The administration panel gives me two choices. Shoutbox at top or bottom of the page.
In case I want the shoutbox to be placed right or left, the only choice I have is to activate forum portal, then activate one column (I want only one column so that my forum doesn't decrease much in length) and then upload a widget provided in code form from a page unrelated to forumotion that gives free shoutboxes?

Correct, if you want to add the shoutbox on the left/right of the forum content. You can add it on the forum widget.

Thank you very much! I will write 'problem solved' a bit later. I will do the modification with the widjet and check if it's ok so that if a have a problem, I won't need to open a new topic.

Okay, thats fine.
You can read more on forum widget here.
https://help.forumotion.com/t22589-forum-widgets

Everything's fine!

problem solved