Simple Machines Community Forum

Customizing SMF => Graphics and Templates => Topic started by: Hawky on April 20, 2007, 01:20:58 PM

Title: Porting / Creating a template?
Post by: Hawky on April 20, 2007, 01:20:58 PM
Hi there,
I have been making a new website (my first time) for our business using Joomla.

Everything has gone fine including the forum, but I could not find a SMF theme that I liked which looked integrated with the rest of the website.

Then I took a look at Fireboard (ex. Joomlaboard) and it has a theme which is perfect for my site, great I thought! Hats off the the developers, they have done a great job, however it still appears to be in it's infancy and is quite buggy, therefore I don't feel it is yet ready for use in a business environment.

My question is.... is there a way (obviously with a few minor changes) to port a them from Fireboard to SMF? If not I'll have to make a new one from scratch using the Fireboard one as a model. If this is my only option then how do you do it? Is creating themes easy? Is there a guide or an application you guys use?

This is our board as it is at the moment using the Fireboard theme http://totalfiction.co.uk/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,88/ (http://totalfiction.co.uk/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,88/)
Title: Re: Porting / Creating a template?
Post by: Hawky on June 08, 2007, 07:35:36 PM
Nearly 2 months and no reply  :'(

Oh well.....

I managed to make it myself in the end, using a heavily customized theme based on one from Rocket Themes.

Check it out, I think I did ok!  ;D

www.totalfiction.co.uk/forum (http://www.totalfiction.co.uk/forum)
Title: Re: Porting / Creating a template?
Post by: KGIII on June 08, 2007, 09:04:11 PM
That does look good. It looks very good. If the image is based off another's work then you should ask for their permission and submit it to our theme collection. I really like the look and feel of the site.

Hmm...

Did you post this in the showcase recently?
Title: Re: Porting / Creating a template?
Post by: Roph on June 08, 2007, 09:41:41 PM
Going to second KGIII, that looks really well done. Fast, lightweight and clean. Nice job :)
Title: Re: Porting / Creating a template?
Post by: Hawky on June 09, 2007, 04:58:09 AM
Thanks for the comments guys, but I can't take all the credit.

The original theme was called Versatility, made by http://www.rockettheme.com/ although future development of SMF themes have been canceled, the original is still available to members.

The basic theme can be seen here: http://www.rockettheme.com/SMF_Club/Themes/SMF_Versatility_-_Sep_06_SMF_Themes/

As you can see though, I have changed it quite a bit, for example - the default is quite hard to distinguish between posts with it's default colour set. I've also customized the icons and the colour scheme (eg. the gradient on the menu bar) to keep inline with the main site www.totalfiction.co.uk (http://www.totalfiction.co.uk)

This was/is my first forum, so thanks for the comments, they're appreciated!

KGIII - yep, I've put a link in the Showcase and it's getting some good feedback. However, although this was originally a theme which had to be purchased, I don't know if I have changed it enough to be able to call it my theme, 'based on Versatility by Rocket Themes' or not. I'm not quite sure where the law stands here. I'll ask them!
Title: Re: Porting / Creating a template?
Post by: KGIII on June 09, 2007, 12:48:59 PM
Always ask for permission when in doubt. I make it a point to say that in all such posts.