Joomla Templates Club 406,261 posts

[daysidoobie Friend daysidoobieJoin date: June 2013Posts: 19Downloads:0Uploads:0]

#188400

I would typically use Firebug and jump in feet first editing css files to get a new template to where I wanted to take it. In the Mero template I keep hearing about LESS to CSS and Theme Magic.

1) ThemeMagic does not seem to work on my installation, the theme looks broken (Firefox & Joomla 3) when I go into edit. So I have avoided it.

2) LESS to CSS is a mystery. Is there a video I can watch to tell/show me the benefits of using LESS to CSS? I am wondering if I should avoid these new functions and simply do what I know how to do best, or learn it, live it, love it. I don’t have a ton of time to learn some new process but I want to do it right. I keep reading that if I make the wrong decision, then edit a ton of css, all my work my be overwritten. That would suck.

Advice?

: )

Daysi

[pavit Moderator pavitJoin date: September 2007Posts: 15749Downloads:199Uploads:2274 Thanks: 417 Thanked: 4028 times in 3778 posts]

#496518

Hi

There is a detailed documentation provided for T3V3 Framework HERE

Look at this also

[TomC Moderator TomCJoin date: October 2014Posts: 14077Downloads:58Uploads:137 Thanks: 948 Thanked: 3155 times in 2495 posts]

#496532

Here is ANOTHER RESOURCE which may be of additional assistance to you

[daysidoobie Friend daysidoobieJoin date: June 2013Posts: 19Downloads:0Uploads:0]

#496595

I didn’t realize when I bought the template I loved, I would need to spend a month learning the unique functionality needed to run it correctly. Didn’t plan on that for sure.

What if I do not have that kind of time?
Is there a repository of people here who know this particular template who I can hire someone from?
Am I forced to base my launch window on the timeline and generosity of the people in this community?
Should I move on to a template system that does not require a unique education?

Thanks for your time . . .

[pavit Moderator pavitJoin date: September 2007Posts: 15749Downloads:199Uploads:2274 Thanks: 417 Thanked: 4028 times in 3778 posts]

#496596

Hi Daysi

<blockquote>I didn’t realize when I bought the template I loved, I would need to spend a month learning the unique functionality needed to run it correctly. Didn’t plan on that for sure.</blockquote>

These are the new features for new T3 Framework you are right are not so much easy to manage for who has not a minimum of experience, anyway for the manteinance of website for futures updates and eventually problems coming, would be better for you to hire some experienced freelancer if you don’t have time to dedicate to this but it depends by the amount of traffic and visitors that your website can generate
If you want you can check this website for freelancer http://www.joomlancers.com

[daysidoobie Friend daysidoobieJoin date: June 2013Posts: 19Downloads:0Uploads:0]

#496597

I don’t consider myself a novice to Joomla at all. I have been building websites in Joomla for many years now. I am however a novice to T3, which apparently one needs to know pretty well in order to configure and maintain this template. I saw a list of the advantages using T3 would give us before we bought it, but it did not say “If you do not have someone on your team who knows T3 or is willing to spend a month to learn it, this template might not be right for you”.

We currently have 20,000 people who pick up and read our paper every month and 7,000+ who subscribe online. Our next issue comes out in 10 days. That number was 25 when we got the template and now I doubt I will be able to announce it to our readers for another month.

I realize I might sound bitter but I am no novice and had I known what I know now I would have gone another way.

[TomC Moderator TomCJoin date: October 2014Posts: 14077Downloads:58Uploads:137 Thanks: 948 Thanked: 3155 times in 2495 posts]

#496614

<em>@daysidoobie 377718 wrote:</em><blockquote>

I realize I might sound bitter but I am no novice and had I known what I know now I would have gone another way.</blockquote>
If you are “no novice” as you say, then you should already have most of the core knowledge and wits about you with which to be able to figur emost things out and be well on your way. Did you learn everything you know today overnight? I’m pretty confident in believing that you did not. Just because there are some new thigns to learn does not equate to this task being insurmountable and you should pack it up.

No club’s templates ar emeant to be “turnkey/download and go” websites. There will always be a level of modification, education and – above all – patience involed in creating a custom website experiene from a base template structure. For someone who is “not a novice” and has “been buildign Joomla websies for years,” I would expect that you would know/understand this fact.

It’s really not as difficult as you’re allowing yourself to make it out to be. I think you may be self-frustrating yourself a bit too much … when all you relaly need to do is take a deep breath and work through the elements you need to work with one at a time. You’ll get to where you want to be … trust me.

[daysidoobie Friend daysidoobieJoin date: June 2013Posts: 19Downloads:0Uploads:0]

#496641

I am not opposed to learning new languages or methodologies in order to “get where I want to be”. What I do have a problem with is not being told up front that I would have to learn them in order to implement what I am purchasing.

Phrases on the Joomlart.com homepage like:

“Our templates give you the distinct look and feel while being very easy to adapt and customize.”

“It’s flexible architecture allows you to build complex templates in no time. Extending your web design cannot be faster.”

Lucky for me you also include this one:

If you think your purchase does not provide you value get 100% refund!

Which I will be asking for immediately.

[pb66 Friend pb66Join date: May 2010Posts: 129Downloads:23Uploads:10 Thanks: 31 Thanked: 42 times in 27 posts]

#496654

I’m not a programming or professional web developer by any stretch of the imagination, but reading your initial comments I would offer the following from my limited experience.

1. Why are you buying a template if you want to edit the css in Firebug?

The templates on this site come with a wide range of colour options, plus with Joomla you can add modules to a variety of places to get a website looking like you want with a nice theme. The Joomlart guys include a wide variety of add-on extensions in each template that you can customise – use – or not – use to shape the appearance of the site. And you can change the placement to almost wherever you want to further customise the look!

I’ve built a few websites and only rarely change css unless it’s for logo size or some other one off instance.

2. LESS is not that hard to figure out if you take some time to research it. Instead of you using Firebug to change css codes about 200 times to get a consistent css style you can change one variable in Less. This variable will apply across all of the css styling for the site once you compile your LESS to css.

As you can see the intention of the JA team in implementing less in T3 is to actually save you time, not create work.

I’m quite happy with the look of all of the sites I’ve built and regularly don’t include all of the extensions included with any template – I’ve also used extensions from other templates as they suit my needs! (Sometimes the css style is a bit off but….).

Anyway, that’s my 50cents worth!

Have a great day!

🙂

2 users say Thank You to pb66 for this useful post

1. pavit
2. TomC

[daysidoobie Friend daysidoobieJoin date: June 2013Posts: 19Downloads:0Uploads:0]

#496814

Well that’s a very sweet reply and optimistic outlook to my situation.

I suppose if I was only looking to change the logo, that might work. However my needs are greater, thus the difficulty in working with a new set of rules.

I am very happy for you tho and am glad you found a template provider that your pleased with.

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