How to use Artisteer for designing Web Template

So far had users of open source content management or blogging systems, two options to define the design of their websites: Either they picked out a design template from the large pool of freely available templates, or they took into their own keys. With Artisteer - pronounced "I kind of steer" - can hurry and non-programmers to give their websites an individual painting. Artisteer allows you to create templates for several open-source CMS. It requires no knowledge of CSS, PHP, HTML or other Web technologies. The target group for this tool provides users other than the manufacturer Extensoft independent web designers who can offer on the basis of Artisteer commercial templates, allowing the company specifically. However, they must be careful with regard to copyright law when using Artisteer's own photographs. The commercial product has existed since 2008, initially only for WordPress and HTML. Meanwhile supported version available since November 2009, the 2.3 also introduces the CMS Systems Joomla and Drupal, and Google's Blogger. Further, Developer templates can in HTML format, create a ASP.Net application or for CodeCharge Studio.

Extensoft Artisteer delivers in two variants: Home and Academic Edition (49.95 U.S. $) as well as the Standard Edition (U.S. $ 129.95). Only the latter is fully functional and export in all the systems mentioned. Basis for the present article version is 2.3 on Windows Vista. The focus of the test can be focused on the question of whether and how to create templates for some of the promised CMS and blog systems, export and integrate into the site. Specifically, the author has examined the interaction with Joomla. The install runs normally and smoothly. When the program one must first decide what your goal is to develop for one system. This decision is not final, because the user can change the desired target system during Artisteer session and at any time. Important the election is because Artisteer offers for individual menu items specific functions for the target system. This will open a well-structured interface that allows intuitive operation of the tool. Where you have to try at the endless settings before something or should take a look at the online help.

The core of the navigation is the horizontal bar of the main menu with the following eleven points: ideas, colors and fonts, layout, background, page structure, header, menu style, posts, blocks, buttons, and footer. It makes no sense to respond to all menu items, as it is a trial version can look at non-binding. It is fully functional, but makes the exported template after export unusable by a watermark.

Design proposals for the introduction

Clicking on any of the eleven points each, another menu appears just below, also horizontally. For example, proposes Artisteer before the "ideas" numerous finished versions that offer a good starting material, based on the "start" the user can to make individual components of their own. Here, as the color themes and compositions are well coordinated. Ironically, in this realm of ideas and proposals is the export function. Logically it is not, and newcomers need to take extensive trips to the ramifications of the system in buying and looking for a little while after this central function. Ideas and suggestions are also in the other menu items to the standard program. In Layout, the user decides how it will divide its site: with or without header and menu bar, with one to three columns.

This shows that Artisteer CMS provides specific functions. Those who work in the WordPress mode can specify here, at what positions the WordPress own categories, to appear blogroll and archive lists. For Joomla you need these functions, so they are missing in this case. For the setting of the background left and right on the edge of the web site provides numerous Artisteer with separately adjustable images, textures and effects. Logically, you can integrate your own images.

Important for an individual Web page of the "head" is. In addition to height and width, the user can put together a mix of background and foreground photo, texture and lettering for the name of the site including the subtitle. The images can be positioned in the head by pushing back and forth, changed their color in gray or reversed direction twist. In "menu style" can be set using drop-down menus, multiple planes called. To use them, nor the target settings in the CMS are required. Joomla based on the designer needs to activate this setting in the backend of the CMS, so that it can use them. Specifically, the feature "Always show sub-menu items" get in the module parameters of the top menus a catch. What settings to the target systems need to document the site of the tool.

Dialog boxes and shortcut keys

With some features easier to navigate Artisteer. This allows the user to "Quick Access Toolbar" complete with its own, frequently used functions such as "one-click shortcuts for" undo "or" save ". Moreover, many functions can be controlled via keyboard shortcut instead of mouse. After pressing the Alt key and shortcut keys appear on the respective functions. Furthermore, present dialog boxes with numerous menu items settings in summary form, which supports the designer. Parameters, it can move continuously.

Export - from work to the template file

Who fundamental logic of the tool by which looks, sees that Artisteer design a template, first a working file with the extension *.artX generated when. The "Save" refers to that file. They ought to keep well to modify his template for a later exports.

The .ArtX work file forms the basis for export to the different specified target systems. Previously, the user can still make the menu item "Export functions" some settings, including properties such as name and URL of the creator, tags, description, and a few special settings for each CMS. Joomla users may generate their own internal position with the top menu. Can be set here, if the template is to carry a watermark. Thought for the trial versions in commercial projects Artisteer. Thus, potential customers have already created templates to the view of the game. Who uses no special CMS can export the design in HTML format. In addition to Joomla, WordPress and Drupal Artisteer export offers in Google Blogger and formats for users with the systems CodeCharge Studio, Dream Weaver and MS Visual Studio to work. Here, the design according to the manufacturer as an HTML template or as a Visual Studio C # project-exported. The export functions in Joomla 1.5, Drupal, WordPress and Google's Blogger work without complaint and had to activate the usual way for the system.