Simple Machines Community Forum

Customizing SMF => Graphics and Templates => Topic started by: abe12345 on December 14, 2008, 01:03:15 PM

Title: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: abe12345 on December 14, 2008, 01:03:15 PM
Hello.  I have the defaut SMF theme.  I want to change the color scheme of it only to make it more unique, but have no experience in doing it.  I looked into Modify Themes in the Admin panel but only Classic YaBB and Babylon theme were listed there.
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: SavingSaraSidle on December 15, 2008, 12:50:30 AM
Please see this thread:
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=279532.0

I tried explaining it there as simple as I could because I myself am a novice. I hope this helps, if not, I hope someone can help you.
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: abe12345 on December 15, 2008, 09:37:28 AM
Thanks.  I like the green setup.  Can you show me how to do the board exactly like yours, except for the backgound picture?

Quote from: SavingSaraSidle on December 15, 2008, 12:50:30 AM
Please see this thread:
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=279532.0

I tried explaining it there as simple as I could because I myself am a novice. I hope this helps, if not, I hope someone can help you.

Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: SavingSaraSidle on December 15, 2008, 04:13:12 PM
Okay, all I did was use FileZilla to get into my forum.

After that I went into the public_html/Themes directory, and I downloaded the Default theme to my computer.

Then I opened all the pictures in my photo editor (PhotoFiltre Studio (http://www.photofiltre-studio.com/utils/pfs-setup-en.exe) - You get a 30 Day Trial) and I changed the hue of all the images. (See Attachment)

After all of my images were green, I used Hex Color Finder (http://epix.tucows.com/files3/HexCFSetup.zip) (Free) and used that to change all the Default colors to my new color (See Attachment).

Basically I opened the style sheet, and everytime I saw a #e0e0ff, I copied that number (#e0e0ff) into the Hex Color Finder and it would show me the color, then I would take a screenshot (by pressing PrntScrn) of the Hex Color Finder and paste it into PhotoFiltre Studio and then I would use the same process of changing the color by using the hue variation tool (See Attachment).  After i have changed the default color to green, I use the Color Picker to find the HEX code of the new color by draging and clicking the dropper tool (See Attachment).

I really hope I explained it well enough as I have no idea of the terminology.

Anyway, after you take care of all the images and the style sheet, rename your folder that once was the Default theme, to what you want... upload it to your forum.

Go to the Install a New theme page, and type in the name of your theme that you have uploaded to the server, and click install.

I hope that helps.
If not let me know and I'll see if I can make a copy of my theme (only problem is I'm on dial up, so uploading takes a while).

Good Luck,
SavingSaraSidle (http://savingsarasidle.com)
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: abe12345 on December 15, 2008, 10:17:20 PM
If you can please upload it.
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: SavingSaraSidle on December 15, 2008, 11:12:01 PM
Okay, here you are. Hopefully it works. I tried to restore it to the default so you didn't have my customizations.

You should practice so that in the future if you want a different color, you know how.

SavingSaraSidle (http://savingsarasidle.com)
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: abe12345 on December 16, 2008, 11:17:57 AM
Thanks.  I downloaded the new theme, unzipped it, downloaded the default theme from my server, and merged the two folders.  Then zipped the new theme, and chose "Install new theme from a file" but nothing happened.  Then I uploaded the theme, unzipped, into a new directory in the themes folder and choose install from a directory or a server, but it did not install the theme, did not recongnize a theme.
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: abe12345 on December 18, 2008, 02:34:06 PM
Can someone please show me how to get this theme to work?
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: Tyrsson on December 18, 2008, 03:47:59 PM
To install a new theme open the forum directory in your FTP program.

Upload the folder into the theme directory (make sure the theme is not double archived)

The theme directory should look something like this:

Main folder                (main directory i.e. folder)
css                           (subdirectory i.e. folder)
images                       (subdirectory i.e folder)
index.php                    (file)
index.template.php        (file)
style.css                        (file)
theme_info.xml                (file) *It must have this file*

After the folders and files are uploaded go to:

AdminCP>Theme and layout>Manage and install

Scroll to bottom of page where it says to install from a directory on the server and type the theme folder name at the end of the directory listing

Example:

Your directory/html/Themes/type the theme name here

Click install

Note* I personally always delete the text in the create a copy of the default theme field before I install a new theme.


Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: SavingSaraSidle on December 18, 2008, 04:39:11 PM
Sorry about that. Try putting the theme info in the folder. Mine is a little tricky, sometimes it recognizes a theme, sometimes it doesn't... usually it works if I play around with the directory location.
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: Tyrsson on December 18, 2008, 05:11:09 PM
The theme info file should always be in the top level of the directory as far as I know. Without that the script will not recognize the folder as a new theme and will not install it.

I know that was in laymen terms but kinda still new at this myself lol.
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: abe12345 on December 18, 2008, 10:02:23 PM
I added the additional file, removed all the double archives (the files with same name but with ~ at the end), and the theme installed, but the colors and images did not change, and the tables became skewed.  Could it be because my forum is 1.1.7 but the theme is made for 2.0?  I also have the Ad Management Mod, which is designed for the default theme.  I've attached a screenshot of the new theme folder that I uploaded:
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: Tyrsson on December 18, 2008, 10:16:10 PM
If your using 1.x and the theme is for 2.x it more than likely will not look as it does on a 2.x version due to some of the templates and such were changed in the 2.x version.

Will you please post a link to your forum.
Title: Re: Need Help Modifying Theme
Post by: abe12345 on December 19, 2008, 09:37:09 AM
I sent you a PM with the link.

Quote from: Tyrsson on December 18, 2008, 10:16:10 PM
If your using 1.x and the theme is for 2.x it more than likely will not look as it does on a 2.x version due to some of the templates and such were changed in the 2.x version.

Will you please post a link to your forum.