I assume you mean you want multi-columns. If so, the code for such a thing can be found here. You’d of course have to drop it into your EE templates and it’s not just a cut and paste job but they might be of help.
It’s interesting that another newbie is asking about templates. I love EE so far (still working on my demo site—but I bought the software.)
I think that one of the only weaknesss of EE is the quality of the template styles. So many people use template 7—it indicates to me that they don’t find many others satisfactory. The templates may be okay for those who can customize them easily, but not for newbies. Furthermore, one of the only criticisms I’ve seen on EE on other boards (e.g., TextDrive) is that it looks “ugly.”
I really think that EE should take another look at the standard template themes and offer some fresher, cleaner designs in terms of style and color.
It’s interesting that another newbie is asking about templates. I love EE so far (still working on my demo site—but I bought the software.)
I think that one of the only weaknesss of EE is the quality of the template styles. So many people use template 7—it indicates to me that they don’t find many others satisfactory. The templates may be okay for those who can customize them easily, but not for newbies. Furthermore, one of the only criticisms I’ve seen on EE on other boards (e.g., TextDrive) is that it looks “ugly.”
I really think that EE should take another look at the standard template themes and offer some fresher, cleaner designs in terms of style and color.
Regarding newspaper templates… we’re launching a new weekly print and web product on Oct. 1 and the entire web product is built in ExpressionEngine. I’m putting the finishing touches together this week.
The print product will be comprised of three zoned editions with a common regional-focused section. The web product reflects these four content areas by putting regional content front and center with local content running down a right column. Site navigation is on the left.
The templates are copyrighted but not too different from what can be found on the web if you look at some of the popular CSS hangouts. I’d be happy to let folks take a peek at the development site if you want to drop me an email.
Converting MT templates to EE is ridiculously easy. I had mine changed over in a matter of minutes when I Made the Switch. It’s mostly just changing the CSS selectors to match the ones used by EE ... and there are many they have in common.
And for editing CSS, I can’t recommend TopStyle highly enough ... even the free version.
The template I’m using is actually an adaptation of the common site style I developed before I even started blogging. I was using it when my blog was on Blogspot, and adapted it for Movable Type, then again for EE.
Of course, it uses only a single limited CSS snippet for link styles; the rest is HTML. And equally obviously, I’m not one of those who likes to completely redesign my site every six months or so.
Just a shout to say that anything we can do to have more templates available would be outstanding. More diversity in templates means more potential users. . . more potential users means more potential developers/coders. . . more developers means more modules/add-ons. . . etc. This seems like a positive cycle.
I’d been debating something like this myself, but then I realized I’m a terrible template designer so it doesn’t make sense for me to be running a site devoted to such.
I’m working on a newspaper based site in portuguese, that’s not quite ready yet, but you can check out what’s there so fat, and I’d be happy to share my templates. The site is divided into daily news (columns left and center) and weekly news: the right column of the principal page gives access to it. Lots of division by category and sub-cats, and control of publish access through customized status groups.
