Make the template appear the same as it does in the Demo

[ShannonN]

I buy these templates because I don't want to spend ages customising them, if it looks good on the screenshot and demo that heavily influences my decision to buy or join the club etc .

I notice hardly any of the templates work as they look on the demo site leaving me ages of playing with css (which I hate) etc to modify them to look as they do in the demos.

Just give us the package on the demo site to dl with the same css graphics etc
please

Shannon

[z0z0]

I am new here and just signed up and downloaded my first template.

I chose ZIBAL because I like the tabs on the right side.
See - http://www.joomlart.com/templates_demo.php?template=ja_zibal

I download it and install it.
Guess what - the menus are on the LEFT side and not right side.

Even the User Guide had nothing in it about moving the menus to the right side.

[khanh le]

Hi all,

To make your site work like the demo, you should spend a small time to read the user-guide document and follow the instruction there.

When you follow the instruction carefully, you could easily not only build your site the same as the demo but easily customize the template.

[z0z0]

Khanh,

I appreciate all the great work that you guys do but I do not agree with your philosophy "read the guide and do it yourself".

Then you post a picture of what the theme will look like - demo - that is what you are selling. If you advertise in a certain way then sell it in that way. Imagine going to buy a car that you see advertised in one way and then when you go to the car dealership they tell you that you still have to build some parts yourself.

Please remember that the reason that we buy templates is because we are NOT TECHIES. It would take someone like me a long time to figure things out without screwing up.

[lafrance]

Khanh,

Then you post a picture of what the theme will look like - demo - that is what you are selling. If you advertise in a certain way then sell it in that way. Imagine going to buy a car that you see advertised in one way and then when you go to the car dealership they tell you that you still have to build some parts yourself.

Please remember that the reason that we buy templates is because we are NOT TECHIES. It would take someone like me a long time to figure things out without screwing up.

I have to agree with you and if you read the faq it always basically all the same for any template.
very generic not useful for n00bs compare to rocket it is way inferior in help.

And the faq do not take in consideration of
1.What plugin module it support how were to display them.
And no mater what once install css and xhtml will no longer be valid because of
1 a plugin
2 module
3 manboot?

Pierre

[ShannonN]

Hi all,

To make your site work like the demo, you should spend a small time to read the user-guide document and follow the instruction there.

When you follow the instruction carefully, you could easily not only build your site the same as the demo but easily customize the template.

This is not acceptable, we purchase templates because we are not as skilled in css and joomla as you are, this ridiculous attitude that we have to do work on a product to get it to look like the item we thought we were buying is very poor customer service. You now have more than myself complaining, I see no reason you cannot package the templates as shown on the demo site? It generally only involves a different css file and a few images .

Time you stopped the standard " read the manual or we like to offer you the opportunity to learn and customize etc " excuse. and supplied the necessary css and image files etc for each template to change it to what we see on the demo. The alternative is to put the template we receive on the demo , not something that has been modified to look pretty.

At best this is poor customer service, at worse it borders on deceptive advertising, in a medium that very much is a WYSIGYG for sales and marketing we do NOT get what is originally offered in that respect.

I suggest everyone here PM Khanh and request all templates be offered as displayed and purchasers of previous templates get teh necessary files to make the site appear as the demo shows it.

If Joomlart refuses to comply PM me and I'll look into some other means of action

Cheers a totally pissed off customer
(ShannonN)

[Hung Dinh]

ShannonN,
Thank you very much for your feedback.
It is easy for us to give you the content on the demo page in the SQL format, however they are all static text and images without any changes to joomla core files.
Puting them into Joomla is the least you have to do and this will also help you to get used to the administration of Joomla.

[lafrance]

ShannonN,
Thank you very much for your feedback.
It is easy for us to give you the content on the demo page in the SQL format, however they are all static text and images without any changes to joomla core files.
Puting them into Joomla is the least you have to do and this will also help you to get used to the administration of Joomla.
Well you are correct we do need to learn some aspect of joomla and it files a bit more on faq would help.
Mind you this is the only place I would ever get a theme from.
Argg still 12 minute to wait no sneak peak preview your mean :D
Pierre

[ShannonN]

ShannonN,
Thank you very much for your feedback.
It is easy for us to give you the content on the demo page in the SQL format, however they are all static text and images without any changes to joomla core files.
Puting them into Joomla is the least you have to do and this will also help you to get used to the administration of Joomla.

Mate I think you misunderstand me, while I know the demo is populated with content its the module placement and certain css based things regarding the positioning of "boxes etc" that concern my I don't need sql stuff just the css and images etc that match each demo template

If you PM me I'll tell you what templates I mean

basically I am after the VISUAL look of the template as shown in the demo, the content can be lorum ipsem for all i'm concerned

I can add and change content far easier than positioning modules and changing css and JS rotators etc
Cheers Shannon

[olskool_]

Hi everyone... I agree totally with ShannonN Is it possible we can have the same template as we see on the demo template would be very helpful. I created an account cuz I did think I will get same as it looks on the demo template I downloaded extracted and run and it was not the same as it is on demo template and I was thinking maybe I was doing something wrong not installing all the modules but I spend so much time on it to make it work the same as on the template demo and yet did not fixed now after reading some post I see I'm not the only one that is having this problem. Anyone please at last the template Ja Xenia can I have it the same as it looks on the template mode if possbile would be very good...

Thanks Oslo

[ErikThorsen]

Hello Oslo,

I think that Joomlart team will release a sql "backup" file for you if you ask them for it. That way you will have the EXACT same content and module positioning and everything. Then you can learn from that. :-)

Good luck on learning Joomla and Joomlart templates. Read all you can about user guides and dive into the administrator side of Joomla. There are lots to learn there! :-)

[imaaxx]

I will start with this: I do understand exactly how many of you feel that the template does not look exactly as it is demonstrated on the demo site. That is because in order to make things look good or place them where you want, one needs to understand Joomla 1st not the template.

Joomla is a very powerful CMS but if you don’t know how to use it then making any template look like the demo will be almost impossible. That is NOT the fault of the template maker it just your lack of knowledge with Joomla.

When I 1st started with Joomla I too found it impossible to make any site look the way I wanted it too, I could not even figure out how to add content at 1st, I was used to the old way of opening up Dreamweaver and start with a blank page and go from there.

Joomla requires a different approach to content and placing items/modules and once you understand it, you will be able to make your sites look like the demo’s you see and make them look even better then those sites.

One article that helped me was “Content is King::A Beginner's Guide to organizing content in Joomla (http://www.compassdesigns.net/tutorials/joomla-tutorials/a-beginners-guide-to-organizing-your-content.html)” Plus I read many other articles available about Joomla most of them I printed and used as reference manuals while I was learning. Another Joomla beginner manual (http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,47524.0.html)

Joomla.org has just published a new PDF about Joomla and if you have not yet read it maybe now is a good time. Available here http://help.joomla.org/

I know this is probably not the answer you were hoping for and blaming someone else is much easier to do then learning how to use the program.

Once you know Joomla a little more you will be able to do exactly what you want and more but it will take some learning and it will not be easy until you really understand your way around the Joomla backend.

Good Luck & All the Best!

[ShannonN]

I will start with this: I do understand exactly how many of you feel that the template does not look exactly as it is demonstrated on the demo site. That is because in order to make things look good or place them where you want, one needs to understand Joomla 1st not the template.

Joomla is a very powerful CMS but if you don’t know how to use it then making any template look like the demo will be almost impossible. That is NOT the fault of the template maker it just your lack of knowledge with Joomla.

When I 1st started with Joomla I too found it impossible to make any site look the way I wanted it too, I could not even figure out how to add content at 1st, I was used to the old way of opening up Dreamweaver and start with a blank page and go from there.

Joomla requires a different approach to content and placing items/modules and once you understand it, you will be able to make your sites look like the demo’s you see and make them look even better then those sites.

One article that helped me was “Content is King::A Beginner's Guide to organizing content in Joomla (http://www.compassdesigns.net/tutorials/joomla-tutorials/a-beginners-guide-to-organizing-your-content.html)” Plus I read many other articles available about Joomla most of them I printed and used as reference manuals while I was learning. Another Joomla beginner manual (http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,47524.0.html)

Joomla.org has just published a new PDF about Joomla and if you have not yet read it maybe now is a good time. Available here http://help.joomla.org/

I know this is probably not the answer you were hoping for and blaming someone else is much easier to do then learning how to use the program.

Once you know Joomla a little more you will be able to do exactly what you want and more but it will take some learning and it will not be easy until you really understand your way around the Joomla backend.

Good Luck & All the Best!

While I agree with you to some extent, I have actually read the stuff you posted and while it answers some stuff, it is so generic that it really isnt of too much use.

I learn in a visual hands on way I need specifics. I struggling to comprehend the way joomla orders items and assigns numbers to stuff, like you say I come from a static mainly DW background

some of the ways different modules work from a backend perspective are very non intuitive, I'm trying to use facile forms atm to make a rather complex form and the short video on how to make something they provide is a newsletter sub form of two fields! Not anything like a complex format all. Like I say it is a complex and very powerful thing our joomla but I do feel a lot of the component makers, modules makers etc could really put some effort into a video demo of some of the advanced uses etc Like I am past the how to installl templates, com, mod,bots etc I can add basic menu items, and even news ! but its the things like backend usage of remositry, docman , module positioning and changing that screw with my head I can get the news header working fine in xenia but the other news module I get working but do you think I can position it where I want to :)

Just some 5 min videos of how to change a module position, not create a new one but reorder them on the front page etc, as I said I learn from a visual hands on perspective. well written manuals with screenies are good but video is better show me twice and I tend not to forget or ask again. While I know there are video tutes out there I did buy some and they were so poorly done and covered the basics I already knew back they went

some are just too expensive when my designing is mainly at a low cost, friends, church and family level and never over 500 er site,to say its so easy to blame someone else when you "don't" look for answers is a bit true and untrue at the same time.

I moaned to this forum to get some way to have the demo site look to templates, I got that and still can't get it happening like the demo. perhaps it's because i use a fantastico install on a reseller account at hostgator and dont have the access or experience in the server setups the "devs" do, ( i cannot make a db prefix of xenia_ more than once etc as needed in teh 3 lines of intructions)

I ask that all the developers of anything really take into account that there are people who are not at the level they are when they write hints manual etc I have written many manuals with screenshots all the way they all are written from a total noob perspective that's what I need from the beginning for all component usage ,module usage form creation etc what I already know i can fast fwd

I have the most difficult time understanding form submission in Joomla via post method used to a pl script in a cgi bin etc yet joomla wants an item id blah blah

I really want to just add fields to the default contact page but as its in php full of variables, templates etc I'm lost

Like I said I can do a decent site for static use in DW but Joomla I have to depend on others expertise

Okies I've bored you all enough or today
Blessings
Shanny

[svasilev]

So, are we going to get help or is admin asleep?

[danstoc]

Hello ShannonN,

sorry when I ask... why you have to edit the css file if you want that your site is like the demosite? css gives to the browser the information how big, in wich color etc. you want the things.

my site looks like the demosite... and if I put all the modules in the same position even more.
give me the url of your site ans I have a look.

[danstoc]

hmm... everybody in the holiday's...

[siona]

i agree.i know css and joomla pretty well still cant make that ja news work as in the demo both antares and zibal. after heavy customisation maybe. u have to add to other templates index.php the module position. that implies you have to also know php lol.
i could have saved me some time and instead of spending money here just get a free one, ajax moofx tools and do it with a programmer.
PLz have some regard towards the clients that spend money and
make a list of the modules used in the demo. components also and plugins.
for example not sure how it works with virtuemart and since all other components are table based and some of ure layouts tableless are we restricted to use what components with ja news?
ja header module for example you should precise people should not opt to have images showing that overlaps the header div.
the news one with css -blue,-green etc doesn't work have to rewrite the css
i get extra news items,links in the ja header and not sure where to customise it to have just 1 column with 1 news item (other than the module itself)
i placed ja_news module under top module location in antares and it is all breaking the page
thats where i want to place it, and is normal to place a module in any position you want and to be able to modify the parametres (how many items to display how is the suffix etc ) from the module itself not the index.php pages nor the template.css

[author20]

This is a warning to any potential victims. The templates are NOT as shown, the modules do not have documentation (ja-news), and no matter how much time I put in, it isn't operating consistently.

JoomlaRt must be a foreign business, possibly in Germany. Or England or Asia. I have seen a lack of ethics on the part of many non-US software companies, and it looks like JoomlArt is attempting to pollute and destroy the Joomla community. As a super-fan of Joomla, I want to call for a complete 100% boycott of JoomlaRT, and I am passing this message to all providers, partners, media, forums and blogs. This is not a suggestion, a warning or a shakedown. JoomlaRT needs to go down. Permanent.

I only saw one (1) template that I liked, and even this one won't install properly. That is, I guess I haven't put in ten thousand hours that the so-called, "expert" suggests that we need to spend before we have the right to enjoy the so-called template (that was supposed to be completely identical to the one shown).

I think I will be forced to call my credit card company, and cancel.

When you are ripped off (bait and switch is against both federal and state law in the US), Mastercard and Visa will refund your account if you show how it was mis-represented.

That means, virtually ALL of Joomla Art customers are entitled to a refund.

For the psycho-dweebs who suggest that if you spend dozens of hours "learning" Joomla, you should remember how many people

[MiCCAS]

author20 (http://www.joomlart.com/forums/member.php?u=23117): I am deeply upset that you are unhappy with the services we provide, however I do have a few things I'd like to mention and ask you.

Firstly, I would like to point out that you have every right to post your opinion, and contrary to some people's belief we don't go deleting such posts.

That out of the way, I'd like to ask you if you ever asked us for help? We have this forum (which you are obviously well aware of) where myself and many other members and staff members hang out to assist the community as much as we can. However, I notice you only have 1 post... how can we help you if you don't actually ask for it?

I'd also like to mention that it is very very hard to get a joomla product out there to look exactly the same on any one Joomla site. Basically it's impossible however we have tried our best to have such a service, hence the reason why we now distribute quick start copies which is the exact same system we have setup on our demo sites.

Now, if you had of posted your concerns here I myself and I'm sure many of the other's here would be here helping you a lot, we go out of our way to help you and make sure you're happy with the product and you're not having trouble setting it up. Heck, there's been people that aren't customers asking for help and you know what? We do help them.

Now, if you have any more questions or comments you are more than welcome to send me a PM or email at webmaster <at> miccas.net and I'd be more than happy to address your concerns.

[swemmel]

Hi Author20,

As MICCAS already mentioned, when someone ask for help here, the members of the community and the staff of JoomlArt will help you if they can. So, if you never asked for help, you have no right to complain. (I believe insulting people falsely is also forbidden in the USA).
All the templates from JoomlArt work correctly. And, of course, you will have on your site not the same content as on the demo-site. Since last 2 templates, JA gives also the possibility to download a complete website install, including the content as seen in the demo's.
Another thing that can be a "problem" is that, when JA integrated some modules in the template, in the module-positions, wich JA use in the demo and instructions, of your live-website there are already other modules installed.

So I only can advise you RTFM and ask for help if you need some and we are glad to help you out with your problems.

Kind Regards,
Peter

[ShannonN]

@ author20
Hi there,
Welcome to the JA forums, My name is Shannon and I am one of the support ppl here who give our time to assist ppl having difficulties. I can understand your frustration, I too in the early days really got upset that I paid for a template and when i tried it didn't look at all like the demo site, I got pissed off and flapped my gums and stood n my soapbox etc.

But after cooling down, reading a few posts in answer like the ones above I realise that the demo is prepared by creating modules placement etc . it was my lack of JOOMLA knowledge that was frustrating me.

As we have explained the last two modules come as a clean install to set up as per the demo, its not possible to do this retrospectively, just a time based limitation.

So I now ask you to calm down, and talk to us about which template you want to use, give us a hand to help you by telling us your Joomla experience, if you are new to Joomla we can provide links to great tutorials that will streamline the process for you as well as let us achieve an understanding of where you are yourself.

I'll do the best I can to help you, but if you are going to criticize us, call us names, slag off things cause you can't do anything with a template then JA will quite happily say sorry we couldn't assist you today.

The choice is up to you, I slagged off JA at first, I calmed down, I started helping, and today I'm a very respected member of a community, I'd really hope the same can happen to you over the next few months
Regards
ShannonN

[scottross1957]

I'm new here. It seems as though almost a year from the first post in this thread, the module placement differences between the demo and the actual template have not changed. I too purchased the template (in my case, Bellatrix) based on where things were in the demo.

I came to the forum to find out how to reproduce the different layout options highlighted in the demo and got to this thread. Very disappointing.

[jaway]

I can relate to what Shannon is saying. One of the main reasons for individuals and companies using a CMS system instead of hand coding all the HTML is that CMS should bring some simplicity and do away with redundant and repetitive tasks. If you buy a template you do so because you most likely don't have the time or will to play around with coding one on your own.

I also appreciate the fact that there is plenty to Joomla/Mambo that one must learn as an admin - but perhaps it would be easier for people to start with what they expect and then play around to modify the look and feel of a template.

[burnedcustomer]

I just wanted to reply to your post on my thread. I re-registered because the moderators canceled my previous user-id.

They will argue with you for 100 years, and spend thousands of hours rationalizing and excusing what is no more than psychosis -- instead of just having a quick-start installation package with db included, they will berate new members and call them "stupid" or "unskilled" or "arrogant American..." instead of just making the templates work. You think I am joking. Template club industry seems to be 99% corrupt and lazy.

I think that RocketTheme, Joomlart, and Gavick all produce good templates, but I would encourage people to boycott these clubs until their quality is there, and until they get their customer service policy in line with the rest of the free world.

[burnedcustomer]

Wouldn't it be easier to just have Joomlart provide a quick-start package so that paying members get the template working quickly when they are not able to spend a lot of time hating America for being more successful than Europe and pondering Euro-communism?

Joomart owner and moderators do not seem to be rational, thinking human beings -- they seem to be arrogant, hostile and ignorant people who would much rather berate their new members than simply offer the templates as they are presented.

Avoid these sites: Joomlart, Rocket Theme and Gavick. They are stink.