I am just getting started with the program. I played with the trial version but didn't get serious. I need to place images in the menu for the actual buttons. It would be OK if I had to just use them as backgrounds but the size if the area where the button background seems to be set and cannot be changed. I tried every option I could find but still no real solution.

I am not new to web programming so I can do this easily with raw html code but can't seem to get the right option or place to accomplish this within the program.

If the entire menu set can be set to transparent and the images sized correctly and then the text appear over them that might work too.

Can there be a replacement code set added or substituted. Or can I do it in the Cart Creator?

Please help!!!

Chuck

Hi Chuck, the Cart Creator is just for content so any design changes need to be made in the Designer program. I'll fire it up and have a look see.

There are some blank templates provided that you can style but it looks like you need to at least use one of the templates provided as a base.

I know Janys has changed quite a few things so she may be able to help.

You can set a single background image for the menu and menu items but it doesn't appear the program permits individual images for each item. You may, however, use a separate icon for each menu item.

Is there a CoffeeCup program that I can get that will allow me to actually create a theme. I have the HTML Editor and I see a lot of themes available but haven't found any that are arranged as I would like. What program or what is the secret to saving a page layout set as a theme.

If I have to, I will build the site, as I normally do and just replicate the basic page structure. I was hoping that I had found a program that would let me do it a little easier.

If there is a good option I really need to know soon.

Thanks again

Chuck

Have a look in your theme folder and you will see that each theme has its own folder with html files for the index, about us and contact pages as well as folders for images and CSS and JS.

You can make your own themes with the same information and put them in their own folder in the themes folder and then you can use it as a theme like the others.

You could use any of the free templates out there or make your own or purchase one that appeals.

It would be possible to make one in VSD and then transfer it the HTML Editor. Just remember though that once you start editing it via the Editor you can't go back to VSD.

What I do is select one of the HTML themes ...and I have heaps to choose from... that basically has things about where I want them and then change all sorts of things to suit my needs and then save that as a theme. They are a great launch pad to get you started and can end up looking totally different, but at least gives you the framework to work with without starting from scratch.

well I'm confused here lol, which program is it you're trying to work with? I was assuming you were trying to make the menu buttons for the Shopping Cart Creator within the Shopping Cart Designer Pro program? If this is what you're doing, then working with the HTML Editor won't help you for changing any of the design elements of the Shopping Cart Creator Themes. So you do need to make the changes within the Designer Pro program, and as already stated, you can't use separate images for each button.

You can however use different images for mouse over and selected to give it a nice visual setup. The size of the area can be changed within the SCD Pro program, takes a bit of time to work it all into place but it's definitely doable.

I would also suggest you build your theme for your shop before your external pages if you're planning to create pages outside of the SCC program. It's much easier to build site pages in HTML etc. to match your shop than it is to go the other way around. There are more themes for the SCC available in the CC store too which you may want to look at. Keep in mind that you can pretty much change all the images to be what you want once you have the basic look.

Good luck with it however you decide to go

I think I might be the one confused LOL. I saw Chuck mention he had the HTML Editor and wanted to make themes and didn't notice which forum I was in.

So yes Jo Ann is correct. If it is themes for the shopping cart you want then the shopping cart designer program is what you want and how you can change the various design elements of the theme.

I concur.

I did mess around in the HTML editor with the code created just using the cart creator, but I have to say that the real problem lies in the fact that you would then have to manually upload those modified files every time you add something to your store and upload, otherwise everything just slips back to the default template details.

This was what then convinced me to purchase the actual designer pro application which still allows a fair amount of leverage on design, but not total control. I thought that would frustrate me as I do like to style for myself, but on reflection I felt that it was still possible to get the look and feel of my original site in the cart design options without the hassle of having to remember to upload just a few files separately every time. IMHO, the balance between the two is still satisfactory even for someone used to doing their own hand coding I think.

Certainly you can use images for the button backgrounds, but if you need to change the size of them I assume that would in some way create problems across the layout for the other elements jostling for space. At which point it would no longer be just the size of the menu buttons that would need changing.
Personally I would try to avoid that for the reasons I mentioned previously.

Can't remember if I found somewhere in the cart creator or the designer that there is the possibility to change the width percentages of the vertical menu and central content area. Anyone else recall that?