InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's only time."

alter (splott) wrote in rp_tutorials,
@ 2009-10-06 00:16:00

Entry tags:

layouts: journals

TUTORIAL: how to install s1 layouts.

Warning! Picture Heavy.

S1 Layout Installation

ABOUT

TUTORIAL. How to customize a journal with overrides. - note, not a tutorial ON overrides. Just how to install a layout.

Getting Started

FIRST. Find your overrides; determine what kind of layout they are and if they're installable on IJ. This tutorial is on S1 layouts; if you have S2, I will do one later if there is a need.

SECOND. Log into your journal. Go to your profile and make sure you have a website defined. You need to have a website defined because that's how the new header (and new navigation links) show up. If you're having trouble getting those to show up, make sure you have a website. If you don't want anything, just put http:// and that works to. Or just insanejournal.com.

THIRD. Have a bit of time to fiddle with stuff! Then go to http://www.insanejournal.com/customize/

This is the worksafe sidebar. Go to "Customize Journal" or to the link above.

Parts of Installation

BASIC TAB
This takes you to the basic display page. You should see something like this:

You can enter your journal titles here; you don't need to if there's <TITLE> in your GLOBAL_HEAD in the overrides.

This is also where you select S1 or S2. For now, click S1 and Save Changes.

LOOK AND FEEL TAB

The first part is your layouts. Your default setting should be "Default Insanejournal" for everything. I don't like this layout. I am working on overrides for other layouts, but for right now, select Generator (or whatever your overrides are but the rest of the tutorial doesn't matter what kind, mostly).

Scroll down some more.

This is where you select your colors. If you're just going with the default layout, you can select from one of the premade layouts. If you are using an override, most layout makers will tell you if you need default colors and which ones to keep. Sometimes they need to have weak-text or something, but generally (for my layouts at least) I need them all blank. You can select colors like this, or just put in your hex code. Or clear it completely like I have.

Scroll down more.

This is where you select your mood theme. I hate them, so I select NONE and "force this on your friends". It doesn't get rid of the actual mood, just the bouncy or gross cartoon next to it. You can do what you like!

CUSTOM TAB
This is the place where you will put your overrides.

Once you have edited your overrides (i.e. changed USERNAME to your desired username and followed the instructions of the layout maker) this is where you paste them. Put them in the box and click Save Changes.

ADVANCED TAB
This is for if you have a paid layout. I will do a tutorial on this. But for now, ignore it.

Once you've pasted in your overrides, check your journal. Click My Writings and Friends and Calendar, make sure all the links work right. If they don't, go to the layout post and ask your questions. First, definitely make sure your website is defined!

Some good practices to have:
Make sure to upload the pictures provided to your own server. Tinypic is good, but does not always suffice. A personal photobucket is always best.
Hotlinking is a definite No No.
Don't be afraid to fiddle. Save your "working" layout and then change the size of things and stuff. Some layout makers leave instructions (the stuff between /*these*/) telling people what the CSS bits do. If you make something go wonky, just ctrl-z it or start over with your saved working layout. Careful not to save over it!
Always credit! Please do, especially if makers ask. It's not really for pride reasons (not ALL of it at least) but mostly so people know where to look for other layouts.
Don't be afraid to ask questions!

If you have any questions, please ask!

	celtica 2010-02-28 07:14 am UTC (link)
	IJ just refuses to let me change my font color. SO, I'm wondering what the code is for changing the font color (the body of an entry). That's all I wanna do, and IJ doesn't seem receptive. Help? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	splott 2010-02-28 03:00 pm UTC (link)
	If you are posting an entry just use <font color="#FFFFFF"> in the body of your entry. If you want to change the color on a layout you have to look for something like font, p, td, { color: #000000; font-family: arial;; } It might not be all three, it might just be font or it might not have the color. So just change the hex (the 6 numbers after #) to what you want. (Reply to this) (Parent)