These are specific instructions for using the CSS layout codes designed for Covenspace (like those Myspace layout codes, but these are actually made for this site). You will be able to find these codes at the Covenspacestuff website.

Please follow these instructions when using the CSS codes. DO NOT paste the code directly into your profile, like you do with the Myspace style codes. I admit that it does work, but this is what leads to broken profiles later on. By creating a proper template, you will not have to worry about all this code sitting in your profile sections. Please use these directions. I will assist anyone who needs it.

I repeat: do not paste this code into the profile sections, like the About Me or whatever.

Log into your site, then click on the Profile tab. Then click on Layout and Style.

You'll see a selection of pre-made templates, which you can choose if you want. But if you scroll down to the bottom of the choices, you will see where the custom tool begins. There are a number of fields where you can select graphics, or colours.

There is a field right at the top of the tool section for your template name. Give your new template a name.

Scroll down to the bottom of the tool, to the large field called CSS. Paste in there the code you copied from the Covenspacestuff site. You need to copy all the code, starting with the word "body" right to the end. Paste it into the CSS field.

Then you have to click on PREVIEW. I don't actually see any preview when I do this, but it might be my browser settings. You must select preview before it will let you save.

Once you have clicked on preview, then scroll back to the top of the tool area and there should be a Save button next to where you put the name for the template. Click on save and you now have a new template.

If you want to see it in action, you need to select it for your site. Creating it doesn't automatically make it active for you. Go back to the Layout and Style screen, and scroll down to the bottom of the pre-made templates. Your new one should now be there. Select it, and scroll down farther to click on Use Selected Style.

That's about it. Once you have created your template, you can change the CSS code by following these directions for editing a custom template.

 

This is just an outline of the various parts of your pages, as broken down in the template tool. Each section will get it's own blog entry later, with each field explained with screenshots. This is basically just a quick intro.

Page Body
This is where you control the background of your site, specifically the background for the main page of your site. All the secondary pages are controlled by the "sub page" fields below. I'll get to them in a minute. This section of fields is where you customize the background for the homepage only. You can choose a colour or image (from your photo gallery, or anywhere online). I really have no idea what the "layer 2" does. Can't figure that one out  :D

Sub Text
This is for backgrounds as well as text, so this section is somewhat mislabelled. Your sub pages are all the inner pages of your site, other than your main home page. The photo gallery pages, your friend list page, etc. Your individual blog pages are considered sub pages, BUT the main blog page that lists your recent ones is controlled by the page body (above).  Most people use the same graphics and/or colours for their sub pages as they do for the main page, but you don't have to.

Sections
There are really 2 kinds of things in this section, adding to the confusion. First of all, what is a module? The modules are the various boxes on your main page. The box showing your blog, your friends, your groups, your comments etc etc.  Those are called modules. I'm not talking about those sections themselves (as mentioned, those are sub pages). The modules are just the boxes displayed on the main homepage. That said, the headers mentioned in this section are the skinny little titles at the top of each module. This will make much more sense with the screenshots.

Menu
The menu is the bar of links that shows up at the top of your page (below the ad banner), but is NOT visible to you if you are logged into your site. The menu is what other people see, or what you see on other people's sites. The links are home, blog, photo gallery etc. When you are logged in, you see a row of tabs for your own site instead.

Custom CSS
This is where you paste in any code that you get from those Myspace layout sites. I cannot offer any guarantees as to the functioning of templates that were designed for other sites. It  CAN work, but they may not be perfect.

Once you have created your template, you will likely want to do more editing to it to make it perfect.

Log into your site, then click on the Profile tab. Then click on Layout and Style.

You will see your custom templates at the bottom of the pre-made images, but this is NOT where you select it for editing. At the top of the page, you need to click on the button marked Edit Custom Themes

This will now bring up all your custom made themes. In order to edit any of them, click on the link beneath the image of it that says Edit.

When you click on edit, it will take you back to the Layout and Style page, but now when you scroll down, you will see all the fields showing your selections for that template. Now you can make any changes you want to your template.

Follow the directions that you used to make the template (click preview, and then save) in order to save your new template.

Here are the basic steps to create a template:

Log into your site, then click on the Profile tab. Then click on Layout and Style.

You'll see a selection of pre-made templates, which you can choose if you want. But if you scroll down to the bottom of the choices, you will see where the custom tool begins. There are a number of fields where you can select graphics, or colours.

You cannot edit any of the pre-made templates, so don't plan on choosing one and then making changes. You can only start a new template from scratch.

There is a field right at the top of the tool section for your template name.  Give your new template a name, and make any changes to the various fields (watch for a future blog on explanations for those). Then you have to click on PREVIEW. I don't actually see any preview when I do this, but it might be my browser settings. You must select preview before it will let you save.

Once you have clicked on preview, then scroll back down to the top of the tool area and there should be a Save button next to where you put the name for the template. Click on save and you now have a new template.

If you want to see it in action, you need to select it for your site. Creating it doesn't automatically make it active for you. Go back to the Layout and Style screen, and scroll down to the bottom of the pre-made templates. Your new one should now be there. Select it, and scroll down farther to click on Use Selected Style.

That's it.

Read my next blog on how to edit it. There a couple extra clicks you might not expect.

I've uploaded a selection of screen shots, each one illustrating a different part of a customized template. I have the entire template set to white/blank, with each section either in red (when showing colour) or with my henna hand photo (when showing an image).

I will soon be posting more blogs, further explaining how to use the custom template tool and more details on each of the fields.  

I hope these photos are somewhat clear. Many of the fields are cryptic (sub or module pages??) so these photos should show you what parts of your page are controlled by each field.

Watch for further blogs, explaining various sections in more detail.