Zikula Community

• slartibardfast
  
  

  • Rank: Freshman
  • Registered: Jan 09, 2009
  • Last visit: May 25, 2010
  • Posts: 92

  Posted: Mar 13, 2010 - 06:52 AM

  To experiment with Theme creation in Zikula. For a long time I have been one of those who hacked existing Themes to produce my own, and have used the AutoTheme Theme System extensively up to now. So for whatever reason, I am trying to improve my own capabilities using the Zikula Theme System. Essentially, I am trying to acquire the functionality to design a Theme from scratch. Part of that initiative is that I believe it will help me to become familiar with the essential components starting from the 'ground up' so to speak. In this I do not want pre-existing configurations giving me fonts etc. I want to see what the 'defaults' deliver, and then work my way through how to manipulate and manage the construction of Themes.
  
  Ok, enough of the blurb... the first issue that I am finding frustrating involves caching. Desirable of course, arguably esential, but in the way I am working, that is do a little then take a look at the result, not having the changes immediately available instantly is a bit of a pain.
  
  So my first question: Is there a way I can configure Zikula (and/or anything else) in order to make changes instand and real-time? I appreciate the Browser cache, but I am looking at the Zikula (and any other) side. I often have to delete the Theme/pnRender caches in order to get the changes displayed, and I will admit that I don't feel I really 'know' what I am doing.
  
  It is also possible that my methods are not particularly efficient, as I am entirely self-taught. My code level knowledge of HTML and PHP is minimal, and my understanding of CSS likewise. My approach tends to be to change something and see what happens. Based on that I can see what changes what etc., but this is of course rather hit and miss and probably very inefficient. But there it is. Hopefully, I will get to improve my technique as I go along, so all suggestions are welcome! and no, I am not going to wade through hours and hours and hours and hours of reading just to try and scratch out a few essentials. I do enjoy doing this stuff, but not at the expense of everything else ;)
  
  p.s. I have started with the Wiki and worked my way through much of that. It does not however tell you how the Theme System works, what relates to what and how (i.e. what all the defaults are such as what Style Sheets are where and which one's are used by what, and how to change and manipulate them etc). It is useful none-the-less....
  
  
  
  edited by: slartibardfast, datetimebrief

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• craigh
  
  

  • Rank: Developer
  • Registered: Jun 16, 2003
  • Last visit: May 29, 2010
  • Posts: 1966

  Posted: Mar 13, 2010 - 07:38 AM

  caching issue
  
  for the other I suggest FireFox with Firebug. This allows you to 'play' with settings (assuming you structure everything using CSS - as you should) and then you can implement the changes after you know it works.
  
  warning - just cause it works in FF, doesn't mean it works in IE. check browsershots.org

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• slartibardfast
  
  

  • Rank: Freshman
  • Registered: Jan 09, 2009
  • Last visit: May 25, 2010
  • Posts: 92

  Posted: Mar 13, 2010 - 07:55 AM

  Darn! That was quick! Thanks Craig. I will look into those things directly.
  
  I will admit that working with CSS is probably the least experience I have at this stage (which is very little), but it is also my intention to change that as it seems pointless continuing without it. I know it is outside the scope of Zikula to go into the workings of CSS, but to give you an example of my inadequacies at the moment, I look at a Style Sheet, and see loads of entries. The properties I can mostly understand, but how does Zikula/Themes use them and where are they used? Some Style Sheets seem to have hundreds (well, maybe a slight exaggeration ;)) of entries. It is further confused because there seems to be more than 1 Style Sheet, so what gets used and where? This is the kind of issue that I am trying to get my head around at the moment. I've no illusions it will take effort...

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• craigh
  
  

  • Rank: Developer
  • Registered: Jun 16, 2003
  • Last visit: May 29, 2010
  • Posts: 1966

  Posted: Mar 13, 2010 - 01:44 PM

  well, it is really beyond the scope of a simple forum answer to explain CSS. I suggest some basic google searching on phrases like 'learning CSS' or 'understanding CSS'. best wishes.

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