Theme Modification With CodeCutter
For some time now Chris from Varsis Studio has been working on a new RapidWeaver utility to allow users to quickly and easily modify the CSS in their themes. The idea was born out of my frustration with trying to support user modified themes. I asked Chris if he could make an application that could help users modify their themes the right way — in a non-destructive manner — and in such a way that users could keep their mods even after the themes developer updates or upgrades that theme.
Here is a quick look at what Chris has come up with. It’s code named “CodeCutter” for now. If you like the idea, please get on board and take the alpha out for a spin and help Chris get this application closer to completion.
The Video Transcript
[00:00:00] Hello, this Adam from seyDoggy.com. I want to give you a brief introduction to an exciting new application in the works at Varsis Studios. This new application is a RapidWeaver utility that will allow users to modify the style of their themes in a non-destructive manner and will also allow users to retain those modifications through future developer issued updates.
Theme Editing Today
Lets first look at how themes are modified today:
Hack the Theme
[00:00:25] The most common, and arguably most problematic way to modify a theme is to open the themes contents and edit the style sheets within. The success rate will often vary since the modifications placed in one file may or may not be overwritten by another file further down the line.
[00:00:41] If you look at these results you can see my font changes made to the blockquote were effective, but the color changes were not recognized in the blockquote, the h1 tag or the link.
Modifications done this way can cause a lot of damage to theme and may create havoc for the developer when supporting it in the future. In fact, lots of theme developers will not support modified RapidWeaver themes.
Custom CSS Box
[00:01:11] The second, more ideal approach is add custom css to RapidWeavers own CSS field. This will result in the most successful style modifications but they are not carried over from page to page, making it necessary to copy your custom css to each page in your site.
CodeCutter method
[00:01:32] So what’s the solution? Varsis Studios has come up with a way to browse your themes CSS code, modify it and save it to it’s own style sheet directly in the theme. The application is code named CodeCutter and is a RapidWeaver utility with one purpose in mind, to help you modify your themes the right way. Lets have a look.
[00:01:49] Upon opening Code Cutter you’ll notice some familiar buttons. Let’s start by selecting the theme we wish to modify.
[00:01:58] Notice how the left-hand column gathers all of the style sheets used within the theme. It does so in the order that they appear on a published site. This important for recognizing the style sheet hierarchy. You can either browse through each sheets entire contents, or by expanding the sheet you can chose each selector individually.
[00:02:17] Once you have found the selector you wish to change, simply click the “Add To CSS” button, and your selector is now copied to the lower panels. This is where your custom CSS sheet is created.
Make some changes… and those changes are reflected in the theme preview.
[00:02:39] Remember how those styles I added directly to the themes contents didn’t work? Notice that there is nothing getting in the way of them working in Code Cutter. Also notice that the changes now effect every page in your site.
Always in Sync
[00:02:59] But here is where the real power of CodeCutter comes into play. All too often users will modify a theme only to have those modifications deleted or overwritten the next time the developer updates their theme. CodeCutter is smart enough to sync your changes back up if it detects that you customizations have been lost!
[00:03:30] And here is the other beautiful thing about CodeCutter; remember I said it’s non destructive? This means that CodeCutter doesn’t modify your themes built in style sheets. This makes it easy for developers to still support their own themes. Your theme modifications can be found in a single, easy to identify, CSS file. This makes it quick and easy to rule out, or remove your modifications all together. Getting to the root of the problem is now as easy as flipping a switch.
Wrap up
[00:03:59] I hope you’re as excited about CodeCutter as I am. It has a way to go still and Varsis Studio is looking for testers to help make this app become a reality. If you are interested in getting involved please visit dev.varsisstudio.com
THEME UPDATE: Simplistic r6 Improves Movie Album Styles
Similar to yesterdays discovery of a little glitch in the RetroFilm theme, today we discovered some style issues with Varsis Studios Simplistic RapidWeaver theme. This update will add improved styling to the movie album page (for those few who use it).
You can download the update installer here.
THEME WEAVER’s TW005 has been brought over to seyDesign
By the spring of 2007, THEME WEAVER was looking for another basic RapidWeaver theme to offer the public. TW005 was billed as a simple, yet versatile theme for RapidWeaver, offering a clean, subtle backdrop that wouldn’t overshadow your creativity or your content. TW005 comes with professionally crafted “Headbands”; additional header graphics you can drop into RWmultitool Lite to create a look that’s all your own.
Formed in late 2006, THEME WEAVER of Mississauga, Ontario, is the RapidWeaver theme development wing of print studio, PUMP Communications/Presentation Plus. Guided by Adam Merrifield of seyDoggy/seyDesign fame, THEME WEAVER successfully produced 10 new themes from January 2007 to February 2008 and issued updates through to October 2008.
Today, due to time constraints on both parties, it’s been decided that THEME WEAVER themes will be distributed and supported by seyDesign. Keeping them as originally intended will be the primary goal, but in some cases, enhancements and embellishments have been made where ever the opportunity has presented itself.
Features at a glance:
- Rwwmultitool Ready
- 8 Custom headers
- Graphic enhancements (“Headbands”)
- Sidebar Positioning
- a little Color Control
Links:
Learn more about TW005 (Designer).
See the live preview
Download the update.
NEW THEME: THEME WEAVER’s TW002 from seyDesign has ExtraContent!
THEME WEAVER’s sophomore RapidWeaver theme, TW002, was initially thought to be well suited to the corporate and commercial sectors. With a little seyDesign magic, however, we think we’ve transformed this once limited theme into a versatile RapidWeaver template capable of fitting the needs of just about any industry.
Formed in late 2006, THEME WEAVER of Mississauga, Ontario, is the RapidWeaver theme development wing of print studio, PUMP Communications/Presentation Plus. Guided by Adam Merrifield of seyDoggy/seyDesign fame, THEME WEAVER successfully produced 10 new themes from January 2007 to February 2008 and issued updates through to October 2008.
Today, due to time constraints on both parties, it’s been decided that THEME WEAVER themes will be distributed and supported by seyDesign. Keeping them as originally intended will be the primary goal, but in some cases, enhancements and embellishments have been made where ever the opportunity has presented itself.
Features at a glance:
- ExtraContent
- RWmultitool ready
- split navigation
- full color options
- width control
- font size
- font family selections
NEW THEME: THEME WEAVER’s TW001 comes to the seyDesign lineup!
We are proud to bring you the first of ten themes from THEME WEAVER that will all soon be under seyDesign’s care. Originally marketed as a RapidWeaver theme for the medical sector, TW001, THEME WEAVER’s January 2007 entrance onto the RapidWeaver theme scene, was a clean and simple theme. True to it’s original form, TW001, under seyDesign’s flag, maintains a simplistic approach with a few of todays enhancements, like color options.
Formed in late 2006, THEME WEAVER of Mississauga, Ontario, is the RapidWeaver theme development wing of print studio, PUMP Communications/Presentation Plus. Guided by Adam Merrifield of seyDoggy/seyDesign fame, THEME WEAVER successfully produced 10 new themes from January 2007 to February 2008 and issued updates through to October 2008.
Today, due to time constraints on both parties, it’s been decided that THEME WEAVER themes will be distributed and supported by seyDesign. Keeping them as originally intended will be the primary goal, but in some cases, enhancements and embellishments have been made where ever the opportunity has presented itself.
Features at a glance:
- Rwwmultitool Ready
- 10 Custom headers
- Sidebar Positioning
- Comprehensive Color Control
We’ve gone and hired us some help!
It has been a long time coming. We’ve been in need of help around here for quite some time and we have finally taken that step forward. It’s one thing to have a small legion of contract contributors to the seyDesign team like Varsis Studios, Vortex, Med Designs, etc… But when it comes to actually running all the operations around here, from customer support, to press releases, site upkeep, product development and product launch… for that, there is, for the most part, only me.
But today is different. Today I am very proud to announce that Chris Cifonie of DEVi8.design and the designer behind the very popular DEViANT RapidWeaver theme is now an official, part-time employee of seyDoggy. Over time Chris will be taking on the role creative director/webmaster but for now Chris’ primary role is to create the beautiful theme styles and the gorgeous demo sites for each product.
There is no question about it, Chris has a killer design style. If there was any doubt, Chris was the guy behind the Med Design Bubblegum styles. We’ve never received as many positive comments on our theme styles as we did with Bubblegum so clearly Chris has the touch.
We are looking forward to Chris’ help in the coming months. This now frees us up to work faster, harder and move forward with newer designs and greater updates. So welcome aboard Chris.
NEW THEME: Creamux with ExtraContent
Something old and something new… When we adopted the Varsis Studio theme library, one of the themes that was coming back home was the Creamy and Creamy Wide themes. When first looking at how to bring these two greats up to speed to todays RapidWeaver 4 standards I had a number of ideas in mind; combine the two, make it more flexible, add more features. Before long though, it became apparent that this wasn’t going to be a Creamy update, it was going to be a totally new theme, a complete rebuild from the ground up… it was going to be a complete redux… it’s seyDoggy Creamux!
We proudly present to you Creamux, our latest all new theme. Creamux is ExtraContent enabled, with width options, comprehensive color control, 10 custom headers (RWmultitool ready), background and header effects and font control. This theme stands out bold and pops to life with it’s excellent design and professional styling.
seyDoggy Creamux, is another Ultimate theme for RapidWeaver packed with many features. It includes numerous snippets, the custom headers used in the demo and the RWmultitool project files used to create some of the headers (which will help you create your own).
Features at a glance:
- 2 Extracontent Areas
- Multiple Widths
- RWmultitool Ready
- Logo Control
- 10 Custom Headers
- Sidebar Positioning
- Font control
- Highly Comprehensive Color Control
- and more…
NEW THEME: seyDoggy Gotem, with ExtraContent
The Beatles once said, “I get by with a little help from my friends.” That is definitely the case with the technology behind the latest theme from seyDoggy, Gotem. Our latest RapidWeaver theme is a sophisticated, contemporary RapidWeaver theme of extraordinary beauty and capability. But it also sports a new technology called ExtraContent.
ExtraContent came about when a handful of 3rd party developers got together to address the need for more content spaces in RapidWeaver. While the content area and sidebar are ample space for the vast majority of RapidWeaver users, there are some who want more flexibility to add content in ways keeping with todays modern web designs.
ExtraContent was the solution agreed upon by these developers as an easy means of end users adding more content to their site, in developer designated areas of ExtraContent enabled themes. While these areas will vary from theme to theme, the process will be very much the same. These developers worked closely to come up with a solution that would give all users a common experience.
I want to give a special thanks to Guiseppe from (((Bonsai Studios))) and Gary from RWT for sharing a common vision with me. You can look for new ExtraContent enabled themes from them VERY soon.
Features at a glance:
- ExtraContent enabled
- Two ExtraContent areas
- 10 Custom headers
- RWmultitool Ready
- Split navigation
- Width control
- Header height control
- 3 background textures
- Dual sidebar control
- Choice of font style
- Color control
- and more…
NEW THEME: Neato from Varsis Studio
Neato Designer, from Varsis Studio, is a simple but elegant RapidWeaver theme that is lightweight and easy to use. First offered from Varsis Studio, seyDesign has taken the original Neato theme and expanded and improved upon it. Complete cleaned up, overhauled and tuned in, Neato is ready and stable for your most demanding challenges.
Features at a glance:
- 10 Custom headers
- RWmultitool Ready
- 6 background textures
- Sidebar position
- Choice of font style
- Color control
- and more…
NEW THEME: Varsis Studio Simplistic r2
Simplistic Pro, another Varsis Studio creation is a clean and simple RapidWeaver theme that is surprisingly flexible. Now under seyDoggy management, Simplistic Pro has been scrubbed clean and reworked from this inside out with more function, feature and flexibility.
Features at a glance:
- width variations
- background effects
- custom headers (RWmultitool Ready)
- tab spacing
- tab transparency
- title position
- sidebar position
- font control
- full color control
