Cute Site Builder & Custom Templates

[Mission]

I was wondering if anyone here knows how to create templates for CSB? What would be necessary, other than raw creative skill? (Like does one need Photoshop or ???)

[TCH-Bruce]

Samrc or Thomas can field this. I'm sure one of them will respond.

[Samrc]

Sorry I did not see this post until today.

 

It does not require a fancy photo editor. Any will do.

I use Paint Shop Pro 9 for most of my CSB work because it lets me take a very large image and SLICE it into a top, left border and body piece when I want that type of layout.

 

You probably want to modify an existing template and make it your own style.

That's the easiest way to do it.

I tweaked the basic instruction below for you:

 

To create your own template from a modified CSB template:

1. Open a site file with the template you want to change.

2. Change how pages are arranged in the map or outline.

3. In the map, add, change, or remove sequences, shapes, and pictures.

4. In individual pages, add, change, or remove text, pictures, links, fields, field links, audio, video, or special

code.

5. Click on the page you want to first appear when a new site is started with this template.

6. (0ptional) Hide or show the Map and Outline. If you hide or show either in the template, they will be hidden

or showing for users when they first open a site using the template.

7. On the menu bar, choose File > Save As. The Save As window appears (see picture on following page).

8. In Save in, select WebDesigns. The WebDesigns folder is generally at C:/Program

Files/GlobalSCAPE/CuteSITE Builder/WebDesigns.

9. In File name, type a name for your template.

10. In the Save as type list, select CuteSITE Builder Template Files (*.tlt).

11. Click Save. Your new template will now be available in the New CuteSITE Builder File window

 

You will need a text summary and the picture to go with it. Follow the instructions copied below for that.

 

The instructions for making templates are included in the CSB4 user guide here.

See section 14.

 

To create a text summary for a new template

When you open the New CuteSITE Builder File window and select a template, you will see a short text

message to the right of the Select a template list. This text explains why and when to use the selected

template. You can change these summaries, and create new ones for templates that you create.

1. In Windows, click Start.

2. On the menu, choose Programs > Accessories > NotePad. NotePad opens.

3. On the NotePad menu bar, choose File > Open. An Open window appears.

4. In the Look in box, select the WebDesigns folder. You can find the WebDesigns folder wherever you

installed CuteSITE Builder. If you didn't choose the location for CuteSITE Builder when you installed it,

you will find the WebDesigns folder at C:\Program Files\GlobalSCAPE\CuteSITE Builder\WebDesigns.

5. Select any file and click Open. The text file opens in NotePad.

6. Change or completely rewrite the text.

7. On the menu bar, choose File > Save As. The Save As window appears.

8. Make sure WebDesigns is in the Save in box.

9. In the File name box, type the same name as the template the text will summarize.

10. Click Save. Now when you select the template in the New CuteSITE Builder File window, the summary

you created will appear.

 

To create a picture preview for a template

When you open the New CuteSITE Builder File window and select a template, you will see a small picture to

the right of the Select a template list. This picture shows the basic structure of the template as it would appear

in the CuteSITE Builder map. You can change these pictures, and create new ones for templates that you

create.

1. Open picture editing software.

2. From your picture editing software, go to the WebDesigns folder and open any file that has a .map.bmp

file extenstion.

3. Change the picture to look like the map of your new or altered template.

4. Save the picture in the WebDesigns folder with the same name as your new or altered template plus the

.map.bmp extension. You will now see a preview picture of your new template when you select it in the

New CuteSITE Builder File window.

 

A couple of the folks on the samisite.com forum have made template files and could answer any specific questions you may have. Trudy has a site with may downloadables that may suit your needs.

[Mission]

Thanks!