Building LiveSite Templates Tutorial & Training

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This section is very easy if you understand how to make websites.  I have included many templates within LiveSite for those who don't know how to make websites so that the software is easier to use, however, to obtain MAX benefits of LiveSite I suggest building a template for each domain that you harvest from.

For example and learning purposes, lets assume you wish to make a template called MyTemplateName.

A Few Things To Know Before We Get Started:   

The Three Elements of a LiveSite Template
 

Vars.text Script File
This file contains script information that the program uses to set static data from the profile.  To simplify -- this file contains things such as the Adsense Code, Home Page Name and Copyright Notice.  This file contains script variables (basically a name) that LiveSite looks for, and then replaces, with information you provide in the profile.  This will allow a user to use a template on multiple sites rather then hard coding the template.  It will look something like this:

Let me break down each element for you.  Lets take a single line and I will explain how it works and its elements.

Adsense Code HTML,%ADSENSE%,Please provide the full Adsense html code you wish to use below.[END]

Each line contains THREE sections and one rule.  Let us start with each section: |

Segment Name, %Script Variable%, Segment Description, [END]

 

Let me show you a screen shot of what a VAR looks like in the profile menu:

See how each line converts into the program and allows the user to input the data required.  This is basically the function of the VAR file and, even if your not going to use any VARS, it is required to have at least ONE line.

Template HTML Files (t_1.htm)
Let me start off by showing you a screen shot of a LiveSite template.  Templates are written in HTML code.

First notice that the template does not have any static information -- no writing or content.  All writing is done with script variables (as you learned above).  Instead of the copyright written on the page it is simply "%COPYRIGHT%" and then is later defined in the Profile creation process.  Instead of having the Adsense code hard coded it is simply %Adsense%.  These variables will later be replaced as your VAR file directs them to be replaced.  Lets take a look at some of the under lining code that you don't see here:

See the website title in this examples defined by variables. 

Now, let us talk about STATIC LiveSite Variables.  These are variables that the LiveSite software defines -- not you.  For example, %DATE%, %TIME%, and most importantly %WEBTITLE%.

%WEBTITLE% - This is a static variable that is universally defined by LiveSite.  I typically use this in the title line because it will return a proper and targeted title to the website so that each and every page has a strong relative title.  I highly suggest using this variable in the title line of your templates.

Now, lets talk about TARGETED images and lets start with an example:

See how in this screen shot we have set %IMAGE1% in the src.  This basically says to LiveSite -- put a targeted image that relates to the article into this location.  These are images that LIVESITE locates on your behalf -- you do not provide these.  Let's say you wanted more then one targeted image on the page -- continue to use variables and count (%IMAGE2%, %IMAGE3%, %IMAGE4%, %IMAGE5%) and so forth.  LiveSite will continue to replace the images on the page that it locates.

Now lets talk about Cross Linking.  Each internal page will need to have a section similar to this:

Cross Linking Static Variables

These are Static Variables used by LiveSite to insert its cross linking efforts.  Each of these will be replaced with the name and location of a previously created web page.  I would recommend at least having 2-3 Cross Links inside of your template.  Now, lets take a look in the html code of this:

As you can see -- you have %LINKCAPTION2% -- where you want the website name to go, and then within the LINK itself you have %LINK2% -- this is where the URL is inserted.  Cross linking requires you place BOTH variables in order for it to work.

One Last Aspect -- Multiple Internal Pages For Each Template
As you can see your first template MUST be named t_1.htm.  So let's say that you want to use multiple templates so that your internal pages don't all look alike -- let me show you how.  If you create t_2.htm and t_3.htm then LiveSite will randomly choose a template every time a page is created.  In this example, t_2.htm will be chosen 33%.  You can use as many templates as you wish to obtain a very unique look for your site.

Outside of this you will build the template similar to building any website.  You can use flash, scripting, and anything else required.  Style Sheets are a prime example of this -- you may need to manually upload CSS in order for it to properly work. 

LiveSite will automatically upload required resources found in the template directory.  It will upload files located in the base directory (/mytemplatename/) and also files located in the IMAGES directory (/mytemplatename/images) -- however I recommend keeping all resources in the base directory.  This makes it effortless to build new sites using prior templates.

Map HTML File (maps/map.htm)
This file controls the look and feel of the homepage.  The homepage is very similar to an internal page but has a few other aspects.  Again, lets start with a screen shot of a map.htm homepage template.

Take a look at the %HOMETEXT1% static variable.  This is a variable that LiveSite manages so do not include it in your VAR file.  You have %HOMETEXT1% thru %HOMETEXT9%.  This is where LiveSite is going to link to pages most recently created.  It is important that you use more then one Home Text variables on the homepage.  I do not recommend using more then 9.  Now let us take a closer look in the HTML of how this works.

As you can see you have two different sets of static variables that you will need on the homepage.  If you use %HOMETEXT1% you will also need %HOMELINK1% in the href link area.  LiveSite is going to insert the link in place of %HOMELINK1% and insert the title of the webpage in %HOMETEXT1%.  It will continue to do this for all homepage links.

 

This should give you a basic knowledge of how LiveSite templates work.  Just remember to keep all graphics and resources in the template directory and insert and define your VAR file.  Do that and you have it made.

Still have questions?  Contact Support@LiveSiteSoftware.com

 

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