XFRM Right Sidebar Pro 2.5.2.1
A more powerful, more polished, and more practical upgrade for the Resource Manager sidebar
Hello everyone,
Today I’d like to introduce
XFRM Right Sidebar Pro, an add-on built for
XenForo Resource Manager 2.3+.
The goal of this add-on is not just to make the right sidebar on resource pages look better, but also to improve the overall XFRM experience in a way that feels more intuitive, modern, and useful for both administrators and members. If you feel that the default XFRM sidebar looks a bit plain, lacks emphasis, and does not make the best use of available space, this add-on was made to solve exactly that.
What does this add-on do?
1) Completely refreshes the XFRM right sidebar
This add-on applies a modern card-style layout to the Resource Manager sidebar, making each information block clearer, easier to read, and more visually appealing. Everything is arranged more cleanly than in the default layout, making it especially suitable for sites that share resources, plugins, themes, tools, or operate as download centers.
2) Makes action buttons stand out more
Buttons such as:
- Download
- External link
- Purchase
- Login / Register
can each have their own custom colors configured in the AdminCP. This allows administrators to match the forum’s branding or highlight the most important call-to-action.
3) Adds quick sorting buttons to resource lists
The add-on adds quick sort buttons at the top of resource and category listing pages, making it easier for members to filter content using criteria such as:
- Downloads
- Last update
- Rating
- Submission date
- Title
This is especially useful for forums with a large number of resources, as it helps users find the content they need faster without unnecessary extra steps.
4) Automatically generates Alt text for attachments and images
The add-on supports automatic generation of
Alt attributes for attachments and image BBCode based on a custom format.
This is especially useful for anyone who cares about:
- SEO
- better accessibility
- standardized attachment content
- automation on forums with many posts or resources
It can be configured by content type and forum node, and it also allows existing Alt text to be overridden when needed.
5) Adds a Request Update system for resources
The add-on allows members to send update requests directly to the resource author.
This is particularly useful for forums that share files, add-ons, templates, mods, and similar content, where users often want to notify authors that a resource is outdated, no longer current, or needs an update for a newer version.
In addition:
- members cannot request updates for their own resources
- daily anti-spam protection is included
- users can provide a reason for the update request
- administrators can also receive notifications through a configured user ID
6) Lets you view who downloaded a resource
The add-on adds a
Downloaders page so you can see who downloaded a resource, with proper pagination included.
It also includes a
Downloaded Resources list for members, making it easier for them to keep track of their download history.
7) Extends permissions and management capabilities
The add-on includes an additional permission that allows selected user groups to update other people’s resources. This is especially useful for:
- staff managing the resource library
- moderation teams
- shared resource management teams
What I focused on during development
When building this add-on, I focused on three main things:
- visual quality: the sidebar should look better, cleaner, and more modern
- practical value: it should add genuinely useful features to XFRM, not just “change the appearance”
- easy configuration: most features come with separate on/off options in the AdminCP
The add-on is organized into clearly separated setting groups:
- Right Sidebar
- Sort Settings
- Lists & Pagination
- Attachment Attributes
- Update Requests
This makes it easier for administrators to control each part without digging around too much.
Compatibility
This add-on supports:
- XenForo 2.3.0+
- XenForo Resource Manager 2.3.0+
Who is this add-on for?
This add-on is a great fit if your forum uses XFRM for purposes such as:
- sharing plugins / add-ons / templates
- downloadable resources
- internal file libraries
- document repositories
- marketplaces / resource hubs
It is especially useful for sites that want to make the XFRM experience feel more professional without having to heavily modify templates manually.
Final thoughts
XFRM Right Sidebar Pro is not just an add-on that makes the sidebar look better. It is a more complete upgrade package for the XenForo Resource Manager experience: better looking, clearer, more convenient, and more user-friendly for both administrators and end users.
If you want your XFRM setup to look more professional and work more effectively, this is definitely an add-on worth trying.
I’d really appreciate your feedback so I can continue improving it in future updates.
