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HomeHomeUsing DNN Platf...Using DNN Platf...Skins, Themes, ...Skins, Themes, ...Skin from scratch (first time)Skin from scratch (first time)
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5/14/2008 1:00 AM
 

After using DNN for nearly a year I'm now looking to create my first skin from scratch.  I would like to do this completely in CSS, but just can't quite get it right... so I've also tried to do it using a table.

In my second attempt, using a table with CSS I can get this - http://pearl.accountantscircle.co.uk/tabid/722/Default.aspx.  The only problems here are - the border around the table (I just can't get rid of it), and there should be a black border line in the middle of the skin (between the left and right panels).

That's the closest I have managed so far, but I also have the pure CSS one I've been working on here - http://pearl.accountantscircle.co.uk/.   I have been reading from various sources on how to make this work... but when I try to apply it, I just can't get it much closer than this (I had something closer but without the shadow on the sides).

Any help/direction with either of these would be appreciated. I am expecting it is just a small learning curve with something I need to understand a little better.

Thanks

David

 
New Post
5/14/2008 9:39 AM
 

If your interested in pure CSS skins I have to suggest you go browse www.dnncreative.com there is a free skin called red leaf, along with a few other Pure CSS skins for download, which you can review / look at.

I can vouche that the $78 bucks for a year subscription to the site is well worth every penny. The tuturials are very detailed and done in a very good manner. When I first started skinning with DNN I knew very little to nothing about it but at the end of his tuturials I was able to really tackle any skin layout I want. Please note knowing how to build a website with a CSS layout is more of the battle then knowing how to skin DNN. However the tutorials will get you on your way even if you know every little. The nice thing about CSS skins is they are very easy to modify / make tweaks to. Much more then with table based layouts.

If you get stuck somewhere let me know.

In regards to your CSS skin. try setting the leftcontent pane to float: left, and your right contentpane to float right.

Set their widths to about 46% each and you should see the effect you want.

 

 
New Post
5/15/2008 12:46 AM
 

Thanks heaps for that.  I have had a look at some other skins, and also at one of the DNN Creative tutorials (free one but I do intend to join too).

I've sorted out the shade on the left and right now, all nicely on the screen.

Regardless of that I am still missing something with the CSS skin I am working on and the center boxes (I changed from fixed pixels to 46% and less but no luck).  Is there anything obviously wrong here?  I may run this now as a single container in it and just do it in the module.

Layout

<div id="ControlPanel" runat="server"></div>
<div id="topspace"></div>
<div id="Main">
    <div id="LtShade"></div>
    <div id="Content">
        <div id="leftpane" runat="server" visible="false"></div>
        <div id="contentpane" runat="server" visible="false"></div></div>
    <div id="RtShade"></div>
</div>
<div id="bottomspace"></div>

CSS

*
{
    margin: 0px;
    padding: 0px;
}

body
{
    background-color: #ffffff;
    color: white;
    font-size: 11px;
    font-family: "trebuchet ms", helvetica, sans-serif;
}
#LtShade {
    background-image: url(images/LtShadow.jpg);
    background-repeat: repeat-y;
    width: 17px;
    height: 100%;
    float: left;
    margin: 0;
}
#RtShade {
    background-image: url(images/RtShadow.jpg);
    background-repeat: repeat-y;
    width: 14px;
    height: 100%;
    margin: 0;
    float: left;
}
#Main {
    text-align: center; width: 711px; height: 70%;
}
#Content {
    background-color: #333333;
    width: 680px;
    height: 100%;
    margin: 0;
    float: left;
}
#topspace, #bottomspace {
    background-color: white; width: 100%; height: 15%;
}
#leftpane {
    width: 46%;
    border-style: solid;
    border-width: 0 2px 0 0;
    border-color: #000000;
    float: left;
}
#contentpane {
    width: 46%;
    float: right;
}

I'm struggling a little with the horizontal centering, note this is just a  'splash screen' (no menu etc).  I have it working in IE, but not in FF or Safari.

Nearly there, just not entirely sure why the center containers aren't displaying at 320px or 46% etc. For now I'm leaving this completely, as a single pane is doing the job I need.

Thanks

David

 
New Post
5/15/2008 8:26 AM
 

Try adding class tags in your divs that need custom formatting and have runat. Then change your CSS to use classes instead of ids.

<div id="Content">
        <div id="leftpane" class="leftpane" runat="server" visible="false"></div>
        <div id="contentpane" class="contentpane" runat="server" visible="false"></div></div>
    <div id="RtShade"></div>
</div>

 

So

.leftpane {
    width: 46%;
    border-style: solid;
    border-width: 0 2px 0 0;
    border-color: #000000;
    float: left;
}
.contentpane {
    width: 46%;
    float: right;
}

 

You are correct with using a div tag to encapulate the leftpane and contentpane and it doesnt need to be a class. Keep in mind though that the id for contentpanes can change dynamically at runtime. While they typically don't they can change to whatever asp.net wants. By using classes you just ensure you have the CSS you want.

 

Lastly  the best piece of advice I can give you. :) download firefox, and get the web developer add-on and the firebug add on. The web developer has a really nice edit css option where you can realtime make changes to your CSS and see the results "realtime" Firebug lets you inspect your website you can then hover over any element and click doing so drops you to the html that renders it and it shows you all the CSS being applied to the element it even shows you the full Cascaded and what is overwritting what. It can really save you a ton of headace.

 

 
New Post
5/15/2008 10:52 AM
 

One other note, and not to dishearten you, but for all the work you'll do getting it CSS Pure you should be careful of the modules you use because many I've encountered will blow a Pure CSS skin all out of whack.


Wells Doty Jr
Online Content Development
 
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