CSS and style library

[Simon66]

Congrats to all on the release of v1.6, I'm looking forward to using it on my next project.

I would like to suggest another area in the download section.
A CSS and style objects library for all things CMSMS.

I uploaded to the forum, a stylesheet and a couple of images to style the basic contact form in FormBuilder a while ago, it also included instructions on how to use it.
Now I am a code hack with a limited and sometimes dangerous knowledge of PHP, but as a graphic designer I understand CSS a lot better than PHP.
I haven't designed a complete CMSMS frontend theme for release yet, but when I re-style a module or tag I re-use it for each site I do.

It would be great if there was a place I could upload stylesheets, images and instructions for styling modules and tags, and share them.

What do you think?
Simon66

[Nullig]

You can always post them in the Tips & Tricks Forum. Perhaps there could be a sub-forum for code snippets.

Nullig

[Simon66]

That's true, but I was thinking more of a duplicate of the 'theme' pages, with a thumbnail of the styled module/element, a CMSMS and Module version number, and a download link.
This would give people a chance to contribute more 'stuff' to CMSMS. Those people that can't create an entire theme can package up some CSS, a code snippet and an image or two with a thumbnail and a description.

It would be good for:

• Mail and Form templates & styles in FormBuilder
• Login, Logout, forgot password and change settings templates & styles in FEU
• News Summary, Detail and Form templates & styles
• Cataloger Item and Category templates and styles
• Album templates and styles
• etc.

Those are just some of the modules I use and re-style.
Simon66

[Simon66]

As an example, I used FEU for the first time recently, and I needed a groovy login.
I found this site:
http://www.smileycat.com/design_elements/login_forms/

So I shamelessly chose a login I liked and styled mine on it.


The orange and purple arrow boxes are gifs and the rest is CSS. I also rewrote the login template code to suit.
Now I'm working on making the other FEU templates match this one.

I think there is a need for a place to put this type of thing on the CMSMS site.

Simon66

[Deak]

I sort of see what you're saying, Simon. However, I'd rather Themes were developed further to include other sundry elements (like GCBs, module skins, multiple page layouts, etc) and have that all in a one-click install.

[Simon66]

Thats a good idea, I never thought of it like that.

Although I still think that a separate section for little stuff would encourage more people to upload the bits and bobs that they are particularly proud of.

Dare I say it? I think CMSMS is a more techie/developer oriented CMS than some of the others (which is a good thing because it has the best modules and a hell of a lot of them).
Yes it has a growing list of themes for the front and back end, and this gives the less progammy amongst us the chance to contribute.

But there is a facet of CMSMS that is lost in the forums, and that's the styling and writing of templates and other widgets that go along with the modules and tags.

I think that themes should include more sundry elements as you say, but there are so many modules and tags that can be styled that they couldn't all be included in each theme.

A design elements section would allow the little things to be uploaded and give the designers a place to show off their stuff without having to build an entire theme each time.

Simon66