By wawaloo on

Hi everyone,

I am new to Drupal, but I think I have a good grasp of it: I read 2 books and a lot of docs. I am very good at XHTML/CSS/JS and used a bunch of CMSes before Drupal.

I have a new website to build from the graphical design and I don't know what process is better:

- Start as usual, create the static XHTML/CSS pages and then port them to Drupal
- Or, create all the elements of the website (menus, content types, forms, etc.) in Drupal and change the theme files and CSS little by little
- Or, work with a subtheme (Zen would be my choice) and do everything at the same time (configuration, content types and XHTML/CSS)

Maybe you'd have a better process... How do you do it?

Note: I want to work with 960.gs (no Omega), the website will use CCK special content types and Views for a product catalogue, but no Panels. I need a custom search on the products.

Thanks!

Wahid

⋅ Categories: Drupal 7.x

Comments

duckzland’s picture

duckzland commented

Usually I do :
1. Draw up everything in PSD and as detailed as possible (not only background + layout)
2. Build the theme based on those PSD
a. slice the PSD
b. code the basic layout (or use prebuild base theme)
c. create some generic css code that I know it will be needed later on when doing panels / views
3. build the site by building the menus, cck etc
4. adjust / create new template for views or menu etc
5. Test them in various browser and do the adjustment if needed

But those are just my preferences, others may have different way to do this :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if you can use drupal why use others?
VicTheme.com

Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented

Because I work as part of a team where other developers do the backend and I create the theme, we use this process:
1. As a team we go through the mockups and determine how the site will be built using Drupal functionality.
2. The developers build the functionality.
3. I start with the dom structure from their initial work and theme what I can, bit by bit, starting with common elements. In the past, my preference was to use a "starter theme"; my favorite was Foundation because it was simple yet power. I'm moving to building the theme from scratch. I typically start with basic page layout, header, footer, sidebar, etc. Then I move to the individual content pieces.
4. As needed, I edit tpls or work with the developers to add any needed tpls or adjust the dom structure to enable me to match the design mockups.

Because some of the Drupal dom output is challenging to edit, I've found that it's best to start with what Drupal is outputting and edit as needed.

Good luck with your project!
Anne

wawaloo’s picture

wawaloo commented

Well, I think that either ways, you have to sacrifice something. I explain myself...

I found it a big advantage, when doing XHTML/CSS, to work with a framework/grid, your own long-developed methods, and produce more simplified code. But, when you'll start integrating the mockups in Drupal, you'll have to make your own theme, twisting your head to adapt to Drupal/CCK/Views CSS markup, and copying snippets of code here and there. You'll loose the possibility to use a base theme of some sort.

If you start with implementing all the functionalities of your website in Drupal, say, in a Zen sub-theme, it is (normally) going to be easier to create the visual aspect by altering the CSS. But you'll loose control over your CSS and you could not use your own methods, i.e. frameworks, own habits and so on.

I don't know if it should be a matter of personal choice more than a matter of your own CSS vs. Drupal capacities. I really don't know what I am going to do!

Am I right?

Thanks a lot for the replies!!!