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| I'm_Hackin'_Bored! |
Template Theme Editinghttp://hbclanserver.myfreeforum.org/Template: Mobtown Blues / myff_hbclanserver4 Searched on: Template Themes, Theme Edit, editing themes, ect... No relevent results. Question: I am having problems editing the template theme. What do I mean by this? AdminCP > 3.Styles > Management > Style Edit. I can change the stylesheet with no problem, but when I go to change anything else (background, text, font, tables, ect) nothing happens. 
I simply change the hexadecimal codes and file paths I want and click "Save Settings" but when I go to the forum nothing is different. I experimented a lot on my test forum and had the same problems. Heck, I set all the codes to 000000 expecting drastic results, but still nothing. If I remember right I have done this before without issues.
Am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance. 
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| admin (no pm's please) |
The theme edit really does nothing except alter a bunch of macros that are sometimes used to define css in overall_header.tpl.
so for example a snippet from subsilver overall_header.tpl
CSS done in this way will instantly show when you make an edit in the theme editor. But this is a lousy way of including CSS, it get loaded each time a page is sent. Most template use a CSS file, in which case none of those macros will have any effect whatsoever! |
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| I'm_Hackin'_Bored! |
Thank you, I don't know if I fully understand, how can I change specific things within the template then?
After looking, I can edit some things but not all.
For example, What if I want to change the image of cell 3 and the color of the text displayed in cell 3. (Besides deleting the image and uploading a new image with the same name, since I want to learn this.) As always, Thanks for your help. |
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| admin (no pm's please) |
Only by editing the css file directly.
So you do actually need to understand how the html/css elements of that page work. I won't pretend it is easy. But that is the game you are in if you want to edit templates. Firefox with the developer addon lets you see which html/css is going on on a bit of the page you point to. |
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| I'm_Hackin'_Bored! |
I have found this in the CSS file, but editing it has no change to the forum.
What am I missing/not getting? Thanks |
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| admin (no pm's please) |
First establish that you are using that css file. e.g. it is the right one and has reloaded the change into your browser.
Easy in Firefox web developer! |
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| I'm_Hackin'_Bored! |
I had no plans on getting another browser. I currently use IE 8 and occasionally use Safari. This would be the only reason for needing firefox for me. All I wanted to do was change up some colors and styles to the current template for halloween, since it's coming up. (User gave me the idea and I like it  )
The css file must not be what is used. But not all the features I want to change are in the header.tpl but some are and work with the change. Like the background for example is in there and can be changed whereas "cells" are not. I'm in over my head a bit here I think. But like I said before I do this to learn, everything i've done has taught me something. |
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| admin (no pm's please) |
Frankly though you need the tools to do the job, if you are developing html then you are not just browsing and hence need tools that will tell you what you need to know.
To answer the questions you ask I'd use the Firefox web developer add on, I would not dream of trying to figure it out in IE. FF does not have to be your default browser! |
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| Zudane |
When doing any form of work on a website, firefox with firebug is a great tool, because you can highlight a portion of the page and it will show you the exact part of the code that uses it (and any script/css attached).
The reason some of your changes don't work requires some simple knowledge of CSS. Loading the CSS file is a start... but most of the codes in these templates require you to use a class to call the CSS. Inputting the CSS inline will give different results.. For example, from your board:
And those might not be loading from the CSS (again, firebug could identify which is being used). And one last thing, just in case.... are you clearing the forum cache after making changes? |
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| I'm_Hackin'_Bored! |
Ok, I have accomplished what I wanted but how long does it take for cache to change for other users? I know how to clear my own and the changes are then shown but not till I clear cache. Rather than telling everyone to clear there cache, how long does it take to do this automatically? Or is there a way to have it force cleared upon loading the page for clients?
I assume there isn't a precise time and that it depends on the browser but i'm looking for an estimate. Thanks again. |
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| admin (no pm's please) |
Too many variables 
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| I'm_Hackin'_Bored! |
Is it at least within a day or so on average?
Not like a week or more? I really have no clue. and...
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| admin (no pm's please) |
You can't force a browser to clear cache.
A browser set properly should pick up changes, some will only be set to check when the browser is started. |
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| GentleD |
Since you have 22 members, I would just notify them. Or post it as an announcement on your site. That is what I do when I make changes and they have to clear cache. It's up to them whether they do it or not.
Kat |
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| I'm_Hackin'_Bored! |
That's basically what I was gonna do. 
I made changes to my test forum last night and when I woke up this morning the changes were there without clearing cache.  So it didn't take THAT long for me, but I do realize there are other factors like browsers so this time will differ for others.
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