Hello,

I just uploaded Zen Tools 2 for a new responsive site and tried to make a zen tools module like the one on another site for which I had used an earlier version of Zen tools.

I am trying to make a grid. Can you please refer me to a tutorial so that I can learn the new version..

I had not luck just tinkering around in it.

Thank you.
Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth,

Here is a documentation page about the Zentools 2 grid layout - I hope it helps you!

http://zentools2.joomlabamboo.com/zentools-layout-styles/grid

thanks Paul

Elizabeth if you still having problems - perhaps point us to a demo example you want to replicate on either a template page or zentools2

Cheers
Paul

oasiswebdevelopment.com/staple/

Dear Joomla Bamboo. HELP!

I know you are trying to be helpful but the link that you directed me to only has descriptions of the various possibilities of each type of layout. It does not provide a step by step procedure for creating each possibility such as would a Lynda.com video. I find it incredibly frustrating that this is never done. I have been a faithful member of this club for quite a while yet I think that the creators of the Zen2 extension (and other products) really need to fully explain how to achieve the desired end result with examples and a step by step procedure addressing each parameter in each tab. I have worked on this for hours.. I have only achieved a title of the module on the home page (which I did not want) I am really thinking of ditching this version of zen tools and going back to the old one..
(is that possible?)

Below I have spelled out each step that I have taken with five articles (and images) and listed all of the parameters for each tab that I executed in order to such an undesirable result using a ZenTools 2 module. I have attached an image of what I want and what I did not get using the Zen2 grid layout for Joomla using Categories.. Since I am such a good client can someone please go through this and kindly let me know where I went wrong. Thank you for your time. Elizabeth.

I would like to make a grid layout with five columns. (see attachment)

So I made an article for each of the five. Put a little text in the content tab window.

Under the images and links tab, I chose the uploaded logo for both inter image and full article image.

I gave the Article (Paslode) a Category of Logos_Row 1.

I made similar articles for each logo.

Then in my new Zentools2 module I chose under the

MODULE TAB
Position Banner

MENU ASSIGNMENT TAB:
Home Page

OPTIONS TAB:
Grid Layout
I tried Joomla categories (no go) Joomla (no go)
I added 4 columns to make it five columns
However when I dragged the items into the columns the image and title items would only go into the first column. There were no more image or text items for the remainder of the columns

IMAGE SETTINGS
Activate items below to show elements t specified screen resolution
I left phone tablet desktop and widescreen blue
Under Link Type: No link
I left Make image fill the width of the container checked and left resize imps check
Crop width 220 Crop height 108 (the actual size of the images
Crop type: I left smart resize and crop blue
I did not check Add image dimension
I left image shape to square
I left use placeholder for mission images unchecked
Image Style: shadow
Hove effect: None
Align: centre

TITLE SETTINGS: left the defaults.

MODULE LAYOUT SETTINGS:
Maximum number of columns: 5

I chose Boxed and left everything else unchecked

CONTENT TAB:
Count: 5
Select a category: Logos_Row1
Limit per category: 5
I left everything else at the default

THEME TAB:
CSS Handling: Master
Everything else: default

oasiswebdevelopment.com/staple/

Hi Elizabeth,

Before we get started I would suggest using a quickstart as a learning tool - for me personally and everybody is different that is the way I learned how to use zentools

Quickstart packages like Corporate have lots of Zentoolsv2 examples

Also are you using the latest version of the module?

JB_pkg_mod_zentools2_3+_2.2.3.zip is the latest version

Cheers
Paul

If unsure of the version number

www.joomlabamboo.com/blog/how-to-joomla/how-to-find-a-version-number-of-an-extension-plugin-or-template

Cheers
Paul

This is what I'm creating

Image added here - article has intro text but the module is only using title of article

Joomla content source and these elements added to drag and drop - no columns needed

It is set to link to content

Other settings for images

With the image size if you notice with the website front end pic the images aren't actually the sizes selected - this is because there isn't the room so the module resizes to a size that fits the available with

This is for the title content

For this module the title is set a p tag but it could be any of the heading tags - h1, h2, h3 etc

The 1000 characters is where the cut off point is for the title anything after this limit is removed - you may need to adjust this



Title is linked to content

Module layout - below the drag and drop section and in this example the title

Note the number of columns = 5

The content tab - I've set the module to display only five items in the count

I've selected from 2 categories in this case - so its loading 5 articles from these two categories

That should give you a 5 column grid - it won't be exactly match your layout but I didn't want to throw 10+ screenshots at you

What I would suggest is getting the module displaying the right content and then experiment with image and module layout settings

You may want to duplicate modules in module manager leaving one intact example and see how the different effects work

If you are still confused with anything please get back to me - it will be my tomorrow as its 2am here now

Cheers
Paul

wow, thanks paulus. will give this a go on my way to Florida today.
Question: I have an active Joomla installation in a folder on my site with the non-quickstart template installed. Can I just install the quickstart version of the template and than choose that as the default..
But I will not do that this time.
thanks so much will let you know how it goes

Hi Elizabeth,

A quickstart can't be installed to an existing joomla installation I'm afraid

Cheers
Paul

I would look to set up a localhost if you can

www.apachefriends.org/download.html

5.5.30 / PHP 5.5.30 would be my choice to ensure maximum compatibility

It's an exe file so it should be the easiest to install - I installed it to my laptop to check - go with the default xampp folder name / location

Once extracted and installed - right click on the xampp-control.exe and run as an administrator

Start Apache and msql - they both should enable and start

Then extract quickstarts to folders in the htdocs folder

and load them in the browser - using localhost/foldername

Cheers
Paul