This package comes with the starter web site in .zip format. Unzip the package and start editing the pages. You may wish to keep a backup copy of the .zip in case you need to start over.
We have included a basic site structure with common pages that you may use to start with. You may rename the pages, add more pages, and add your content.
Features...
- A starter web template to help you to create a new web quickly and easily.
- Splash page layout and inner page layout included.
- New in v2: CSS-based layout for cleaner code and better search engine optimization. No tables used in layout!
- Striking content box for a Flash movie on splash page. (New in v2: Does not require Flash to edit text, text position, or speed of the animation!!) Other info boxes included in web template.
- New in v2.1: SWFObject embed code used for automatic Flash detection and Flash embedding.
- Popup boxes for employee bios on the About Us page.
- Print this page buttons and code on every page.
- Add this page to my favorites button and code on the default page (will only work for Internet Explorer).
- Additional button graphics for your convenience.
- New in v2: All Photoshop and Flash source files included!
- Tested to work in IE 5+, Netscape 6+, Opera 6+, Mozilla, and FireFox.
Image Licensing Information
The royalty free images used in this template are provided as a part of a licensing agreement between AbleStock and Advantrics LLC. If you wish to purchase larger versions of the images for your own marketing use, please go to AbleStock's web site and look for the following images:
- Woman holding model of house - 24757929
If you are purchasing this template and intend to use it to build a site for someone else, you must disclose to your client that this template uses AbleStock images.
Source Files Included
- Photoshop CS2 files
- banner.psd - Used for background image in page title area.
- boxes.psd - Used for creating the square accent of the heading.
- closewindow.psd - Used for creating the close window button.
- ecommerce.psd - Used for creating the ecommerce buttons.
- mainpic.psd - Used for the main picture.
- portrait.psd - Used for the portrait images.
- box.psd - Used for rounded corner graphics.
- smallbutton.psd - Used to create the small button graphics.
- special.psd - Used for the "print page" and "add to favorites" buttons.
- topmenu.psd - Used to create the top menu graphics.
- vertical.psd - Used to create vertical button graphic.
- yourlogohere.psd - Used for logo image.
- Flash MX 2004 files - You don't need Flash if you just
want to change the text!
- movie.fla
Not included: The Russell Square font, which is used in the button graphics. The Russell Square font can be licensed from www.linotype.com.
Flash Detection Script
This template uses the SWFObject (v1.4) Flash detection and embed script provided by Geoff Stearns at http://blog.deconcept.com/swfobject/. This script detects whether or not the user has the Flash player, and if it does, it loads in the Flash movie for them to view. If they don't have the Flash player, it displays your alternate content. The alternate content is what you see in your web editor (a static image or text).
The SWFObject script also resolves the IE update issue where embedded Flash movies require an extra click for interaction; using the script will allow viewers to interact with the Flash movie directly. The SWFObject script also allows your web site to have fully validated HTML.
Please be aware that the script may be updated occasionally, and it is your responsibility to visit theSWFObject site to check for updates and implement them.
General Instructions
- Unzip your web package.
- Look for the "realestateready_web" folder.
- Copy the contents of this folder to your web directory.
- Keep a backup of the zip file.
Template Details
Your Logo Here top area
The "your logo here" area is a graphic. We've included the source Photoshop file for your convenience.
Top menu
The top menu is made up of graphics that will require the use of an image editor (such as Photoshop or Photoshop Elements) to edit or add your own buttons.
Main picture
The main picture can be replaced with your own, if you have an image editor that can help you with the rounded corner effect. We include the Photoshop file for your convenience. The image is 250x200. If you name your image mainpic.jpg and replace the existing file in the "images" folder, the image will be replaced.
Flash animation
The Flash animation can be changed without needing the Flash program!
You don't need Flash if you want to change:
- The text
- The placement of the text
- The speed of the animation
- The color of the box
You do need Flash if you want to change:
- The font, text size, color, or bold/italics and other formatting
- The animation itself (like if you want it to come from the top, or if you want another effect)
- The size of the Flash movie
- The length of the text fields
- Anything else not mentioned above
We have provided the Flash file free with this template. You will need Macromedia Flash MX 2004 or higher to edit the Flash file.
Flash alternative content
There is alternative content for search engines and people who don't have Flash. We've simply put a line of text in the Flash area, which you should be able to see in the web editor. Change this text or replace it with your own content. People who do have Flash will be able to see the Flash animation and will not see that content in the browser.
Editing the Flash animation
There is a file called input.txt that comes with this template. Open it and you'll see a long line of code. It looks like this (line breaks added here for readability):
speed=10
&&tag1=Make a strong
business statement.
&&tag1x=25
&&tag1y=25
&&tag2=Put your text
here without needing Flash!
&&tag2x=50
&&tag2y=75
The "speed" can be increased or decreased to affect the speed of the animation. You can experiment with different values to see how it looks.
The tag1 (bold) and tag2 (not bold) variables can be changed to reflect your own text. Please be aware that text space is limited. If you need the movie to have longer text, you will need to modify the Flash file itself.
The tag1x, tag1y, tag2x, and tag2y affect the position of the taglines. Set those to be in pixels, where (0,0) is the top-left corner of the Flash movie.
If you want to change the box color, open the index.htm page and look for the Flash code. Change the "bgcolor" parameters (it shows up in two places) to your own desired color. You'll need the six-digit web color code to do this.
Vertical menu
The vertical menu is a bulleted list of links. Simply add your own links to the bulleted list and the style sheet will format it on your actual web page!
Special buttons
The "print page" and "add to my favorites" buttons make use of Javascript to get their functionality. Please be aware that the "add to my favorites" functionality will only work for Internet Explorer (Netscape/FireFox/Opera/etc. users will only see the "print page" button). If you want to create additional buttons, we have included the Photoshop file for you to start with.
Page Title
The page title must be changed on each page. The page title area is limited, so keep your page titles short.
Pop-up links on About page
To make more of these popup links:
First make a new profile page. You may open an existing profile
page (profile.htm) and File > Save As a copy.
Add the new name to the bulleted list on the "about" page.
Create a hyperlink for the person's name. Link to the profile
page. It will look something like this:
<a href="yourpage.htm">Person's Name</a>
Then add Javascript code, like this:
<a href="yourpage.htm"
onclick="pop('yourpage.htm');return
false">Person's name</a>
Info Boxes
There are two types of info boxes - one for the left column and one for the right column. The one for the left column can be placed by itself in the 3-column layout, or placed with the content area of the 2-column layout with text wrapping around it.
Left Column
If you want to insert another info box in the left column, you will need to add this HTML code to the page. You'll want to insert it BEFORE the content that will wrap around the right side. Here is the code you should insert, and an example of the code for a paragraph that would wrap around to the right of the box:
<div class="infoboxa">
<div class="infoboxb">
Info box content here
</div>
</div>
<p>This is an example of a paragraph that would wrap around to
the right of the box. Insert the code BEFORE the paragraph that
you want to wrap.</p>
Right Column
To insert an info box in the right column, add this HTML code to the page:
<div class="infobox2a">
<div class="infobox2b">
Info box content here
</div>
</div>
Footer
Modify the footer with your own company information and links.
Cascading Style Sheets
This template is a table-less layout. Positioning and layout is defined through CSS. You will need to be comfortable with advanced CSS positioning and formatting techniques if you want to make changes to the layout of this site. If you just want to add your content, you will need some basic CSS skills and HTML skills.
