Changing Classic Template

[Ajeh]

Create your own templates and overrides first ... then change it all to anything you like ...

You do not want to use the Classic Template or change it or any other files without using the overrides ...

[afo]

To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:

• includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
• includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo)
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_footer.php
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif
• includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css

Anywhere you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template. You can copy the necessary files from either the /classic/ folder, the /template_default/ folder or the parent folder.

Edit includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php to give your template identifying information so you'll recognize it in the admin under tools->template selection.

[sibiya2000]

Mhnnnn.... Ajeh & afo, I not a computer wizard. I just needed to do something simple by changing one figure. I like both templates but they are vice versa in terms of color and the width. I like the wide width for the Silverfish and the green color for the classic. But I can take the challenge in creating my own. Afo, do I have to copy all the files you've mentioned and how will I know that its a full width and a green color?

[afo]

You don't have to be a wiz to customize ZC.

Change the colors in the stylesheet. There are tons of sites with color charts. You'll find one such chart here.

My list is a pretty basic one. I'd suggest using the Silverfish template files as your starting point and playing around with the colors from there. The best part of using the override system is that if you goof up, you can scrap what you did and start with the original file again.

If you do your changes in the original (/classic/) files, they'll be overwritten by future upgrades/updates.

[sibiya2000]

Thank you for your input.

[madmumbler]

Colors are all changed in the stylesheet.css file for your custom template.

To change the width, look for this section of code in the stylesheet.css file:

/*wrappers - page or section containers*/
#mainWrapper {
	background-color: #ffffff;
	text-align: left;
	width: 750px;
	vertical-align: top;
	border: 1px solid #9a9a9a;
	}

HOWEVER -- do NOT change your default template code! Make a new template and install it and create the changes there. Otherwise, you will be reinstalling everything after an upgrade.

The easiest thing to do is copy on your computer every folder that says "classic" and name it whatever you want (no spaces). Then go into the includes/templates/yournewtemplate/template_info.php file and change the information to reflect your new template.

Upload it all and install it in the admin panel. Now you can configure to your heart's content.

Another caveat -- the classic template width can be changed. However, I have never played with it doing what you want to do, and you'll have to change the header background graphic to a repeating kind to fill in if you want the same look. So don't be surprised if you have unexpected results when doing this.

HTH,