Mike-N-Tosh; Skins Template - Beta testing

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Announcing A Public Beta Testing of My New Template::Skins
brought to you by... Mike-N-Tosh

SKINS: is a new template concept made for 68 Classifieds (v4.1.x). What makes the Skins template unique is that there is one template folder called "skins", however it includes different stylesheets that your end users can choose from in the "Member Navigation" menu. It is a simple pull down list. When an end user chooses their "Skin", it will automagically change to that skin. In addition, that skin will be remembered so that your user will set it and forget it until they choose another, of course.

A blank skins stylesheet (_skins_tpl.css} is included in your purchased Skins template allowing the site owner to make as many skins as they would like to offer to their end users.

A few items that also help enhance the Skins template:
• The "Featured Listings" on the home page, still uses the standard smarty plugin, however the skins home.tpl file includes different settings for the plugin already defined, that puts your listing in individual "boxes" which, of course also automagically will use the colors set in your skin.
• If you use the Administration function to upload your logo image, the image will already be a clickable image that takes you to the home page. In addition, you should not need to make any changes to your main style sheet to accommodate your logo image except in extreme cases.
• The copyright notice at the bottom of all your pages, is automatically filled in with the "Site Title" from your Admin/Main Settings. (e.g. copyright 2010 yoursite.com)
• There is an already predefined top banner ad space that is commented out in the layout. To use it, you simply uncomment it and paste in your adcode.
• There is already 2 predefined side ad spaces just below the side menus. To use either of them, again just uncomment them and paste in your adcode.

So without further adieu, here is the link for you to take a look and beta test this new and exciting Skins Template:

SKINS

Thanks for your consideration. Please post any comments that you may have, good, bad or indifferent and of course any suggestions are most definitely welcome.

...Now back to your regularly scheduled forum session

[bowers01 +]

They look good, well done.
I like how it can do it on the fly without having to reload the page.
My only criticism is the menu(under the search), i dont like what it does when you hover over them. Other than that they look good, especially the grey one.
Nick

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Originally Posted by bowers01

...
My only criticism is the menu(under the search), i dont like what it does when you hover over them.

Nick, thanks for your time and your comments. What is it about the top navigation rollover that you don't like? What suggestion(s) would you have for that?

FYI: I'm also considering creating a module to go with this template that would actually allow the creation of a new skin via a web interface right on the site. The admin would have the "Option" whether to allow site visitors to also create their own and/or "share" their skins. (e.g. when a visitor creates their own custom skin, they can use a checkbox to allow other visitors to choose their skin from the pull down menu)

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

The Skins Template is now in RC [Release Candidate] stage. I've done a little more tweaking to the Skins style sheets and have added a few more. I've also made some changes to the copyright, so that it will automatically post the year and the automatic text for the copyright owner is automatically entered depending on how you do your logo at the top.

The included template skins are now:
blue
chocolate
green
grey
orange
sky

For your convenience, here is the link again: SKINS

[bowers01 +]

Hi,
What about if you lower the hover pic so it is level with the bar?
I have attached a pic.
Regards,
Nick

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Nick,

Again, thanks for your feedback. The issue that I see with your suggestion is that it is contradictory with the space & time continuum. lol. What I actually mean is that because of the light affect on the menu bar as it is and the hover as you suggest goes against how lights work. It would indicate a different light source shining on the hover button. If you look closely at the hover as it exists, the light reflection is in line with the original reflection of the menu tab.

In other feedback that I've received specifically regarding the hover was that they liked how the hover had a pop out affect. Don't get me wrong, I DO appreciate your feedback and your suggestion. It's just that if there was a poll, the poll for the hover affect as it currently is of this posting is 5-love it, 1-don't like it, 1-it grows on you.

Anyone else have an opinion?

[Miander +]

I do. The orange hurts my eyes. Big time. Way too bright. You should probably try a combo of colors for this one (like orange - a hint darker - and dark blue, as they are opposite colors. Why not put the text in blue?) It would make a huge difference. To have an idea of opposite colors, check this link out : Color Scheme Designer 3 I use it all the time.

The grey, green, chocolate and blue are real nice though. Particularly the grey and chocolate.

Oh, another little detail : your footer is rounded. Why? Nothing else is rounded in your design...

Also, I must say that for the menu bar debate, I don't agree with Browsers, I think your effect is nice.

Overall conclusion : Well done. =)