HiveMind + Media Mogul Combined
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- Ian McGregor
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 127
- Thanks: 0
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Hi all,
I have taken the plunge to update my current site from Simplix...
The new design is currently in development and I would love to get any feedback you have...
I really liked some elements of Media Mogul and was close to using it, but then Hivemind came along and so I got the best of both worlds.
I'm no designer, more like a cut'n'paster, so I'd really appreciate any comments you have regarding layout and design choices I have made. The content is just there as filling so ignore it. I like the borderless modules the best but maybe you have other opinions.
I will incorporate any valid suggestions you have prior to when the re-design goes live... don't be kind...
www.performingartsnews.com/ - Last Edit: 16 years 8 months ago by Ian McGregor.
- www.performingartsnews.com
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- Ian McGregor
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 127
- Thanks: 0
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Well...
Google decided to index my dev site within 15 hours of posting here (just shows how powerful forums are for SEO tactics)...
Anyway after some hasty redirecting, I decided to bite the bullet and go live with it any way... - www.performingartsnews.com
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- Linesiders
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 70
- Thanks: 0
- I like, very nice, smooth, clean
- Thread Killer - able to stifle discussion in a single reply
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- Nick Norris
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 352
- Thanks: 0
- that is a good combo. I have been seeing a lot more people combining templates together. Is that tough to do?
- Nick Norris and the Pursuit of Awesomeness
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- Ian McGregor
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 127
- Thanks: 0
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Hi Nick,
It is sort of like surgery. I just use the FF plugins like Web Developer toolbar or FireBug to determine the css contolling the parts that I like, then copy and paste into the current templates css. Then, maybe I need to add some module positions, heaps of info in the forum on how to do it. Make sure any images that are required are moved to the right directory. Then make sure that any javascripts, php scripts or additional css are put into index.php or these days the utils.php then rock and roll.
The main thing is to keep a back up of changes to files so you can rollback if something gets weird. Once you get a feel for it, the process is like slicing and dicing, bits from here and there. You might find that some margins and padding need to be modified in the main divs to get things to hang nicely together.
I think there are some tutorials in the forums on how to add custom hi-lites to modules, that process is more or less the basis that I use, you just need to extend the general principals to relevent javascripts, functions and css.
The good thing with RT templates is the fairly standardised code structure, that makes surgery easy and not become butchery. ;D
Cheers,
Ian
PS. I thought MediaMogul was cool then HiveMind came out halfway through re-development. So I got the best of both worlds, cool functions, clean layout! - www.performingartsnews.com
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- JoeyT
- Jr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 26
- Thanks: 0
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Hi
I to am no coder, I just plug along and hope for the best.
A few things though.
Your logo seems a little confused, dark light dark, I think it would be more readable with dark light.
You have Ads by Google in a prime spot on a new site. Dump that stuff and add some real content.
Tag cloud is a waste of time, add some content there too.
You also have many links that take me off your site and bring me to another, I probably would not come back.
There is not much here to make the site sticky.
It would seem your strengths are in the news and articles, stick with that and you should build a community of repeat visitors.
Overall your site looks pretty good. The forum is busy and readable.
Get rid of the Google Junk, let your visitors have some fun without being bombarded with ads.
Good Luck.
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- Ian McGregor
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 127
- Thanks: 0
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Cheers for the comments BluesReactor.
The logo, yep totally agree. The way I made it, like all my graphic design efforts, was a carefully chosen combination of "click" and "hope" and
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Regarding the ads, it's a major point of contention, I would like to ditch them, but the spare change I get from them pays for the hosting. I'll sit down and think of a way to get more of a balance.
I take your point about the external links, if I could afford a Reuters feed that would rock! Soon I'll have some time to generate some content myself, so some of the content is a bit second-hand. I have been looking for components to add to make the site more stick, I'm trying out SOBI2 and Vemod News Mailer, any other suggestion would be awesome!
Keep em' coming!
Cheers,
Ian - www.performingartsnews.com
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- Ian McGregor
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 127
- Thanks: 0
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Hi Vahid,
You just need to modify the width in this line of css:
#news-rotator .story{position:relative;z-index:2;margin-left:380px;width:348px;height:242px;/* image width + 12px */ border-left:1px solid #ccc;background:#F0F2F3;}
Cheers,
Ian - www.performingartsnews.com
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