Best Tool/Method For Creating Templates
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- Mark Eden
- Newbie
- Posts: 8
- Thanks: 0
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I've only just started learning to use Joomla, but already I would like to try and make a template. Before I get started, I wondered what the best tool/method is for this from a non-programmers point-of-view.
There is a tutorial on the joomla site that seems to be based from with the admin panel of Joomla, but I wondered if there is a extension or app that exists standalone or maybe something like a dreamweaver extension that makes allows a better job to do be done.
One of the specific things I've not seen much is the using of graphics for the menu item buttons, and I would like to do this as my ambition is to be able to take a nice TemplateMonster template and wrap it around the Joomla framework. (do people do this?)
Any advice on template creation or my graphical menu buttons dreams would be gratefully received.
Cheers, Mark.
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- Dan L
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1453
- Thanks: 0
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"I wondered what the best tool/method is for this from a non-programmers point-of-view"
A book on PHP & CSS programming in that case
Seriously, the Dreamweaver extensions you can get are okay, but all they do is insert the module loading code for you. You will still need to understand how to code a template using XHTML and CSS...and to do the clever stuff you will need to know about PHP to an extent (although nothing majorly heavy).
You could probably make a template with minimal programming buy using, say, Adobe Imageready or Macromedia Fireworks - create a layout page, then export the whole thing, letting the software carve up the page for you..BUT - if you want to make slick, easy to alter, fast templates, this is NOT a route to go down. The software will produce a template made up of hundreds of tables each containing slices images; the end result will be a image-heavy mass of tables which is most certainly not a desirable thing to have. It will be very difficult to edit and manage, and you will have some serious headaches getting the Joomla modules to fit in the horrendous framework.
So really, without dissecting and learning how template code works and relates to CSS, you're not going to be producing anything worthwhile soon. If you have the time to dedicate to it and learn it though, it is very very rewarding.
Since most of my work is using DIVs, there is little choice but to code by hand...I'm sure Andy/Kev etc will back me up on that...
Good luck, and stick at it ;D - Toolbox Digital | Dribbble | Forrst
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- Mack
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 535
- Thanks: 0
- The best method I found for Joomla templates was going to rockettheme.com and clicked the Join Now button.
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- Bob Ateah
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 4521
- Thanks: 0
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Mack wrote:
The best method I found for Joomla templates was going to rockettheme.com and clicked the Join Now button.
Now THERE'S a guy that knows what he is talking about! [cue:applause]
I've never created a template, I've only modified existing templates. My first stab at this was with the Solar Flare 2 template and it turned out just peachy with only one problem - in IE (grrr) the (rollover) images for the main menu did not function correctly. I understand the problem now, but it drove me crazy trying to fix it at the time.
I am still a novice at this, but am learning fast thanks to Rocket Themes and this great community! I used to try and get questions answered at the Joomla! forums, but that was less than successful the bulk of the time, now RT serves all my needs! - The member formerly known as Roland Deschain
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