[Mark Evans]

As you might of seen from the current CVS we are introducing the concept of templates into the osCommerce administration tool.

These templates will also be integrated into the catalog area.

Please post any features / suggestions you have for the templates and general layout of osCommerce in this thread.

There will only be a single supported template engine for osCommerce. Any other template engines that are contributed will not be supported so please make sure you post your suggestions here to get the features added.

Any posts not related to the templates / layout are likely to be removed.

This post has been edited by sparky: 14 November 2004 - 06:27 PM

[cannuck1964]

Well a template system for osC....wow!!

One thing I would suggest is that the box class be dropped or totally re-written, so each box can have a unique look and be able to place the box, on the left, center, right side of the page.

Control and ease of implementation are key here, so that most people will have a simple control system for moving, removing, and layout looks for each box.

Use of box tops and bottoms should be built into the system, so both boxes and modules can have this feature available with ease of use.

As well, I would suggest an admin tool which will allow users to upload a complete layout and one button to install the layout, and one button to use the layout.

As for what should the new layout look like? well you started a thread on this already, and I really do not feel it is an important issue, when compared to the functionality of the system.

Last, I would look to a dynamic button selection system. Now that the Gifs, will be available to the public without additional licencing soon (if not everywhere now). A system which would allow you to pick which button to use could be done via a dynamic generation system, which would give more flexability and allow buttons to be created with ease.....


Just a few thoughts.....

cheers,

Peter M.

[burt]

Re-write as much as possible of the existing front end -> semantic HTML, eg;

-> <li> for lists rather than the tep functions
-> <div> as much as possible rather than nested tables (see my blog for an idea about infoboxes)
-> ability to turn off (and on) the columns, footer, header etc.
-> allow the buttons to be .css controlled (rather than use images).
-> clean up of all stray code
-> use of <hX> tags to denote importance, as well as <strong>, <em> etc

Some ideas for you to chew on.

[bruyndoncx]

Allow for the same product listing to be called from categories, what's new, specials, bestsellers, etc ... but also the modules (e.g. new products)
Have this product listing layout fully controlled by stylesheets so that you can go from a row to a column layout just by swapping stylesheets.

I personally would also like to have a show_produkt function that is typically used in the infoboxes that would allow for a uniform display with some control as to what items to show/not show, and any formatting driven by css.

[berkedam]

Current lay-out is OK
Header
Headerbar
Main area, 3 col lay-out, 3 row boxes, left center and right
Footerbar
Footer

Lay-out incl. buttons by stylesheet.css
Navigation must be assured with JS turned OFF

Very much looking forward to the result

[Snowman]

id like to see perhaps a standard html template thats easy for newbies to use and customise, but have the ability to work in complex templates, such as those that a lot are getting from Template Monster and Boxed Art.

So the ability to put any infobox anyway with specific sizing and style sheets would be very handy. Being ale to define different styles for each infobox would be a very big bonus.

I have seen some people ask for the ability for customers to select what template they want.... but why would you??? i think only a store admin should have this functionality.

The ability so say have different templates switchable based on the seasons, holidays etc would be a very neat option.

[Snowman]

I should also add it would be very handy to have the products info page split up info seperate modules as this would make it easier to change the layout of the products page.

[PandA.nl]

Snowman, on Dec 1 2004, 09:01 AM, said:

The ability so say have different templates switchable based on the seasons, holidays etc would be a very neat option.

In additon to that it would be very handy to have an override system for the templates. One template directory containing all default templates. And if a custom template directory is created the script will load custom template files if they exist. That way it will be very easy (and safe) to replace only the template files that need to be replaced.

[Mark Evans]

PandA.nl, on Dec 1 2004, 09:12 AM, said:

In additon to that it would be very handy to have an override system for the templates. One template directory containing all default templates. And if a custom template directory is created the script will load custom template files if they exist. That way it will be very easy (and safe) to replace only the template files that need to be replaced.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I dont like this idea and think it adds un needed bloat to the feature.

[Mark Evans]

Thanks for the comments, I am sure we can come up with a sexy way to do most of this

Keep the suggestions coming!

[ecockrell]

I'd like to see the ability to use a different template based on category and/or product. If you have a store that sells holiday items, you might want a Halloween theme for listing Halloween products. Same for other holidays.

I'd like to see as much of the design in a CSS file as possible.

[PandA.nl]

sparky, on Dec 1 2004, 12:22 PM, said:

I dont like this idea and think it adds un needed bloat to the feature.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Calling it bloat seems a little bit exaggerated, I think it can be done by adding just a couple of lines of code, and will prevent having to copy about a hundred identical files for every template you have (which is bloat too?).
But I agree it's not a "must have" feature, if that's what you mean by bloat, it was just an idea.

This post has been edited by PandA.nl: 03 December 2004 - 11:42 AM

[Mark Evans]

PandA.nl, on Dec 3 2004, 11:41 AM, said:

Calling it bloat seems a little bit exaggerated, I think it can be done by adding just a couple of lines of code, and will prevent having to copy about a hundred identical files for every template you have (which is bloat too?).
But I agree it's not a "must have" feature, if that's what you mean by bloat, it was just an idea.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The couple of lines would need to be called on every page and every component of a page that can have its own template, meaning code is executed numerous times.

Whilst this code is only simple its will be excess for most people.

[Harald Ponce de Leon]

The only duplicate files I can think of will be the images - the way the page will be formated should be done in CSS.

[PandA.nl]

sparky, on Dec 3 2004, 01:51 PM, said:

The couple of lines would need to be called on every page and every component of a page that can have its own template, meaning code is executed numerous times.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's true of course

hpdl, on Dec 3 2004, 04:13 PM, said:

The only duplicate files I can think of will be the images - the way the page will be formated should be done in CSS.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds like MS3 will have a full CSS layout/design

[Mark Evans]

PandA.nl, on Dec 3 2004, 03:12 PM, said:

Sounds like MS3 will have a full CSS layout/design

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If your gonna do a job.... do it properly

[cannuck1964]

Quote

If your gonna do a job.... do it properly 

Is that the first, second, or thrid time??

cheers,

Peter M

[Mark Evans]

cannuck1964, on Dec 4 2004, 01:19 PM, said:

Is that the first, second, or thrid time??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

3rd time lucky?

[zprod69]

the templates are a good idea..but from the design point of vue (sorry my point of vue)
i would favor more a developpment directed towards the pros,the artists....
templates have a way to destroy imagination and craftmanship.
and what we need is not a couple of templates
but a more friendly ways of making them
Templates have way to uniformize a variety of officials design by making them accessible to non-artist/designer... and eventually replace the artist by some machine way of designing
which produce a low quality of art as we see it in general everywhere ,
with only artist eyes to make the difference beetwen them!
and it is allways the same question.....
are you an artist /designer because you have the tool or because you have the idea?
my english is not so good so i apologize in advance for the typos and the grammar
thanks for your time.
paul.

[aarongriffin]

zprod69, on Dec 6 2004, 12:37 PM, said:

the templates are a good idea..but from the design point of vue (sorry my point of vue)
i would favor more a developpment directed towards the pros,the artists....
templates have a way to destroy imagination and craftmanship.
and what we need is not a couple of templates
but a more friendly ways of making them
Templates have way to uniformize  a variety of officials design by making them accessible to non-artist/designer... and eventually replace the artist by some machine way of designing
which produce a low quality of art as we see it in general everywhere ,
with only artist eyes to make the difference beetwen them!
and it is allways the same question.....
are you an artist /designer because you have the tool or because you have the idea?
my english is not so good so i apologize in advance for the typos and the grammar
thanks for your time.
paul.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have a varied background - originally a designer, then moved into information architecture. I recommend the use of templates for standardizing site elements - this simplifies navigation and use for the customer. Which in turn results in increased sales. Good design principles should be applied to all aspects of the site, but in my mind it makes sense to create standards for your site which remain constant. That can also help you reinforce your brand. All of this is subjective; the above is just my opinion.