Can't figure out Xanthia's MoJo

Topic:	Can't figure out Xanthia's MoJo
schwim Softmore Posts: 97 Posted: 14.Feb 2007 - 10:07	Hi there guys, I've begun trying to modify a Xanthia template (PostNuke Blue), as many people on the forum stated that I was wasting my time trying to modify a standard theme and that Xanthia would take care of my ill quick, fast & in a hurry. Problem is, I can't successfully do anything in Xanthia. Case in point. I wanted to change the link/vlink colors, so as per Wiki instructions, I went into the Xanthia configuration, and checked "Check for updated version of templates" and "Force templates recompilation", saving the settings. Then I went into the color palette for PostNuke Blue, and chose my colors, saving them. Problem is, even with Shift+Reload, I can't get the new colors to show up! Can someone help me with some pointers to make this a little less painful? thanks, json -- If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.
pnDev Helper Posts: 448 Posted: 14.Feb 2007 - 11:09	Also try to clear the temp and cache files in that and in browser ?? There is still alot of Xanthia mojo that I don't get also but I haven't tried it much yet, been on the AT train mostly so far. But I guess Xanthia is the future ? -- pnDev.com ~ featuring the PostNuke paid services forum
schwim Softmore Posts: 97 Posted: 14.Feb 2007 - 18:22	To my understanding, the two check boxes I set in Xanthia handles that on the server side, and shift+refresh completely clears the cached data for the page in the browser. thanks, json -- If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.
Teb online Professional Posts: 501 Posted: 14.Feb 2007 - 19:41	First of all, when modifying templates (which you did not yet do), make sure that templates are not saved to the database in your Xanthia settings. Always use the filesystem. Even though the seabreeze theme saves some colors to the database (for other module references), this is not any assurance that they will be used globally in the templates. You're be better off by editing /themes/Seabreeze/style/style.css instead. Look in the source of your pages to see if the link/vlink colors belong to any special class, and if not, you would just have to change the a { color: ...; text-decoration: ...; } lines in your stylesheet. A browser refresh should point out the changes immediately. -- -- Teb -- Dutch Zikula Community Support questions in a Personal Message will be ignored. Use the forums at all times!
Topiatic Professional Posts: 1680 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 02:34	Sometimes pnRender caching can mess you up, make sure Admin>pnRender (click both clear links while your there for good measure too) has caching off as well as Xanthia. And schwim Case in point. I wanted to change the link/vlink colors, so as per Wiki instructions, I went into the Xanthia configuration, and checked "Check for updated version of templates" and "Force templates recompilation", saving the settings. Then I went into the color palette for PostNuke Blue, and chose my colors, saving them. Problem is, even with Shift+Reload, I can't get the new colors to show up! I've gone only using style sheets, as Teb suggested, for formating. If I recall correctly the reason I did was because I found that changing things like colour pallets often required an extra step like removing the theme and then re-installing it (which of course led to me having to take it off default theme before I could remove it before adding it) OR clicking 'Generate configuration cache' to make things start to show. Oh! You know what? (Disclaimer: I've been awake for over 30 hours, almost 20 of which was spent driving a plow truck... I may not be of sound mind or body) I think to take advantage of the colour pallet you need to be using a theme/YourTheme/style/style.php file which, being a PHP file, is able to dynamically retrieve those pallets. Yup that was it, my recall is only 50% ATM heh, the reason I whent to only .CSS is because I HATE style.php files. I've actually been thinking of rewriting it to be an associative array that can then be un-parsed into a valid CSS string... sorry babling now will stop Ok NM back to the topic... you can also pull them directly into templates using the pnRender plugin call Code <!--[pnthemegetvar name=bgcolor2 assign=bgcolor2]--> and placing the 'assign' var where ever you need it, like this: Code <div >fooBar</div> And... try F5 for a quick, single key stroke, browser refresh. edited by: Topiatic, Feb 14, 2007 - 04:57 PM -- Under Construction!
schwim Softmore Posts: 97 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 07:05	Hi there guys, and thanks for the replies. A couple of questions: 1) is the CSS file to be edited in a text editor? I don't see the option to edit it in the template editing section. 2) Once I'm happy with the template, is there something I need to do with the settings (like changing the cache settings again), or am I good to go the way it is set while configuring? thanks, json -- If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.
schwim Softmore Posts: 97 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 07:14	Ok guys, I've turned off all of the caching. I edited master template, changing the title to some nonsense characters, then reloaded the page showing the template. It's still keeping the old value, and not updating. If I change the width of the page, that seems to take effect immediately, but so far that's the only thing I've been able to do with the xanthia system.... What am I missing? thanks, json -- If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.
Topiatic Professional Posts: 1680 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 07:19	Hhmmm... your not looking at your homepage for changes in master.htm are you? home.htm is the site frame for your homepage and master.htm is the one used for other modules output. -- Under Construction!
schwim Softmore Posts: 97 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 07:26	I've tried both master.htm & home.htm, and reloaded both the front page, and a module page, and in both instances, they're both refusing to show the new value for the title: old: (lt)!--[title]--(gt) new: Hi there! I've also attempted removing that incredibly irritating j/s loading window, but it won't disappear either. thanks, json edited by: schwim, Feb 14, 2007 - 09:27 PM -- If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.
Teb online Professional Posts: 501 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 07:34	Remember this: Teb First of all, when modifying templates (which you did not yet do), make sure that templates are not saved to the database in your Xanthia settings. Always use the filesystem. So, I guess now you are doing it. schwim 1) is the CSS file to be edited in a text editor? I don't see the option to edit it in the template editing section. All files should be downloaded and edited in a text editor. Do NOT use the Xanthia template editing section! Try it again, remember to clear any caches before reloading your templates. See also http://community.postnuke.com/Wiki-CachingCompiling.htm -- -- Teb -- Dutch Zikula Community Support questions in a Personal Message will be ignored. Use the forums at all times!
schwim Softmore Posts: 97 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 07:38	Here's my settings: If there's anything else I should post, please let me know. thanks, json -- If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.
Teb online Professional Posts: 501 Posted: 15.Feb 2007 - 18:47	Just checkmark "Force compilation" on the pnRender page and you're fine. Then, start downloading your templates from themes/yourtheme/templates, edit them to suit your needs, and reupload them in the right directory where you got them from. -- -- Teb -- Dutch Zikula Community Support questions in a Personal Message will be ignored. Use the forums at all times!
schwim Softmore Posts: 97 Posted: 16.Feb 2007 - 09:47	Hi there, I downloaded the files as you suggested, made some alterations and upon replacement, it seems to be making the necessary changes. Thank you all very much for your help. I'm hoping that I'll be able to muddle through it! thanks, json -- If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.

Topic:

Can't figure out Xanthia's MoJo

schwim

Softmore

Posts: 97

Posted:
14.Feb 2007 - 10:07

Hi there guys,

I've begun trying to modify a Xanthia template (PostNuke Blue), as many people on the forum stated that I was wasting my time trying to modify a standard theme and that Xanthia would take care of my ill quick, fast & in a hurry.

Problem is, I can't successfully do anything in Xanthia. Case in point.

I wanted to change the link/vlink colors, so as per Wiki instructions, I went into the Xanthia configuration, and checked "Check for updated version of templates" and "Force templates recompilation", saving the settings.

Then I went into the color palette for PostNuke Blue, and chose my colors, saving them. Problem is, even with Shift+Reload, I can't get the new colors to show up!

Can someone help me with some pointers to make this a little less painful?

thanks,
json

--
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.

pnDev

Helper
Helper

Posts: 448

Posted:
14.Feb 2007 - 11:09

Also try to clear the temp and cache files in that and in browser ??

There is still alot of Xanthia mojo that I don't get also but I haven't tried it much yet, been on the AT train mostly so far. But I guess Xanthia is the future ?

--
pnDev.com ~ featuring the PostNuke paid services forum

schwim

Softmore

Posts: 97

Posted:
14.Feb 2007 - 18:22

To my understanding, the two check boxes I set in Xanthia handles that on the server side, and shift+refresh completely clears the cached data for the page in the browser.

thanks,
json

--
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.

Teb
online

Professional

Posts: 501

Posted:
14.Feb 2007 - 19:41

First of all, when modifying templates (which you did not yet do), make sure that templates are not saved to the database in your Xanthia settings. Always use the filesystem.

Even though the seabreeze theme saves some colors to the database (for other module references), this is not any assurance that they will be used globally in the templates.

You're be better off by editing /themes/Seabreeze/style/style.css instead. Look in the source of your pages to see if the link/vlink colors belong to any special class, and if not, you would just have to change the a { color: ...; text-decoration: ...; } lines in your stylesheet.

A browser refresh should point out the changes immediately.

--
-- Teb
-- Dutch Zikula Community

Support questions in a Personal Message will be ignored. Use the forums at all times!

Topiatic

Professional

Posts: 1680

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 02:34

Sometimes pnRender caching can mess you up, make sure Admin>pnRender (click both clear links while your there for good measure too) has caching off as well as Xanthia.

And

schwim

Case in point.

I wanted to change the link/vlink colors, so as per Wiki instructions, I went into the Xanthia configuration, and checked "Check for updated version of templates" and "Force templates recompilation", saving the settings.

Then I went into the color palette for PostNuke Blue, and chose my colors, saving them. Problem is, even with Shift+Reload, I can't get the new colors to show up!

I've gone only using style sheets, as Teb suggested, for formating. If I recall correctly the reason I did was because I found that changing things like colour pallets often required an extra step like removing the theme and then re-installing it (which of course led to me having to take it off default theme before I could remove it before adding it) OR clicking 'Generate configuration cache' to make things start to show.

Oh! You know what? (Disclaimer: I've been awake for over 30 hours, almost 20 of which was spent driving a plow truck... I may not be of sound mind or body) I think to take advantage of the colour pallet you need to be using a theme/YourTheme/style/style.php file which, being a PHP file, is able to dynamically retrieve those pallets.

Yup that was it, my recall is only 50% ATM heh, the reason I whent to only .CSS is because I HATE style.php files. I've actually been thinking of rewriting it to be an associative array that can then be un-parsed into a valid CSS string... sorry babling now will stop

Ok NM back to the topic... you can also pull them directly into templates using the pnRender plugin call

Code

<!--[pnthemegetvar name=bgcolor2 assign=bgcolor2]-->

and placing the 'assign' var where ever you need it, like this:

Code

<div >fooBar</div>

And... try F5 for a quick, single key stroke, browser refresh.

edited by: Topiatic, Feb 14, 2007 - 04:57 PM

--
Under Construction!

schwim

Softmore

Posts: 97

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 07:05

Hi there guys, and thanks for the replies.

A couple of questions:

1) is the CSS file to be edited in a text editor? I don't see the option to edit it in the template editing section.

2) Once I'm happy with the template, is there something I need to do with the settings (like changing the cache settings again), or am I good to go the way it is set while configuring?

thanks,
json

--
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.

schwim

Softmore

Posts: 97

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 07:14

Ok guys,

I've turned off all of the caching. I edited master template, changing the title to some nonsense characters, then reloaded the page showing the template. It's still keeping the old value, and not updating.

If I change the width of the page, that seems to take effect immediately, but so far that's the only thing I've been able to do with the xanthia system....

What am I missing?

thanks,
json

--
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.

Topiatic

Professional

Posts: 1680

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 07:19

Hhmmm... your not looking at your homepage for changes in master.htm are you? home.htm is the site frame for your homepage and master.htm is the one used for other modules output.

--
Under Construction!

schwim

Softmore

Posts: 97

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 07:26

I've tried both master.htm & home.htm, and reloaded both the front page, and a module page, and in both instances, they're both refusing to show the new value for the title:

old: (lt)!--[title]--(gt)
new: Hi there!

I've also attempted removing that incredibly irritating j/s loading window, but it won't disappear either.

thanks,
json

edited by: schwim, Feb 14, 2007 - 09:27 PM

--
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.

Teb
online

Professional

Posts: 501

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 07:34

Remember this:

Teb

First of all, when modifying templates (which you did not yet do), make sure that templates are not saved to the database in your Xanthia settings. Always use the filesystem.

So, I guess now you are doing it. icon_cool

schwim

1) is the CSS file to be edited in a text editor? I don't see the option to edit it in the template editing section.

All files should be downloaded and edited in a text editor. Do NOT use the Xanthia template editing section! Try it again, remember to clear any caches before reloading your templates.

See also http://community.postnuke.com/Wiki-CachingCompiling.htm

--
-- Teb
-- Dutch Zikula Community

Support questions in a Personal Message will be ignored. Use the forums at all times!

schwim

Softmore

Posts: 97

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 07:38

Here's my settings:

http://www.schwimhosting.com/Hosting_CP/out.php?i=1795_pnrender1.jpeg

http://www.schwimhosting.com/Hosting_CP/out.php?i=1794_xanthia1.jpeg

If there's anything else I should post, please let me know.

thanks,
json

--
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.

Teb
online

Professional

Posts: 501

Posted:
15.Feb 2007 - 18:47

Just checkmark "Force compilation" on the pnRender page and you're fine. Then, start downloading your templates from themes/yourtheme/templates, edit them to suit your needs, and reupload them in the right directory where you got them from.

--
-- Teb
-- Dutch Zikula Community

Support questions in a Personal Message will be ignored. Use the forums at all times!

schwim

Softmore

Posts: 97

Posted:
16.Feb 2007 - 09:47

Hi there,

I downloaded the files as you suggested, made some alterations and upon replacement, it seems to be making the necessary changes.

Thank you all very much for your help. I'm hoping that I'll be able to muddle through it!

thanks,
json

--
If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving's not for you.