Okay I was able with all of your help to add the links and pages I wanted to one of my skins. However they are only working with the elegence skin. The CSSXen and Zenlike skins however won't show it. I also plan to add my own skin. Now I checked the wiki sites I was given and I see what I have to do. However I am having a problem with the instructions. Here's what the wiki says.
Via the Variables.php
Use this option if you only want the link to appear on one skin, or in any skin that has a pre-existing variables.php file, which will override the previous method.
Open variables.php for the skin in question.
To then add this extra link to the menu block you'd need to add it to the content list:
$blocks['menu']['content'] = array(
0 => 'home',
1 => 'members',
2=> 'search',
3 => 'tens',
4 => 'help',
5 => 'NEWLINK',
6 => 'login',
7 => 'logout',
8 => 'adminarea');
Look for the "content" list array. Add your new link following the pattern above.
Via the tpl files
Edit your skin's .tpl files to place the link where you want it. The variable will be the name you assigned the link. In continuing the example above, {NEWLINK} can be added you your .tpl files.
Now I understand this I believe. However I have no idea how to get to the variables.php for each skin or the tpl files for each skin. I tried to figure it out on my own and I tried reading the wiki but it doesn't say how to get there. I was able to use the menu block to get the links on elegence. Can someone explain where I can find the variables.php for each skin AND the tpl files? Also I'd appreciate if you can tell me anything else I'd need to know before starting to do this. 🙂 Thanks a bunch!
Dana
The .tpl files are the template files that make up each skin. They're the HTML/CSS component. They can be found in the skins folder. Each folder has the name of the skin, and inside are the various .tpl files and in the case of Zenlike the variables.php. (Probably CSSZen too, I just am not personally familiar with it.) If you have any suggestions for the skinning documentation, let us know. I'm not sure I was 100% clear on stuff I wrote.
When you say folder do you mean the folder like where it was installed? Cause if that's the case I have to go into my server right? Or do you mean on the actual website?
Dana
Folder where the skin is located. http://anenduringlove.net/skins/ [name of skin]
You can edit files through your online File Editor, or download, edit save and upload them. Or download the eFiction download and then edit, save and upload them.
Thanks so much Becca! Now I can get started! There's only one problem. When I use the link you gave or type it in manually I get a totally blank page. How do I fix this and get to where I have to go?
Dana
You're not meant to put the link into your browser. She just gave it to you that way to illustrate the file path. You need to log into your server account and go to whatever file editor you have, or download & upload the files via FTP.
The path in the directory on your server will be
public_html/skins/[nameofskin]
or
www/skins/[nameofskin]
(These are equivalent in most servers.)
Unless you've got your site in a subdirectory or folder within your main domain. Judging from Becca's link you don't, so you don't need to worry about that.
You can put the direct path into a browser and get individual skin files. Sometimes I do this when someone asks for help with a skin and I want to see their files. So for instance http://efictiontest.verilyviridian.com/skins/elegance/style.css. But of course that's really not going to help you upload the files.
