Get me started, please...with apologies

Get me started, please...with apologies

by Mark McNulty -
Number of replies: 9

Apologies for posting such a dummy question on a forum packed with so much fantastic material, but...

I'm a Moodle newbie and have been inspired by all these tips about editing styles.php and header.html etc in order to set-up a custom theme for a Moddle site for a secondary school where I teach in the UK.

But how do I actually access these files? Do I need to have access to the server that hosts my site? Or can do this from home (when logged onto our  Moodle site as a superuser or an admin)? (I would want to (carefully!) mess about with the CSS stuff in Dreamweaver.)

Sorry again for being such a dummy, but cannot find tips in user doc on Moddle.org (or elsewhere surfing this forum). People mention editing these files, or downloading/uploading themes but I'm not clear how I get started.

Any tips anyone can spare the time to offer greatly appreciated!

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In reply to Mark McNulty

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by Tom Murdock -
Hi Mark,

You'll need access to the actual files in the folder. You can either set up a FTP system where you get the files, change them, and then put them back onto the server; or you can go into the files from the command line using a tool like "ssh".

I'd recommend making a duplicate copy of the theme folder that you want to tinker with, renaming it, and then having fun.

Have no fear. Messing around like this is called Moodling...

-Tom
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In reply to Tom Murdock

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by Mark McNulty -

Hi, Tom...

Many thanks for such a speedy reply...and doh - I guess I should have realised that it's goold old FTP! I suppose I was thinking the process might be wrapped-up in some Moddle magic.

I'll contact our server guys to get FTP access and then will have a root around to see what the directory structure is and how to upload themes.

Thanks for the duplicate advice and the Moodling encouragement!

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In reply to Mark McNulty

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by Chardelle Busch -
Picture of Core developers

Hi Mark,

Themes are the easiest and most fun thing to mess around with.  Here's the best way:

Once you get Dreamweaver connected, download the cordory blue theme that comes standard with Moodle--it includes all of the pix files also so you can change icons too.  You might want to re-name the folder to your own theme name. 

Then, you can change the gradient jpg to see what that does, also add your own logo to the header.html file.  Then open the styles.php file and make some changes there.  You can do a search and replace with colors, etc. 

Then, reupload the files you changed, or the entire folder if you re-named it.  You don't need to worry about file structure if you download it through Dreamweaver, when you upload it, it will go to the right place.  Then, login as admin, and under Admin > Themes choose your new theme folder.  It's that easy.  Then just make some changes, upload the file, then see what happenssmile.

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In reply to Chardelle Busch

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by Mark McNulty -

Hi, Chardelle...

Thanks very much for all the tips - I'll get busy!

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In reply to Mark McNulty

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by Dale Jones -
Hi Mark;
If you want to just fiddle with CSS and not do any lasting changes/damage, a good way of doing it is to use firefox 1.0 and install the WebDeveloper extension.  It lets you alter stylesheets on the fly in a sidebar and you can see the results instantly in the page.  It's really useful for finding out quickly what all the various parts ofa stylesheet do.  Works for me.


HTH.
Dale Jones
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In reply to Dale Jones

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by Mark McNulty -

Thanks, Dale...not given Firefox a test flight yet but it sounds like I ought to try with the WD extension. Appreciate the tip.

Mark

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In reply to Mark McNulty

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by mandy honeyman -
Hi Mark,

I'd also like to recommend Bradbury's TopStyle Lite (free, but sorry can't find download link right now) for messing about with CSS. Some very nice features like a colour picker, display box and good highlighting of syntax errors.

But also my advice would be to keep it very simple for now because the next version (1.5? or is it 2.0?) of moodle is going to be really css/xhtml friendly.

On www.lvc.org/courses (UK sec. school)  (email me if you want to look round into courses for user/pwd), I pretty much only altered css to change the look.

cheers
mandy

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In reply to mandy honeyman

Re: Get me started, please...with apologies

by Mark McNulty -

Hi, Mandy...

Many thanks for your reply...really useful tips (I'll get searching for the download) and I'll bear in mind what you say about next version.

Checked our your site and think it's terrific: that clean, uncluttered look is just what we want to acheive. Also like the way you've combining currciulum and whole-school stuff. We'd really like to make Moodle work as our school website, as well as for e-learning for different departments.

Will email you for log-in etc.

Thanks again,

Mark

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