CMS Made Simple Forums

Hi all

Just created my first few pages (and site) in CMSMS and as my understanding of cms is limited it was a little tricky with a 'test it and see' approach, rather than know how do achieve something from the ground up.

This type of approach always leaves me thinking I want to learn css but don't you find it better to learn on the job, and especially with someone experienced?  Tip and tricks are SO important.

So is there anyone prepared to teach CMSMS? or css that applies to CMSMS.

What resources are available to self learn, in terms of books, material, on-line courses?

Can Dreamweaver be used with CMSMS with only limited use of css?

Can tables be used for Template formatting?  I suspect that's hopw templates work anyway..?

What's the best approach to taking a current site and learning how to convert it to CMSMS - I've seen the chocolate vid and it seems logical.

How does one integrate tools like DHTML Menu builder?


Sorry, perhaps to many questions, but your thoughts and advice on training would be very much welcomed.
Lea

Hello Lea,

yes, you must improve your CSS knowledge. There are tons of websites and books about CSS. Just Google for them.
Then you can come back and find CMSms simple leveraging your CSS knowledge.

Pierre M.

Hi and thanks for the reply.

Of course this would be the most sensible and correct approach, but can CMSMS be used with minimal CSS and if so, how?


Thanks
Lea

Hello again,

without CSS knowledge you will not be able (just an example) to replace the packaged sample logo with yours.
This is why I prefer to warn about the requirements.
Of course, feel free to try CMSms.

Pierre M.

the 'test it and see' approach is an excellent way to learn -- just do it on a 'test site' and not a 'real' one.

1. set up a second installation on a different subdomain, domain, or hosting account, just for learning and trying things out

2. run a test server on your local windows pc: http://forum.cmsmadesimple.org/index.ph ... 622.0.html

when you have to figure stuff out on your own; you learn so much more than if you just looked for the answers in the back of the book.



there isn't really anything like 'cmsms specific' css. some of the menus and modules' default templates may have classes or id's already in them; but you're free to modify them as you wish.



google is your friend when it comes to looking for help on something. a couple examples:

need help centering a fixed-width layout? search for: center page fixed width css

want to learn more about styling menus based on unordered lists 's? search for: css menu unordered list


you'll soon have a collection of web sites and pages in your bookmarks that you can go right to whenever you need them.


a text editor and a deisre to learn are all you really need to get started.. that, and your favorite search engine.



if you want to learn css layouts by example.. it is a good way to see how something is done as you work on your own layouts. here's a few sites to keep you busy:

www.openwebdesign.org
www.oswd.org
www.styleshout.com
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/etribou/layouts
www.freecsstemplates.org



if you're familiar with dreamweaver, it is an excellent tool for creating the basis for what you will turn into a cmsms template. don't worry about adding the cmsms specific {tags} until you're all done and have a completed, and tested, sample page ready to go.

the default menu template that's used when you simply use {menu} creates an unordered list based menu; with nested lists for sublevels. just make a sample list for working with in dreamweaver, wrapped in a div so you can style it however you want; then it will "just work" when you replace it with {menu} as you move your design into cmsms.



if you really want to, you can use tables as the basis for your template's layout.

as you work with cmsms and {smarty} based templates; you may find you don't need 'one trick pony' programs like dhtml menu builder any more.

and finally; a few handy firefox extensions to make your life easier:

webdeveloper toolbar -- most of the layout/css issues i help with here are worked-out using the edit-css and edit-html features of this extension. i also do most of my original css tweaking, including menu styling, right from it:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/60

html validator -- enhanced 'view source' and code validator that runs on your pc, doesn't rely on a third-party validator web site:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/249

firebug -- another handy in-place html/css editor; great for checking for css inheritance and border/padding/margin issues:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1843

colorzilla -- a handy color picker:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/271

Hi Guys,

Special thanks to Kermit for his superb and truly informative post - really appreciated.  Of course to Pierre too.

In fact I learn best by struggling and doing virtually everything you said Kermit, 'Google is my friend' in fact everyone's!  In fact with limited CMS knowledge I have successfully recreated a web site and have changed the top menu colours, sizing, interaction, sub levels, roll overs, hovers, changed to left just, etc.etc and it impersonates a VERY large corporation's site (which unfortauntely I cannot reveal, but my point is that this was acheived with my 'friend', so I fully understand your comments.

I currently have two installs of CMSms, one for the client (password protected) and one to experiment with - so that's great advice too.

Re the local CMSms, well I'm rather fortunate here as I'm also a Web Host too, so my servers are completely in my control (makes life much easier when you get problems to resolve!).

Interesting that I can use tables in DW to create Templates - I thought this was the case, and although not good practise may help the learning curve - we all have to begin somewhere eh!

Superb links too, so many thanks again for your time and patience.

Lea

Also Lea, if it makes any difference, I too have limited knowledge of css/cms etc BUT

You can download entire themes here: http://themes.cmsmadesimple.org/Full_Themes.html
Once you upload them to your site you can simply choose the theme from Layout > Theme Manager

If you trawl through the Stylesheets for example (Layout > Stylesheets) the code is well commented and you should be able to work out how to change colours (eg: #c3dd75), width's, fonts etc.

Using the Menu manager you can add/remove/modify links.

Good luck.