what does the display: none do? if i leave that the button doesnt show up. if i remove it, the button displays, but does not function.

Any ideas?

display: none hides the button initially and shows through javascript included at the bottom of the template.

It is designed that way because multiquote is completely driven by javascript and will not function if JS is disabled or conflicted.
I believe you have javascript disabled or having conflict with other libraries, check back.

The theme I installed is outdated. But i like it. The multiquote hasnt worked at all with that theme. I've attempted to replace the entire quick reply template with original, as with the multiquote template, with no success. I have now tried methods 1+3 at the start of this list with no success.

I dont have javascript disabled... so im guessing either interference, or there is a template somewhere missing javascript? Any other ideas?

This tutorial is completely avoiding javascript / jQuery, using only CSS. That is the motto of it.
Your button is getting hidden through inline CSS of default template (display: none) and not being able to get visible by javascript : that proves you have some problem with your js only.

Can we have your board URL for a glance to identify the error?
Or if you don't wanna disclose; check if your:

postbit edit button making an option dropdown
Thead collapse working
Editor bbcode buttons appearing

If any of the above is not working : be sure you have problem with your js.

actually, now that you mention it none of those features are working. Had noticed i was so focused on the multiquote

board url is http://www.underground-systems.org/forums/

I have a test account I was playing with earlier if that helps:

user: TEST
pass: 123456

Business Device is a well-known buggy theme

Give me your 'headerinclude' template content here to try a fix.

I'm moving your posts to 'support service'.

Well,maybe I should have researched the theme. I assumed since it was in the repo so to speak that it was probably reasonable haha.

but ya ive discovered a number of bugs and ive made a number of fixes and tweaks... missing images, broken links, etc but my knowledge of the mybb backend/JS hasnt equipped me enough to handle this lol.

I currently have

Code:

<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="{$lang->latest_threads} (RSS 2.0)" href="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/syndication.php" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="{$lang->latest_threads} (Atom 1.0)" href="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/syndication.php?type=atom1.0" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset={$charset}" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Script-Type" content="text/javascript" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/prototype.js?ver=1603"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/general.js?ver=1603"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/popup_menu.js?ver=1600"></script>
{$stylesheets}

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.5.2/jquery.min.js"></script>

{$newpmmsg}

Although i did have some jquery in there earlier in an attempt at following instructions for getting multiquote to work, with no success so I removed it.

Thanks

Try replacing entire content of 'headerinclude' template with the following and save the template. Then hard refresh your browser (Ctrl+F5) several times or clear cache and check if the problem is fixed:

Code:

<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="{$lang->latest_threads} (RSS 2.0)" href="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/syndication.php" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="{$lang->latest_threads} (Atom 1.0)" href="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/syndication.php?type=atom1.0" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset={$charset}" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Script-Type" content="text/javascript" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/prototype.js?ver=1603"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/general.js?ver=1603"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/popup_menu.js?ver=1600"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.10.2.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
if (typeof jQuery == 'undefined') {
    document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
}
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">jQuery.noConflict();</script>
{$stylesheets}

{$newpmmsg}

awesome! that appears to have fixed everything but the multiquote! haha

but thats a great start!

Hmm.
I'm not sure why MyBB essential variables are removed from your headerinclude which are required for native javascript operations.

Now lets try reverting those back, and I'm sure your problem with multiquote will be resolved.

Use this content for headerinclude:

Code:

<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="{$lang->latest_threads} (RSS 2.0)" href="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/syndication.php" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="{$lang->latest_threads} (Atom 1.0)" href="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/syndication.php?type=atom1.0" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset={$charset}" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Script-Type" content="text/javascript" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/prototype.js?ver=1603"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/general.js?ver=1603"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="{$mybb->settings['bburl']}/jscripts/popup_menu.js?ver=1600"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.10.2.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
if (typeof jQuery == 'undefined') {
    document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
}
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">jQuery.noConflict();</script>
{$stylesheets}

<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
    var cookieDomain = "{$mybb->settings['cookiedomain']}";
    var cookiePath = "{$mybb->settings['cookiepath']}";
    var cookiePrefix = "{$mybb->settings['cookieprefix']}";
    var deleteevent_confirm = "{$lang->deleteevent_confirm}";
    var removeattach_confirm = "{$lang->removeattach_confirm}";
    var loading_text = '{$lang->ajax_loading}';
    var saving_changes = '{$lang->saving_changes}';
    var use_xmlhttprequest = "{$mybb->settings['use_xmlhttprequest']}";
    var my_post_key = "{$mybb->post_code}";
    var imagepath = "{$theme['imgdir']}";
// -->
</script>
{$newpmmsg}