where are the non-blog themes or templates?

linguo · 2006-06-06 03:14:42

I’m new to Textpattern, just downloaded it.

I read that Textpattern is great for sites that are more than just blogs. However, when I went to download a template from Textgarden, I was disappointed to find almost only blog templates.

On the magazine site, on the other hand, there are plenty of examples of full-blown websites using Textpattern. Where can I see some more templates like the three listed in the “corporate” category? Am I missing something?

Thanks.

hcgtv · 2006-06-06 03:35:42

There aren’t too many Corporate themes, wish that wasn’t the case.

I’ve downloaded some free templates and over the next few months I plan on making them into TxPlates.

These have especially caught my eye: http://www.solucija.com/home/css-templates/

Walker · 2006-06-06 03:52:18

Templates are all well and good, just don’t use them to distinguish yourself from the competition.

jm · 2006-06-06 03:58:53

Yeah, blog templates are more common, since it’s mainly bloggers downloading templates (plus blog templates are easier to design, in my opinion). Most corporate sites hire a designer.

hcgtv · 2006-06-06 05:32:35

Walker, yes I understand where you’re coming from but templates are an excellent way for new users to start their Texpattern sites or else they might go shopping elsewhere.

As a new user grasps the underpinnings of Textpattern, they can adapt a template to suit their needs, further distinguishing their site. In time, the site can be relaunched with their own creation but the template has given them the structure to add months of content.

Sencer · 2006-06-06 08:18:47

are an excellent way for new users to start their Texpattern sites

I disagree. The more complex or beatuiful a template tends to be, the less someone will fiddle with it (and sometimes the more fragile it becomes). The best way to start is with a very simple layout, where everything is well understood and start learning from there how Txp works. – Then you may well go and take a stab at editing more complex layouts.

I remember very well the early days when phpBB came out which had a (back then) visually very nice and somewhat complex template – most people were frustrated when they tried to their own, because – so they complained – it took too long to understand the template and modify it. Even today many templates for phpBB are based on subsilver with merely some colours or images changed here or there.

Destry · 2006-06-06 11:44:02

Walker wrote: Templates are all well and good, just don’t use them to distinguish yourself from the competition.

deldindesign: (plus blog templates are easier to design, in my opinion). Most corporate sites hire a designer.

Sencer wrote: The more complex or beatuiful a template tends to be, the less someone will fiddle with it (and sometimes the more fragile it becomes). The best way to start is with a very simple layout, where everything is well understood and start learning from there how Txp works.

I absolutely agree on all counts. It’s one thing to see a bunch of personal Weblogs looking the same (or with minor changes here and there), but God forbid I start seeing business sites using the same templates. Reminds me of the mid-late 90’s when you would visit a designers portfolio and it was filled with local client projects that all looked the same except for a few color and navigation changes…then you looked at the code, which was all slapped together (and curiously the same) with Dreamweaver.

On the other hand, there are only so many workable ways to build a Web view, and so there is simply going to be a tremendous amount of overlap in the way those views appear, whether from templates or hand-built originality…it makes no difference. Sure, sure, there’s an infinite number of photos you can use to give the illusion of radical difference, but at the base it’s all just boxes — from left to right, from top to bottom — and the boxes have to be usable and intuitive. The more you push the bounds with presenting content, the more likely it’s going to fail the clients bottom line (making money). That doesn’t leave our monkey brains with a lot of options. Make it easy to use. Make it standards-compliant and accessible. Make it so it doesn’t hurt your eyes. That’s all. That’s the standards/accessible viewpoint.

Flash designers think the opposite, the screen is an oil painting, unobstructed by boxes and x-y plains. I would agree. I also think 90% of all Flash sites suck with respect to being usable, even if they are works of art. (Here’s a glorious exception in the 10%: KMGI.)

linguo · 2006-06-06 12:27:41

Well, I don’t care whether I learn with a template or not, but I’ve spent several hours messing around with my site, and I don’t have much to show for it. I know some HTML, but just did an intro to CSS tutorial online today. Even though I’m certainly a beginner, I expect to have quite a bit of time at work over the next months to devote to becoming more proficient at web design.

I already have a lot of content I’ve been writing, and I’m anxious to get it on the web, even if it looks bad for a couple of months until I figure out what I’m doing. I have students asking to access the content. (My site is not really “corporate”, but the label “corporate” was used to describe the templates that are more than blogs.)

I’m really interested in working with Textpattern. I like the way it organizes information, and I would like to use a CMS that will look nice if I eventually pay someone to redesign my site.

I downloaded Moodle and WordPress, and liked some features from each, but finally settled on Textpattern as a nice combination of the two. However, the learning curve may be too high.

I think it will be a while before I’ve learned enough to reorganize everything from the default. I couldn’t find anything in the documentation that would thoroughly explain this for a beginner. For example, I followed the instructions for creating a static page, but then I couldn’t figure out how to make it the home page.

The link to the intro tutorial in the documentation was broken. If I ever figure this out, I’ll be happy to write an even simpler guide for beginners.

Destry · 2006-06-06 13:13:53

linguo wrote: Well, I don’t care whether I learn with a template or not, but I’ve spent several hours messing around with my site, and I don’t have much to show for it.

Ahh, the story of many new to Textpattern. It was my story too. But don’t despair, the curve is worth the rewards. ;)

I have students asking to access the content. (My site is not really “corporate”, but the label “corporate” was used to describe the templates that are more than blogs.) … I’m really interested in working with Textpattern. I like the way it organizes information, and I would like to use a CMS that will look nice if I eventually pay someone to redesign my site.

“Students” you say? “Eventually pay someone” you say? Well, why didn’t you say so. ;)

Linguo, when you are ready for some paid help, drop me an email and we’ll at least talk about what you have in mind, yeah? Otherwise, this Forum will be your best source for self-education at the moment.

I downloaded Moodle and WordPress, and liked some features from each, but…

Moodle shpoodle. WordPress…eh, it’s popular, but…

I think it will be a while before I’ve learned enough to reorganize everything from the default. I couldn’t find anything in the documentation that would thoroughly explain this for a beginner. For example, I followed the instructions for creating a static page, but then I couldn’t figure out how to make it the home page.

Yes, a thorough and centralized documentation is hard to come by for the time being…for the time being.

The link to the intro tutorial in the documentation was broken. If I ever figure this out, I’ll be happy to write an even simpler guide for beginners.

Uh, which link exactly? What page?

linguo · 2006-06-06 20:12:42

Tutorial I couldn’t read, mentioned above:

Textbook > English > Tutorials > The only tutorial in the list. When I click on it, it seems to go into editing mode and asks me for a password.

linguo · 2006-06-06 20:43:11

hcgtv wrote:

There aren’t too many Corporate themes, wish that wasn’t the case.

I’ve downloaded some free templates and over the next few months I plan on making them into TxPlates.

These have especially caught my eye: http://www.solucija.com/home/css-templates/

***********

I had a chance to look at your link. These templates are just the sort of thing I’m looking for. I look forward to seeing them as TxPlates, but for now I’ll use them to learn something about CSS. Thanks.

NeilA · 2006-06-06 21:37:16

hcgtv wrote:

These have especially caught my eye: http://www.solucija.com/home/css-templates/

Some nice basic designs there! Thanks for sharing the link.

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#1 2006-06-06 03:14:42

where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#2 2006-06-06 03:35:42

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#3 2006-06-06 03:52:18

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#4 2006-06-06 03:58:53

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#5 2006-06-06 05:32:35

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#6 2006-06-06 08:18:47

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#7 2006-06-06 11:44:02

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#8 2006-06-06 12:27:41

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#9 2006-06-06 13:13:53

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#10 2006-06-06 20:12:42

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#11 2006-06-06 20:43:11

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

#12 2006-06-06 21:37:16

Re: where are the non-blog themes or templates?

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