Using Template Kit on existing Site

[michael]

To my understanding...

When creating a new "site" template, with the use of the oustanding Template Kit plugin for Dreamweaver, certain files/directories are of course created.

These files are created in the root if you will, with relation to the index.php file you've chosen to being templating process.

My question then, based on the title, is how to create a 'new' template for an existing joomla site, while maintaining the Templates Directory Structure already in existance. I've not had luck in doing so.

Tidbits? Input? All are welcome.

and once again, as voiced by another new user on this board, the Media65 Template kit is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

and i too can hardly wait until the update is out for joomla 1.5

all the best to all involved.

and warm greetings from miamisburg, ohio


Michael

[admin]

Hello michael,


The way I do it.
I’m as assuming that you have a local web server installed and have a copy of Joomla up and running.

1.Make a new folder inside your Joomla-install/templates/your-templates-name
So you name your template folder whatever you like. Also make an images folder called images inside your “your-templates-name” folder.

2. Open DW map to your Joomla-install/templates/your-templates-name/
so the template name is the root to DW. Then map to images folder as DW ask you for it.

3.Now that’s none you should run the Base Template wizard. This will make the default files and folders for you needed for a Joomla template.

4.Run the profile wizard enter your info.

5.To answer your question? On naming of the template run the update XML file wizard this is what writes your templates name so you see it in the Joomla back-end. You can change it as many times as you would like via the XML Update wizard.

Now what if a called your template folder “foo” and my template name via the XML wizard “masterpiece”?

Well this would not be an issue with your master template at all.
Joomla reads all the folders in the template directories and the XML files.
This is why you can upload and install a template manually.

It’s another case once you zip your template up and install it via the Joomla installer.
In this case Joomla would read the template xml file during the install and make a folder
called “masterpiece” as per the above example.


Now say that you installed it on the same local Joomla install?
Well you have to copies of the same template one inside a folder called “foo”
or “your-templates-name” and one call “masterpiece” as per you upload template install.

Now via Joomla back-end template admin manager you would have two templates called
“masterpiece”. And yes they would both work.

So in short you should name your template folder the name of your template name via the XML wizard and don’t use so type of crazy name @@_/\..6565.

You’re welcome on the information overload .

Cheers,
Brian

[admin]

Hi Michael,

Sorry think I posted the wrong answer I have to stop doing six things at
once the last post may have somewhat answered some of your question.

Michael Q: My question then, based on the title, is how to create a 'new' template for an existing joomla site, while maintaining the Templates Directory Structure already in existance. I've not had luck in doing so.


Brian A1: Hmm you can map DW to the template folder but if you run the base files wizard its going to overwrite most of the files in the directory. See this post importing a non Joomla template to Joomla
It my help as a work around to this issue
See:
Create template with fireworks/photoshop


Brian A2: I think what your asking is you like to map DW the root of the Joomla master template folder or the Joomla root so you have all of the templates in the templates folder showing in the DW file manager on the right or left of your screen. Then you can run the Base template wizard to start a new template?

I thought about it on version 2.5 beta version after looking at issues it’s not impossible to do.
I’d have to put some time into this. It’s sounds easy but there are a lot of path issues that come into play
with writing files and updating files. And if you have 15 templates or 50 templates I would have to have a way to track which template I’m updating which is not. it’s just to much for not a lot gained.

If you map to each template install your Joomla template folder via DW one helps you keep track
of your templates and two its just as easy to find via the DW site manager if you think of it as a template manager when working on Joomla templates.


I hope I’d answered your question if not please clarify it for me a bit.

[michael]

Originally Posted by admin

Hi Michael,

Sorry think I posted the wrong answer I have to stop doing six things at
once the last post may have somewhat answered some of your question.

Michael Q: My question then, based on the title, is how to create a 'new' template for an existing joomla site, while maintaining the Templates Directory Structure already in existance. I've not had luck in doing so.

Brian A2: I think what your asking is you like to map DW the root of the Joomla master template folder or the Joomla root so you have all of the templates in the templates folder showing in the DW file manager on the right or left of your screen. Then you can run the Base template wizard to start a new template?

I thought about it on version 2.5 beta version after looking at issues it’s not impossible to do.
I’d have to put some time into this. It’s sounds easy but there are a lot of path issues that come into play with writing files and updating files. And if you have 15 templates or 50 templates I would have to have a way to track which template I’m updating which is not. it’s just to much for not a lot gained.

If you map to each template install your Joomla template folder via DW one helps you keep track of your templates and two its just as easy to find via the DW site manager if you think of it as a template manager when working on Joomla templates.

I hope I’d answered your question if not please clarify it for me a bit.

First of all, i'm left with somewhat of an understanding as to how busy you must be rewriting your code for the new version of Joomla.

Secondly, I forgot to mention that i 'have' a workaround in place, but it's just a bit bizzy-workish and as i'm a definite evangelist of the "work-smarter-not-harder" philoshophy, i simply thought i'd drop to you the question and see what popped back up.

my solution has been to create a "new" site if you will, directly targeting the "new template" directory for the site.

that way the wizards base files always do what they're supposed to do, and all is written with the correct paths intact.

of course, at times you'll get those anxious alerts from dreamweaver about files existing in two places, and "synchronization" may be difficult, but so long as one remembers only to work on the template in one place, they'll be fine.

then, when the project is finished, upload the files (or as you have mentioned "zip" the template and upload through admin) and your job is done.

edits of course will have you backtracking that trail once again, but it's a small price to pay i guess.

that's it. let me know if i can be of any beta-testing-help in your further endeavors on the MOST excellent extension.


Michael

(edit) P.S. I forgot to mention that this site: recess games - Home is the first site i've done completely from scratch using a sketch, a photoshop rendering, slicing/dicing of same, and build, using the ease of your JoomlaKit. muchas gracias once again.