Looking for a better way

[riverock1]

Hi,

Just looking for the newest version of Simple Template System and any advice on using it "newbe here" to get the look I see on some realy sharp sites. I have a realy good working relationship with a great artist in my home town and could do well with the product "jewelry" if I have a good look. Thank for any help.

 

This what my site looks looks like now. Just a few sample photos and layout.

My Web Site

[riverock1]

Can anyone show me a store using simple twemplate system? Anyone.

[JosephB]

Sure,

 

I've used STS to build a store I will be opening soon (I hope) - once I get all the bugs worked out. STS helped me quite a bit because I am only familiar with FrontPage, know very little html, and no php. I loaded the template up in FrontPage, made whatever changes I needed to make, then saved to the server - a real cinch. Without STS, this project would have been a much steeper learning curve for me. My MANY thanks to the contributors.

 

Here is my web store:

 

www.powerstates.com/catalog

 

Hope this helps.

 

JB

[99darkgreenGT]

Sure,

 

I've used STS to build a store I will be opening soon (I hope) - once I get all the bugs worked out. STS helped me quite a bit because I am only familiar with FrontPage, know very little html, and no php. I loaded the template up in FrontPage, made whatever changes I needed to make, then saved to the server - a real cinch. Without STS, this project would have been a much steeper learning curve for me. My MANY thanks to the contributors.

 

Here is my web store:

 

www.powerstates.com/catalog

 

Hope this helps.

 

JB

what exactly is STS? i know very little about php, but i am pretty decent with htnl. so any info or links would be great. thanks

[riverock1]

STS: Simple Template System and I do not know much about it. but I am looking for help.......

[dchockenberry]

I had my site built and configured before I even heard of STS.

 

If you just plug around a little bit, you can get it looking fairly decent without installing one of those template systems and I only know html code myself. I combined a knowledge of html using frontpage, some help from the forums, and a little bit of trial and error to get this:

 

CDI Buy!?

 

I know it still has the info boxes just like the original but I played around with it to move them around, delete some, add others, etc.

 

I felt that too many people were using white/pastel/light color backgrounds so I went the opposite direction with it for what I consider to be an "elegant" look.

 

It's nowhere near professional but I am still learning.

 

Your best bet, if you still want to use the template system, is to start fresh because I'm to the extent now where I have so many modifications added that it would be a difficult transition.

 

If you don't have a whole lot done to your site right now, you can simply install BTS (Basic Template Structure) or STS (Simple Template System) which are both available in the contributions section here.

[Guest]

I didn't chancge much just worked with all the images.

 

Have a look http://www.saversoft.co.uk

 

Regards

 

Rich :D

[dchockenberry]

that's cool...I don't really have the creativity to use faded backgrounds and such...also...how did you get it so your categories open up like that?

[JosephB]

STS is Simple Template System for OSC 2.2, an OSC contribution you can download from

 

http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,1524

 

I was lucky enough to discover the contributions area of the OSC web site early on and this was one of the more valuable contributions for me.

 

Using STS I could color backgrounds, arrange layout areas and infobox locations, add text and graphics easily, and conrol size of html tables. I also learned a lot about the variables involved with OSC so I could more easily manipulate them. It has still been a lot of work, but I've also learned quite a bit, too.

 

 

Joseph

[dchockenberry]

unfortunately I didn't find out about template systems early and I had already installed many mods. I wish I HAD known about it but I don't think they're necessary to create a unique store. I believe some people will appreciate the familiarity of the oscommerce format when they want to navigate through your store

[JosephB]

That's a really good point - I, too, like a familiar looking store. It's easier to navigate when I've already seen one like it before. No doubt you'll sell more product when your customers are not frustrated with the buying process. Fortunately, the STS template is just a format/layout that actually keeps one close to the original store - just gives us non-php folks a little help.

 

JB

[dchockenberry]

well I'm not a php person and I didn't use any kind of template system at all. I installed some add-ons such as the right side log in box and commented out a few other info boxes that I didnt need. Other than that I just played around with the colors and my logo. Most of it was done in the stylesheet.css file.

[JosephB]

I'm fairly new to stylesheets as well as php but it did not take me long to figure out that the main stylesheet is where it's at as far as making cosmetic changes to the overall look and feel of the site.

 

I think you've made some excellent points for newbies like me. I think perhaps the reason I like the STS is that I have a familiar handle to a system that is new to me - php.

 

Happiest holidays,

JB :D

[dchockenberry]

I was thinking about installing a new store and the STS system just to play around...I got started on it and just couldnt even think of anything I would want to do different than I already have so I uninstalled it again :lol:

[riverock1]

Hi,

when I started this post I Placed a link on it and that link has change if you all would take a look at the site and let me know what you think. It dose not have any product yet but the photos and text are on the way.

thank you.

 

 

Sun Shower Art

[riverock1]

Web Site

 

Wrong address try this.