C5 for a Themeforest template
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Hi C5 Forum members!
Can you tell me what issues i need to be aware of before purchasing a themeforest template to convert to c5.
I am looking at a few nice responsive, html5 templates with jquery sliders like nivo, foms and other functions. Is it a straightforward procedure or do i need a masters in PHP.
Thanks!
Can you tell me what issues i need to be aware of before purchasing a themeforest template to convert to c5.
I am looking at a few nice responsive, html5 templates with jquery sliders like nivo, foms and other functions. Is it a straightforward procedure or do i need a masters in PHP.
Thanks!
You should start with reading this very useful How-To: http://www.concrete5.org/documentation/how-tos/designers/making-a-t...
Many thanks
Building C5 themes is pretty straight forward, if you can build a straight HTML site then you can build a C5 theme, for the low down on the php tags that need to be used I would download the latest version go to the themes directory and dissect one of the default themes C5 ships with, this will give you all the info you need.
And of course check out the link Adajad posted its very thorough.
And of course check out the link Adajad posted its very thorough.
Thanks Vidall. I read the link above.
Seems like i must be aware of how some sidebar blocks are styled in a template and also search boxes. Guess i'll have to just dive in and have a go. This forum is very good - quick response from you guys!
Think i'll stick around :-)
Seems like i must be aware of how some sidebar blocks are styled in a template and also search boxes. Guess i'll have to just dive in and have a go. This forum is very good - quick response from you guys!
Think i'll stick around :-)
No issues, quite straight forward.
Just don't choose a Wordpress theme.
Just don't choose a Wordpress theme.
Yes, i'll avoid WP thanks 55
I just convertedhttp://themeforest.net/item/rising-fully-responsive-html5-css3-them... ...
It wasn't too bad, I did not end up using the slider it came with.
My advice on the themeforest templates is:
* Be careful which file in the theme you start with... often the html themes come with a dozen or so sample page types. I typically find a full width (for homepage) and a sidebar (for sub pages and blog)
* Like above, don't download a wordpress or other cms theme... stick to html. Most WP themes have an html equivalent from the same author.
* In the past, I've bought the template, but integrated it into a 960.gs / skeleton css framework... I'll take the menu, and general layout and apply it, and use the assets for the design as opposed to all of the html.
* See what kind of resets they've done, this can really affect the forms that are part of the adding / editing pages/blocks etc.
* Be careful of additional javascript being called in files like misc.js etc.... lots of times the code for ALL sliders are in there. I've even seen jquery being put inside a misc.js file before.
* Usually jquery is called in the head, so pay attention to remove that when applying the c5 theme syntax.
Good luck!
- Phil
It wasn't too bad, I did not end up using the slider it came with.
My advice on the themeforest templates is:
* Be careful which file in the theme you start with... often the html themes come with a dozen or so sample page types. I typically find a full width (for homepage) and a sidebar (for sub pages and blog)
* Like above, don't download a wordpress or other cms theme... stick to html. Most WP themes have an html equivalent from the same author.
* In the past, I've bought the template, but integrated it into a 960.gs / skeleton css framework... I'll take the menu, and general layout and apply it, and use the assets for the design as opposed to all of the html.
* See what kind of resets they've done, this can really affect the forms that are part of the adding / editing pages/blocks etc.
* Be careful of additional javascript being called in files like misc.js etc.... lots of times the code for ALL sliders are in there. I've even seen jquery being put inside a misc.js file before.
* Usually jquery is called in the head, so pay attention to remove that when applying the c5 theme syntax.
Good luck!
- Phil
Thanks Phil.
I naively thought i could just paste and copy into a new theme folder.
Seems like i might have to go through every tutorial on C5 here or buy the book Lol!
I'd be interested to see your finished page as compared to the template. But hey! If thats private, no worries.
C5 looks awesome and very user-friendly. Tried Jooomla - ouch! and drupal - eeek! I've only played with it on a wamp server about a year ago, then i basically forgot till yesterday.
Many thanks Phil
Kieran
I naively thought i could just paste and copy into a new theme folder.
Seems like i might have to go through every tutorial on C5 here or buy the book Lol!
I'd be interested to see your finished page as compared to the template. But hey! If thats private, no worries.
C5 looks awesome and very user-friendly. Tried Jooomla - ouch! and drupal - eeek! I've only played with it on a wamp server about a year ago, then i basically forgot till yesterday.
Many thanks Phil
Kieran
Kieran,
No problem - the site ishttp://www.absolutefitnessllc.com/... ... it got launched before we could finish it 100%, so some of the responsive elements aren't defined. A couple footer elements are also in the works...
As far as how to theme - I really feel like the how-to by 12345j is the best out there -
http://www.concrete5.org/documentation/how-tos/designers/making-a-t...
Also - I tend to use the dreamweaver plugin as well.
http://concrete5-japan.org/dreamweaver/en/...
- Phil
No problem - the site ishttp://www.absolutefitnessllc.com/... ... it got launched before we could finish it 100%, so some of the responsive elements aren't defined. A couple footer elements are also in the works...
As far as how to theme - I really feel like the how-to by 12345j is the best out there -
http://www.concrete5.org/documentation/how-tos/designers/making-a-t...
Also - I tend to use the dreamweaver plugin as well.
http://concrete5-japan.org/dreamweaver/en/...
- Phil
Great looking site Phil.
I am looking forward to reading the tuts and converting a template.
I do hope its the right cms for me. I understand there will be isses with having to basically select some master page templates. These new themeforest templates are awesome - truly amazing authors there!
I notice some themes for sale are using 'custom templates' for things like sliders. Did you do that for your site or did you have to buy a plugin?
I am looking at a biz idea offering wordpress and maybe C5 for small companies as a set-up and customise service.
Thanks again
Kieran
I am looking forward to reading the tuts and converting a template.
I do hope its the right cms for me. I understand there will be isses with having to basically select some master page templates. These new themeforest templates are awesome - truly amazing authors there!
I notice some themes for sale are using 'custom templates' for things like sliders. Did you do that for your site or did you have to buy a plugin?
I am looking at a biz idea offering wordpress and maybe C5 for small companies as a set-up and customise service.
Thanks again
Kieran
I've often used the blocks available here on the marketplace.
It depends on who will be maintaining the site and the development time I have. I tend to use nivo slider, and put the JavaScript code into the "home page template" and simply use a content block to add an unordered list of images... makes it easy to swap out images in a GUI interface, but doesn't require actually building out an entire block.
I've use a few freely available sliders here on the marketplace, as they work nicely and already have the interface for adding images etc.
I do find that I have to remove a lot of extra JavaScript from themeforest templates as they are designed to run without a CMS and try to accommodate that.
It depends on who will be maintaining the site and the development time I have. I tend to use nivo slider, and put the JavaScript code into the "home page template" and simply use a content block to add an unordered list of images... makes it easy to swap out images in a GUI interface, but doesn't require actually building out an entire block.
I've use a few freely available sliders here on the marketplace, as they work nicely and already have the interface for adding images etc.
I do find that I have to remove a lot of extra JavaScript from themeforest templates as they are designed to run without a CMS and try to accommodate that.
Thanks Phil.
THis is all a bit over my head at the moment. I'll understand more of what you mean when i finish the tutorials. I didn't know you could buy slider blocks in the marketplace. I must take a look.
I've been reading reviews about C5. The only real criticism it gets is that its add-ons are overpriced (these are not my view!) and that other OS cms's offer free core add-ons.
I'll let you know how i get on with skinning a template for C5 lol!
Cheers
THis is all a bit over my head at the moment. I'll understand more of what you mean when i finish the tutorials. I didn't know you could buy slider blocks in the marketplace. I must take a look.
I've been reading reviews about C5. The only real criticism it gets is that its add-ons are overpriced (these are not my view!) and that other OS cms's offer free core add-ons.
I'll let you know how i get on with skinning a template for C5 lol!
Cheers
There are a few free ones. There is a slideshow block that comes as part of the core for C5, that handles the majority of what I need.
I can recommendhttp://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/power-slider-lite/... PowerSlider Lite as a nice plugin for no charge that can handle the slider.
Note - a lot of reviews that you might read that talk about "not enough add-ons" are typically quite old (2 years or more) and don't really represent where the system is at now.
Good luck!
- Phil
I can recommendhttp://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/power-slider-lite/... PowerSlider Lite as a nice plugin for no charge that can handle the slider.
Note - a lot of reviews that you might read that talk about "not enough add-ons" are typically quite old (2 years or more) and don't really represent where the system is at now.
Good luck!
- Phil
Thanks again Phil.
That's a nice looking slider. I guess if i get to successfully conversting a template to C5, that would do nicely - or the pro version. What's $15 anyway? Any add-ons i'd ever use, i would simply add that to the clients overall bill!
Yes, you're right about negative reviews being quite old. But many people are saying its one of the nicest cms out there, especially for its incontext editing. Not quite sure why Joomla and WP get all the attention lol!
Have a good weekend.
Kieran
That's a nice looking slider. I guess if i get to successfully conversting a template to C5, that would do nicely - or the pro version. What's $15 anyway? Any add-ons i'd ever use, i would simply add that to the clients overall bill!
Yes, you're right about negative reviews being quite old. But many people are saying its one of the nicest cms out there, especially for its incontext editing. Not quite sure why Joomla and WP get all the attention lol!
Have a good weekend.
Kieran
