The Designers Resource ... Themes -N- Things - Papa Mike Creations

About My Theming Utility

My theming utility PMC Customizable Theme (PMCCT) is currently in beta 3 testing and I'm looking toward a release date but, I will not release it until it is complete. Coded in PHP with CSS support, PMCCT totally and completely changes the way a theme is designed. There is not one thing in it that resembles a Nuke theme package.Thus far I have it controlling 95% of a RavenNuke(tm) theme and designers have the capability of adding plugins/addons as I did with the buttons. I have also integrated the forums design so that it will match the rest of the theme. There is no way that I could list all of the things that PMCCT controls in this short space but, I can list some of the main areas. They are:

- In-depth tutorial plus support through my forums http://www.papamikecreations.net
- Anyone can design their own theme
- Complete control over designing the way you want your header to look
- Full support for 'graphic heavy' themes around the tables, news surrounds, etc...
- Footer design automatically looks the same as the 'tables' design
- Forum takes on the look and feel of the theme
- Complete control over the position of nuke buttons to include the size, position, etc...
- Change the position of the blocks just by turning the values on or off
-- have the standard left/right look
-- have blocks only on one side, turn the other side off
-- have both blocks on the right
-- have both blocks on the left
- Name the theme in one quick step it will carry throughout the theme and forum
- Set colors, backgrounds, images, positions without knowing any programming language
- And lots, lots more...

General Information:
Of course people out there who have mastered the art of theme design really have no use for PMCCT but it will be a excellent resource to those who don't possess that ability yet. I recommend that users download the full package, go through the tutorial and become familiar with the configuration files before starting to create your first theme. But then there will also be people who can open the configuration files and create a theme just by following the information I have added to each variable. All the user needs is an ability to create their own graphics or if they want they can visit my forums and get help there. I explain, in detail, how the graphics should be designed in the tutorial. Due to my past experience with forums there is always someone who enjoys acting out by adding spam and/or porn to the forums so I will have to limit access to members only.

What's The Dream:
It is my hope that by designing PMCCT RavenNuke(tm) users will learn how to design their own themes (instead of being constantly on the search for new themes to use on their site) that it will help renew their support of RN. I have a variety of PMCCT themes on my site in the download area that you can download and look at but, the code in them is from previous alpha testing. The themes work but I wouldn't recommend that anyone attempt to create a theme off of their code. You should wait for this release it's totally different.

The Tutorial:
The biggest thing that has hindered the release of PMCCT is designing the tutorial. To make sure that it is something people will want to read and follow easily, it must be interactive, fun and informative. But, as soon as the tutorial is completed I will release it. I will provide access to the tutorial for those that do not want to download it.

What's Yet To Come:
I wish that everyone who runs a RN website could have a successful forum with lots of members but this is usually not the case. In fact as long as I have been on the Internet (since 1995) I have had only one successful forum and that was when I taught web design, programming etc... and I'm not ashamed to say that I didn't run the forums. Someone else did. I said all of that in order to say this, I haven't as of yet placed a whole lot of emphasis on the forums. So this is one thing I will be working on steadily even after I release this version.

Addons/Plugins:
I will be designing addons that will give PMCCT users more freedom of choice over the features they want to use in the header, footer and other areas. Users will be able to select the 'plugin' they want to turn on and use with their theme. Because PMCCT is a theme itself this initial version will only be available for release once as a full package. As changes, addons, plugins, and etc, are released they will be available for download and users can then just drop them into their theme package and they will work. For new users, a full release with all changes will be available for download each time anything new is released.

For Designers:
I ask that you submit any/all suggestions and/or actual changes to this release to me so that I can document it. Also, please perform thorough testing on anything that is submitted. I will test them too and let you know of any problems I encounter that may conflict with a change I am in the process of releasing.

Release and Copyright:
PMCCT is being released under the GNU - GPL "General Public License" and a copy is placed in the full package release. Full copyright information appears at the top of each page giving credit where credit is due. Any/all future releases or "supporting" code will be listed in the support area where each person who has supported PMCCT in any way will be recognized by name(pseudo), area supported, and date.