Skin Development Tools

If you want to create your own templates...

Creating your own custom skins or themes takes some skill. You'll want to be very proficient in HTML and CSS, know how to install and uninstall software on your system, and be able to read manuals and instructions (that's always the hardest part.)

If you want to develop your own skin, you'll want to have the tools listed below:

Firefox and Firefox extensions

FireFox: This is the web browser you'll use to do your initial development and debugging. There are a few extensions for FireFox that you might consider essential for development.

Web Developer Toolbar: Includes wonderful magic such as the ability to outline blocks of your layout and edit CSS stylesheets on the fly.

Firebug: Firefox extension that allows you to edit the HTML & css live while browsing a page, execute javascript on the fly, and other useful features.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer

The web browser that's build-in to Microsoft Windows. You'll want to check your work here, as IE does some things that don't follow published specifications. Although there's a version of IE that used to come with Apple's OS X, it has not been shipping for a few years. you'll want to have a version running on Windows XP to cover the vast majority of clients crusing your web site.

Apple's Safari

Although a small percentage of your clientel use Apple's OS X and Safari, they are often also members of the artistic or technical elite. You'll want to check your work in this browser as well.

Plone

You'll want to install a local copy of Plone 2.5.3. It runs on Windows, Linux, OS X, etc.

You'll want to get the Universal Installer for your OS here: http://plone.org/products/plone

DIYPloneStyle

This is a tool/Product that'll jump-start your skin/theme development. Once you create a DIYPloneStyle base skin, you can start editing CSS and templates to create your own custom theme. The URL for DIYPloneStyle is:

http://plone.org/products/diyplonestyle

Once you have Plone and DIYPloneStyle installed, you'll want to go through the tutorials here:

http://plone.org/documentation/tutorial/creating-plone-themes

http://plone.org/documentation/tutorial/creating-custom-style

Not necessary, but useful

Tab Saver or Tab Browser Preferences (FireFox extension): Tabs are a feature of FireFox that -if you don't use already- you'll never live without. One of these tools can make them even better.

X-Ray (FireFox extension): An extension that quickly reveals page markup.

Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver is the professional tool for web page development. Okay, GoLive is reasonable, and there are a handful of other reasonable tools if you know how to find them. You can get Dreamweaver at the educational discount on campus from IT's iTechXpress on-line store or in one of the brisks-and-mortar outlets in MITC or the new one that will soon be located in the HSC campus.

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