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Base Template to Start With - New Framework

zentoolsIf you use Zentools please post a review at the Joomla! Extensions Directory.

Hi, we're about to begin creating a new project. We were going to hold out for Joomla 3.0 for this (we like the Bootstrap inclusion), but we need to get started right away and it looks like some items are not quite ready for that yet.

So for starting the new site, though, we would at least want to use the newest version of the framework (2.4?). I read a post that said all existing templates were going to be updated very soon to this, but don't know how to check.

I think we would prefer to start with one of your Zen Building Blocks templates so the code is as light and clean as possible. We may go with Blanko, but Full Screen is actually close to the design we're shooting for. So just a couple questions:

- Is Blanko and/or Full Screen updated for the latest framework? If not, would it be best to hold off a few days before starting until this happens (or will it be longer than a few days)?

- We will be using full-screen background images in our design as in Full Screen. But we do not want the sidebar navigation. Is it simple enough to get a more traditional horizontal header navigation working by assigning the menu to a different module position? Would it still utilize the fully responsive functionality that is seen in Blanko or Koan? Or would it be simpler to start with one of those and add the background image functionality?

Thanks. This will be our first project using a JB template as a starting point, so we wanted to make sure we're learning the latest/greatest.

Kenny
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ZenGridFramework 2.4 is not yet ready so neither are the templates based on ZGF.

You can always check our changelog pages to see the versions of our templates and extensions

docs.joomlabamboo.com/joomla-templates/changelog/
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Hmmm, OK. Thanks for the clarification. I had read the blog post about Ecospirit template (blog post). It seemed to indicate that that template was built on v.2.4 and that the others, except for Shop and Ignition, were going to be updated that day or the next.

Did I read this wrong, or was there a setback?!?

Just wondering how best to proceed. We would want to use the latest framework, but wouldn't want to have any issues upgrading midway through development. Is it still a ways off??

Thank you.
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You know what? You are actually right! I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote my previous reply :blush: :blush: Please accept my apology!

Well, as written in that blog post, ZGF 2.4 is released (:blush: again) but only latest template is built on top of it.

If you want to build web site based on ZGF 2.4 you can do it with latest template or you will have to wait until other templates are also upgraded to ZGF 2.4. This really depends on the urgency of your project, I would say
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OK, that's good to know. I'm assuming the comment about updating all of the other templates that day or the next may have been a bit 'wishful thinking'?!?

We do need to get going pretty quickly. But if upgrading the framework and template after modifications have begun is a drag, and it's only a few days delay, we would probably be better served to wait.

If it's going to be weeks/months realistically (just for one of the Zen Building Blocks templates, which I was under the impression might be tackled first) then I suppose we'll have to move forward and deal with the upgrade situation when it hits.

And do you have any thoughts on my second question about which template might be better to start with?

Thanks!
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Hi there,

We will have the updates for Building blocks this week or early next. The updates to the existing 2.2 versions will be reasonably low fuss so I would definitely start working on the existing theme and then update when v2.4 becoems available.
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Great! Thank you for the update. We'll stat installing and setting things up. Hopefully by the time we get to tweaking template the newer versions will be up.

I suppose I'll install both Full Screen and Blanko/Koan and try to see if it's easier to get the menu positions working in Full Screen as in the others, or the background slideshow in Blanko/Koan as in Full Screen.
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Hi, I'm just checking to see if the updates to the Zen Building Blocks templates are done or if it's still going to be some time?

We have been focusing on just adding content for now, but about time to work on styling the template. As changes may be fairly extensive (we'll see), I think it might be easier not to upgrade the framework and the template shortly after starting.

If it's still a ways off, what is the procedure for updating the framework and templates? Does it just use the built-in Joomla Update functionality, or is it more involved than that?

Thanks!
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Hi there,

Anthony posted on the blog today about a delay to laucnging v2.4: www.joomlabamboo.com/blog/template-news/for-those-who-like-to-collect-the-collector-joomla-template

As Anthony already mentioned, you can already start developing on the current version as the upgrade should be painless. Yes, you can just upload the newer version via the joomla installer. If you create a file in the templates user folder, called custom.css, and make your changes in that file it wont be wiped out when you upgrade. If you modify an existing file it gets replaced on upgrade.
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