BlogEMC23's Web Development Blog
White Flexi Template Release
Written by Lisa | 06.23.10
I've been using version 2.1 of the Flexi Template Skeleton pretty consistently now, and the bright colours are great as a guide. I have become so familiar with the elements of a Joomla template, however, that the first thing I do these days is strip away the colour.
So I have fashioned a minimalist, mostly-white template to use as a cleaner starting point - Download Flexi Template Skeleton v2.1 White.
Version 2.1 Released - Flexi Template Skeleton
Written by Lisa | 04.19.10
I have had a chance to use this template skeleton more than a few times over the last few months, and in doing so, I have been able to debug and fine-tune it further.
I've uploaded v2.1 with various changes added since the last release in February.
Relevant notes and screenshots for version 2 are available here.
I corrected a few simple mistakes, and I included a few minor CSS rules that I found myself adding each time, more out of personal preference than anything else. The more significant additions and revisions are discussed here.
Creating Custom Joomla Error pages
Written by Lisa | 03.06.10
To maintain design consistency, I like to style the Error pages to match the rest of the website.
Joomla install includes a folder called system, within the template folder, in which the layout and CSS files for error pages live.
Flexi Template Skeleton Version 2.0
Written by Lisa | 01.23.10
To ensure I don't choke on this, I've broken this project into bite-sized pieces. Instead of trying to get all the juicy bits into one template, I'm going to add specific elements as I learn how best to integrate them.
Notes on my first attempt (version 1) are available here.
Because I am working with pre-existing template structures, the elements within do not necessarily function outside their intended environment, or in combination with other elements. For instance, the font-resizer from ja_purity is dependent on additional files scattered throughout the template folders, all of which also contain code for elements I do not wish to use.
Ubuntu Blog at www.Galway.cc
Written by Rob | 12.26.09
Lisa, Gerry K, and Myself set up Galway Computer Club to counteract a serious trend in consumer and small business IT. Vista and DRM and other restraints where rampant. However there was a reason these flawed systems were prevailing. The alternatives were geeky, high maintenance Open Source alternatives.
Software Bloat
Written by Rob | 12.08.09
How does a company legitimise charging a customer for regular improvements to software, after the need to upgrade has long since subsided?
By adding improvements nobody needs, that break backward compatibility.
This means that even those who don't need an upgrade are forced to anyway, simply to be able to exchange documents from say, the office to home, or to another office. It might mean an old operating system has to be upgraded in order to run a secure browser.
How come my flash player was perfectly able to display its content last year, but now I need an upgrade? I mean, how many additions to word have you actually used since....say.... word for windows version 1?
Joomla User Group Ireland
Written by Rob | 11.23.09
To promote Joomla in our locality, and to improve on the standards it raises by encouraging a community of sharing, we've have launched the Joomla Users Group Ireland online at www.JoomlaIreland.org.
We're still waiting for approval from Joomla.org but we needed to fill out info regarding contacts and emails, so it was a kind of chicken and egg situation.
SEO Part II - Quality Content
Written by Lisa | 11.06.09
Content is King
A website can resemble and fulfill the same function as, something as simple as a business card, or something as complex as a university or shopping mall.
The website itself (as much as it can be thought of as a tangible thing) is a combination of text, images, audio and video, and of course, code (a lot of ones-and-zeroes).
SEO Part I - The Basics
Written by Lisa | 10.23.09
Some Clarity
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is becoming more important than ever as more businesses and individuals establish their web presences. These days, it isn't enough to simply have a website. Your website has to be found. And to be found by the majority, it has to be on the first two pages of Google. And if that isn't a feat in itself, it also has to also stay there.
The most popular Search Engine by far is Google, with Yahoo, and MSN coming in a distant second and third. Microsoft have recently released their new SE called Bing, and Ireland's own Cuil boasts the searching of three times as many pages as Google.
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