. The rest of the code just formats the myspace contact table to neatly display your image in place of the myspace defaults.


START { CUSTOM CONTACT TABLE }
Credit { Mike D at www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2006/04/hacking-myspace-layouts }

.contactTable { width: 328px !important; }
.contactTable td { padding:0px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; }
.contactTable td table td {background-color:transparent; border-width:0px;}
.contactTable td table
{
background-image: url(YOURIMGURLHERE);
background-color: transparent; background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat;
}
.contactTable a { padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1px 5px; display: block; height: 30px; width: 136px; background-color: transparent; }
.contactTable a img, .contactTable img { border: 0px; display: none; visibility: hidden; }
.contactTable span.whitetext12 { position:left; left:10px; top:2px; }

NOTE { Firefox realignments }
html>body .contactTable { width: auto !important; }
html>body .contactTable span.whitetext12 { left: 0; }

END { CUSTOM CONTACT TABLE }


See my unadorned example here.

Problems? Questions? Comment or contact me.

comments

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I have managed to use this with some sucess, howere you CAN'T upload your content table image to your mayspace account as it automatically defaults to make your image 170pixels accross which makes it tiny and problematic.

What I am now having problems with however is making it work cross platform, cell padding for explorer seems to be 25, and in firefox it's 3. The code that instructs firefox here doesn't seem to be limited to instructing firefox, am I using it incorrectly? HELP!


Thanks
Fi
Hmmm... wasn't aware of the myspace limit on image sizes. Should have expected...

As far as the padding problem -- I'm not sure where the 25px would be coming from. Are you using v 1.1? I don't see any settings that correspond to that -- but then myspace's code makes side-effects unpredicatable.

One other possibility is that the IE7 update has broken-- er, corrected -- some workaround I have been using. Are you using IE7?

If you can give me a link to your profile with the problem, I'll check it out. You can contact me through my klenwell profile or via my blogger profile email link. You might also check the recivilized profile to see if the problem is visible there in IE. If so, it's probably an IE7 thing. (I haven't updated yet so I can't check myself.)

In any event, I'd be curious to see the problem and try to fix it.

Regards,
Tom
hi yeh, the profile is: www.myspace.com/thegeekgirlgirl

my email is geekgirl@rockchick.co.uk if you see anything I can do! Will check out what you said. Cheers.
All in all, your profile looks good. I wouldn't lose any sleep over the cell padding issue, as I think most people won't notice anything wrong.

However, if you are losing sleep over it, I have one suggestion: try perhaps a smaller background image. If you compare your image to the sample I provide above, yours is about 30px wider (and a little taller). I'm not sure if you're unhappy with the way IE displays or FF -- but that may well account for any differences.

Happy Halloween!
Solved a huge problem for us - thanx so much... that code works great :o)

/hallie
Hey, I copied and pasted as you instructed, however my picture didn't show up at all. My myspace page is http://myspace.com/ajunejohnson


I was trying to add this image: http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=42550cxmmvgcvg2uc6.jpg
Hey, I copied and pasted as you instructed, however my picture didn't show up at all.

Could be an issue with the host -- imageshack. That url you posted is not a direct link to the image file itself, but rather a link to a page:

http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php

which the "?image=42550cxmmvgcvg2uc6.jpg" part then tells to go find the image and put in this page.

Try using this url instead (it's the direct link to the image):

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/1181/42550cxmmvgcvg2uc6.jpg

I don't know it to be the case, but I wouldn't be surprised if imageshack prevented direct linking to the image -- the goal naturally is to get users back to their site, which a background image doesn't really facilitate.
I used the direct image that you provided, but it still did not work. I'm so lost as what to do
I have a question. On my Myspace I have these icons. And they all go vertically on top of each other. Do you have any idea of how I can get them to go horizontal so it doesn't make my Myspace UBER long?

Here is my Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/beastboyravenforever
I will un private my Myspace for the time being. Please let me know if you can help.
I have a question. On my Myspace I have these icons. And they all go vertically on top of each other. Do you have any idea of how I can get them to go horizontal so it doesn't make my Myspace UBER long?

Sorry, I missed the unblocked window. Not sure if this is possible or not. Probably not, but would depend on how they're added. If you could wrap them in a div tag, then you could add a class name and maybe bend it to your will.

Good luck!
Tom
I did everything you said and my contact table does not change to the one i want it to.

here is my myspace link

http://www.mypace.com/myfrikinspace

and here is the contact table URL


http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o214/azp3/th_sex.gif
i just jeft the above comment and the code i'm trying to use didn't even come out right in the comment

here it is

http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o214/azp3/th_sex.gif


and then when i preview this comment the whole code isn't showing so i don't even know if you are seeing it all
Hi my page is http://www.myspace.com/monsterofleaves

this code doesn't appear to work in Firefox ... don't know why i've tried to figure it out but no luck.

Works in explorer thought so I don't see what's wrong
hey im just wondering if someone can tell me how to fix a problem n my myspace...if you go to it www.myspace.com/houseofsorrow you'll notice that my message center and profile pic are at the center right of the screen, you cant even reach it till you scroll halfway down the page...i have tried putting in different layout codes and even though the backround changes the positioning of my message center stays the same PLEASE HELP!
correction...center left
you'll notice that my message center and profile pic are at the center right of the screen, you cant even reach it till you scroll halfway down the page

The problem is that that part of the page is being vertically centered, which normally can only be applied to table cells (td tag). The solution? Not sure exactly. You might start by tinkering with rules that apply to table cells.

Good luck!
Do you know how to edit the actual links within the Contact table? I want the IM chat link to go to a different website for chatting with me, and not to use myspace's chat service.

Thanks!
Do you know how to edit the actual links within the Contact table?

Chellie,

I don't think it's possible. It's built out of javascript or something, so not susceptible to the other techniques described here.

You could follow the directions for a custom banner and build a new table and try to position it over the existing one, but it'd be tough if possible at all.

If you find out otherwise, please let me know.

Thanks,
Tom
hey,i wondered if you knew the code to how i can move my contact table to my "about me" section- I did it before but now I cant find the code again...
I am working on a myspace page - ie 6.0 reads the image, but firefox does not. It is the contact section.
how do make your myspace unprivate??????help me please
I have a custome page made using the html div, so my myspace page is covered with my default page, hence your how do I add a contact box? check the page - www.myspace.com/arodrive
I have a custome page made using the html div, so my myspace page is covered with my default page, hence your how do I add a contact box

I'm not sure the two methods are compatible. For info on div overlay method, I would check this site:

http://hyalineskies.com/blog/2006/06/the-web-designers-guide-to-myspace/

Or google 'eston bond myspace'.

Good luck.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=114898475

I need help in getting that message removed on the front of my page, please help if you cant
thank you
LA
I got my contact table to work, but on top of the contact table it says "contacting tito". I t over laps the image. How do I take the off? here my profile http://www.myspace.com/familiabajouncion
I tried to paste a new contact table picture on but it showed up too big on the first try. I then tried a few other ones but got nothing as well. The lettering inside the contact box somehow got erased and no background color. The only thing in the ontact table box is "Contacting my name" do you know why this is???
Hi, I copied your text into my profile to create my own contact table, and my text does not show up. I have tried innumerable things to make it work. Do you have any ideas? No one else seems to be having this problem.
Stupid question, but where does one put Tom's code to change the contact style? Thanks.
i tried what you said and it doesnt work how do i get this going.. if this helps.. go to myspace.com/threetymzsic i need this please.. im using photobucket.com to get my images..
and it still dont work..
it just shows me coding thats it.. help please.. im learning..
My profile is screwy on IE.
I don't know how to fix it...
I'm a noob. xD
Can you tell me what I did wrong?
Thanks!
This is the url:
http://www.myspace.com/crushenda
I put on a new background and tables....but the tables are way far to the Left of the screen...is there anyway to move them to the right? here is my URL
http://www.myspace.com/h_a_v_0_c
I am having trouble seeing my contact table on my profile. when I click "preview profile" I can see it clearly, but when I click say then go to my profile itself, i can not see anything at all. I have tried different sites and codes, but nothing is working. Can you please help me out?

My display name Brent
i have a good? for ya i had to do a system reformat and all my pictures were deleted!! now when i go to change my display picture i cant do it because the pic was deleted from my computer so the ? is how do i erase the one i currently have so as i may load a new display picture?? thanks DragonLady,
I cleared my background and my contact table disappeared. I cannot get it to come back, it's just a blank box. The is no help that I can locate on the profile editor, which by the way has changed and Not so user friendly as the last one. Can somebody help?
I have been trying to customize my layout and/or using premade layouts. When I view my profile, I can sometimes see the new layout flash, but then it goes away and I get just a blank (or almost) layout. My myspace link is:

www.\\myspace.com\DAM5662

I copy the code into the 'about me' section, but it doesn't work.

Help!
My profile is extremely messed up. My about me, and who i'd like to meet have been shifted more than half way down my page along with my status and blogs. my url is www.myspace.com/sammie0508
Myspace profiel appears blank today.
Is anyone else experiencing this problem?
myspace.com/hypnoticpictures
contactTable won't show in Firefox, only in IE and Chrome. I haven't tested anything else.
My page is permanatly centered i cant manage to undo it i have erased everything and it still stays the same i dont know wut to do anymore can anyone help plz!!
i am havin a problem with my colums they r so far apart that u have to scroll sideways to see everything. how do i fix this?
i deleted my content table while trying to change my back ground on myspace. I am new computers and didnt realize what i did until i read not to delete that. I had hit home, then it was under general, and not about me, but i deleted the whole content table. what do i do know to gt that back? and did i mess up my myspace page? My original background is still up there, but i cant change it. please help.
HeLLo!
I was messing with my profile ( and i did mess it up ) i have no idea what code i deleted, but my profile picture and the conctact table are in the middle of the page, can you help me to put it back to the top left?
I tried the 'clear all" under p'profile themes' and it did not work, i have myspace profile 1.0

myspace.com/luxotica

Your help would be greatly appreciated!
LoLa
I have lost the text icon that say 'playlist' underneath my profile picture. 'pic' and 'videos' is still there. I was trying to share my playlist with facebook. It worked for a while but now the 'playlist' icon has disapeared only the myspace homepage appears. Can you help me fix this? Thanx

Geoff
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