Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

Calculus · 2006-01-26 21:45:27

Hiya everyone

Been designing simple website using html in Adobe GoLive over the last few years but feel it’s now time to start learning CMSs/Blog software like TextPattern.

But I just don’t know where to start, ‘tags’ how to get get things where you want on the page, borders, tables it all confuses the hell out of me.

And with CSS, all I do in my GoLive is use it to set fonts etc, no design.

So where the hell do I start trying to learn how to get my layouts right? Any really simple walk through beginners guides out there.

Thanks a lot, I’m pretty excited about TextPattern although I think it will be uphill struggle to get to grips with things the first few months………

maniqui · 2006-01-27 04:28:17

> Calculus wrote:

And with CSS, all I do in my GoLive is use it to set fonts etc, no design.
So where the hell do I start trying to learn how to get my layouts right? Any really simple walk through beginners guides out there.

You should start from the beginning: learn XHTML and CSS. Or in other words, learn to separate content (XHTML) from presentation (CSS).
And only then, after learning how to build a table-less website, you should try to jump to a CMS like Textpattern.
If you are brave enough, maybe you can learn both things (XHTML+CSS and TXP) at the same time.
I dont want to discourage you, but you will have to fight against two learning curves.

Well, now you are here, and I hope you arent disappointed with my first words.
I will try to give some positive feedback to you.
First: I will evangelize you with some resources.

This is a must-read: Why tabes are stupid for layout?

Also, read some (or all the) links from here.
http://cssvault.com/cat_evangelism.php

Then, I also suggest this forums.
http://forum.textpattern.com/viewtopic.php?id=5790
http://forum.textpattern.com/viewtopic.php?id=14020

Finally, I suggest you to start by developing a hard(hand)-coded website, in the old-style, with HTML files, and CSS files attached, etc…

Then (I hope you learn quickly) come back here and try to move your static-site to a “powered by TXP”.

zem · 2006-01-27 05:17:18

There’s a FAQ entitled “I’ve installed Textpattern. Now what?”. It gives a brief explanation of where to start with Textpattern. See also the links to the FAQ, manual etc at the top of every Forum page.

Graham · 2006-01-27 10:09:46

I have spent countless hours reading through the forum and FAQ’s, and I’m still pulling my hair our.

Does anyone know of “A complete Idiot’s Guide to Textpattern” or “Textpattern for Dummies”, because I need it.

Graham

vifort · 2006-01-27 12:03:55

@ Calculus

Learn to turn your html knowledge into xhtml transitional or even better into xhtml strict because transitional is just a step in your journey to strict. Strict is open to the next version & getting closer to xml.
You can do this reading some books. Jeyffrey Zeldman wrote that manual : Designing With Web Standards. It’s a book explaining the cultural aspects of the web, plus how to migrate from html to xhtml. A good start, you probably already bought it !

Otherwise we had an interesting thread initiated by Alex: Which design / programming books you highly recommend?

@ Calculus & Graham

TXP is quite young, the manual you’re looking doesn’t exist yet.
It forces you to talk and read a lot on this forum.
The learning curve is slow @ the very beginning, DON’T GIVE UP, take your time (it’s what I do for months now).

A good start is to read:
Erratic wisdom: Introduction to Textpattern.
Keep an eye on MOAE, when it will return. He wrote three excellent tutorials about TXP.
Kusor published a tag references for impatient users.
The Daily Whim collect tracks you’re looking for.
Another way is to read what other users may share on del.icio.us (I selected the keywords “textpattern” & “tutorial” for you).

Note that TXP is getting better months after months and articles may need to be adaptated, but general principles stays identic.

Et voilà !

Last edited by vifort (2006-01-27 12:07:44)

Calculus · 2006-01-27 15:21:49

Ok thanks fellas, I’ll take all of your advice, looks like I’ve got some learning ahead but it will most probably be worth it!

zem · 2006-01-27 22:46:43

Does anyone know of “A complete Idiot’s Guide to Textpattern” or “Textpattern for Dummies”, because I need it.

You can help the documentation effort by describing the things you’re having trouble with. The Documentation forum is a good place to start. That kind of documentation will not happen without help.

Incidentally:

TXP is quite young

Texpattern is about as old as, or slighly older than, Movable Type.

Last edited by zem (2006-01-27 22:51:02)

MsContrary · 2006-01-28 00:26:26

> Calculus wrote:

> looks like I’ve got some learning ahead but it will most probably be worth it!

It is definately worth it!

M

vifort · 2006-01-28 11:48:50

Incidentally:
TXP is quite young
Texpattern is about as old as, or slighly older than, Movable Type.

Ohoooohooo, didn’t realize that.
I feel Respect for this wonderful tool. Thx.

Calculus · 2006-01-28 18:23:22

Am I right in thinking that you create a webpage using css tables and then place the ‘tags’ in the table boxes, hence that’s where ‘content’ appears.

This page below will show ‘sports results’

create a page with a css table on it 2 colums and 5 rows.

Then create the content (Football Results, Baseball Results, Cricket Results etc) and use tags to insert each sport in the section of the table you want?

Then, the next day you decide that Football results should be at the top left of the page so you just swap some ‘tags’ around?

Am I generally right?

soulship · 2006-01-28 21:02:36

css table?????

OK You’re not making any sense and you are going to confuse yourself quickly.

You have the abstract idea sort of, but you are way off on most of it. You will design your xhtml pages and control the look/colors/font-size/links etc throght the “stylesheet”-ie. css . You will place txp tags in the xhtml page as well as your forms to make txp place the content where you want it.

I would start by heading over to textgarden and get yourself a template to play aound with to see whats going on under the hood and how a working installation actually works. Then you will want to head to amazon and grab a book on css and xhtml to really get you going. There are so many things going on to make txp work and so many ways to customize it (just look at the show me yours forum to see what I mean) That you really need a decent base knowledge in css/xhtml before you get to far ahead.

Oh and welcome :)

Last edited by soulship (2006-01-28 21:18:09)

Calculus · 2006-01-28 21:29:00

> soulship wrote:

> bq. css table?????

OK You’re not making any sense and you are going to confuse yourself quickly.

You have the abstract idea sort of, but you are way off on most of it. You will design your xhtml pages and control the look/colors/font-size/links etc throght the “stylesheet”-ie. css . You will place txp tags in the xhtml page as well as your forms to make txp place the content where you want it.

Jamie

Maybe I didn’t explain myself too well but you’ve answered the question that I had, one controls the style and the other (adding the tags) controls where things go on the page.

Going to take some courses in css/xhtml

Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS support forum

#1 2006-01-26 21:45:27

Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#2 2006-01-27 04:28:17

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#3 2006-01-27 05:17:18

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#4 2006-01-27 10:09:46

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#5 2006-01-27 12:03:55

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#6 2006-01-27 15:21:49

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#7 2006-01-27 22:46:43

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#8 2006-01-28 00:26:26

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#9 2006-01-28 11:48:50

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#10 2006-01-28 18:23:22

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#11 2006-01-28 21:02:36

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

#12 2006-01-28 21:29:00

Re: Help! I know html but with TextPatern I don't know where to start

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