How to make template?

Hi,

I want to build my own template, what is the best way to do it?
Taking the default template is too hell for me, too complex. and i fear ill finish just like most templates here, look alike... no offense. I want something beyond playing with css.

Is there any template that bypass all the "dynamicness".? I will not be needing to "add later a sidebox" or stuff like that.

Everyone starts with the default template and build from that. Look at the "review" sections and you will be amazed by the professional templates made by others.

yellow1912:

Everyone starts with the default template and build from that. Look at the "review" sections and you will be amazed by the professional templates made by others.

hey, thanks for the mods you made. Installed and using :)

Sorry, don't think im patronizing, but im not amazed. Most look the same others are some sort of minimal extraction, from what I've seen.

I saw there is zenMagik or something alike... should i use it for better templating or just stick with defaults...?

How about:
http://www.clevershoppers.com/
http://www.konkito.com
http://www.handbagfactory.co.uk/
http://www.moissaniteco.com/

ZenMagic is promising, but I have never used it before so I can't really say anything.
PS: if you use ZenMagic you will not have all the mods made for zen tho, you will have to convert some of those to make it work.

yellow1912:

How about:
http://www.clevershoppers.com/
http://www.konkito.com
http://www.handbagfactory.co.uk/
http://www.moissaniteco.com/

ZenMagic is promising, but I have never used it before so I can't really say anything.
PS: if you use ZenMagic you will not have all the mods made for zen tho, you will have to convert some of those to make it work.

Yes those look awesome. So you guess they started from the default?

ALL template overrides started as the default template.

NOTE: You can do alot from the Admin by just turning any unwanted features off.

Yup, mostly css, and some small changes in the template files, I can guarantee. Remember, ZC templates contain lots of php code, so even if you don't want to start from the default it will be very very difficult to do so.

Remember, ZC templates contain lots of php code,

Slightly off topic, but lots? You want lots of code try osC. The code that is left in the templates is the output and the switches that turn things on and off. ( for the most part)

I simply tell him that if he wants to start from scratch then he will have to cpy all the php codes over, and place them in the places they should be ^^.

Kim:

Slightly off topic, but lots? You want lots of code try osC. The code that is left in the templates is the output and the switches that turn things on and off. ( for the most part)

What i've made is
design in PSD,
extracted to html,

now, traditionally i am trying to insert the code to html, but i feel its not the way ZC designed workflow.

Kim:

Slightly off topic, but lots? You want lots of code try osC. The code that is left in the templates is the output and the switches that turn things on and off. ( for the most part)
ZC is best i can get, but SQL queries in html design are bit ugly imho.

Actually that's what I did for my template:

1. design in psd.
2. Change to html + css
3. last: put them into ZC template files. This will take the most time since you have to learn the role of each template file.

So you were putting the design in the code?

im trying to do it the other way, code into design...wish me luck :)

baltzar:

Yes those look awesome. So you guess they started from the default?

Hey man...I actually am one of the main designers from (http://www.clevershoppers.com) and actually we basically did everything outside of the box. The one thing that we love so much about zen cart that there is a way to do anything design wise that one would really want to do still using the templates, the stylesheets, and other pages within zencart. The other great thing about zencart unlike what others would have to believe....if you know basic html....and you know how to use google to find out somethings about coding...then you can function in zen cart. If you have any specific questions...feel free to ask.

Can anyone help me in placing objects like "search box", currency selector on top of banner as in this example osc2.template-help.com/zencart_13271/index.php
As I want to design a template like that

tasleem:

Can anyone help me in placing objects like "search box", currency selector on top of banner as in this example osc2.template-help.com/zencart_13271/index.php
As I want to design a template like that

Check the downloads section, there are a couple of mods for placing this information in the header.