CSS/HTML Web Templates
Want a new look for your web, but don't have Dreamweaver or Expression Web. No worries, our css/html templates are cross-browser friendly and can be used in any html web editor. You can also choose to edit them with notepad or a similar program. If you find an Expression Web or Dreamweaver template you like in our catalog, but don't see it in the css/html format, let us know. We'll convert it and add it to our catalog.
What is a css/html web template?
Html is the markup language or coding used to have content displayed on the web. The html coding tells the web, "this is a div (kinda' like a dividing box) and this is the content that goes in that div. It tells the web, "this is a table and this is the content that goes into that table." It also tells the web what kind of document or "doc type" the web is. In other words, html is the guide for how things are rendered on the web.
CSS, the cascading style sheet, is the look of the web. It controls fonts, colors, location of divs. It calls in backgrounds and images. It has more to do with "style" than functionality.
Although all of our templates use html and css, our CSS/HTML templates use only those codes. They do not contain the proprietory functions of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) programs such as Dreamweaver or Expression Web. Those functions might include dwts (dynamic web templates), includes, and library items.
I've bought the template, what's next?
You'll download the zip file and save it in an easily accessible place. Your desktop is a good place for the zip file. You'll need a zip program in order to unzip the file. At Templates in Time, we use WinZip. You can Google "Free unzip programs" and find lots of them. Don't delete the zip file, just save it. You never know when the web gremlins will mess up your web, so always keep a backup!
After you've unzipped the file, you'll find the css template inside. Put this folder in a place you can find it when you are ready to edit the pages.
Getting your name on the web
Most of our templates use images for the business name. Some of them use just fonts. If you have a "nameplate" or "logo" image in the images folder, we will add your name to that image at no cost to you. All you have to do is tell us what you want it to say. We use the same font shown on the sample web. Once you receive your new image, download it into your "images" folder, overwriting the current file. Your name will automatically appear on all pages. We use the same font and color shown on the sample web unless you tell us differently. If you want a font that we don't have, and we have hundreds, you'll need to send us the font.
Light Boxes
The light boxes are easy to use and you can have your page really pop for your visitors. All you need to do is follow the simple directions that are on the page. You'll size each image into a small thumbnail image and a larger, viewable image. Then you just slip their names right into the code. Your light box will look professionally coded and no one will know you did it so easily!
Java Script Slide Shows
The Java Script slide show that is included in many of our templates, is easy to work with. You have four things to do:
- Pick out images you like for your web.
- Size them to the size indicated in the template.
- Name the images the same as ours... usually; mainimage1.jpg, mainimage2.jpg, mainimage3.jpg
- Save them in the images folder, overwriting our files.
If you don't have an image sizing program, you can go Picknik to size your images: http://www.picnik.com/. Remember, it's better to resize them than to just grab the corners and pull them down to size. The browser will load the full sized image and show it smaller. The load time for the page will be much longer.
Google Fonts
This is a fun little extra to play with. We began using some Google font coding in our mid-1200 series templates. If you don't like the font, just go to: http://www.google.com/webfonts#ChoosePlace:select and select the font you like. Follow the easy coding directions. You'll replace the font name in the css file under the heading (h1, h2, h3, h4 tags) and change the name on each page of the template.