Mobile Tutorial
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- sfast1
- Sr. Rocketeer
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There is a lot of frustration over lack of support for the mobile features. Mobile has become extremely important over the last two years.
I have struggled for days to figure out the mobile features. Please make a tutorial to show people how to easily setup the mobile templates. To be honest, I usually just turn them off because it's such a hassle to work with.
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- Cliff Pfeifer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 8444
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- Website Developer
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Hi, each of our templates has this tutorial in the tutorial and guides section of their respective forum - for example:
www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=63...66598&rb_v=viewtopic
There really isn't much more than turning it on and configuring your module positions using the position alias'. You can either use existing positions from the template or put modules in the mobile positions to create a new layout specifically for mobile.
If you were expecting a perfect mobile template catered specifically to your site by simply flipping the "on" switch, it's just not a realistic expectation. Usually you'll have to flip a few more switches, and I honestly don't know how we could make it any easier to configure. We can't give you more specific instructions, because how you map the module positions will depend on which module positions you are using, or if you want to use the dedicated mobile positions or a combination of both. How you want to set it up is completely up to you and it will be different for every user. There is no "optimum" setting that will work for everyone.
If you have specific questions, just ask them. We are well aware of the importance of mobile, we've already created the tutorials and we certainly provide support with questions we receive. - The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.
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- esaumd
- Rocketeer
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Hello Cliff,
I just have to say that the link above is not an example of a tutorial. That is a description of the features of the template's mobile settings.
A real tutorial seeks to teach by example and supplies the information necessary to complete a certain task. A tutorial is a set of instructions to complete a task. If you gave us a link to a video showing how to do something specific via the mobile settings of the template, or a step-by-step process on how to use one of the mobile features, then and only then will I agree to you saying that RocketTheme has put out tutorials for this.
I just have to agree with SFAST1 when he/she says, that there is a real need for tutorials in this area.
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- Cliff Pfeifer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
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- Website Developer
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What exactly do you guys need help with? We don't have any tutorials on "how to do something" - as the "something" will be different for everyone. That is why we have a forum, you ask questions, and we provide answers.
Honestly, there isn't a whole lot to this. You turn it on, then you can pick which modules you wish to display in the mobile positions. For example, if you want your showcase position module from your regular site to display under the navigation on your mobile site, you would select showcase from one of the position alias drop downs under the navigation - repeat this process for other modules you wish to show, place them where you like them.
Or you can create completely new modules just for your mobile site. Create a new module, assign it to one of the mobile module positions, like "mobile-top" for example. Then in the settings, choose mobile-top in the mobile-top position and it will show there. Repeat this as many times as you need to create what you want. Using the position alias' you can combine existing modules from your site with new modules just for mobile or use one or the other. It's just like assigning modules to your regular site, there just aren't as many positions.
The flexibility of how you can set it up is why it's difficult to make a tutorial. Everyone has a different site, with different modules and wants to set up their mobile site in a different way. Honestly, what I just described is all there is. You'll probably have to experiment with the module settings and your content until you find something that works for you. There isn't any one right way to do it, it's completely a matter of preference.
If you would like to see an example of how we do it, install a copy of the Rocket Launcher somewhere, view it on a mobile device and look at the settings in the backend.
Of course, if you have specific questions, you just have to let us know what your questions are, and we are happy to answer them. - The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.
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- mcanimal
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 67
- Thanks: 2
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I have not tried this myself yet, so this question is a little premature, but is there a way to assign a different main menu to the mobile site than the full site? I imagine I could create a secondary template that is assigned with the "mobile menu" instead of the main menu.
This is the only problem I've run into with making my site mobile; I want to limit what the user has access to when connecting from a mobile device. But by default the full menu is still there on the mobile site. -
http://www.mcanimalhospital.com
http://www.washingtonparkzoo.com
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- Cliff Pfeifer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 8444
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- Website Developer
- Hi, thanks for your question. If you look at the link for the settings I provided initially, #4 is the menu section, just choose which menu you would like to use for your mobile view from the drop down and save. Hope that helps.
- The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.
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- mcanimal
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 67
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- Thanks. That makes sense. Also, on the "Standard View Switch". I've tried using it, but it seems to be a one way road. Once the iphone user switches it to the regular web view, the switch goes away (because the module the switch is located on is only displayed in the mobile version). Is there a way around this so the user can get back to the mobile view if wanted?
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http://www.mcanimalhospital.com
http://www.washingtonparkzoo.com
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- Cliff Pfeifer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 8444
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- Website Developer
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Hi, it doesn't work like that unfortunately. Basically, when Gantry's browser detection finds iPhone or Android, it loads a different index file - index-iphone.php - for example, which contains the base file for the template on that platform. When you switch to the regular site, it overrides the browser detection and loads the original index.php file. So even if you could put a switch there to go back to the mobile site, it would display on your website whether people were on a mobile device or not since it's loading the file that your desktop site is on, which wouldn't be ideal in most cases. Either way, we don't have a built in functionality that does this, you would have to create it yourself.
Personally, I don't find it to be an issue. I can only speak for myself, but I either want the mobile or I don't. Unless the mobile version is really bad or difficult to deal with, people will stay there. If not they'll switch to the regular site to find what they want. That's what I do, and it's just my opinion. - The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.
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- sfast1
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 236
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- I have figured out the mobile, but was suggesting a video or walk through. I see a lot of people struggle with this topic. Maybe one day I'll make a video tutorial and post it here. Thx for the support and feedback. Always appreciated.
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- Cliff Pfeifer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 8444
- Thanks: 20
- Website Developer
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Hi, no problem, I understand what you're saying. We try to make it as simple and flexible as possible to use. Other than the on / off switches, the configuration of the modules is subject to individual needs and layouts, so there isn't a right or wrong way to do it. You just have to understand how it works and take it from there. We can't make a tutorial on that part of it any more than we could make one on how to build a regular website. We leave that part up to you. That's one reason we offer the Rocket Launcher, as a demonstration of a possibility. Individual needs and tastes will vary for everyone and no tutorial could ever cover every single scenario that our members come up with.
The the most common misconception I see with the mobile settings is the assumption that flipping the on switch will automatically do what you want. I certainly wish it was that easy, as do many others, but the reality is that if you want an effective mobile site you're going to have to spend some time with it to set it up how you want it.
I've found that all too often, mobile sites are an after thought. You don't have to look too far on a mobile browser to see some really bad examples of what I mean. Sure, it's an important consideration to have a mobile site, but if it's not done properly it just frustrates your visitors. Having one simply for the sake of having it doesn't really do you much good. If you spend 20 hours on your regular site, but only 20 seconds on your mobile site, of course it's not going to be at the same level. You should put the same amount of thought and planning into it as you do on your regular site if you want mobile users to experience the benefits of the format.
Most of this is just my opinion, I'm not saying anything about anyone in particular. Just as an iPhone owner, I'm constantly seeing this trend of poorly done mobile sites that accomplish nothing more than upsetting me and making me wish they hadn't forced me to go there in the first place. Personally, I'd rather zoom in on the regular website to find what I need than be led through a maze of useless links and watered down content. It's just kind of my pet peeve right now with this whole mobile thing, just ranting.
Once the new Gantry drops, possibly sometime this year, it will have responsive features. Which will most likely make this whole process a lot easier for everyone. - The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer.
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