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Hello!


I need help converting from Dragonfly CMS to Joomla!, I am doing this because Joomla! is FAR more customizable than DF, and I am not required to mess around in the .php's (or template files) whenever I want to make a modification or two!

But the template I have been using with DF is rather ugly, and the menu? Huh, it used to be one heck of a code with MM_swapImage on every menu button; I have changed it to .css, but it's still quite heavy...

So I posted this post at JoomlaHacks, and there was this guy helping me with making the menu styles, but I cannot seem to get in touch with him in any way (no MSN or anything listed in his profile, and tried sending PM).

So is there anyone here that could maybe help me with completing the menu? All the necessary details can be found in the post I mentioned earlier.


Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have been eagering for changing to Joomla for a long time!

nobody?

Use this Menu Extension, it'll work for you.

http://extensions.joomla.org/component/ ... Itemid,35/

Add both a menu and module class-suffix to eliminate the spacing between images. You shouldn't need to add/change any CSS styles.

Oh yeh, you gotta copy your images the /images/stories folder. Just make a menu like you normally would and select the image for each menu item. The module will display only the images without the menu item names. Since your roll-over images have _over as the suffix, you'd add that in the "Roll Over image ending" parameter box for the module.

Should be pretty easy, I tested it to make sure it works.

Okay thanks, but I sorta wanted to make the menu item names visible as well. It would make the menu much easier to maintain. The menu I had on the original site, http://www.trentbruner.net, was plain images, made in Fireworks. Having each menu item as a seperate image makes much more heavier code, mentioned by Joomlanewbie in the thread I linked to... I also lost the FW project-files, so I can't do anything more there...

Well, the menu names will still be visible in the administrative-end when creating/editing your menu, you can't create a menu item without a name for it.

The module just doesn't display the name on the front-end, only the image.

--added--

OK, retake.

Is it that you want the images as background images with the menu text overlaid?

Because you don't have the source files to make new/different menu images?

That's right!


I wanna be able to manage EVERYTHING in terms of menus from the back-end, without being dependent on 3rd party software, like Fireworks...

Can't do it if you want that double white key without the black key between. It's doable if a black key is between each white key.

Oh yeah, you won't get that perspective on the text with the mouseover either.

Oh yeah, I don't think you can have those two-line menu names either. At least I've never seen it done.

So what would your advice be?

Please? 

I am desperately trying to immigrate to Joomla! here, Dragonfly is making me sick!

Another nice board member mentioned that people should T.H.I.N.K. before they talk, True? Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? Kind?

I've been holding off responding to your request for advice because you may not like what I have to say but the T. and the N. parts will apply.

Joomla newbies get stuck on trying to make their site look a certain way. They get stuck fiddling with that outdated solarflare template or some other template which they will outgrow in 3 months. They get stuck on many of the unimportant issues. And they forget about the most important issue which is the content on their site.

Since you seem to be very unhappy with your current Dragonfly site why not just migrate to Joomla now and worry about the way your site looks as a secondary issue? The primary issue that seems to be holding you back is the piano keyboard menu. It's my opinion that this only accounts for 2% of the entire site appearance. What about the other 98%? My other opinion is (here's what you won't like) that the piano keyboard menu doesn't impress me at all, and I'm pretty sure most of your site visitors care less about the menu appearance than they do about the information available on your site.

My recommendation:
1. Backup all information on your current site.
2. Install Joomla, use that silly solarflare template as a beginning.
3. Build all of your content (text and contact items first, gallery and other stuff can come later)
4. In the meanwhile look for a template that appeals to you or have a template custom made.
5. If you still want a gallery and/or other enhancements now's the time to put it in.
6. The last and least important detail would be the piano menu if you still want it.

So, get started with Joomla!

OK, I've got the content somewhat put in.

And now I wonder if anybody have come across some template that they think would fit my site, either free or as a part of a template club? From e.g. RocketTheme, Canaan Design, Joomla Junkie etc.

I won't worry about the piano menu for now. The budget is rather tight for the time being, so I would hope we can avoid custom designs.

I like the templates made by Web Revolution. One that may work for you is their Mentis Liberatis Pro, a multi-color dual-width template. You can edit the template to use a single color and width if you prefer.

Sorry, can't post working links due to forum rules.

Glad to hear you've got started with your Joomla site!