Step 1 – Upload
Ok, firstly you need to unzip the file you have downloaded.
It should extract into the following file archive (roughly)

• ./templates
• ./templates/templatename
• ./templates/templatename/templatename.template.php
• ./templates/templatename/snippetname.snippet.php
• ./templates/templatename/chunkname.chunk.php

This will all need to be uploaded (keeping the directory structure in tact) to the root of your Etomite install.
So, to repeat, you need to upload the folder templatename into your templates folder within your webspace.

Step 2 – Install Snippets, Chunks & Templates
If you have a look within your templatename folder that you’ve just uploaded, there is a snippets file.
Any unique snippets that are needed (and not shipped with a full Etomite install), will be located there, each with their own file.
Open your first snippet file. Copy the text.
Open the Etomite manager. Click Manage Resources, then click the snippets tab.
Paste in the text you copied before into the big text area.
Switch back to your folder that you opened the snippet from before. Take a look at the file name. It will be in the format snippetname.snippet.php (it IS case-sensitive). Copy the bit that says snippetname into the first text area above where you copied the snippet into before.

Do the same for the templates (but use the template tab instead); if you want to use it as your new default template, don’t create a new template – edit the Default one that’s already installed by copying and pasting the templatename.template.php file in there.

Do the same for the chunks (but use the chunk tab instead).

You should be all set to go now

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A site like this one would be a good place to start to get the feel of how to use a template before experimenting with a more complex css templates like the ones found here.   Swapping around your look & feel gets easier once you get used to how CSS and xhtml are laid out. You’ll soon find that most of the templates start to look alike other than color choices, graphic style and flavor (size of object/text/etc…).

 The template resources are virtually endless. This google search  produced over 500,000 pages of free css templates sites.  Like anything else, just because it’s free doesn’t mean it is good or ‘what you should use’.  So if you have any choice dilema’s while browsing templates, remember to try to pick simple to start with until you get used to the designers layout style. 

If you have a good design, but need to spruce it up a little, there are a lot of resources on the web for creating cutting edge menu navigation,  editing/creating graphics, and a mind boggling 16 milion sites waiting to give you ideas for gadgets & widgets to add to your site. 

There is no crime in asking for advice either… There is a seemingly endless line of patient people waiting to help you. Just a word of advice, try to examine the work of the person you’re about to ask advice of – they may not share your same goals, taste or style.  If you’re not sure how to view their work – ask them.  They will usually have several samples they will be proud to show you.  If they don’t – move on to another web design advice forum.

There are some complete solutions out there – just in case you are at your wits end – and just want to be free to focus on the content.  Don’t forget blogs (in the rare case you’re delima can be solved with one of these type of solutions). Likewise, there is usually some really good design support for some of the bigger solutions like Joomla or WordPress.

Reference used for this post:

http://www.splashup.com/

http://www.joomla.org/

http://wordpress.org/

http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en

http://www.alistapart.com/

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There are many sites on the net which have some great free templates. The only request from many of them is to keep a link to them some place on your site. All you need to do is read their license agreement that comes with the template. Here are my top ten sites that I visit to admire their work. I apologize if I left anyone out, as there are many great sites on the net for free templates.

1. Free Web Site Templates has not updated in over a year, but still carry some of the nicest free templates. To me, many of the templates are unique with their design, varying in shapes and sizes. They are very easy to modify.
2. CSS Crème has some of the classiest templates I have found on the net. They may be a little harder to modify, but they are beautiful templates. If you are looking for an online store template, they have some beauties.
3. If you like music templates, my friend Wolfram from Germany has some awesome looking templates. He is very talented with not only templates, but graphics too!
4. I just love Styleshout’s designs. They are sleek and good looking. Very easy to modify. I just love the choice of colors for these templates.
5. Denise Mitchinson has close to 100 free designs on her site. The all have such an organized look to them, and very professional looking.
6. Not many here, but Eatlon’s designs are some of the best on the net. One word, Gorgeous.
7. Nuvio’s templates are great. You can choose a template, and pick the color of your choice for that template.
8. TemplateMo is one of my favorites. Some of the newer templates just blow me away.
9. I can’t make a list like this without mentioning my friend Roshan, at Rambling Soul. I am speechless when I look at his work.
10. Some of the best looking free templates are located at Template World. Some did not render well for me in Firefox when the text was enlarged, but incredible looking templates.

If you are in a hurry, I found a great site that allows you to edit their template online, then renders the finished template to you once completed. The name of the site is called Do Template. It is a unique way to create a template…..fast.

All the sites listed are great places to not only get templates, but a great way to learn about creating your own templates. I just dissect them to pieces when I download them, and try to figure out what they did to create their beautiful work.

One great thing about Attackr.com, is you can comment. I’d love to see some of your favorite free template sites.

Submitted by Len Saunders

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