Westminster New

Ahh, OK, thanks!

Have you looked at this menu? It's GPL compatible. http://mmenu.frebsite.nl/

lankeeyankee:

Have you looked at this menu? It's GPL compatible. http://mmenu.frebsite.nl/

Thanks for posting the link. It looks nice ;)

Thanks,

Anne

lankeeyankee:

Have you looked at this menu? It's GPL compatible. http://mmenu.frebsite.nl/

That's the menu I will be using.. Found it earlier this week.. Slimmenu doesn't work well for longer category lists.. This looks like it will work better..

I also like the way it functions overall and the great addons and extensions it has, makes it more app-like. The header, footer, and search box are especially nice as well as making the whole line an active area instead of a small box at the right side of each link and submenus sliding out instead of dropping down. Very slick indeed.

In the process of switching everything to work with css/js loader for easier future modifications. Then I'll be testing some swipe scripts so things like featured products can be swiped to make it even more app-like. I have a number of changes I'm going to make and will share them if there is any interest.

lankeeyankee:

I also like the way it functions overall and the great addons and extensions it has, makes it more app-like. The header, footer, and search box are especially nice as well as making the whole line an active area instead of a small box at the right side of each link and submenus sliding out instead of dropping down. Very slick indeed.

In the process of switching everything to work with css/js loader for easier future modifications. Then I'll be testing some swipe scripts so things like featured products can be swiped to make it even more app-like. I have a number of changes I'm going to make and will share them if there is any interest.

Yes, always share your improvements so that I can incorporate them into the package ;)

Thanks,

Anne

lankeeyankee:

I also like the way it functions overall and the great addons and extensions it has, makes it more app-like. The header, footer, and search box are especially nice as well as making the whole line an active area instead of a small box at the right side of each link and submenus sliding out instead of dropping down. Very slick indeed.

In the process of switching everything to work with css/js loader for easier future modifications. Then I'll be testing some swipe scripts so things like featured products can be swiped to make it even more app-like. I have a number of changes I'm going to make and will share them if there is any interest.

Yep I agree, and on smartphones in particular I think this is a better way of navigating.. I am starting to look at integrating swipe actions into a slider (not necessarily the one that comes with this template as I may swap that out too), and adding swipe to Zen Colorbox as well.. (lightbox and it's underlying Slimbox library are just too old to mess with)

Agree, basically I am going to make the mobile view as app-like as possible to match people's expectations of their mobile experiences from elsewhere. Never used a responsive template before so I am currently spending time familiarizing myself with the files so I know where to go to make changes.

lankeeyankee:

Agree, basically I am going to make the mobile view as app-like as possible to match people's expectations of their mobile experiences from elsewhere. Never used a responsive template before so I am currently spending time familiarizing myself with the files so I know where to go to make changes.

That would be great. Any improvements to the package are always welcome.

Thanks,

Anne

lankeeyankee:

Agree, basically I am going to make the mobile view as app-like as possible to match people's expectations of their mobile experiences from elsewhere. Never used a responsive template before so I am currently spending time familiarizing myself with the files so I know where to go to make changes.

That sounds EXACTLY like the discussion I just had the other day with my client on the direction we're moving with her site and the swaps and changes I plan to make accordingly.. We have been doing an informal usability study with a group of her current customers, and their feedback was invaluable. (some even provided links to other sites they shop with to help guide some of the changes we're now going to be making) The first step is changing the mobile menu to one that looks more like the typical menus used in Android and iOS apps.. There are other things we're going to do some more usability testing on like for example, we haven't decided if we'll use the hamburger menu or the vertical ellipse as the menu icon.. Both are used in mobile applications to symbolize a menu.. That may sound silly, but it's all about providing intuitive features and a good usability experience for site visitors. What I am finding is that it's just not enough for the template to work on a mobile device.. The mobile experience has to be a good user experience or one will find themselves with high bounce rates from mobile users..

DivaVocals:

That sounds EXACTLY like the discussion I just had the other day with my client on the direction we're moving with her site and the swaps and changes I plan to make accordingly.. We have been doing an informal usability study with a group of her current customers, and their feedback was invaluable. (some even provided links to other sites they shop with to help guide some of the changes we're now going to be making) The first step is changing the mobile menu to one that looks more like the typical menus used in Android and iOS apps.. There are other things we're going to do some more usability testing on like for example, we haven't decided if we'll use the hamburger menu or the vertical ellipse as the menu icon.. Both are used in mobile applications to symbolize a menu.. That may sound silly, but it's all about providing intuitive features and a good usability experience for site visitors. What I am finding is that it's just not enough for the template to work on a mobile device.. The mobile experience has to be a good user experience or one will find themselves with high bounce rates from mobile users..

I encourage you to share with the community any code improvements you develop along these lines that would improve the template package.

Thanks,

Anne

since we're not all reinventing the same wheel, I created a git for collaboration. Although I really want to change the structure to work with the css/js loader and I don't know how everyone else feels about that, we can still collaborate on mutual goals. It will take me a few days to finish getting up to speed with the file layout and how it all works since it's all new to me.
https://github.com/lankeeyankee/westminster_new

lankeeyankee:

since we're not all reinventing the same wheel, I created a git for collaboration. Although I really want to change the structure to work with the css/js loader and I don't know how everyone else feels about that, we can still collaborate on mutual goals. It will take me a few days to finish getting up to speed with the file layout and how it all works since it's all new to me.
https://github.com/lankeeyankee/westminster_new

I would definitely not want the css/js loader plugin integrated into the template. I feel that the decision to integrate this is best left to the template user.

Thanks,

Anne

picaflor-azul:

I would definitely not want the css/js loader plugin integrated into the template. I feel that the decision to integrate this is best left to the template user.

Thanks,

Anne

See this:

http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?215734-template_default-jQuery-loader-does-not-validate-at-http-validator-w3-org&p=1268751#post1268751

I always heed DrByte's advice ;)

Thanks,

Anne

picaflor-azul:

I would definitely not want the css/js loader plugin integrated into the template. I feel that the decision to integrate this is best left to the template user.

Thanks,

Anne

picaflor-azul:

See this:

http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?215734-template_default-jQuery-loader-does-not-validate-at-http-validator-w3-org&p=1268751#post1268751

I always heed DrByte's advice ;)

Thanks,

Anne

I agree, and will add my own comments from here: https://github.com/zencart/zencart/issues/240#issuecomment-75175225

Highlights of this post..

I have made no secret my disdain for the CSS/JS loader. I am not opposed to the BENEFIT it is supposed to bring.. What I've always objected to is the fact that it's not just difficult for beginners, it's difficult for folks who are NOT beginners too.. I find that the CSS/JS Loader is poorly documented, not user friendly, lacking in ANY admin level controls so that you can strategically manage how the minification is applied. In it's current form, it's either ON or OFF.. there's no in between.. WTH??? and here's ALL the instruction you get in the readme for when things go wrong (which for many is usually as soon as you turn this very non-configurable module ON..):

I NEVER like the fact that nearly every single one of a popular contributor's modules FORCES you to install the CSS/JS Loader whether you want it or not.. With all due respect, I personally find that the "we know what's good for you better than you do" stance taken by this contributor is a bit akin to the "Borg" in Star Trek (you know.. that whole "resistance is futile" POV :laugh: ).

Not a problem, to each their own. I will use the git for the general changes like navigation and touch abilities etc and then fork it to work with the loader for those interested in it. Or, if no one here is really interested in doing this I will just use it for my own purposes and for those that want to incorporate the loader. I guess just let me know what the interest level is.

lankeeyankee:

Not a problem, to each their own. I will use the git for the general changes like navigation and touch abilities etc and then fork it to work with the loader for those interested in it. Or, if no one here is really interested in doing this I will just use it for my own purposes and for those that want to incorporate the loader. I guess just let me know what the interest level is.

I'm interested in the the navigation and touch capabilities as it is a direction I was moving towards.. I am not against the benefit that the CSS/JS Loader is supposed to bring, I object to the execution of these benefits in it's current application.. Which is why the CSS/JS Loader incorporation is not something I'd want..

lankeeyankee:

Not a problem, to each their own. I will use the git for the general changes like navigation and touch abilities etc and then fork it to work with the loader for those interested in it. Or, if no one here is really interested in doing this I will just use it for my own purposes and for those that want to incorporate the loader. I guess just let me know what the interest level is.

That sounds like a plan.

Thanks,

Anne

Hi, sorry, I haven't read all 73 pages yet. I'm up to about 15 but have a question as I'm trying to go live today/tomorrow. Is there a way to remove the British flag? To me, it indicates a different country and not the language of English. My site is no international as of yet, so I'd like to hide or remove it. Can someone point me towards what edit I can make? Thanks (great template btw!)

Also, is there a way to make "page 2" be named something else?

The flag is the language sidebox, just turn it off in the admin.

change the name in includes/languages/your_custom_template/english.php. If you don't have one, create that directory and copy languages/english.php there so it won't be overwritten when upgrading. The developers toolkit, in the tools menu, will become your best friend when making changes to the site. search for page 2 in the bottom field and you can see where it occurs. Same for just about anything else non-database value related.