We have been working hard on the next update for a while now and thought you may like a preview to see what we're up to. The next update is to the theming tools, and to follow along with some of the changes we mention here is a screenshot of the new theme editor:
*click for fullsize imageTheming works on Actual PreviewOne of the first changes you will notice in the screenshot is that the new theming tool works on the actual site preview.
Our current theming tool uses a small, simplified version of the site with no graphics - you had to switch tabs back and forth between colors and graphics to theme the site, and then click Preview at the bottom to see how everything actually looked.
In the new theming tool, you work on the actual preview, and everything happens instantly.
AJAX PoweredOur current theming tool has a few AJAX features, but changing any of the elements required a full page refresh, making the tool slower to work with.
The new theming tool is 100% AJAX driven, no page refreshes happen while you are theming your site, not even for image uploads, so it is very fast to work with =)
Custom CSSThe new theming tool allows you to add your own custom CSS to the theme, providing you even greater control over the appearance of your site.
New Colors and ElementsQuite a few new colors are available in the new theming tool, an example shown in the screenshot is the calendar table which has gained several new color options. Some elements that previously shared colors can now be themed individually, and some entirely new elements have been added, such as Notifications.
New Site Feature: NotificationsAlong with the theming changes, we are adding a new feature to the site called Notifications.
Notifications will allow you to be notified when different events occur on your site, such as receiving a new private message or a new forum being posted. You can choose to be notified by ajax, email or none for each of the events.
If you set a notification to ajax, when you are on the site and that event occurs, a notification will appear in the bottom right corner - clicking the notification will take you to the event.
Our main goal with notifications is to make it easier for you to keep up to date on what is occurring on the site, and to guide you to new content. Rather then clicking through all the sections of your site to see if there is anything new, you can watch the notifications appear and when one interests you simply click it to view the content =)
End of Part 1This update is by far the most involved we have done so far, and we plan to do one more preview before we put it live. In the next preview we will post several screenshots showing how the theming updates enhance many of the pages and blocks on your site. =)
I love you guys (and gals). :)
look also how I customized my site hehe :) Im sure some of you like ))
Really you know 8 toes, when time is right you would get a nice paypal check from me to sponsor this project :)) For real no joke.!
The theming update is unfortunately very time consuming, along with creating the new Theme Editor, we have to update the views for every page and every block to take advantage of the theming changes. We are nearing completion for the update though, and it should be pushed out before the end of February for sure, hopefully sooner =)
Normally last year we pushed out new features at least once a month, but the theming update has slowed everything down, once it is finished we will be back to regular updates with new features =)
We are planning to post one final preview this weekend (either tomorrow or saturday) with a few screenshots of how the sites can be made to look different with some of the new theming options.
The theming update has been a ton of work and taken a lot of time, but we are quite close to having it finished now, and it should be ready to go live in another week or two =)