Zikula Community

• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Registered User
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Apr 07, 2006
  • Posts: 9

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 02:39 AM

  I'd like to be able to tweak existing templates - perhaps even substantially.
  
  In order to do this I'm wondering whether to learn AutoTheme or Xanthia. I understand AT is portable, but as I'm not planning to use a CMS other than PN it's not too much of an issue.
  
  As it's going to be quite an investment in time, going through manuals, tutorials and so on, I wanted to get some feedback first on peoples views. Is AT or Xanthia the way to go?

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Helper
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 752

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 03:03 AM

  I would go with Xanthia, personally.
  
  Pros: Comes with postnuke, free and customizable, block control etc...
  Cons: Much less templates avalable for it.
  
  Autotheme:
  Pros:Works well, has all the same features of Xanthia(Probably a couple more), Tons of free themes for it
  Cons: Doesn't come with postnuke and there is a paid version to get full features

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Apr 02, 2010
  • Posts: 1208

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 04:14 AM

  I would go with Xanthia. If you did ever decide to stray from PostNuke (why would anyone want to do that?), your experience with Xanthia templates would translate well into AutoTheme... it's basically the same concept with a different interface.
  
  Xanthia is more powerful than most people seem to realize. If you just browse the XTE forum here, you'd be amazed at what people have done.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 395

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 04:44 AM

  this might be a little off topic but:
  
  can Xanthia have a "splash page"?
  
  
  its the only reason i use AutoTheme a site. i want to switch to Xanthia, but this guy needs a everyone to see a page when they first log on.

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• MACscr
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Dec 31, 1969
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 1437

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 04:47 AM

  The first time they login to the site ever? Or just everytime they login? I know how to do it with the second part and i know it can be done with the first, but not exactly sure how. Im pretty sure hammerhead or halbrook had module for this though.
  
  BTW, I highly recommend Xanthia. I have been using PN and template systems for it for 5 years now. Xanthia is definately the best so far.

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• MMaynard
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Mar 15, 2003
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 1221

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 04:54 AM

  I use both but still prefer AutoTheme just for the ease of block areas and control.
  
  The Xanthia block control is a pain in the arse.
  
  --
  Zikula Themes

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 395

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 05:18 AM

  MACscr

  The first time they login to the site ever? Or just everytime they login? I know how to do it with the second part and i know it can be done with the first, but not exactly sure how. Im pretty sure hammerhead or halbrook had module for this though.
  
  BTW, I highly recommend Xanthia. I have been using PN and template systems for it for 5 years now. Xanthia is definately the best so far.

  
  with AutoTheme, you can chosse to have registered/anonymous users to see a splash page, no matter how they enter the site.
  
  
  www.yoursite.com
  www.yoursite.com/index.php?module=MyModule
  
  
  thats the only reason i still use AutoTheme. if i could get either that function is Xanthia, or get AutoTheme to work with the Titlehack plugin. i would be a very happy camper.
  
  until then, both TE have pros and cons to me

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• Topiatic
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Nov 23, 2003
  • Last visit: Dec 13, 2009
  • Posts: 1487

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 07:21 AM

  @ cannibus
  
  Does it use javascript for that?
  
  --
  Under Construction!

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• Simon
  
  

  • Rank: Legend
  • Registered: Dec 11, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 11674

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 10:31 AM

  A splash page on first login can be achieved through the pnFirstVisit module. As far as seeing a splash page everytime someone enters your site that would annoy me, but I can understand that you might want to use it for advertising purposes or similar.
  
  --
  itbegins.co.uk - Zikula Consulting
  
  birtwistle.me.uk - Personal Blog
  
  
  Please read the Support Guide

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 395

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 01:16 PM

  i dont know how AutoTheme does it, but its not everytime someone enters the site.
  
  
  its like a typical splash page, a user has to go to the home
  
  
  lets say someone enters your site for the first time through a link from antoher site, www.mysite.com/index.php?module=Members_List even they will see the splash page, then they go through to the page they want.
  
  
  i will check out the pnFirstVisit module though

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• Topiatic
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Nov 23, 2003
  • Last visit: Dec 13, 2009
  • Posts: 1487

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 05:15 PM

  So basicaly you'd want to check if the users have a current cookie or active session, and if not then direct them to the opening page... doesn't sound that difficult. How does pnFirstVisit judge your status?
  
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  Under Construction!

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• Lobos
  
  

  • Rank: Expert
  • Registered: Dec 02, 2002
  • Last visit: Apr 30, 2010
  • Posts: 1474

  Posted: Feb 20, 2006 - 11:53 PM

  I would say it uses pnUserLoggedIn() in someway - this function returns true if a user is logged and false if not - I guess it would also plant a cookie as well to detect if a user has "first visited" before...
  
  -Lobos
  
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  -Lobos
  Professional PHP Framework Services: Concept, Development and Deployment

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 144

  Posted: Feb 21, 2006 - 04:34 AM

  pnFirstVisit says it works with the first login. That wouldn't do much for first time visitors who don't register.
  
  As for the Xanthia vs AutoTheme's question, I will say this.
  
  The learning curve on Xanthia was a pain in the arse. I still don't have a firm grasp of the block system and I've read many tutorials on using it. However, once I got my head around the design aspect and the plugins, I have been very, very happy with it. I'm even writing a few plugins of my own.
  
  As far as AutoTheme goes, it has it's benefits, but I hate the idea of using a middleware solution for a product that I want to support.

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• **unknown user**
  
  

  • Rank: Softmore
  • Registered: Mar 16, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 191

  Posted: Feb 21, 2006 - 08:13 AM

  The only problem I have with Xanthia is the same that many others have. Block control. It is powerful, but user-unfriendly.
  
  In AutoTheme, you define your block areas in the theme and then you can simply choose those areas from the drop-down list control in your Admin->Blocks settings.
  
  In Xanthia, you have to use block control. If you use block control for one block, you are using block control for everything. I still use Xanthia, but I sure wish the block functionality was more user-friendly.

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• Simon
  
  

  • Rank: Legend
  • Registered: Dec 11, 2002
  • Last visit: Oct 21, 2009
  • Posts: 11674

  Posted: Feb 21, 2006 - 08:37 AM

  In PostNuke .8, block control is no longer part of Xanthia and comes packaged inside the default blocks module. This means an improved UI and more logical administration layout. Mark has the code for this mostly done and it will be in CVS once finished.
  
  --
  itbegins.co.uk - Zikula Consulting
  
  birtwistle.me.uk - Personal Blog
  
  
  Please read the Support Guide

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