i got it working rigth now :-) heres the code i use:

<?php

    /**
     * Elgg top toolbar
     * The standard elgg top toolbar
     *
     * @package Elgg
     * @subpackage Core
     * @license http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html GNU Public License version 2
     * @author Curverider Ltd
     * @copyright Curverider Ltd 2008
     * @link http://elgg.org/
     *
     */
?>

<div id="elgg_topbar">
    <div id="elgg_topbar_container_left">
            <?php
                if (isloggedin()) {
            ?>
        <div class="toolbarimages">
            <a href="<?php echo $_SESSION['user']->getURL(); ?>"><img class="user_mini_avatar" src="<?php echo $_SESSION['user']->getIcon('topbar'); ?>"></a>
        </div>
            <?php
                }
            ?>
        <div class="toolbarlinks">
            <a href="<?php echo $vars['url']; ?>" class="pagelinks"><?php echo elgg_echo('dashboard'); ?></a>
        </div>
   
        <?php
            echo elgg_view("navigation/topbar_tools");
        ?>
         <?php
            if (isloggedin()) {
        ?>          
        <div class="toolbarlinks2">       
            <?php
            //allow people to extend this top menu
            echo elgg_view('elgg_topbar/extend', $vars);
            ?>
       
            <a href="<?php echo $vars['url']; ?>pg/settings/" class="usersettings"><?php echo elgg_echo('settings'); ?></a>
       
            <?php
                // The administration link is for admin or site admin users only
                if ($vars['user']->admin || $vars['user']->siteadmin) {
            ?>
       
            <a href="<?php echo $vars['url']; ?>pg/admin/" class="usersettings"><?php echo elgg_echo("admin"); ?></a>
            <?php
                }
            ?>
        </div>
        <?php
            }
        ?>
    </div>

    <div id="elgg_topbar_container_right">
        <?php
            if (isloggedin()) {
        ?>
        <a href="<?php echo $vars['url']; ?>action/logout"><small><?php echo elgg_echo('logout'); ?></small></a>
        <?php
        }    else {
        ?>
        <a href="<?php echo $vars['url']; ?>action/login"><small><?php echo elgg_echo('login'); ?></small></a>
        <?php
            }
        ?>       
    </div>

    <div id="elgg_topbar_container_search">
        <form id="searchform" action="<?php echo $vars['url']; ?>search/" method="get">
            <input type="text" size="21" name="tag" value="Search" onclick="if (this.value=='Search') { this.value='' }" class="search_input" />
            <input type="submit" value="Go" class="search_submit_button" />
        </form>
    </div>

</div><!-- /#elgg_topbar -->

<div style="clear:both;"></div>

That's a really good job man, a messahe keeps popping up saying a     "  _token or _ts field " is missing..

it still works though... thanks for this , I was trying to do it

i have that issue too, but i still have not solution .....

i am thinking about a solution with the dashbord link, right now it redirects to the index not the dashboard

This is great are you thinking about making this into a plugin 

What file am i supose to change in elgg. is it in the page elemtnts ?

@ASH -- yew friendly fiendly new york yoinker ;-)

    "/views/default/page_elements/elgg_topbar.php"

Dhrup.... thank man.. will make the changes righ now

$50.00/hr  paypal ok visa ok certified check ok nyc bank ok ;-O tee hee

it worked like a charme. Is there a way to reduce the size of the tool bar from the left. I was able to reduce the size from the right side but not from the left. I wanted to center the toolbar with the rest of the site

Ash,

post @ screencast & send link