Joomla Template Knowledgebase

Meridian Documentation

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Joomla version compatibility: 1.5 / 2.5
Current Version: 1.1.2
Zen Grid Framework compatibility: 1.1+ ?
PHP Version 5+

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Getting Started

Please ensure that you read the getting started articles in preparation for working with this template.

This template also uses the Zen Grid Framework. The Zen Grid Framework makes controlling widths, colours and sub themes for the Joomla template a breeze. Please make sure that you familiarise yourself with the documentation for working with the Zen Grid Framework before you get started.

 

Module Positions

The screenshot below highlights the module positions available in this joomla template.

MeridianPositions

More settings

The Zen Grid Framework allows for flexibiility within individual templates while maintaining the same core codebase. 

Layout Overrides: Meridian uses the Zen Grid framework layout overrides to help create the unique layout that you see on the Meridian demo site. You can find these files in the templates/jbmeridian/layout folder. In general you do not need to touch these files but if you need to make some changes to any of the following areas, then this is where you need to make them:

  • banner.php
  • bottom.php
  • footer.php
  • grid1.php
  • grid2.php
  • grid3.php
  • grid4.php
  • grid5.php
  • jbtabs.php
  • main.php
  • nav.php
  • panel.php
  • top.php

If you need to edit or change the layout across any of these areas of the template then you will need to edit the files in the layout/ folder. You can also disable the layout overrides in the template by navigating to layout/overrides panel in the template administration.

 

Rebranding

Please note that the zen grid framework provides the ability to easily replace the Joomlabamboo copyright in the admin of your template. In order to do this you still need to have either a developer membership or have purchased rebranding. Please ensure that you look at the documentation for the framework for how to use this new feature. You can read more regarding this in the Zen Grid Framework knowledgebase.

Extensions featured on the demo

All of the extensions available from Joomlabamboo are compatible with this template. Not all are required for the running of the template and only some are featured as a part of the demo site.

The modules used on the demo site include:

Please see below in the frontpage setup for screenshots of the modules as they are setup on the demo site of this template.

Meridian front page setup

The screenshot below shows you the modules we have published on the front page of the demo site. Please see the descriptions below regarding the usage and any other relevant information of the modules.

FrontpageSetup

Description

  • Social Icons - The email, twitter and facebook links are controlled via the template and are published beneath the top4 module position.
  • Logo and Tagline - These elements are controlled via the template and are set to appear on the same row as the navigation. The font being used for the logo is Muli - a google font replacement.
  • Menu - The menu is rendered via the core Joomla menu module and the superfish feature is controlled via the template. The menu is set to align to the right.
  • Banner - The JB Slideshow3 module is published to the banner position. You can see a screenshot of the specific specific configuration below.
  • Tab1 to Tab4 - The tabbed modules have a collection of microblog modules published to the first 3 positions. Tab4 has a simple custom html module assigned to it.
  • Grid24 - An instance of the jTweet twitter module is published to the grid24 position.
  • Bottom1 to Bottom4 - This row of modules contain a custom html module each that has an unordered list. You could conceivably use a popular items, latest news etc module in these positions.
  • Footer - the footer position has a core Joomla menu module published to it.

 

The screenshots below highlights the settings of the various modules included on the front page.

Slideshow settings

slideshowFrontpage

     

    Microblog Settings

    The following settings were used on the demo to create the layout you can see on the front page of the demo site for the microblog module positioned at tab1.

    microblogtab1

    Microblog in the Tab2 position

    The following screenshot details the settings required to replicate the settings used for the microblog module published to tab2.

    newsCycleCaptifyContent

    Meridian Colour Scheme Options

    There are a multitude of colour options available in this Joomla Template.

    The template provide the ability to mix eight banner colours, three background colours, eight bottom colours and eleven colour hilites to create your own colour combination.

    The options for controlling the appearance of this template include:

    • Hilite eg links, buttons and menu active states
    • Background colour
    • Banner row colour
    • Bottom row colour

     

    Social Icons

    socialicons

    The social icons you can see int he screenshot above are wholly controlled via the template admin. The options in the admin provide you with the ability to select from a collection of handy and pretty social icons as well as personalise the link that gets applied to them.

    If you don't see the social icon that is just right for you then you can easily upload the icon you want to use to the templates/jbnewscycle/images/icons folder and then the new icon will be displayed int he template admin.


    You can see the options available for the icons below.

    socialiconsImage

    Configuring the K2 template

    The Meridian Joomla template has K2 overrides built in and are activated simply by assigning the Meridian template in the K2 category or via the K2 menu item if you are displaying multiple categories form that menu item. 

    To assign the Meridian template to your k2 categories and items you need to edit the category and apply the Meridian K2 template as per the screenshot below:

    k2cat

     

    In addition to this the Newscycle template also loads the k2.css file into it's own array which means that you can compress the k2.css file when you enable the template's css compressing setting. This means that to avoid the css file from loading twice you need to make sure that you disable the core K2 css in the K2 global parameters as per the screenshot below.

    k2disablecss

    {/jb_seven} {jb_eight}

    Starting with Meridian from a fresh installation of Joomla

    Although the this Joomla template is a simple design the default Joomla sample data doesnt quite do it justice and so here are a few steps to do if you are installing this Joomla template into a default Joomla installation.

    Elements to install.

    Essential Elements

    • Install the Zen Grid Framework
    • Install the template and set it to default
    • Install the JB LIbrary plugin and enable it in the extensions > plugin manager
    Optional Elements
    • Install JB Slideshow
    • Install Microblog
    • Install the JB BB Code plugin (For two line menus)
    • Install K2

     

    Modules to unpublish

    • Disable the module title in the breadcrumb module.
    • Disable main menu items except for home menu item.
    • Disable the core banner module in the footer position.
    • Disable the core footer module in the footer position.
    • Unpublish modules published to the left module position.

    Change the position of some elements on the page

    • Move main menu to the menu position and make sure the module title is disabled. 

    At this stage you should have a pretty simple and straight forward site to start creating your site from.  It's important to remember that the slideshow and micro blog modules rely heavily on images in terms of the way that they present your content so it might be worth adding placeholder or stock images in your content as you go through setting up the rest of the modules.

     

     

    Troubleshooting

    Are you using the latest version of the Zen Grid Framework?

    Oure is only compatible with v1.1 + of the Zen Grid Framework

    The super fish menu does not fade or slide it just drops down

    Please make sure you have installed and published the JB library plug-in and that there is only one version of the jQuery library loading on your page.

    My main content is not displaying

    Version 1.05+ of the Zen Grid Framework comes with the option of hiding the main content area on the front page e.g. the default menu item of your site. We've done this in order to help trim up any spacing or padding that is generated from the main content area that is not needed if you are not displaying any content on the front page. If you would prefer to display your content on the front page of your site, then please set the option to hide the main content area in the template parameters under layout >  Gen. settings to show.

     

    I get the following error after installing the Zen Grid Framework and a Zen Grid compatible template.

    Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING, expecting T_OLD_FUNCTION or T_FUNCTION or T_VAR or '}' in /homepages/26/d171984212/htdocs/tradenet/templates/zengridframework/includes/yth.php on line 36

    This error means that your server is using php v4 while the Zen Grid Framework needs php5 to function properly. Often changing to php5 is a matter of adding a rule to the htaccess file on your site but it's best to ask your host for help in determining the best way to use php on your server.