Compass Designs .net

In an earlier section, we discussed a slightly different design process. Instead of creating the design and then doing the CSS layout, we will be doing it the other way round, the Joomla CSS first. We are doing this because we want to make an blank CSS template file that can be reused by anyone.

Let's startout with a basic blank template, no layout, just all the font typography styling. This is a blank template to help speed production of a site. Its not a production template CSS file , all styles shouldn't be filled in, ones that don't get used should be deleted before using. This blank CSS file has several features:

CSS Shorthand

There are 'shorthand' styles at the beginning of each style definition. Once you have figured out the styles, fill the shorthand versions in and delete the long versions. The syntax is:

Here is an example, rather than this...

Have this:

Read more at An Introduction to CSS shorthand properties about this syntax.

Global CSS Reset

At the beginning of this joomla CSS file is a few styles that set all styles to certain characteristics. You then have to over-ride these later on. The first key global style is:

Everything is given a zero margin and padding and then font size is set to 76.1%. The reason font is set here to 76.1% is to try and get more consistant font sizes across browsers. All font sizes are then set in em's further down. A link that discusses this idea:

An experiment in typography at The Noodle Incident (Owen Briggs)

Header Tags and Joomla CSS Titles

Sometimes I will have Joomla titles turned off and use h1/h2 tags in content. Usually I am doing this to get a SEO bonus*. To get some consistancy across titles depending whether I have the off or not, I'll define the Joomla CSS alongside the hX tags. For example:

This is personal preference, you could certainly separate them out.

Joomla Rounded Corners

Towards the end of this blank template CSS file is the code to have rounded corners. Its the same technique used at joomla.org and requires the module suffix contained in index.php file to be "-3".

OK, ready? So here is the blank CSS template. Note it doesn't include any layout, we'll be looking at this next time.

The blank template CSS file for joomla is free for you to take and use (Its called "livesite"). If you do, maybe drop me an email to show your project.

Now, how to use this blank CSS file? Well, after you have done all your joomla CSS styling, your file will have all that extra empty CSS. Just use this tool to get rid of it. Be careful and do a test to make sure you know what it does first!!

CSS Formatter and Optimiser

A preview from our next joomla tutorial

Tutorial 5: Making a 3 column Joomla Theme for your joomla website
In this joomla tutorial, we will look at a 3 column theme for your joomla website. Most joomla websites use 3 columns and having the theme start with that is a good foundation. Then later we can hide side columns if there is no content in them for that page.

Important Note!

This tutorial series was written in 2005. Since then I have developed some official documentation for Joomla template design. It uses a superior CSS layout strategy that does not reply on absolute positioning, which allows easier clearing of the footer. You can find out more in our Joomla template tutorial for 1.0