Newbie question about Editable pages in TP

[IchBin]

You could find any script with any navigation like that, and put it right into a block just like this site.

[JPDeni]

Take a look at my site http://www.morethanspike.com The navigation is by a menu system at the very top of the pages, which I created. Most of the things under "James" and "Features" are either html or php articles.

You can set it up however you want.

[espressoguy]

Take a look at my site http://www.morethanspike.com The navigation is by a menu system at the very top of the pages, which I created. Most of the things under "James" and "Features" are either html or php articles.

Yes that's exactly what I had in mind.  So did you do the coding for the navigation yourself by editing appropriate files or did you do it some other way?

[JPDeni]

Yes, I edited the files. I created a new theme and edited the index.template.php file. I also edited the style.css file to make it look like I wanted.

[espressoguy]

Yes, I edited the files. I created a new theme and edited the index.template.php file. I also edited the style.css file to make it look like I wanted.

Thanks JPDeni, that helps alot.    Help me to understand something....  Is Tinyportal a CMS?  I'm familiar with CMS's but not sure how TinyPortal works.  If I understand correctly, in most CMS's the pages of the website are stored in the database, not static.  Does TinyPortal store pages in the database? Does it give the user any flexibility in page format (Database, Static or some combination)? Does TinyPortal expect the user to create new pages through a "new Page" interface like many CMS's do or is TinyPortal mainly a Theme/SiteIntegration thing?  What editor does TinyPortal use when I click "Edit this page" ...it's not FCKeditor, is it?   

Thanks; I realize I'm asking alot of questions here but this will give you an idea of the kinds of questions whirrling through my mind.   

[JPDeni]

Well.... TP is not exactly a CMS because it's a mod for SMF. It doesn't stand alone.

Does TinyPortal store pages in the database?

Yes.

Does it give the user any flexibility in page format (Database, Static or some combination)?

I guess not. The content of articles is stored in the database.

Does TinyPortal expect the user to create new pages through a "new Page" interface like many CMS's do or is TinyPortal mainly a Theme/SiteIntegration thing?

There's an interface in the admin area.

What editor does TinyPortal use when I click "Edit this page"

There are two editors -- FCKeditor and whizzywig. I don't use either one of them. I just use html without an editor. You can choose which editor to use or not to use either one.

this will give you an idea of the kinds of questions whirrling through my mind.

The best thing for you to do is to create a test site. Install SMF and TP and find out what it does.

[espressoguy]

The best thing for you to do is to create a test site. Install SMF and TP and find out what it does.

True ...actually I"ve done that,  but of course these questions about database storage etc are not immediately evident in the gui interface.   Thanks alot for the clarifications.   

[Ianedres]

Once you grasp the concept of how TinyPortal 'wraps' around the SMF forum software, you can appreciate how it allows panels in various parts of the screen, which each contain blocks of content you can specify.

By working on a test site, you're not under pressure and can experiment with placement of content...

Try it out, give it a fair chance, and just know that you can always ask for support here. 

[espressoguy]

Thanks everyone for all the valuable help!! 
I have been trying it out and what I cant figure out is this: JPDeni showed me his site which has nice heirarchical navigation but when I add a new page in my new forum I can't see how it fits in to any navigational heirarchy (if there is a navigational heirarchy).  I can't even find the new page showing up on any menu.  Of course I can see JPDeni's site; it works and it's TP   ....what am I missing?

[IchBin]

If you want things to link together you have to create the links yourself. You create an article, then go into the menu manager and add the link to the article if you want it there.