Theme questions

[IchBin]

As you know bloc I want to create my own theme eventually. If you have any tips please feel free. I'm assuming the only thing I need is the files that are put into the theme? I don't have to have any other files outside of the theme? I just kind of want to get an idea of what and where things are that I need.

[Bjørn]

To make a theme, you need 3 files as a start, and the images folder.

The files are the same 3 that get copied when you install a copy of default theme... index.php, index.template.php and style.css.

Index.template.php handle all the code above the "main" area - the one that change when go into a different section - and the lower bottom part, the copyright for example.

[IchBin]

So basically like the header and footer comes from the index.template.php ? The index.php is the main part? I know what the CSS is for.

[Bjørn]

No, index.php does nothing..its just a precaution. When in frontpage of forum, Boardindex.tempalte gets used, when in overview of a board MessageIndex.tempalte is the one , and when in the actual posts Display.template.

[IchBin]

Ah, ok. I get it. So there's a file for each view of the forum. Board view, topic view, and posts view.

[Bjørn]

Yes. And then some like admin, calendar etc.

The beauty is that you can just copy the ones you WANT to change over to your new theme, if not the default files is automatically used.

So a new theme could just be 3 files+images and still be a brand new look. Like Helios...the "containers" in it are mostly set up in index and boardindex/messageindex...all else is just from the default theme, BUT with different CSS and in some cases icons etc.

[kwitt]

what would be a good tool to make themes with?

[Bjørn]

Very individual...I use pen and paper, photoshop and just a text-editor for the code.

[IchBin]

^Hardcore themist. I've found context to be a good text editor. Photoshop if fantastic. I took an online class on photoshop a couple of years ago. Man is that program ahead of it's time.

[Bjørn]

I use context sometimes..but my main editor is something called PHP Expert Editor. Despite its name perhaps, its really a very lean and fast program.

But any program with a testing function and coloring of code is enough.