NearDawn Template

Purpose

NearDawn is a 'drop-in' alternative for Template 8 that provides a more interesting color palette, more legible fonts, conserves space better, and comes with a number of useful features that support customization without changing any PHP code. Mom and Dad Side links from Template 8, surname clouds from Template 12, and scrollable content sections can all be customized in template settings or turned off entirely. The template is internationalized and supports Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish out-of-the-box.

A new installation mod, NearD Support, can be used to make all the required changes to templateconfig.php and the language support files without editing. Left-side icon/link clustering, which used to be supported by the Icon Gravity Mod, is included as part of the installation.

The designer's own genealogy site, Lindell-Herndon Genealogy, uses a variant of NearDawn that incorporates ad banners and his own custom footers.

Designer

Bill Herndon

Download

v12.0.0.3a for TNG 12.0+.
v10.1.0.3a for TNG 10.1.0 through 11.1.2.

Compatibility

Installing on TNG 12

TNG 12 makes a change to how template configuration parameters are stored. Rather than using a file, parameters are stored in the TNG database. Consequently, a method of loading the template data into the database must be developed. A 'Template Manager' mod is currently under development and will be made available in the next few weeks, but until then NearDark and NearDawn are not compatible with new TNG 12 installations.

Upgrading to TNG 12

TNG users upgrading to TNG 12 from previous releases can continue to use NearDark and NearDawn by following this procedure:

Copy your templateconfig.php to a location outside of the TNG directory prior to the upgrade.
Uninstall the NearD Support mod. (This may require a 'cleanup', but since you'll be restoring the templateconfig.php file momentarily, it doesn't matter.
Copy the templateconfig.php file you saved in step 1 back to the TNG directory.
Continue with a normal TNG 12 upgrade. (The TNG upgrade will read the templateconfig.php file as part of the upgrad and install all of the template parameters, including parameters from NearDawn and NearDark.)
Install NearD Support v12.0.0.3. This version of the support mod will add the appropriate template functionality without making changes to the templateconfig.php file.

Features

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. The heading for each can also be set in template settings.

Surname Cloud

This is the same feature supported by Template 12. The number of surnames displayed can be set in template settings, and the feature can also be turned on or off. When turned off, the template will recalculate distances so that the home page maintains the same approximate size. The default number of surnames is 40, and the template is sized to handle up to 50 surnames when scrollable content (see below) is turned on.

Scrollable Content

By default, this feature is turned on and causes the index page's three main content sections to scroll their content while maintaining a maximum size. Turning the feature off in template settings will cause the page height to accommodate all content without scrolling.

Three-part Headers

Three-part headers from Template 8 are supported.

Internationalization

NearDawn is fully localized for Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish out-of-the-box, and many page items can be changed by the user. For example the 'Site Menu' has default settings for each of the supported languages, but these can be changed by the user in template settings.

NearDark Palette

For a color palette that more closely resembles Template 8, but with all the features, check out NearDark.

Preview

NearDawn

(Click for full size views.)

Template 8

Requirements

A working TNG installation (10.1.0 - 11.1.2) or a TNG installation upgraded to TNG 12.

Installation

(Note these instructions are for TNG installations up through, but not including, TNG 12.)

Automatic

The template designer recommends automatic installation using the NearD Support mod. This mod makes all the necessary changes to templateconfig.php, updates TNT's language files, and installs left-hand icon/link clustering.

Download the template's .zip file to your TNG templates directory and unpack it.
Download, unpack, and install the NearD Support mod.
From NearDark's template configuration page, make any changes you'd like to customize NearDark.

Manual

Download the template's .zip file to your TNG templates directory and unpack it.
Download, unpack, and install the Icon Gravity mod.
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 configuration):

$tmp['tNearDawn_headtitle1'] = "NearDawn";
$tmp['tNearDawn_headtitle2'] = "Template";
$tmp['tNearDawn_headtitle3'] = "";
$tmp['tNearDawn_headsubtitle'] = "Mom's family, Dad's family, and a whole bunch o' other families.";
$tmp['tNearDawn_headimg'] = "img/titletop.jpg";
$tmp['tNearDawn_showmom'] = "no";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside'] = "Mother's Side";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_Danish-UTF8'] = "Mors Side";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_Dutch-UTF8'] = "Moederzijde";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_French-UTF8'] = "Arbre de la Mère";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_German-UTF8'] = "Mutters Seite";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_Italian-UTF8'] = "Albero della Madre";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_Norwegian-UTF8'] = "Morsiden";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_PortugueseBR-UTF8'] = "Árvore da Mãe";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_Spanish-UTF8'] = "Árbol de la Madre";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momside_Swedish-UTF8'] = "Mors Sida";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momsidenames'] = "Smith/Jones";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momperson'] = "I1";
$tmp['tNearDawn_momtree'] = "mytreeid";
$tmp['tNearDawn_showdad'] = "no";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside'] = "Father's Side";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_Danish-UTF8'] = "Fars Side";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_Dutch-UTF8'] = "Vaderzijde";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_French-UTF8'] = "Arbre du Père";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_German-UTF8'] = "Vaters Seite";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_Italian-UTF8'] = "Albero del Padre";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_Norwegian-UTF8'] = "Fars Side";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_PortugueseBR-UTF8'] = "Árvore do Pai";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_Spanish-UTF8'] = "Árbol del Padre";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadside_Swedish-UTF8'] = "Fars Sida";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadsidenames'] = "Johnson/Williams";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadperson'] = "I2";
$tmp['tNearDawn_dadtree'] = "mytreeid";
$tmp['tNearDawn_usescroll'] = "no";
$tmp['tNearDawn_showcloud'] = "yes";
$tmp['tNearDawn_cloudnames'] = "20";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle'] = "Site Menu";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_Danish-UTF8'] = "Hjemmeside Menu";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_Dutch-UTF8'] = "Website Menu";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_French-UTF8'] = "Menu du Site";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_German-UTF8'] = "Website-Menü";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_Italian-UTF8'] = "Sitio Web Menu";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_Norwegian-UTF8'] = "Nettstedmeny";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_PortugueseBR-UTF8'] = "Menu do Site";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_Spanish-UTF8'] = "Menú del Sitio";
$tmp['tNearDawn_menutitle_Swedish-UTF8'] = "Webbplatsmeny";
$tmp['tNearDawn_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['tNearDawn_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 (or languages/English-UTF8/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";
$admtext['usescroll'] = "Scrolling Content";
$text['neards_by'] = "by";
$text['ndawn_tname'] = "NearDawn template";
$text['ndark_tname'] = "NearDark template";

Full internationalization requires adding variants of the above 8 variables for each supported language. For full language support consider using the automated procedure.

Notes and Caveats

(None)

Revision History

Version	Release Date	Comments
v12.0.0.3a	19 May 2018	Incorporates mobile site enhancements introduced in TNG 11 and adds the local template configuration file for use with the Template Manager mod. Users installing NearDawn for the first time with TNG 12 must use this version of the mod.
v10.1.0.3a	26 Mar 2018	Corrects a global variable issue in footer.php that can cause a memory leak when TNG is run on PHP 7.0+.
v10.1.0.3	20 Jun 2017	Added language support for Dutch, Danish, French, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Swedish. Also updated default values for configurable page titles and menus (all languages) and tested with TNG release 11.1.1.
v10.1.0.2	30 Oct 2016	Makes some minor changes to the index page to align menus and photographs. Adds built-in support for Spanish and German. Now supports turning off scrollable content in template configuration, and has been tested to work with the new installation mod, NearD Support.
v10.1.0.1	2 Mar 2016	This update adds additional contrast to menu items but also darkens the blue used for text and backgrounds. New features include the ability to turn the Mom's Side and Dad's Side links on or off from the template settings, in addition to the Surname Cloud feature from Template 12. 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 NearDawn

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	10.1.0.3	11.1.2
OurFamily Genealogy	(unknown)		10.1.0.1	11.0.1
Familie Bitterer	(unknown)		10.1.0.3	11.1.2
Rintoul/Bowman Family	Andrew Rintoul	Public/Private	10.1.0.3	11.1.2
Our Family Past and Present	Bob Foley		10.1.0.3	11.1.1
Family Genealogy	Kevin Reeves		10.1.0.3	11.1.2