I have just signed up and building my database. Before i start working on the layout of the site, i am pretty sure that I would like something that is better than the standard MC template provided in through the adminstration tools.
I don't see any instructions on how to make my own template. I see that i can have MC make one as is described in the Web Design Template Design services. But, what if i would like to maintain it myself? What type of reference guides exist for me to make my own templates to link into the MC asp programs.
Do I have to just look through the source html of existing MC sites to determine what to link to get the template to function with all the searching and shopping carts?
Would love some tips if anyone has some.
Thanks!
Full Version: Templates, How Do I Do It Myself?
Hello gdecaussin-
You can do quite a bit with the given template guidelines. You can replace many of the default areas with your own custom HTML (such as the top of page and navigation bar editor). Also, using some unique color schemes, and uploading your own index.html page to sit out front of your store, you can make it have a look that does not have the typical 3 column layout. A couple good examples are http://www.mini-rc-cars.net and http://www.fraichegifts.com.
If you need some tips, you can call our design team at 877-663-5169.
If you want to do more then this, you can gain full FTP access, in which you could download the ASP pages and make the changes yourself... you will need to know ASP though to do this, since most HTML is dynamically created from an ASP call.
Hope this helps out!
You can do quite a bit with the given template guidelines. You can replace many of the default areas with your own custom HTML (such as the top of page and navigation bar editor). Also, using some unique color schemes, and uploading your own index.html page to sit out front of your store, you can make it have a look that does not have the typical 3 column layout. A couple good examples are http://www.mini-rc-cars.net and http://www.fraichegifts.com.
If you need some tips, you can call our design team at 877-663-5169.
If you want to do more then this, you can gain full FTP access, in which you could download the ASP pages and make the changes yourself... you will need to know ASP though to do this, since most HTML is dynamically created from an ASP call.
Hope this helps out!
4.0 will give you nearly 100% design flexibility. It's coming soon.
Captain- I am looking forward to 4.0 then. What is a solid date to expect it?
Sabres00- Thanks for your comments. From them and your website examples it inspired me to work with the stand Admin tools and I was able to get closer to what i would like. I am still looking for a reference guide that will tell me what the URL for each part of the website. For example, if i add a my own navigation bar with buttons what are the mysite/com/something to use with the hotspots on the buttons.
Do i have to reverse engineer the MC sites to see that for "about us" button should point to: mysite/com/company mysite/com/company? Or is there a document that covers all the addresses to navigate a MC site?
Sabres00- Thanks for your comments. From them and your website examples it inspired me to work with the stand Admin tools and I was able to get closer to what i would like. I am still looking for a reference guide that will tell me what the URL for each part of the website. For example, if i add a my own navigation bar with buttons what are the mysite/com/something to use with the hotspots on the buttons.
Do i have to reverse engineer the MC sites to see that for "about us" button should point to: mysite/com/company mysite/com/company? Or is there a document that covers all the addresses to navigate a MC site?
Gdecaussin-
You don't really have to reverse engineer the system per say. What you should do, in your left hand navigation bar area, is use default and custom. Then, if you have Categories in your Site Layout >> Column Layout section selected, you can navigate through your site, and click on the links that you want. Then it will appear in the address bar, and you can copy and paste.
This is a bit time consuming... so in our next version, we provide all the category and subcategory links right under the categories. That way, you can just copy straight from there and paste.
As for a solid date for version 4.0... I can't really give you one yet. We are completing the conversion tool to pull the 3.x store and convert it into a 4.0 store. The 4.0 software itself is complete. We just want to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible. We will hopefully begin conversion within 2 weeks, and it should take approximately 4 weeks to complete with all the sites we have.
Though I promise you, it will be well worth the wait.
You don't really have to reverse engineer the system per say. What you should do, in your left hand navigation bar area, is use default and custom. Then, if you have Categories in your Site Layout >> Column Layout section selected, you can navigate through your site, and click on the links that you want. Then it will appear in the address bar, and you can copy and paste.
This is a bit time consuming... so in our next version, we provide all the category and subcategory links right under the categories. That way, you can just copy straight from there and paste.
As for a solid date for version 4.0... I can't really give you one yet. We are completing the conversion tool to pull the 3.x store and convert it into a 4.0 store. The 4.0 software itself is complete. We just want to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible. We will hopefully begin conversion within 2 weeks, and it should take approximately 4 weeks to complete with all the sites we have.
Though I promise you, it will be well worth the wait.
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