Artisteer template won't render correctly in Joomla


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Chris

Posted: 7/26/2009
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I've created quite a few web pages in my life, and have a good knack for design. But they're all static -- and the last one I created 5 years ago.

I'm really pulling out my hair trying to figure out Joomla, and dynamic, interactive web page creation and design. I thought Artisteer might help me. But I've wasted hours trying to figure out how to get any of the Artisteer templates to appear as anything but an empty box with Joomla.

No menus -- at all.

I admit that I'm a total Joomla newbie (well, wasted hours on trying to learn it, actually -- and I disagree with those out there who say it's "sooo easy." I know HTML, have a decent grasp of CSS and basic web design (but I'm very rusty). Joomla has not been easy for me. And neither has Artisteer.

At this point, I'm very demoralized, actually.

At any rate, when i try to assign the Artisteer template that I've exported to Joomla as the Joomla default template, I get: a) no menus; b) no 3 column layout that I see in artisteer; c) AND this message in joomla under "Menu Assignment": 'Cannot assign default template.'

Any ideas on what I can do to fix this?

Maybe it's because I'm just using joomla locally on my own computer, and don't have it running any sort of web site on a Web host's server?

I have absolutely no idea what's going on.

I could use some advice and feedback. But what I really need, I think, is a 4-hour, one-on-one Joomla tutorial with someone who knows what they’re doing. I know that once I get it, I’ll get it. But until then, I’ll waste a huge amount of time not getting it, and probably never getting it – without that direct human-to-human help.

 
audra

Posted: 7/26/2009
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Joomla have good tutorials for beginners... You can start there. You can e-mail me at audraoc at prodigy dot net, I can help you start...
 
Garry

Posted: 7/26/2009
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I think you are using your Joomla installation without any content on it, you need to create pages and upload other content in order to start it displaying correctly. There is not much difference whether Joomla is installed on your hosting server or local server
 
Tony

Posted: 7/27/2009
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Quote :
AND this message in joomla under "Menu Assignment": 'Cannot assign default template.'


I've seen this mentioned in a few threads. This is not a problem. If you have several templates to choose from, you can assign a different template to a specific section of the site. If you do nothing, the default template is used. Hence the default template cannot be "assigned" to a specific part of the site because it's already being used for it, unless you have told joomla to use a different one.
 
JeffK

Posted: 7/28/2009
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In Artisteer the horizontal menu must be assigned to the user3 position and make sure the menu module set to display legacy horizontal and the menu module is turned on.

In the Artisteer layout make sure that you have indeed created the left or right column (or both) and that you have set the modules to display in the correct column (or position) and make sure they are turned on.

As also as stated above - you must have content to display or you will receive an empty page because there is nothing to display.

Do not get discouraged as we were all new to Joomla and Artisteer at one time. ;-)
 
George Z

Posted: 7/28/2009
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Quote JeffK:

In Artisteer the horizontal menu must be assigned to the user3 position and make sure the menu module set to display legacy horizontal and the menu module is turned on.
In the Artisteer layout make sure that you have indeed created the left or right column (or both) and that you have set the modules to display in the correct column (or position) and make sure they are turned on.
As also as stated above - you must have content to display or you will receive an empty page because there is nothing to display.



HI Jeff,

I am having the same problem as Chris, so what you are saying is that you have to assign a location in Artisteer (i.e., user3, left right etc.,) but i don't recall seeing anywhere you can do that. Also, is there any documentation that tells you those specific locations. I didn't see it in the user doc that artisteer provides. it give you the basic coordinates tl, tc, tr etc.

if you can point us to other docsfor this, i would really appreciate it.

Thanks
George Z.
 
Garry

Posted: 7/28/2009
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@ George Z

You to assign module positions in your Joomla admin not in Artisteer

Artisteer generates following module positions by default: http://www.artisteer.com/?p=help_joomla

You can check available module positions in your template by adding /?tp=1 at end of your URL
 
JeffK

Posted: 7/29/2009
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Ok, so here goes... this is the menu/modules how to's simplified.

1) Open Joomla administration
2) Go to extensions
3) click on modules manager
4) find the main menu module and click on it.
5) under details (on the left side) find positions and select user3, set enabled to yes
6) under parameters (on the right side) select legacy horizontal
7) top right click on save
That's it you're done. good job!

NEXT- to display all other modules...

1) use the module manager to assign modules to display in the template module positions (diagram of available template module positions at the bottom of this page http://www.artisteer.com/?p=help_joomla)

2) click on the desired module and under details (on the left side) find positions and select the template module position you want to display that module in, set enabled to yes and click save.

If you have any problems - first make sure the module is Enabled (turned on)
If your menu items are not showing - go to menu manager and click on main menu..

1) Are there in fact any menu items to display or is the main menu empty. (home should be there by default)

2) Are the menu items published (green check-mark) if not then just click on the red x and it will turn them on (turns to green check-mark)

I hope this is helpful to you and other folks new to Joomla.
8-)
 
George Z

Posted: 7/30/2009
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Thanks GAry and Jeff
 
chris

Posted: 7/30/2009
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Thank you everyone. After more trial and error and learning, it's finally become clear to me:

You must first have a very basic grasp of Joomla, and especially how and where various modules and menus are assigned in a template, and how to see where they're assigned in order for Artisteer to make any sense at all. Otherwise, Artisteer is a waste of time. George's point is SO crucial -->

"You can check available module positions in your template by adding /?tp=1 at end of your URL."

Figuring out the placement and names of modules is so absolutely crurical, that you'd think that Artisteer would put this concept front and center somewhere on it's web site.

Anyway, after about 30 to 40 hours of time, I'm finally beginning to grasp the fundamentals of joomla. It's a helluva a lot different from creating static pages in Dreamweaver and doing a site that way, which is how I've created other web sites.

Of course, i still need to figure out how, or if, I can put content in a non-primary position (meaning in the left or right module position) on a joomla template, rather than in the center position.

Have a feeling that you can't do this -- which is another reason why it's such a big adjustment to go from creating pages in Dreamweaver, or another web design program in which you can put anything and everything where you want it, to being locked in by pre-determined module and menu positions in joomla.
 
Jeffk

Posted: 7/31/2009
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You can put content (text) in a module by using the custom HTML module.
login to Joomla admin
go to => Extensions=> module manager
select new (top right)
select the custom HTML module
you are all set. Just continue with what you learned above.
If that is not what you had in mind just go to the Joomla website and have a look through the extensions/modules offered there. You will find many ways to display content using modules.
I am glad it is working out for you.
:-)
 
Rosemary

Posted: 7/31/2009
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Hi Chris,
lynda.com has 3 great Joomla tutorials. They'll cost you $25 for a month, but what is your time worth? While you're there, you can brush up on anything else you need to know for web design. No, I don't work for them! Whenever I need to brush up on or learn a few geeky things, I sign up for ONE MONTH and go at it.
Joomla has to be built sort of backwards. You start with articles, then you place them in catagories (which you can't make until you make your sections) and then you can make your menus, AFTER you set up the module that will hold the menu.
I think Joomla has some nifty features, but for my time and money, I think Wordpress is a lot easier. Also, don't forget that in Joomla your hierarchy isn't very deep (but I understand that will change in the next major upgrade).
I think that Artisteer is fantastic because it's fast and intuitive. I'm sure glad I knew some CSS and html before I started, though.
Have fun!
Rosemary
 
Olu

Posted: 8/2/2009
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I agree with Rosemary. Your best bet would be to the Joomla 1.5 essential training from Lynda.com. This I used to get up to speed with Joomla. And Artisteer?? Rapid and intutive creation of templates CMS or HTML and possibly the only Rapid Template creation tool for CMS without learning PHP, CSS and XML - though a knowledge of these would help when you've mastered the basics. Still learning as well!!!

Enjoy

Olu
 
daniel

Posted: 8/28/2012
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hello there

I have been using joomla 2.5 with art 2.4 .. i have encountered fatal errors again and again. But after a little reading i finally discovered how to replace the function. php file and i got rid of the errors. However the third column is not visible at all in Joomla as it was in artisteer.

So can anyone help me plz :-(
Please email me to danielmebratu9@gmail.com
regards
 
Jim

Posted: 8/28/2012
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Have ya tried using the compatible version? Who are these people anyway?
 
David

Posted: 8/29/2012
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Quote daniel:

hello there

I have been using joomla 2.5 with art 2.4 .. i have encountered fatal errors again and again. But after a little reading i finally discovered how to replace the function. php file and i got rid of the errors. However the third column is not visible at all in Joomla as it was in artisteer.

So can anyone help me plz :-(
Please email me to danielmebratu9@gmail.com
regards


For clarity's sake - To create a Joomla 2.5 template you need Artisteer 3 or 4.