Other CMS Made Simple Templates

[chugger93]

Does anyone know or have other links to other templates than whats on this website?  I went through all 14 pages and didn't really find anything I clearly loved....

Any other free options?

Thanks in advance

[Deak]

OSWD is a den of ugly.

[Dr.CSS]

The last time anyone added a design was in 2007, but you may find one you like...

[replytomk3]

Any design/template can be converted to CMSMS too easily.

[Wishbone]

The beauty of CMSms is that it's extremely simple to adapt any template.. I like to use ThemeForest templates, whos prices are cheap enough that they might as well be free. $7-$15.

[chugger93]

The beauty of CMSms is that it's extremely simple to adapt any template.. I like to use ThemeForest templates, whos prices are cheap enough that they might as well be free. $7-$15.

So you just download the HTML ones and basically put the code inside a template in the admincp? Same with CSS? 

[replytomk3]

Basically.

You replace the text portion with {content}, and menu portion with {menu}. There are a few other tags that you use that you find from one of the default cmsms tempates. But CMSMS does not really care what your template is, not like other CMSes out there.

CSS is reused as-is, no modification that I know of is needed.

[Wishbone]

The most complicated part is getting the menu working properly, but only if your template isn't using unordered lists. Otherwise, even this is easy.. Once the CMS is installed, it usually only takes 15 mins, if that, to get an external template installed with basic functionality.

[Deak]

I've done a good amount of projects taking a designer's HTML/CSS and converting into a CMS Made Simple theme and I definitely concur that the majority of the work is around getting the menu up and running.

The base MenuManager templates can deal with many kinds of menu, but the CSS selectors will almost certainly be wrong for the various states (active, parent, etc). If your menu is simple, getting it working in CMS Made Simple could be as quick as getting these to match. Watch out though as some MenuManager templates use an H3 tag for active navigation items, which can make these them look quite strange. Either delete the H3 from the MenuManager template or code up some CSS to work with it.

There does come a point where using an existing MM template becomes illogical; if this is the case, then you should spend a little time examing the code of them and then build your own.

[chugger93]

Do you or anyone else have experience with the templates on themeforest.net?  I hate to purchase one and find out it doesnt work.  They are so sweet there tho...

Would I just look at the "site templates" in HTML right?  Not the wordpress ones, etc tho right?  Also they say they come with the *.psd's.  How good are some of the PSD's tho, because some of the themes I like I'd have to completely change the color scheme.

Also, alot of those themes on that site have a "search" box... why is that?  It doesnt have the PHP code or anything to support it does it?  I don't get that part.  I know they mostly all have a contact form and php code to make that work..but search?

[Wishbone]

Do you or anyone else have experience with the templates on themeforest.net?  I hate to purchase one and find out it doesnt work.  They are so sweet there tho...

I have purchased one template from them.. Since the templates are contributed by members, each one will have different features and quality. I don't like the useless JavaScript portfolio sliders that they all seem to have on the front page. I just replace them with a content block. The only issue I had with the template's PSD file was that there were no channels to indicate the slices if changes were made. I had to change color and move things around... It was faster to re-slice and re-do the HTML/CSS than to figure out the size and shape of every little image that made the template, not to mention the extensive changes I made. Some have submenu support, this one didn't so I had to get the necessary Javascript from another source.

before: http://chamadigital.com/mycompany  (ThemeForest template example hosted on author's site)
after: http://apwrestling.org (ignore the content.. clients went crazy with colors and content that doesn't match the site style)

Also, alot of those themes on that site have a "search" box... why is that?  It doesnt have the PHP code or anything to support it does it?  I don't get that part.  I know they mostly all have a contact form and php code to make that work..but search?

That's exactly what a template is.. Front end with no smarts... That's what you provide... I would be surprised if the contact form works. If you don't like the search, or can't support it, then remove it from the template.

Would I just look at the "site templates" in HTML right?  Not the wordpress ones, etc tho right?

If you understand WordPress templates, see one you like and know how to convert them, by all means, go for it... If not, they would be more trouble than their worth.. The HTML templates are pure HTML.. You can do with them what you like.. WP ones are optimized for their application.. Sections of the HTML would be removed and replaced with their own tags... If you don't know what to do with them, you can't use it effectively.

[chugger93]

Thanks for that site example.  Actually that was one of the templates I liked.  I'm trying find a design for my boss's site currently at (link)  I liked the one you mentioned, but more so I LOVE this one: http://www.rtscripts.com/rt-theme3/styl ... folio.html

I really think I could manipulate it to be the colors of the current site I linked too, which is teal and a dark blue.  I'm worried about editing the PSD tho if I bought it.  I have some experience with photoshop, but not really slicing images.  I would need to change the colors tho for sure.  hmmm

[Dr.CSS]

@wishbone

Looking at those 2 it looks like all you ended up using was the menu part...

[Wishbone]

@wishbone

Looking at those 2 it looks like all you ended up using was the menu part...

I used all the content boxes pretty much as is, but with different colors. I took the portfolio slider section and moved it to the top and used it as a header instead.

I'm worried about editing the PSD tho if I bought it.  I have some experience with photoshop, but not really slicing images.  I would need to change the colors tho for sure.  hmmm

In my template's PSD file each section was designed in greyscale, with a color overlay.. I was able to go to each color overlay and change the color value to easily change color without destroying pixels. If your PSD comes with channels for each slice, you can use ImageReady to slice it for you automatically. You would have to turn layers off before slicing them, so you don't get the fake content, and get proper transparency for parts, etc.

[chugger93]

and theres no trial and return policy on this site right?  Once you buy it, its yours?  I guess you better know if you want it before u spend 17 bucks. Ouch