Archived CMSimple Support Forum

YAML Framework for CMSimple, v. 2.5.2
updated: 05/31/07



Download of the package

Download Page

Demo of the example layout

YAML for CMSimple forum

YAML for CMSimple requires CMSimple v.2.8 and up !!!!!! It will not work with earlier versions !!!
It is strongly suggested, that you set "menu_sdoc" in CMSimple configuration on "parent"!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

I present here the YAML Framework for CMSimple. What is YAML?
YAML (Yet Another Multicolumn Layout) is a kind of construction kit for table-less CSS website layouts. It is packed up with CSS files which you plug together to receive different basic layouts. Usually it has too much code included. But when you know what you need and what you don't need, you throw out the unnecessary stuff. Usually a webdesigner assembles a layout by sticking the required parts together. Here, you - more or less - do it differently. You throw out the parts you don't need.
That means this package is not really a ready to go template. It is a start up kit for own designs. Of course, you can use the example template as it is. But very soon you will be bored looking at it.

Cross-browser compatibility
The importance of YAML is not only its flexibility but also the high cross-browser compatibility and its platform independence. YAML is being kept compatible to the following current browsers:

Windows
* Internet Explorer 5.01
* Internet Explorer 5.5
* Internet Explorer 6.0
* Internet Explorer 7.0

Macintosh OS
* Safari 1.0.3+
* Camino 0.6+

Linux
* Konqueror 3.3+
* Galeon 1.3+
* Epiphany 1.4.8+
* Lynx (Textbrowser)

Platform independent
* Firefox 1.0+
* Mozilla Suite 1.7.1+
* SeaMonkey 1.0+
* Netscape 8.0+
* Opera 6+

I cannot write more about its useability, here. If you want to know more, please, visit the YAML website. I am very sorry, that this site is for the moment just in German. There are also books around now. But I have not seen any publication in a more international language than just German. Nonetheless, there will be out an English version of the YAML website pretty soon. You will be informed about it. In the meantime you can visit some websites which use YAML. They may encourage you to read through the code which comes with the download package.

Some YAML Design examples:
http://www.wwh-bremen.de/index.php/page_id/57/language/de/
http://gymnasium-blomberg.de/
http://die.netzspielwiese.de/

YAML exists already for a number of CMS systems:
YAML for Drupal
YAML for ExpressionEngine
YAML for Joomla
Standardtemplate of Papoo CMS
dr-yaml Template for Papaya CMS
pnThemeYAML for Postnuke
YAML-Template for Serendipity
YAML for TYPO3
YAML for Wordpress
YAML for ZMS
YAML for xt-Commerce

Now, we have YAML for CMSimple!

How does YAML work in CMSimple?

As you know a normal CMSimple template consists of two files (template.htm, stylesheet.css) and two subfolders (images, menu). YAML for CMSimple uses also the files template.htm and stylesheet.css. The template is an example you can start from. The stylesheet file (stylesheet.css) is used to import the required CSS files. You can also use it to add CMSimple specific styling (as I did for the example file). To see how flexible already the basic layout is, just out-comment the line "@import url(navigation/nav_slidingdoorII.css);" in the stylesheet.css file and un-comment the line "/*@import url(navigation/nav_shinybuttons.css);*/" -- and, wow, you have already a different horizontal navigation layout (see image at the bottom!!!). Continue by renaming the "layout_2col_left_vlines.css" file as "stylesheet.css". And wow, look at that!! The three column layout changed to a two column layout (see image at the bottom!!!). You understand now, that by using the different stylesheet files, which start with "layout_" in their name, as stylesheet.css file you generate different layouts. Some work straight out of the box, some require work to function. Some have fixed widths others are flexible, some have a three column others a two column design.

By playing around that way, you should be able to understand YAML's possibilities - even if you don't understand any German explanations on the websites or in the books.

If you start your own project with YAML for CMSimple keep in mind to change only those CSS files which do not suggest (at the top of the file) to keep it unchanged!!!. First, it will be easier for you to update later; second, you can be pretty sure to keep YAML's browser compatibility and its platform independence.

One word at the end (just for people who are interested):
Recoded TOC function required for YAML for CMSimple

Probably the heart of this YAML version is the recoded toc() function (menu function). Of course, I could have used the existing class selectors of the current toc() version to develop the example layout as shown here. But then the framework wouldn't be the framework anymore as it was designed. Because the whole navigation layout would have been changed and wouldn't have the cross browser compatibility which it is known for. So I assumed, the better way were to add the required selectors to the toc() function. The toc() function itself is included via template.htm (it is the yaml_toc.php file, source: CMSimple v.2.8.). And there are now two toc() functions - xtoc() for the horizontal and ytoc() for the vertical navigation - since vertical and horizontal navigation use different CSS selectors (keep in mind, that YAML was not made for CMS systems but for normal website CSS layouts).






If you find any errors, mistakes or bugs, or if you have suggestions, please, report them here.

Till
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Till,

this is great! Thank you for these efforts!

I experimented with YAML some time ago, did one page layout for one static website, but was not souvereign enough to throw out CSS which I did not need...

now I read your encouragement for a different approach and I think I will give it a try!

Interesting times are coming ;=)

Bravo!

Till,

thank you for this good news. My first basic installation (with an old content file - no plugins) works fine.

As Connie said, interesting times are coming for new template layouts.

Thanks, folks,

for the kind words. I hope YAML will be of use for some cmsimple people. First, I was a bit skeptic, because there is such a big overhang of CSS code. But when I realized the potential YAML can have if it is used carefully, I was convinced to do some work on it.

To port YAML to CMSimple was not such a big deal - actually, it was easy. The problem was the cmsimple menu with the class "sdocs". YAML points strictly at a specific button (hiding sub-buttons) using a <span>button</span> or a <div id="active">button</div>, while .sdocs in cmsimple points at the button plus its sub-list covering the sub-buttons. Of course, you can solve this problem using CSS. But then I had to rewrite the CSS for the YAML navigation including all the hacks and solutions which make the navigation cross-browser compatible. So it was easier to hack the toc() .

Till

hi
This looks good to make your own templates. i just wonder if will it be possible to change the ytoc() to inslude the horrisontal drop down menu, like the one you have made earlier

Hi Hep,

the xtoc() in the yaml_toc.php is responsible for the horizontal menu, the ytoc() for the vertical one (like in Math ). Yes, I thought already about it to put all the classes back, which I threw out. However, horizontal dropdown menus are not thought for the YAML framework, since they are not that browser compatible, I believe.

It will take some time, though, until I will have changed the toc again.

Till

Hi Till

He he, i see

I have just notest that you have made some excelent horisontal dropdown menu earlier, that maby could bee incluted.
I could not see if YAML original have some dropdown menu in the framework. Anyway you are proberbly right, dropdown menues are not yet that browser compatible.

Hi,

just to inform interested people:

1.
There is a new YAML forum - YAML for CMSimple. The language will be english! All discussions should be held and all questions about YAML should be asked over there. However, about any important YAML changes I will inform people using the CMSimple forum.

2.
I have been informed by Dirk Jesse, developer of YAML Framwork, that there will be out an update of YAML Framework in one or two months. YAML for CMSimple will then be updated as well.

3.
Shortly after the new YAML release there will be published an English version of the German YAML handbook. When it is out, I will inform you here.

Till

Thanks for all this excellent work, Till!!

Hallo Till,
wie kann man erreichen dass die Links im yaml-template in einem neuen Fenster aufgerufen werden und nicht die aktuelle Seite ersetzen?

Das hat nichts mit dem Template zu tun an sich. Lösungen dafür gibt es einige hier im Forum.

Hallo,

habe im yaml-cmsimple forum die Lösung von Dirk Jesse bekommen:

Per HTML mit dem Attribut target="_blank" innerhalb des Links.

Das geht bei CMSimple nicht...

zrako02 wasn't very clear when he asked his question - neither in the YAML Forum nor in this forum.

Menu links (toc() links) cannot be changed that easily. However, text links are easy to manipulate. You just use - for example - OEDIT in HTML modus and enter an addition like "_blank".

This is - more or less - what zrako02 seemed to ask in the YAML Forum - and the answer he got........ and he seemed to be satisfied with this answer so far ....

Till
ll