SimplePortal

Customization => Themes and Graphics => Topic started by: gibby on March 25, 2009, 09:56:31 AM

Title: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 25, 2009, 09:56:31 AM

Hi

I am new  :in-love: but willing to try...

I have the default SMF theme and 2 packages and I would like to change the theme ( blue is not my colour ) What would be the simplest theme change to make please?

Thanks

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Immortal on March 25, 2009, 11:34:34 AM

It's more like question about SMF then SP itself.

Changing basic stuff like colors etc. You can do via build in css editor in SMF admin panel, there is a live preview there, so you will not mess things too much. :) Good place to start, also there is many free themes for SMF just check here (http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/).

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 25, 2009, 11:50:11 AM

Thanks

I will try to edit myself and learn that way - I tried a few free themes but they seem to cause problems like missing button and formating..

I will keep you posted

Thanks

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Immortal on March 25, 2009, 01:00:23 PM

No problem, feel free to ask if you have problem with anything also take a look here (http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php?topic=233.0) - nice guide how to create theme.

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Eliana Tamerin on March 25, 2009, 01:30:23 PM

These color variations (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=64128.0) on the default should still work. That is, on SMF 1.1.x.

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 25, 2009, 09:53:30 PM

Hi

Thanks for the reply

Please could you tell me what is missing from the register button - Thanks

(http://i40.tinypic.com/117vb69.png)

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Nathaniel on March 26, 2009, 12:47:35 AM

Generally that error occurs when you are missing the language string for that button. Can you post your '/themes/{themename}/index.template.php' file as an attachment so that I can check the code?

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 26, 2009, 10:05:00 AM

Hi

I am really pleased with the SMF and of course the fantastic Simple Portal  :D

I have tried a few themes and had to many problems for my very limited knowledge to fix I am reluctant to try anything new now  :(

I added the default images back and now all looks ok - I guess I will just have another go.

Thanks

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 27, 2009, 03:58:01 AM

First I have to say how wonderful SimplePortal and SMF is together.

I spent months messing around with other scripts and could not find something that could do everything I have now and it only took me 30 minutes to load everything.

I am now very very happy with the portal and the plugins I have installed ( all took less than 2 minutes each )

I am now ready to tackle the default theme ( lets face it its a bit boring ) I have tried other themes but I keep getting errors, so I think changing the default is the best choice for me.

If someone has the patience and the spare time to help and guide me I would be very grateful

Thanks

Gibby  :nervous-happy:

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 05:20:47 AM

These guys seem to know their stuff  ;D

DzinerStudio

I am trying a free template and I get DOT instead of images and the simple portal boxes look like they are in the wrong places..

Could you have a look and tell me what I need to do - if possible..

Thanks

Gibby

http://www.weareallatheists.com (http://www.weareallatheists.com)

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Nathaniel on March 29, 2009, 05:23:29 AM

For the images:

Quote from: LHVWB on August 29, 2008, 07:47:59 AM

Adding the SimplePortal images:
Copy the 'arrow.gif' and 'dot.gif' images from your '/Themes/default/images/' folder into your '/Themes/{custom theme}/images/' folder. Please note that the default images may not look good with your custom theme, you may wish to consider making your own.

I had a look, the SimplePortal boxes are definetly in the correct location.

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 05:34:15 AM

Thanks for the reply

Left hand boxes within the white background

Right hand boxes outside the white background

Do you see different ? I am using FF3

Thanks

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 05:37:51 AM

I think they would look better outside the center if you get what I mean  :D

And the left blocks are NOT 200 as set in admin  :(

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Nathaniel on March 29, 2009, 05:40:16 AM

Attached is an image of what I see.

The theme dictates where the blocks are shown, you could probably do a fair bit of mucking around to make the block be shown on the outsite, but without editing the theme they will only be shown inside the white area. ;)

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 05:43:45 AM

Here is my screen shot  :-[

Attached

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Nathaniel on March 29, 2009, 05:51:24 AM

The google ads in the bottom/top block may be a little bit too wide. Try removing them or making the adds narrower.

Not sure why I can't see the ads though. :/

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 05:55:49 AM

Thanks

The google block was pushing out the right coloumn

Thanks for your patience and time

Much appriaciated

Any advice on the best FULL WIDTH theme, please  :nervous-happy:

Thanks

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Nathaniel on March 29, 2009, 06:04:39 AM

There are a ton of them, deciding which theme to use nearly always comes down to personal preference.

Dziner do mostly have fixed width themes (like the one on this site), and that can cause issues. You can however make a very small CSS change so that its wider. I can show you how if you want.

I personally quite like this one:
http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/index.php?lemma=1370

I may have already posted this, but here are  places to look for themes:
http://www.smfthemes.org/
http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/index.php?action=search;version[]=42

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 06:08:38 AM

Wonderful thanks -  The first seems a good place for me to start

The other link is dead I think..

I would be interested in how to expand the other themes if you have the time  :in-love:

Again thanks for the time - much appreciated

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Nathaniel on March 29, 2009, 07:13:04 AM

Editing your current theme:
Find this code from your '/Themes/ds-natural_20rc1/style.css' file:

Code: [Select]

.wrapper {
width: 960px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 0;
}
You will need to change the '960px' value. You can either use the width in pixels like '1500px' or percentage like '95%'.

Like this:

Code: [Select]

.wrapper {
width: 95%;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 0;
}
That link does work, SMF doesn't like it properly because it contains the [] symbols. Copy and paste the link below into your browser and it will give you a list of SMF 2 RC1 themes.
http://custom.simplemachines.org/themes/index.php?action=search;version[]=42

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 08:26:31 AM

Wonderful Thanks

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 08:57:02 AM

Woooow

You have no idea how good your instruction were..

I have 5 themes ALL WORKING now  ;D

I would like the users to be able to select a theme they like ( like on the test site )

Please point me in the right direction....

Thanks

Gibby

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: Immortal on March 29, 2009, 09:29:10 AM

Theme changing block will be available in SimplePortal 2.2, you just have to wait - not long thou. :)

Title: Re: Simple theme change
Post by: gibby on March 29, 2009, 09:31:06 AM

Waiting...

And very much looking forward to it

Thanks

Gibby  :thumbsup: