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New theme named, and new video tutorials

This blog post announces my work on a new theme.
And, unusually I am announcing the name of this theme before its release.

My new theme is called Falcon Pro
As you can see it’s the third in what has become my ‘Pro series’.

Now, I am going to take a second to explain what it means to be part of the Pro series, and why I give those themes that Nomenclature.

The reason I append Pro to the names of the themes is that they are complicated, or advanced in some way. The pro themes require the user to step outside of the normal RapidWeaver workflow, in order to achieve a cool effect or devise which the theme facilitates. The name Pro dictates that the user will also be able to add to the theme advanced elements, using snippets, and altered alignments of RapidWeaver inputs like the secondary sidebar!

Also, I feel like Pro adds an element of class, and reflects the purpose of the theme, in that you could use them for commercial projects.

Also, in other news (because this blog post is very much lacking in real announcements) now that my iMac is back from japan I am able to re-commence work on the Jaxs Pro update that I have been promising since time began.

Most of the reason that I had to put a hold on this update was the fact that my MacBook Pro has random, incurable shutdown syndrome, and was unable to support, or stay awake thru the recording or processing of any more video tutorials. I have now been able to get back to recording tutorials of the new features.
Also lost was my entire CS3 suite and serials, which I am extremely glad to have back, so the update is back on track, but with this experience behind me, I am not going to be so foolish as to estimate a date, for fear that people make promises relying upon that date, and then get angry at me!

I hate it when people, especially customers are angry at me

I will post back soon, hopefully with bigger, better announcements

Robbie
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Not that blog entry:

This is not the blog entry that a lot of people are going to want it to be...
It isn't announcing the update to Jaxs Pro, nor is it a blog entry announcing the new theme... it is simply a blog, digging a RapidWeaver tutorial site.

Brian is a very active forum member, and an amazingly useful resource to the rapidweaver community, and he just became amazingly useful with the following site.

http://bzest-in-hdr.shukapaw.com/

The site is one giant tutorial for combining your rapidweaver project, with a bannerzest created show... he show you how to modify different themes to use a bannerzest header.

It's intensely cool, and very useful... oh, and I donated the theme for the site!!

So go and give him some love... I love the casual quirky way that the site is written. and I'm all about the free advancement of the rapidweaver community.

Oh, and also, here are some excuses, for those of you salivating for a jaxs pro update:

• I have been mad busy lately (what a lame excuse)
• Desperately trying to keep on top of support (less lame)
• As well as kicking the face offa spam (Booooo)
• I spent about a month trying to fix a bug which it turns out wasn't my fault, nor was it fixable! (RAGING!!!)

I am trying, i need my iMac back from tokyo, as my macbook pro has random shut down syndrome, so i can't currenttly encode, or upload video as its too processor heavy, so my macBook pro faints when i hit encode :)

I love you all... and I have some very cool stuff coming, so keep your eyes open....

Happy weaving, and

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A suggestion for a common RW javascript choice

For those who care about loadtimes, server calls, and general penicity-ness, here is a crazy idea, that will never happen :) Read More...
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New video tutorial

A few users have been requestion a tutorial on how to seamlessly integrate a Forum into a rapidweaver site.

So, I have smacked a video tutorial up about how I did it for my support forum.

You can check it out here

And you can lemme know what you think, and or what other video tutorials you’d like to see in the comments below!
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Jaxs Pro is getting an update *soon

Hello kids.

Just a quick blog update to say that I have some cool stuff coming in a Jaxs Pro Update!

Jaxs Pro, is probably my most ambitious theme, if not the most ambitious RapidWeaver theme ever.

Because of how advanced it is, and how nice the effect is, the theme has been quite popular. But the combination of popularity, and complexity means there have also been literally hundreds of support questions.

I have tried (successfully I think) to keep on top of all of the support questions, but it has made updating the theme a difficult task. But between answering countless questions, I have managed to improve the technology behind Jaxs Pro.

In an update that I am hoping is coming soon, I will be bringing some major new features to Jaxs Pro. Hopefully they will be features that address some user issues, and some of the issues thrown up by Loading content via AJAX.

I'm aiming for there to be NO NEED to reload the site if possible!

I am very excited about the update. There will be video tutorials explaining some of the new features... but I'm just letting users know, that inspite of working 24 / 7 to stay on top of support questions, I am also striving to improve the theme.

Oh, and the Jaxs Pro update will of course be free for all users!

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New Theme: Spectrum

I am very pleased to announce a brand new theme

Spectrum

With this theme I have tried to continue providing interesting, unusual and un-seen nav effects.
This one is simple, but very cool.

The menu subtly glows on hover. The fade to hover state is animated, giving an awesome real world glow. I love it!

The theme also features all of the other amenities you’d expect from a top of the range RW theme.

Split navigation, second sidebar snippets for cross browser rounded corner search bar (Google and RapidSearch)

I’v also created some beautiful Spectrum inspired high quality header graphics.
And of course, the theme is fully customization compatible, so you can replace them if you so choose.

And of course, the theme is XHTML and CSS 3 compatible.

I’m very excited for the launch, so ‘lemme know what you think!!!
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New Tutorial

Well, my first few tutorials were well recieved, and I have been inspired to carry on:

And the new on is awsome!
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New Video Tutorials

Its been a while since my last blog post...

I have done the first in a couple of video tutorials for advanced users of rapidweaver.

These video tutorials are going to cover some power user features of RapidWeaver, and include some tiny hacks that I find useful.

The ones I have just uploaded show you how to:


Include Jquery in any theme:

This really is just so that later on I can include some cool jquery tutorials, and users will be ableto apply them to any theme, not just one of mine.

Creating and adding your own background wallpaper for a theme:

This tutorial takes you throught a brilliant web app for creating tiled backgrounds, and then teaches you how to customise your theme to use that tiled background.
An excellent introduction to both design and to theme modification!

Using RapidWeaver keyboard shortcuts:

A really quick and easy tutorial, explaining how to navigate arounf the program faster, using its useful keyboard shortcuts

Simple jQuery Hidden Content:

Runs you throguh the basics of creating one of the webs most useful effects, hiding content until a link is pressed, then animted reveal.


Now, all these tutorials are free, and have below them the sample code from that tutorial.

On each page there is a donation button, and you can feel free to donate, if you find the tutorial useful!!!

Also on each tutorial page, you’ll find a link which allows you to request a tutorial, so that when I run out of ideas, I can do yours :)
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New Jaxs Pro Video tutorial

After a couple of requests I have done a new video tutorial showing users how to use multiple mp3s in the JAXS PRO second sidebar.

I hope people enjoy it, and it helps you guys out

HERE IT IS

In other news, I am striving to keep up with the support queries in my
support forums, but its not easy, now that I'v told everybody where it is, AND released a VERY VERY advanced theme.
Just letting you guys know that I am doing my level best, and as always,
any help would be greatly appreciated!!
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Plasma pro hits 1.2

I have just sent out emails to all my users of Plasma Pro and Evolution theme packs to let them know that their free updates for Plasma Pro are ready to be downloaded.
This update has been a while in the making.
The reason for this is the complexity of the theme was not playing well with IE 6:
Using javascript to call and animate a hidden transparent page element when the mouse rolls over another transparent page element which requires a repeating bg is no easy pheat in IE 6!
it took me a while, but ALL transparency should now work in IE 6, as well as layout fixes!
Another thing I had to work around was that I had run out of user inputs!
Having used the sidebar title for the second sidebar, and already having hacked the page title for the tooltips I needed a good way to get custom tab text that users have requested time and time again!
Well, its done in Plasma Pro v1.2, using Jquery includes... and people can check out a video tutorial on how to do it on the
Video Tutorials page.
There are other updates and bug fixes, but you should check the Change Log.
Go, download it, and 'lemme know what you think.
Read More...
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Things I wish RapidWeaver could do:

As a theme developer, I spend alot of my time trying to push rapidweaver beyond its limits, designing themes that add and extend functionality beyond what people are used to.

During the designing of my themes I constantly find myself wishing for certain features in RapidWeaver:

So, I figured I’d list them here, as features which would improve the APP beyond compare:
As a theme developer, I spend alot of my time trying to push rapidweaver beyond its limits, designing themes that add and extend functionality beyond what people are used to.

During the designing of my themes I constantly find myself wishing for certain features in RapidWeaver:

So, I figured I’d list them here, as features which would improve the APP beyond compare:
Read More...
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New Theme FINALLY

page2_blog_entry14_1
I am very VERY pleased to announce my brand new theme JAXS PRO

Jaxs pro is RapidWeavers first ever
AJAX enabled theme.
On a menu click the content of a new page are loaded into the current page, with no page reload.
This cuts server calls, cuts wait time, increases cool factor, and allows to a ton of possibilties.

For example, built in is a one button mp3 player that can play thru, because the page never reloads. (it is built in using a snippet, and some awesome 2nd sidebar positioning.

Additionally I have built in a cool search bar effect, which retains beautiful safari styling in other browsers.

There is also a ton of other features, so you should
check it out

it also validates, and rocks up in ALL browsers.

I’v worked long and hard on this, so check it out, and lemme know what you think.
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My New Design

You may or may not have noticed, but this site has a new design.

Frankly, I got bored of the rounded corners (quite over used in this day and age of web design), and the bright style of the previous design.

So, I have moved to this Darker // Starburst // Vivienne Westwood //, design.
On the plus side darker designs use less battery power and energy to display.
Check
Black Google, which is based on this train of thought.

I hope it is liked.... I have not doubt that there will be kinks to work out, as I’m essentially inversing every colour on the site.

Oh, and it validates!!

Check the number of visits to validation:
page2_blog_entry13_1
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Validation, RW Themes, and all that jazz.

Here... have some of my thoughts on the trade-offs, pit falls and advantages of validation. Also, cross browser testing, and the idiosyncrasies of designing for RapidWeaver and its users!

Read More...
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New theme at beta stage

My newest theme is on its way.
As always, I’v tried to do something thats never been seen before in RapidWeaver, and this time there is definately more of a design and some crazy markup, and more time spent making it pixel perfect in IE!!
Keep your eyes peeled.
It been a while, but this one is going to be a good-un
wink


In the meantime, Plasma Pro v1.1 is less than a week away, with new features and bug fixes galore, so hold on for it.

Also, loving the
6revision web design cheat sheets. Very useful for those moments when you mind / muscle memory deserts you.
(Or, at 5am in the morning, you forget the difference between a Javascript Call, and a CSS call... to which confusion is added because Safari and opera will still see that Javascript, but FireFox and IE don’t!!)

Also, for a stunning mac-esque, people should check out newspond.com
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Twitter & Site Updates

twitter
I just signed on to twitter...

Yes, I know I’m months late, and every one is going to have moved on to the next mem pretty soon, but I’m finally here, so if you care about anything I say, you can follow my deepest thoughts
here.

I’m going to use it for sneaky little previews, announcements and general thoughts, What the hell else??

ALSO:
Some minor updates to this very site...
• Search bar added
• Added quick search to forums
• Redesign of title and slogan


Robson
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Support Forums now LIVE

Whilst I am offline (nearly sorted) I am finding new ways to provide support for customers.

I have enlisted the help of a few web gurus, who will police my brand new
support forums.

This way, support queries will be answered quickly and accurately, and a library of fixed issues will be built up!

So
head over, register, and get you issues (or your love) offa your chest!!

I will be on there every second I can, providing support with my fellow geniuses!
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Things are coming...

Just a quick post to tell you all that there are exciting things coming....

Most excitingly, there is another
revolutionary theme on its way... with some never before seen features, that I think people are going to love.

Less excitingly, there are updates on the horizon for
all themes... but I am going to release them all at the same time.
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Apologizing for complete radio silence

Hello guys

This is just a quick blog post, apologizing for my complete radio silence, for support questions etc.

Unfortunately my internet connectivity has been sporadic to say the least since I got back to the UK.

But I am doing my best to answer
all of the support queires I am sent, so just hold on, emails will go out the next time me MacBook Pro sniffs out a wifi signal!!!

Again, apologies, I do always try to provide good customer service, but alas, circumstances are filing that plan at every turn at the mo....

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Free video tutorials coming soon...


Well... people seemed to like the idea of having video tutorials for the advanced features of plasma pro, and I figured that there is probably a market for video tutorials of advanced yet simple features of RW.
So I am gonna start doing them!
Probably on a donation model, where you pay what you think they are worth!! if nothing, pay nothing... if more, pay more (very radiohead / new music industry pricing)

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BlocksBox making RW Theme development redundant? NO

This question was posted recently in the RapidWeaver forums, and it got me to thinking.

BlockBox is a brilliant idea, and a great addition to RapidWeaver, but I don't think that it has erased the need for 3rd party themes.
It brings a decent level of design control to users who do not want to touch solid code.

But, very few RapidWeaver users are web designers, graphic designers, or designers of any kind. RapidWeaver essentially takes the difficult and expense part out of creating a website... it means that the user can focus on their content.
Most new themes are already offering a load of variations, giving users some control over a pre-specified design.Add that to the custom logo feature of RW and custom headers being built into themes and RWMultitool and RWthememiner

So... in all honesty, I think it just means that us ThemeDevs need to step up their game... providing features and designs in themes that users can't do themselves.
This is what I have tried to do in all of my themes, and therefore in the theme pack, and It has payed of!

RapidWeaver is all about making the process of web design easy, accessible and powerful, and 3rd party themes are and will remain a big part of that!!

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Reaction to Evolution Theme Pack amazing.

The reaction to my Evolution theme pack has been completely overwhelming!

Because I decided to give extra discounts to customer who had already bought the theme, I took a risk, and emailed my entire customer base, with news of the theme pack and of the discount. And they came out in force, with words of encouragement and purchases!

I just want to say thanks for making a big gamble on my part pay of!
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Evolution Theme Pack is complete!

I am extraordinarily proud to announce my first ever theme pack
Picture 1
Evolution Themes

Evolution is comprised of my first 4 themes:
Lava | Syphon | SlideSpill | Plasma Pro

Each theme brings with it a brand new killer feature to RapidWeaver, be it animated navigational tooltips, or Javascript Varieties, or a stunning animation effect, or the most advanced hover menu ever built for RW

The theme pack is available from my store, and is priced at just $40 which is a saving of $18.

Customers who already own one of the themes have been emailed a further discount code :)
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Plasma Pro FeedBack amazing

My brand new (newest) theme Plasma Pro just hit the RapidWeaver community, and I have been getting brilliant feedback from it!

I'm really glad its doing so well, but I can't count the number of of emails I'v had asking how to fix a broken layout, caused by the tooltips hack...

paste this into your page title text field:

Tooltip goes here">page title

or, see my video tutorial on using the tooltips!!
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