Need help to start with templating[SOLVED]

[balisto]

Hi,

I just downloaded and installed elxis today and wanted to start templating to understand how the whole thing works. Unfortunately this is all very new to me. It's not a problem to style the templates with CSS, but I'm confused about modules and module position and I don't understand if I would need new modules to create a simple website as follows or if I could use the existing ones:

1) let's imagine my future website is 3-lingual.
2) I would like to create the layout as attached (homepage differs from the content page)
3) Teaser 1, 2, 3 and 4 should be editable by editors (so no hardcoding within the template) - in this case the teasers would be 4 images in 3 language-versions, so 12 images, linked to some content pages.
4) The teaser block would only show on the homepage (not on content pages)

Where do I start to find a relatively simple solution? I saw that there were module-positions like user1, user2, user3, etc. that I could use right? But do I need to create a new module for this?

You see, I still didn't get the point I guess ;-)

Any help very much appreciated.

Chris

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[Ivan Trebješanin]

Hi, and thank you for using Elxis

I would suggerst you to read this:

documentation/e-books/elxis-templates-guide.html

After reading this, you should be able to start. If you don't understand something, please ask here again.

[balisto]

Hi Ivan,

I think I'm less smart than you might think. I read all this this morning, but I still didn't understand how it works. I guess the template guide is too complicated for somebody who never used a CMS - there should exist something like "elxis for dummies" )

Will read it again tonight, hoping that I somehow get the point.

Cheers,
Chris

[Ivan Trebješanin]

Well, it's actually very simple! If you have EVER made even one HTML page, of course.
The point is to make ordinary HTML page and then, instead of creating many single pages with same structure, like logo, menu, footer... you just place PHP code in places wich are NOT  the same on all pages, like menu, main content, banners... and let Elxis do the rest!
Have fun with your template and good luck.

[balisto]

Yes, I have 15 years experience with HTML/CSS, so this is not the problem I just don't understand exactly how to solve specific design tasks that use different areas/fields (e.g. "picture only" like in my example) than the elxis default template (okto).

[Ivan Trebješanin]

Do you use Skype?

[balisto]

Yes I do. Got your PM. Will see you on skype.

[ks-net]

Thats very easy in elxis
which is one of the most flexible cms if not the most flexible in layout-design.

5 rules must have in mid .

1- For every html layout must greate and another template.
2- insert the module-positions you need in any place you like in htmlcode of every template, use divs and css to customize
3- Assing each module(from every module's page in admin area/modules) to any of the above positions.
4- Assing each template to menu-items(admin area/ site-templates)
5- make any fine-adjustment to hide or show certain modules in certain site-pages, reorder, publish-unpublish, set access-level(from module config page)

that is the all idea and the way elxis works with templates

After that you can expand your actions to:
adding costume positions, costume modules , create multiply module-instances etc.

a suggestion ....
upload a template from elxis.org  and start modifying it, look the code, the css structure, module positions etc., this will help you to understand things more easily and then you will be able to make one from scratch in minutes.

 

[balisto]

OK, just talked to Ivan (thanx, great support!) and together with ks-net's explanations I finally got the point about modules and how I can achieve almost everything with them :-)

Thanks to all of you,
Chris