NearDark Template

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Purpose

Soon after I started using TNG to host Lindell-Herndon Genealogy, I created a pair of templates derived from Template 8 called NearDark and NearDawn. Since then I've been contacted by a number of TNG users who have asked if they can use my templates. Unfortunately, not having the time to really do all the necessary CSS updates, my templates depended on 5 TNG mods to achieve the effects I wanted, and this made them impractical for most users. Now I've finished the CSS work, and my templates depend on only a single mod, Icon Gravity. So I've decided to publish them for anyone to use.

Designer

Bill Herndon

Requirements

  • A working TNG installation (10.0.2 - 10.1.3)

Installation

  • Download the .zip file to your template directory and unpack it.
  • Edit your templateconfig.php file adding the code in the box below. (These variables are really just placeholders for the parameters you can set in Template => Setup):
$tmp['tNearDark_headtitle1'] = "NearDark";
$tmp['tNearDark_headtitle2'] = "Template";
$tmp['tNearDark_headtitle3'] = "";
$tmp['tNearDark_headsubtitle'] = "Mom's family, Dad's family, and a whole bunch o' other families.";
$tmp['tNearDark_headimg'] = "img/titletop.jpg";
$tmp['tNearDark_showmom'] = "yes";
$tmp['tNearDark_momside'] = "Mom's Side";
$tmp['tNearDark_momsidenames'] = "Smith/Jones";
$tmp['tNearDark_momperson'] = "I1";
$tmp['tNearDark_momtree'] = "mytreeid";
$tmp['tNearDark_showdad'] = "yes";
$tmp['tNearDark_dadside'] = "Dad's Side";
$tmp['tNearDark_dadsidenames'] = "Johnson/Williams";
$tmp['tNearDark_dadperson'] = "I2";
$tmp['tNearDark_dadtree'] = "mytreeid";
$tmp['tNearDark_showcloud'] = "yes";
$tmp['tNearDark_cloudnames'] = "30";
$tmp['tNearDark_mainpara'] = "<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam pharetra, tellus sit amet congue vulputate, nisi erat iaculis nibh,
vitae feugiat sapien ante eget mauris. Pellentesque ac felis tellus. Aenean sollicitudin imperdiet arcu, vitae dignissim est posuere id.
Duis placerat justo eu nunc interdum ultrices. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam pharetra, tellus sit amet
congue vulputate, nisi erat iaculis nibh, vitae feugiat sapien ante eget mauris. Pellentesque ac felis tellus. Aenean sollicitudin
imperdiet arcu, vitae dignissim est posuere id. Duis placerat justo eu nunc interdum ultrices.</p>";
$tmp['tNearDark_latestnews'] = "<p><b>Today</b> - You switch to the most stupendous template ever designed for TNG.</p>
<p><b>25 Dec 2008</b> - Years and years of family research result in a compilation without equal.</p>
<p><b>1 Jan 2003</b> - Darrin invents TNG, the be-all and end-all of genealogy software.</p>
<p><b>1 Jan 2000</b> - Once again...world does not end.  Experts blame Y2K.
<p><b>5 May 1821</b> - Napolean dies in exile on St. Helena.</p>
<p><b>19 Oct 1781</b> - Blaming, \"...that burrito I ate last night,\" Lord Cornwallis sends an aide to surrender his sword after Yorktown.</p>
<p><b>19 May 1536</b> - Anne Boleyn fails to keep a level head.</p>
<p><b>9 Sep 1492</b> - Columbus threatens to, '...turn this boat right around,' if the crew doesn't stop complaining about the food.</p>
<p><b>1013</b> - Sweyn Forkbeard invades England and Aethelred II \"The Unready\" flees to Normandy.</p>
<p><b>1 Jan 1000</b> - The world does not end-Catholic Church blames the Julian Calendar.</p>
<p><b>21 Apr 612</b> - Sir Robin bravely runs away.</p>
<p><b>3 Apr 33</b> - Brian takes one for the team.</p>
<p><b>15 Mar 44 BCE</b> - Julius Caesar murdered.</p>";
  • Edit your languages/English/cust_text.php file adding the variables in the box below:
$admtext['showmom'] = "Show Mom's Side ";
$admtext['showdad'] = "Show Dad's Side";
$admtext['showcloud'] = "Show Surname Cloud";
$admtext['cloudnames'] = "Number of Surnames";

Compatibility

This template should also work for TNG r9, but I have not tested it, and since it was updated to incorporate the most recent updates to Template 8, the template should also be mobile compatible. However, if you find any issues, especially on mobile devices, please let me know.

Add any other compatibility issues here.

Notes and Caveats

None

Features

The template is designed to be a cleaner version of Template 8 that conserves space somewhat better. Use of the Icon Gravity Mod isn't required but produces a more pleasing, less cluttered, appearance. The template supports the Mom's Side and Dad's Side links, news, main paragraph, and 3-part header features from Template 8, along with the 'Surname Cloud' feature from Template 12.

Mom's Side / Dad's Side Links

This is same feature supported by Template 8 but with the ability to turn it on and off from template settings.

Surname Cloud

This is the same feature supported by Template 12 and can also be turned on and off from the template settings. Turning the feature off will cause the template to recalculate distances so that the home page maintains the same approximate size. The default number of surnames is 30, and the template is sized to handle up to 50 surnames. (You can set a higher number, but I don't believe the template will format correctly.)

Use of CSS

Most other effects, with the exception of icon clustering, are achieved through the use of CSS. So you have a fair amount of freedom to tinker with the presentation. For example, if you want to replace the scrolling content sections and allow the template to be as tall as your content, modify the template's CSS to uncomment the empty versions of a pair of classes called .home_box_short and .home_box_tall.

NearDawn Palette

For an alternate color palette, but one that has the same features, check out NearDawn.

Preview

NearDark

NearDark-home.jpg   NearDark-indi.jpg

(Click for full size views.)

Template 8

Template8-1.jpg   Template8-2.jpg

Revision History

Version Release Date Comments
v10.1.0.1 27 Feb 2016 This update to NearDark brightens the color palette, adds the ability to turn the Mom's Side and Dad's Side on or off from the template settings, and adds the Surname Cloud feature from Template 14. The default font has been changed to Tahoma for readability, and most emboldened titles have been removed.
v10.1.0.0 17 Jul 2015 Initial release

Sites Using NearDark

If you download and install this template, please add your TNG site to the table below.

URL User Note Template Version TNG Version
Lindell-Herndon Genealogy Bill Herndon Template designer 10.1.0.0 10.1.3
Your Roots are Showing Harold Craswell 10.1.0.0 10.1.2b
Porterfield Junction 10.1.0.0 10.1.2