Template Manager - Help, Ideas, Suggestions Needed

[burt]

Interesting concept?

tpl-select.png

Perhaps a little nicer than;

tpl-sel-old.png

[burt]

I could foresee extras in here for each template, such as;

Support URL
Donation Link

And other ideas which perhaps the community might think of.

I have quite an interesting idea in mind, but let's see if anyone is on the same wavelength..

[tessthepup]

I could foresee extras in here for each template, such as;

Support URL
Donation Link

And other ideas which perhaps the community might think of.

I have quite an interesting idea in mind, but let's see if anyone is on the same wavelength..

If I am reading this right it is opening up the possibility for template designers

[Dan Cole]

@burt

Perhaps a little nicer than;

Way nicer Gary.

Dan

[bonbec]

Wow! It's like night and day!
It looks more modern and visually appealing.

Quick question: how is the visual generated?

[burt]

The visual is nothing exciting. It is just a thumbnail image that would be included by template author.

I'm still working on this concept. If anyone has thoughts please post them.
Especially interested in hearing about things that might be helpful to shopowner if wanted to change template.

--

- data about the template (author, versioning, name etc) come from a Manifest file

Code: Select all

{
  "name": "Ignis",
  "code": "ignis",
  "author": {
    "name": "G Burton",
    "support": "https://phoenixcart.org/forum/index.php",
    "home": "https://phoenixcart.org/"
  },
  "version": "1.0.2",
  "framework": ["bootstrap5"],
  "image": "Ignis.png",
  "compatibility": {
    "phoenix": {
      "min": "1.1.0.0",
      "max": null
    },
    "php": {
      "min": "8.0",
      "max": null
    }
  }
}

That looks really complicated but isn't really. The concept just loops through and outputs data appropriately. If you're technical...what `other stuff` might be good in here (or put another way...what would YOU like to see in the Template Admin Page) ?

- the Install button is working well

Click "Install" on any of the templates (in the concept there is only Ignis as installable, but here shopowner might have 3 or 4 or 20 templates to choose from). The shop side is now running the new chosen template.

[bonbec]

Okay, thanks for the explanation

If I understand correctly, this will allow me to download templates created by other authors.
So, if I already have my own template (for example: aradefault) using add-ons, I need to create a thumbnail and a file containing the data about my own template so that it appears visually like in your example: default over ride.

[burt]

if I already have my own template (for example: aradefault) using add-ons, I need to create a thumbnail and a file containing the data about my own template so that it appears visually like in your example: default over ride.

Exactly so. You would create two things;

1. manifest file
- just like the one above, but with your own details
2. thumbnail
- just a screenshot of whatever page

-OR-

You might not bother creating them, if "aradefault" is just for you and you alone. As if a template did not have these two things, they would not show in this template page. Yet they still would show in the original list (the second image in my first post).

As you can see from the those first two images...
"default" template does not have a manifest/thumbnail so does not show in this new page.

[burt]

If I understand correctly, this will allow me to download templates created by other authors.

I imagine the shopowner would find a template somewhere free or paid (eg in the addons area) or at a
developers site free or paid (eg busybeecommerce).

And it would be like an addon. Download it, unzip it, upload it.
Once uploaded it shows in this new Templates page, ready to install.

--

Forward thinking

We need a way to see installation instructions as some templates will have extra modules to turn on and some to turn off - they would be in the .zip that is provided by the creator - most of you have seen a README in my addons for example. However, it would be nice for installation instructions to popup somehow as part of this page.

EG that Ignis template does not have the horizontal menu but does have slide in
menu, see https://phoenixcart.org/demo/product_in ... ducts_id=8

Noting that

Templates can be as little as a .css file.
Or they might include modules, hooks etc to radically change the appearance.

[burt]

TY to @bonbec @Dan Cole @tessthepup - really appreciate you three taking time out.

--

Guys, loads more of you have read this thread.
Without feedback, it is incredibly hard to move forward, please get involved!

Shopowners
- What would you like to see in this page?
- What things would help you to choose/select a template.

Potential Template Creators
- What would you like to see in this page?

Please have a look at the images ... I just need a minute of your time today to help move Phoenix on.
Thanks in advance.