IMO, the BIGGEST mistake you can make is to spend an entire day making a site with ZERO TRAFFIC "pretty".

Get some traffic, then worry about whether it is "pretty" or not...

If you are an extreme noob concerning html and css, you better skip skins with images at this point.

Let's Get Started:

Upload the folder "styles" to the root/main folder of your website, making sure that the sub-folder "images" is inside.

Each example below is a basic layout, with each layout being able to be further modified using its associated CSS file.

Skin1 uses style1.css
Skin2 uses style2.css
Skin3 uses style3.css

etc.

You can use these CSS "style sheets" to completely change the color scheme of your site(s).

You don't have to know everything in the CSS file, as there's only about 12-15 things in each you need to worry about, which will descibe below.

I'm "color coordinating challenged", so I like to use this website to help me pick color schemes I can use with my CSS files:
http://wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html

Play around with this site and generate a color scheme you like, and well show you were to modify the CSS style sheets.

It is also suggested you download www.TextPad.com and use it, as it has a line number feature:
GoTo=> VIEW => Line Numbers

Using a text editor that let's you view line numbers will make it easier to get/give help customizing your templates.

Choose a Skin/Layout:

Skin1.html: (no images) two columsn w/Right menu
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin1&length=20&keywords=test

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Skin2: 1 graphic two columns w/Right menu
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin2&length=20&keywords=test

Skin2 uses the "panhead" graphics for the top border/background. You can choose from any of them, or create your own, then make sure you adjust the "panhead" number in style2.css for a variety of colors.

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Skin3 No images two columns w/Right menu
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin3&length=20&keywords=test

Skin3 is a simple/clean skin and is a good one for noobs to start out with. You can mess with all the colors for a variety of looks.

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Skin4 - Two columns, right menu no images.
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin4&length=20&keywords=test

This skin uses css "roll-overs" for links in the menu. Noobs should leave this skin for more experienced Bombers, unless you are satisfied with it "as is".

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Skin5- Two columns, right menu use "roll-over" images.
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin5&length=20&keywords=test

"roll-over" images
side-img.gif
linkimg1.gif
linkimg2.gif

Messing with the colors and roll-over graphics isn't for noobs...Unless you want to use it "as is"/straight out of the box.

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Skins 6-10 Only Available with Fatty 2.0!

Notes: Skin6 uses two graphics:
columns6b.jpg
header_background6d.gif

The easiest way to modify these two images is to open them up in your graphics program and just delete the image and make/paste a new one over it, maintaining the same size.

Once you have new graphics, you can open style6.css and adjust the color scheme to match your new graphics.

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Skin7 no graphics - two columns - left menu
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin7&length=20&keywords=test

This is a pretty simple and flexible template and a good one for noobs to practice with.

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Skin8 - No graphics - Two columns - Left Menu - CSS - roll-overs.
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin8&length=20&keywords=test

This is a colorful skin with roll-overs. Moderate skill level is needed, although noobs can change some of the basic colors/links, or use it straight out of the box.

The narrow left menu make make it tough to add advertising, so you may want to add any ads to the main/right column to preserve formatting.

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Skin9 - No graphics - Right menu - Two column
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin9&length=20&keywords=test

This is VERY noobie friendly...Just change the color of the header in style9.css, as well as the color of the links.

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Skin10 - No graphics - Right menu - Two column
http://dombom.com/cgi-bin/fbs/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin10&length=20&keywords=test

A clean and simple skin, that's very noobie friendly. Just change the color of the links and you're all set.

Customizing Your Skin:

1. Find: <title> % form.keywords as html %] by MySite</title>

Change/edit/delete "by MYSite" to something appropriate. Note that the code will enter the keywords searched for each SERP.

2. Look for this block of code in the header of you page:

<style type="text/css" media="screen">
		@import url( http://dombom.com/style/style1.css ); 
	</style>

Change the url to point to your domain, as well as the corresponding CSS file. If you're using Skin4.html, then make sure this URL points to style4.css.

3. Look for the "Menu" tag:

<div id="menu">

Add whatever you want after the menu tag...Whatever you put here will show up either in the left or right mene. Note: some layouts have BOTH left and right menus, the idea is the same.

4. Check for misc. instances of "MySite" and modify/delete them, as you wish.

5. Upload the modified version to your /fatbomb/skins folder.

Note: Optional...If you're a noobie, you may want to rename it:
default.html

This will make things easier concerning some other config concerns.

www.dombom.com/iframes/fattytags.txt

AND:
pageR.html
pageL.html
pageLR.html

Simply: The files with skin in the name are meant to be used as search results templates.

The files with "page" in the name are intended to be used to make pages, where we convert the search results into web "pages".

You can use either for both, but I suggest that for now you follow this simple rule.

How to Modify Your Page Skins to Make Pages:

1. Upload your CSS style sheet and your header graphic to your main/root folder on your website.

(Check the specific forum threads for more help. Do NOT post here for help with your CSS and images!)

2. About the page names:
pageL = The navigation column is on the LEFT
pageR = The navigation column is on the RIGHT
pageLR = This is a three column page with navigation on the LEFT and RIGHT

Pick one. Open it in a text editor. I suggest textpad.com although you can use Notepad.

3. Find the line of code near the top that says:
<LINK REL=stylesheet HREF="styles.css" TYPE="text/css">

Modify styles.css by adding your domain URL to it. It should look something like:

<LINK REL=stylesheet HREF="http://YourDomain.com/styles.css" TYPE="text/css">

4. Now find the code for your header graphic:

 <img src="header.jpg" alt="<% form.keywords as html %>">

You'll want to do the same to the header.jpg as you did for your style sheet and add the full URL to you graphic:

<img src="ttp://YourDomain.com/header.jpg" alt="<% form.keywords as html %>">

Note: In the URL above, I use ttp://

You'll need to make it http, not ttp. . If I did it correctly, this forum will try to add the graphic and not show the code.

5. Find:
LEFT COLUMN
and/or
RIGHT COLUMN

...And replace it with what ever you want to put there, such as your AdSense code and/or site navigation.

If you want to put links, you will need to use html.

6. Save it and upload it to your fatbomb/skins file using FTP.

7. Test it to make sure it looks OK:

http://www.YourDomain.com/cgi-bin/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=pageR&keywords=test&start=0&length=20

There are 3 parts of this URL you need to modify:

1. The URL to your FatBomb, including your domain.

2. skin=
IN the example above, I am using pageR. Change this accordingly.

3. The keywords=
I am using "test". You may change this if you wish.

Multiple word phrases use this syntax:
batman robin
new york
las vegas nevada

If everything looks OK, move on to the next step: 4 Making Pages Using FatBomb.

Following the instructions here is what I got:

http://www.biztoolvault.com/cgi-bin/fatbomb/fatbomb.cgi/?skin=skin3&keywords=book&start=0&length=20

But the "Menu" is showing at the bottom instead of the intended right side, as your example of skin3.html above.

What I'm doing wrong here

You missed a step I think.

-------BEGIN---------------------

3. Find the line of code near the top that says:
<LINK REL=stylesheet HREF="styles.css" TYPE="text/css">

Modify styles.css by adding your domain URL to it. It should look something like:

<LINK REL=stylesheet HREF="http://YourDomain.com/styles.css"; TYPE="text/css">

---------END------------

You have to place the folder "styles" into the root directory and then in the skin3.html, you have to modify the path to point to style3.css

What you are seeing currently is the web page WITHOUT the style applied yet, because it cannot find where the style is.

This is what you have in your source code for skin3.html

<style type="text/css" media="screen">
@import url( http://biztoolvault.com/styles/style3.css );
</style>

But if you look at that location, nothing is there. Point it to the right location and everything will look fine.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,

Ed

It's working perfectly now

Mou

Now your cooking kid! Just get something in the menu bar and you'll be set!

Mary

The problem is that I dont know how to keep the same look for the site.

I am using a certain template in my site.
But when I use fatbomb to create pages on the fly, the page that it creates looks completely different from my site.

So, how do I keep the look of my site the same.

here's my site --- http://www.rowlingpotter.com

now, when I create a page using fatbom say --- http://www.rowlingpotter.com/harry-potter-hats.html , the look is very different.

How do I make them look the same??

bye,
faraz

How are you calling the pages?

The easiest way would be to use the same header graphic and insert it into a page_ skin.

Or, you will need to create a skin based on your site's look and feel, adding to ALL the tags, either from one of the skins.

You also need to make sure your site's design can handle the search results.

Another way is to take strip all the extra html (header and footer html) out of a skin, rename it "blank.html", then insert SSI tags into your site's template that call Fatty using the "blank.html" skin. This is best done using PageBomb.

>The easiest way would be to use the same header graphic and
>insert it into a page_ skin.
>
>Or, you will need to create a skin based on your site's look
>and feel, adding to ALL the tags, either from one of the
>skins.
>
>You also need to make sure your site's design can handle the
>search results.
>
>Another way is to take strip all the extra html (header and
>footer html) out of a skin, rename it "blank.html", then
>insert SSI tags into your site's template that call Fatty
>using the "blank.html" skin. This is best done using
>PageBomb.

How do I use the ssi tags to call fatty? and If i use this method, then could I still make pages on the fly as you have described in another thread?

bye,
faraz

faraz,

Follow kurt's instruction in the post "Making Pages using FatBomb" and you will do fine

~ Mou

I have read the "making pages using fatbomb" thread again.

Till now I have been using mod rewrite technique to create the pages.

Are you telling me that I should be using ssi tags to create the pages.
I am particulary interested in the idea that I have to just create the links and fatty will create the pages.
I will then later go on and customize the page a bit and maybe add an article or use plr material.

So, should i use page bomb then??

bye,
faraz

I had to learn some html to do it, but now I see that its finally working.
take a look -- http://www.rowlingpotter.com (this is my main site)
and this -- http://www.rowlingpotter.com/lord-voldemort.html --- is fatty generated page.

Now, I think I can get the look right very soon.

bye,
faraz

I am trying to get my skins to call some SSI txt like the left navigation, but I can't seem to get it to work.

Can this actually be done?

Thank and Merry Christmas,

Ed

Hi Ed,

It "can" be done, but you should have a server admin do it, as it is tricky and beyond my skills.

The real answer is probably no. It has to do with how the server processes SSI and scripts, particularly the order. It has to process the SSI BEFORE the script so in can "include" the script. If you put an SSI tag in a script, the server will already have looked for SSI tags before running the script.

Again, there is a work-around, but it will need to be done at the server admin level and I don't know what it is...

I was trying to be sly and reuse my index template (with SSI).

Ed

What is this tag I found in several of my Skins #4, #5, #7, #8, #9, #10?

<h3 class="storytitle" id="post-29"><a href="sample.php?c=1#comments" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: WordPress 1.0.1 Released">Hello and welcome...</a></h3>

Sports moderators wanted. Join the sports-blog and share in the revenue generated.
http://sports-blog.com/community/

Hi Gil,

Just delete it.

Sports moderators wanted. Join the sports-blog and share in the revenue generated.
http://sports-blog.com/community/

I'm about update v1 to v2 and wondering if there are any differences between both version regarding to skins?

Can I just upload v2 except skins and overwrite v1?

Guess maybe better to update the skins, but being a bit lazy... I'm using my original designs.

Thank you,

Ut

Be sure to back up the data and skins folders, just in case.

Then just overwrite the files.

I wanted to revisit this and see if there are other ideas.

Here is what I have:

1. Navigation menus are set up in php files and called using

<?php include($_SERVER<'DOCUMENT_ROOT'>."/ssi/home-page-left-navigation.php"); ?>

This works great! The $_SERVER<'DOCUMENT_ROOT'> always makes sure that the right path is found regardless of what directory or sub-directory the call is made from.

2. I am calling fatbomb also from php from with in the static html page. i am using this call

<?php include($_SERVER<'DOCUMENT_ROOT'>."/search/search.cgi/?skin=blank&length=5&keywords=test me"); ?>

I got the information to do this from Coding Forums. Here is my thread
http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?p=765650#post765650

However, here is the error I get (as listed in coding forums).

--------BEGIN------------
Warning: include(/user/public_html/search.cgi/?&keywords=test code) : failed to open stream: Not a directory in /user/public_html/racing/index.html on line 121

Warning: include() : Failed opening '/user/public_html/search.cgi/?&keywords=test code' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /user/public_html/racing/index.html on line 121
-------END-----------------

IGNORE the path to search.cgi.

I know the path is correct because If I go directly to the path, it works.

Now, the main reason, I want to be able to mix the two (for those who don't know) is the power of having the navigation update using ssi.

So. Any ideas?

Thanks and blessings,

Ed

Hey Ed...

No ideas at all. LOL This is way beyond my tech skills.

Can you use PageBomb and combine multiple SSI calls on "pages"? Or do you need it completely dynamic?

If dynamic, the only advice I can give is for you to hire someone. It probably isn't that hard for someone that knows how to do it. I "think" it depends on how your particular server is configured, so not sure you can do it yourself, unless you know what you're doing.

/user/public_html/search.cgi/?&keywords=test code

If that's really the path you're using, you can't ignore it, because what's shown is incorrect.

On a Cpanel server, the correct full path will be:

/home/user/public_html/search.cgi/?&keywords=test code

Jeff

/user/public_html/search.cgi/?&keywords=test code

Hi Jeff,

I changed what I wrote to "hide" my really path when I posted to the public forum

Any ideas? I would love AND PAY for this to work!

Blessings and Happy New Year!

Ed

I Kurt, the dynamic would be really really cool.

The reason is I'm building FB BBX sites to flip. If the navigation can be dynamic (i.e. update one file and all the files get updated) it makes it much easier for the customer to add more pages and then have the navigation "magically updated".

Changing the navigation for the skins would be very challenging for the casual user. But then perhaps I can sell the "maintenance service"

>If dynamic, the only advice I can give is for you to hire
>someone. It probably isn't that hard for someone that knows
>how to do it. I "think" it depends on how your particular
>server is configured, so not sure you can do it yourself,
>unless you know what you're doing.

Boy, I hope it is not an inidivual server thing. That would be a pain.

Then again, I wonder if I could "require" hosting on my servers (with a monthly fee) and then an install charge if not on my servers.

Anyways, thanks as always and happy new year,

Ed