Developers

Information for Developers

Overall Site Layout

For the overall site layout you can use any of the following methods:

1. Use one of our templates. You are still able to override CSS by inserting it into the HEAD of your pages. You can override CSS by placing your own css in your admin panel under General Settings -> HTML Inserts -> Section 4.
2. Use Design 5 (CSS Template for Advanced Users) with Product Page Version 2.0). Using this option, the site is mostly rendered with container DIVs. You can then create your own CSS and graphics. User's who use this option also typically use the option to use their own home page HTML. Tables are only used for some of the product detail layouts. The tables that are used have classes or IDs and can be modified. We also automatically include jQuery which can be used to override almost any page element. This option is provided for legacy support, Product Page Version 2.1 is now the recommended option.
3. Use Design 5 (CSS Template for Advanced Users) with Product Page Version 2.1. This option will output a tableless version of all menus, product detail pages, etc. You will need to entirely create your own CSS. Some options, such as product detail image gallery and zooming features are still provided.

Home Page Customization

For home page customization you can use any of the following methods:

1. Use one of our templates. You are still able to override CSS by inserting it into the HEAD of your pages. You can override CSS by placing your own css in your admin panel under General Settings -> HTML Inserts -> Section 4. - you can also specify your own CSS file to use in General Settings -> Advanced -> Misc Settings -> Advanced Settings -> "You can change the file your CSS links to here (note: advanced users only):".
2. Use the Home Page Builder. The Home Page Builder was created for web designers so they could use the eSC program to create a custom home page (still within certain specifications, but much more flexible then the standard eSC platform). Knowledge of HTML and CSS is required as is the ability to create graphic images to specific sizes to fit properly within the structure of the template. To access this click "Manage Home Page" and clicking on "Try the new home page builder (beta): Click here" then clicking on "Submit", checking "Ecommerce Style Layout", then "Submit". If you do not see the "Try the new home page builder (beta): Click here" option, please contact us via support ticket in order to enable it for your account. This option can now be used with the Design 5 Adavanced CSS Template.
3. Use your own HTML. If you want total control over the home page code you can paste in the entire HTML of your home page. To access this go to "General Settings" -> "Advanced" -> (scroll all the way down) "Design 5 (CSS Only) Settings": Check " I am using my own HTML for my home page" and enter the HTML in the "Custom Home Page HTML" box. Note: This method will break any integration with the Collection/Category menus, featured styles and slideshows. To customize your home page and still keep these features integrated, use the "Home Page Builder".

See also: http://www.efcmailserver.com/wiki/index.php/General_Settings_Advanced

Customizing eStyleCentral's Templates

If you'll be customizing our templates with our own CSS there are two ways this can be accomplished:

1. (recommended) You can override CSS by inserting it into the HEAD of your pages. You can override CSS by placing your own css in your admin panel under General Settings -> HTML Inserts -> Section 4. This is the recommended method because any future classes we need to add for new features will also be added to your web site for better compatibility.
2. You can also specify your own CSS file to use in General Settings -> Advanced -> Misc Settings -> Advanced Settings -> "You can change the file your CSS links to here (note: advanced users only):". If you use this method your website won't be updated with new CSS classes used for new features. You would need to add these manually.

Customizing the Built-in Slide Show (Home Page 1.0)

(This section pertains only to the legacy Flash slideshow feature used in Home Page 1.0, Home Page Slider 2.0 is now the recommended option)

The maximum height of photos in the slideshow is the same as the height set in "Slide Show Settings" -> "Slide Show Height". If you upload photos when the slide show height is set to 457px, for example, and later update the slideshow height to 700px, you will need to re-upload the photos again so the server can resize them to the new height.

You can include any jQuery/javascript/Flash/etc content you want in the Home Page Builder and custom homes pages. However, some developers find it helpful to use the built in slideshow (Manage Home Page -> Misc Site Look and Feel -> Manage Home Page SlideShow) to make it easier for clients or other employees to update the slideshow. If you don't want to use the Flash based slideshow and still want to have the client/employee use the management tools in the admin (Manage Home Page -> Misc Site Look and Feel -> Manage Home Page SlideShow) you can integrate the XML file used by the Flash slideshow into your own custom script. The XML file is: http://efashioncentral.com/xbasecode/slideshow/images.xml?EfId=YOUR_3DIGIT_CLIENT_ID

Customizing the Built-in Slide Show (Home Page 2.0)

The slideshow management area is located in "Manage Home Page" -> "Misc Site Look and Feel" -> "Manage Home Page Slider 2.0". If you are using the Home Page Builder within your custom CSS design you can using the built-in Home Page Slider 2.0 feature to allow clients to easily update their slideshow. For more information on obtaining or using Home Page Slider 2.0 see http://vimeo.com/71104031

Using Text Entered in Manage Home Page in the Home Page Builder

If other clients/employees will be updating home page text but you don't want them using the Home Page Builder to do so, you can have them use the text fields in "Manage Home Page" and just insert the placeholder keywords [HomeText] [HomeTextAlt1] [HomeTextAlt2] or [HomeTextAlt] within the home page builder text area where you want each respective field to be inserted. These correspond to the "Your current home page text:", "Text which will appear above the featured products", "Text which will appear below the featured products" and "You can enter text in the box below that will be shown in its place", respectively.

Title Element Composition

The title bar is composed of the following: [Category or Collection Name][Style Number][Product Short Description][Global Title Bar text which is set in General Settings -> HTML Inserts -> 1 ], in that order.

To edit the title element for a specific category go to "Edit Collection/Category Details" called "Title of this Collection/Category for HTML "TITLE" element if different from above". This will override the collection name if given, otherwise the collection name is used. This will also be used as the automatic add-in for the meta tags.

To edit the Title element for a specific product, go to "Manage Products" -> Navigate to a product and click "Edit", enter the new Title in "Product HTML Title Override". You can also edit META keywords/description for the product here in "Product META Keywords Override" and "Product META Description Override". Enter only the keywords/description, not the entire META tag.