HI
The best way IMO is to create simple 3 column layout html/css, fill it in text, by hand not drupal devel module and port it to drupal page.tpl.php and crate .info file. Try to set it up, learn drupal management ( U have to know how to use it!) and experiment with very basic like wireframe "design", learn how to define regions etc. Later nodes, blocks, page-front and other stuff. Find out how drupal works and try to understand $hooks and variables, but start from very basic easy things. Everything depends on the level of your skills. IMO hooks and functions are a bit more advanced fro the beginners....and start to learn PHP.


-Tom

On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 6:58 PM, JasonN <imjasonn@gmail.com> wrote:
Someone needs to do a training course that's pure Drupal design. I'll admit there's little out there about it, in a format that makes sense to non-PHP developers.

The design process is quite simple.

There's a template.

The template has hooks for both code and design elements.

You can position the template hooks in the "blocks" you want them to be manually. But, using the Drupal block management system requires a bit more flexibility and therefor a bit more sophisticated code layout.

If I am blessed to have a few hours to mark this up, I'll share it with you all. Though, I tend to think for most on this list it's remedial.


On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:07, Jared Stoneberg <jared@stonebergdesign.com> wrote:
That php/mysql course is overkill.  IMO theming Drupal is 75% CSS/HTML 10% PHP and 15% Drupal Configuration.  If you only have a little CSS knowledge spend your time there.

-Jared


On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 9:52 AM, saksiri.kridakara@yahoo.com <saksiri.kridakara@yahoo.com> wrote:
Thank you everyone for these responses!

I have watched the lullabot and lynda.com videos and have a good
conceptual understanding at this point...along with a little css and
html experience.

I have not dug in and developed a theme yet, but getting prepared.
I guess what I'm trying to extract is how php is used in relation to
drupal themes.

With so much else to get my head around, I'm hoping I can somehow
learn just what's necessary for theme development so I don't have to
read a whole additional book.

For example there is a lynda.com php/mysql course but that might be overkill?

Saki

On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 8:43 AM, JasonN <imjasonn@gmail.com> wrote:
> What is your strength now? That's an important place to start.
>
> On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 22:55, saksiri.kridakara@yahoo.com
> <saksiri.kridakara@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> How much php knowledge is required to develop / customize drupal
>> themes efficiently?
>>
>> Do I need to read a whole book or is there some basic documentation of
>> the essential php used for drupal theming?
>>
>> Any resources would be greatly appreciated!
>>
>> Saki
>> _______________________________________________
>> themes mailing list
>> themes@drupal.org
>> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes
>
>
>
> --
> Jason A. Nunnelley
> ----------------------------------------
> http://www.jasonn.com
> Systems Administrator
> +1 256 297 1652
>
> _______________________________________________
> themes mailing list
> themes@drupal.org
> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/themes
>
>
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----------------------------------------
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Systems Administrator
+1 256 297 1652

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