Template design tutorial!

[Lhotch]

Ok, after typing my fingers to the bone over the last few days I have put together a little tutorial to help people better understand the 68 Classifieds template system and to help guide you through not only creating the new images, but slicing them up and modifying the css to make use of them.

Tutorial PDF

If you find any blatant errors etc please feel free to let me know and I can update it.

[calaf6]

THANK YOU

I have only browsed the first bit, but it makes sense and is easy to read, it is printing now, and I will be taking it to read on the train to/from work.

The first thing I have realised is I should have got photoshop - I have been using Pain shop pro which does not look as easy to use

[build]

Originally Posted by calaf6

THANK YOU

I have only browsed the first bit, but it makes sense and is easy to read, it is printing now, and I will be taking it to read on the train to/from work.

The first thing I have realised is I should have got photoshop - I have been using Pain shop pro which does not look as easy to use

Hi calaf6


using Pain shop pro was that a pun ?

First time we have met I think

What version of PSP do you have?

Yes when I had a look at the help pdf I thought the same, I wish I could afford the price of it.

I have been useing PSP since it first came out.

[calaf6]

Hi John,

Yes its the first time we have met *shakes hands*

That was not intended at all now that you have pointed it out I wish it had been!!

I'm not sure which version I have, I only got it about 18 months ago, so it would be reasonably up to date. I find it very frustrating to use though. I will give it a go over the weekend, and see if I can find someone with photoshop as well so I can compare.

[Lhotch]

If you happen to be a studen *wink wink* you can get the latest version of photoshop CS for under $300

http://www.studica.com/products/prod...roductid=46807

Im sure you can accomplish the same things in PSP that I did in photoshop it just wont be as easy. Cutting up images for example could be done in a different application just using the crop tool or selection and copy tools, it would just be more cumbersome to cut the image up that way.

Calaf, if you make an image and want me to cut it up for you let me know, I could probably cut it up in just a few minutes and send you back the layout.html and images.

[calaf6]

Thanks for that Larry unfortunately I would be a bit 'mature' for a student, nearer to granny status than student

I will have a look in our cd collection here (work) in a while, as its nearly home time for those who do normal hours, but if I have a problem I may well take you up on that offer, thanks a lot

[Lhotch]

Just an update. After creating the tutorial I took the whole /orange template and copied it over to my V3.1 beta install and it appears to work fine for the new version as well.

The only issue I had was that my template was looking for folder.gif in the /orange/images folder and it didnt exist so I copied it over from the /images to /templates/orange/images .

[suzkaw]

Also a small change was made in v3.1 where it uses an array of template directories. This way if you just want to replace the layout.tpl.php file you can create a new template folder and just include it. It will look for the templates inside your designated template folder first and if it isn't found it will go to the default. This way you do not have to copy all the files out, just the ones you need. Also this wasn't added until recently so the latest beta may not include this.

[civ]

Originally Posted by suzkaw

Also a small change was made in v3.1 where it uses an array of template directories. This way if you just want to replace the layout.tpl.php file you can create a new template folder and just include it. It will look for the templates inside your designated template folder first and if it isn't found it will go to the default. This way you do not have to copy all the files out, just the ones you need. Also this wasn't added until recently so the latest beta may not include this.

Ok that is just plain awesome.

[calaf6]

Thats good news, thanks for confirming as I will kick on and finish the one I am doing this weekend.

Photoshop is definately easier than Paint Shop Pro as well