BANS - Blog Template Pack! BANS Flex Theme

54 Responses to “BANS - Blog Template Pack! BANS Flex Theme”

1. Bill on June 25th, 2008 4:28 pm

   Thank you Mark.
   I’ve been waiting for you to let me send you some $. Its about time you charged for something for your work.

2. Mark on June 25th, 2008 5:30 pm

   @ Bill -

   I appreciate it! I actually hate putting a price on anything… I like free myself!

   I still plan on building a series on how to convert a WP template into a BANS template and with the new methods used on these templates, it should be easy for someone with basic html skill.

   Mark

3. Dan Navarro on June 25th, 2008 6:12 pm

   Hey Mark, Nice work!

   This is definately the next step to getting more traffic, fresh content, many SEO friendly plug-ins available, and just a good way to content that counts. One question, is this template the only one color you have available for now? I know you mentioned making a few more in the future so this purchase includes one custom made templete in green, right?

   Keep up the great work!

   Dan

4. Mark on June 25th, 2008 6:19 pm

   @ Dan -

   Yes, this is the only one available right now. I am in the middle of putting together a simple css template as well. I should have it done within a day or two. With that template, you will be able to change colors at will.

   Mark

5. Rochelle on June 25th, 2008 6:57 pm

   Mark,

   What a great template! Installation is pretty straight forward and I love how easy it is to integrate a blog and BANS site with this template pack. Very well done!!!

   Rochelle

6. Dean on June 25th, 2008 8:47 pm

   It looks great, Mark.

   I have a question I haven’t seen answered yet on this template: can we easily configure it to show more than just 5 auction items per page?

   Thanks.

7. Terry on June 25th, 2008 8:49 pm

   Thanks Mark!

   I have a few new sites to set up with this!! bought and downloaded and it is going up soon!

8. Alice on June 25th, 2008 11:05 pm

   Way to go Mark! This is awesome. I’m going to wait for the new one so I can play with the colors, but this is exactly what I’ve been looking for! And offering installation is great - I haven’t had much luck installing WP so it’s good to have an option of letting an expert do it. :-)

9. joe on June 25th, 2008 11:29 pm

   I was wondering, Hostgator has lotz of templates and is it possible to convert the hostgator templates to BANS templates for use with the store?

10. James Mann on June 26th, 2008 5:11 am

    Well that was a lot quicker than I expected.

    I have been wanting a blog/BANS mix since BANS started and now I have my first. Awesome

    Thanks Mark

11. Greg on June 26th, 2008 7:15 am

    Mark, in your post you mentioned “This template package is designed to work on NEW SITES hosted at HostGator for now.”

    I’m not on HostGator. I know how to install Wordpress though. How tough would it be for me to integrate these templates on another host?

    Not possible or Doable?

    Is there something specific about the templates that will make them only work on Hostgator?

    Thanks

12. Rochelle on June 26th, 2008 7:24 am

    Greg,

    I didn’t even notice that Mark wrote it was for accounts hosted with HostGator and I installed this on a site I have hosted with WebHostingPad. The template/blog/bans is working perfectly so far.

    Rochelle

13. Mark on June 26th, 2008 8:42 am

    @ Dean -

    The auctions are controlled by BANS… and can be set to X amount per page, as you wish. BANS still has to built just like you would normally do…

    @ Joe -

    Absolutely! I have three accounts at places with templates and often use them for different ideas. ANY (yes ANY) Template or design can be converted to both WP and BANS… of course, there are some exceptions when it come to the use of flash etc.

    @ Greg -

    I have only used it in Hostgator right now, although it should work fine on any apache host that runs BANS. The only tricky part are the include references. Some hosts require absolute or relative include references. Overall, it would be a quick fix if it did not work.

    Mark

14. Russ on June 26th, 2008 11:30 am

    Hey Mark, its Russ listen I just set my newest site on Saturday past and I was wondering if I can use this site?For this process?

15. Dawn on June 26th, 2008 2:31 pm

    Mark, I bought this template last night and I have been working all day getting a brand new BANS site up. This template is beautiful and works like a charm! I wish I had a tenth of your skill. It takes BANS to a whole new level for me…

    Thank you!

16. Jason Michalek on June 26th, 2008 11:29 pm

    I’ve played with a code quite a bit tonight and figured out that the include sections you need to edit don’t work with php5.

    Orginal code:

    Replacement code:

    I would recommend that you replace all the include code which are in the instructions on this website if you get errors!

    If you don’t get errors then don’t worry about it :)

    Jason

17. Jason Michalek on June 26th, 2008 11:34 pm

    Some reason it wouldn’t let me repost the code so i’ll email mark

18. Mark on June 27th, 2008 11:42 am

    @ Jason -

    Some hosting providers turn off the f_open_url function in php.ii, Hostgator allows it.

    All you need to do is email support and ask them to enable allow_url_include=On

    Most HG accounts already have this enabled by default, however some dont.

    Mark

19. Jason Michalek on June 27th, 2008 7:31 pm

    Is the blogroll widget hardcoded somewhere in this theme? I’m not seeing any widgets enabled in the admin section, but I’m seeing it on the site and would like it removed.

    I’ve searched the code and couldn’t find anything unfortunately…

    Jason

20. Bill on June 28th, 2008 5:45 pm

    OK I just got my 1st one up and running. Took awhile but I got it. One problem I ran into was I named Auction site with CAPS. When you go to place your first permalink the SLUG/Page address turns off caps. So Everytime I entered the EXACT FOLDER name the slug= (text that shows in address bar) kept changing back to small text, So figured it out. Had to back and make a couple changes and walla.
    Dont name your bans folder with caps. They dont stick in WP! Atleast not mine.
    Very brain stimulating

21. Terry on June 28th, 2008 11:20 pm

    Mark-

    I am having the same issue as Jason. The include code comes back and tells me that Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration.

    Hostgator support sent back this to my request to enable the url include

    We do not allow url includes for security reasons. You will have to include files locally

    Suggestions?

22. Mark on June 29th, 2008 8:51 am

    @ Jason -

    The three areas of the footer (blogroll is in middle) are controlled in the footer.php file of the theme. The center section asks:

    if dynamic sidebar 3 is active, show it. if not, show the blogroll…

    This is in the sidebar3.php file of the include file.

    @ Terry -

    If you want to send me the cPanel info for your site via the contact page above, I will jump in and see about getting absolute variable working on the site.

    Mark

23. Joette on June 29th, 2008 3:29 pm

    Mark, Is there a link to the installation video ?

    Joette

24. Randy on June 29th, 2008 8:00 pm

    Hi Mark,

    Have you made any progress with the template that will allow you to change the colors easily?

    Randy

25. Mark on June 29th, 2008 8:11 pm

    @ Joette

    I did not get the video done yet… It is still on my list of “To-Do’s” and I hope to get it in tomorrow morning.

    @ Randy -

    I am about 3/4 done with the simple css template… I have been working on several at the same time to get the “best” of each into one template.

    Mark

26. otis on June 29th, 2008 11:54 pm

    Mark,
    I am new to the wp themes and blogging all together, but I am working on learning. With your help this transformation of BANS stores shoulld be easier than doing it alone. Thanks for all your hard work.
    ps. where do you find the time to eat and sleep : )

    Otis

27. Mark on June 30th, 2008 10:06 am

    @ Otis -

    Who sleeps?

    LOL

28. Joette on June 30th, 2008 4:21 pm

    Please take your time . We all know how many things you have on your plate. I only asked because I thought it was a case of me not being able to find what I am looking for again! Happens a lot lately.
    Many Thanks

    Joette

29. Jason Michalek on June 30th, 2008 4:44 pm

    Is it just me or does anyone else notice if you enable a widget for the right footer. There is no title showing? Sidebar 4

    Jason

30. Mark on June 30th, 2008 4:53 pm

    @ Jason -

    By default, the calendar has no title on it. When inside your widget #4 area, click on the “edit” link for the calendar (right side, inside widget) and you can add a title.

    Mark

31. Susan on July 1st, 2008 3:41 am

    Mark,

    The template looks great and I’m anxious to use it, as well as other new templates you unveil (can’t wait to be able to change colors at will).

    One question - can the placeholders for the banner ads be easily removed without throwing the template out of wack? Or would it be absolutely necessary to add some images in those places?

    Thanks,
    Susan

32. Bill on July 1st, 2008 8:30 am

    Is there a forum category about this Yet. I’ll be posting my 1st site there. Hope to get some Feedback and help with some ideas I have. This is Fun, Fun, Fun!

33. Mark on July 1st, 2008 8:58 am

    @ Susan -

    The images can be removed easily… and the areas can be left blank, or anything else that will fit within the div can be put in place.

    Mark

34. Randy on July 2nd, 2008 6:40 am

    Hi Mark,

    The template that will allow you to change colors, will it be the one your selling on this page or a completely new template?

    Thanks,

    Randy

35. Mark on July 2nd, 2008 9:05 am

    @ Randy -

    It will be different… 100% css driven.

    Mark

36. Matt Sun on July 2nd, 2008 9:11 am

    Can this theme by used on a site thats has been up but not indexed ?

37. Marilla on July 2nd, 2008 12:08 pm

    Hey Mark

    So if I want to get creative and change the colours (note that I’m in Canada and I’m English - we have old-fashioned spelling here) then I need to wait to buy the new template?

    Cheers

38. Randy on July 4th, 2008 12:10 pm

    Hi Mark,

    My son is very ancious for the theme that will allow you to change colors easily. To the point of driving me crazy. He created a new site and would like to change it to this format before we start to promote it.

    I was wondering on the theme you currently offer are the colors easy to change?

    I might just buy the first one and try to change the colors to get him
    moving.

    Thanks for all you great work and tips along the way.

39. Mark on July 4th, 2008 12:14 pm

    @ Randy -

    I wish I could say I had a productive week… truth be known, I was laid up most of the week with a darn flu, still working on getting it gone now!

    The themes CAN be color changed to match any site, but there are a few images that drive the theme currently available and they would have to be remade to change the full site colors.

    I do anticipate having the straight css theme ready before the next week though…

    Mark

40. Randy on July 4th, 2008 12:38 pm

    Thanks Mark.

    We’ll just have to wait. I sure it will be worth it.

    I hope you have a nice holiday and feel better.

    Having the flu is one the worst feelings there is.

    Randy

41. Rick Blackmon on July 6th, 2008 10:02 pm

    I purchased the BANS-Blog template and had a good bit of trouble getting it started. Mark jumped in and took care of the problems. I was a manager of service for IBM and do not tolerate poor service. Mark provides some of the best service I have seen in a long time. I have purchased 2 templates from him and he is a pleasure to deal with. I will be back for more.

42. Sherrin on July 7th, 2008 2:21 pm

    Ditto to Rick’s comment. I set up my first site using the new BANS-Blog template this weekend and had a bit to trouble. Mark responded instantly to my request for help. In fact, I sent an email on Saturday night, then went to bed. When I checked Sunday morning I had several responses from Mark regarding things he had been working on it as I slept!

    Thanks Mark. I’ll post my link to the site as soon as I have it finished.
    Sherrin

43. John on July 7th, 2008 6:18 pm

    Hi Mark

    Will this template work with a bans 2.0 epn ?

    or will I have to upgrade?

    Thanks

44. Ric Mileski on July 7th, 2008 8:49 pm

    I bought Marks Flex-Bans WP-Bans Template and I love It.

    I still have a lot to do like put 39 more content articles and other stuff I don’t know about yet ..

    I’ll need Marks help on where and how to put them on the site.

    I’m a newbie when It comes to WP…
    Here a link.

    http://www.watchesknowledge.com/

    Rick

45. Mark on July 8th, 2008 10:21 am

    @ John -

    It should work fine!

    The menu system is the only portion of BANS that is used on the WP side.

    just let me know if you run into any problems and I will gladly help out.

    Mark

46. Simon on February 16th, 2009 3:46 am

    Hi Mark, I bought the Bans-flex template from you some while back. It’s really great thank you. Is it possible to have my child-pages show on the navbar? I have tried cutting and pasting some code that I found on a wordpress/extend page, but all it seems to do is replace the rss icon with a textual ‘rss’ - and it doesn’t give me the child pages. I’ve probably just got the order of things mixed up. Can you help? The site is working as per your original code at the moment - thanks to my saving a copy of the original header file and over writing my changes when they didn’t work! (That is the BEST tip ever!!)
    Many thanks, Simon

47. Mark on February 16th, 2009 9:39 am

    @ Simon -

    You can get the child pages to show beneath their respective parent links, by the depth to a higher number:

    &depth=2

    Open your header.php inside the wordpress theme folder, and look around 52, you will see this: (may slightly differ, but pretty close)

    wp_list_pages(’sort_column=menu_order&depth=1&exclude=7&title_li=’);

    Just change the depth to a 2, and it will bring in the second level child page links as well.

    Mark

    Mark

48. Simon on February 16th, 2009 12:02 pm

    Hi Mark, thanks for your prompt response. I have done this, but it doesn’t show the child links beneath then parent, but on the same level. Thus the nav bar becomes too crowded, spilling over onto a second line. Is it me? Doh!

49. Mark on February 16th, 2009 12:48 pm

    @ Simon -

    I see… you want more of a drop-down menu, that shows the child pages beneath the parent links.

    I didn’t code any dynamic menu drop into the theme and it would take a bit of work to get it working right.

    Mark

50. Simon on February 16th, 2009 5:06 pm

    Ok thanks Mark. Could you give a quote on how much it might cost you to do it for me? Please bear in mind how weak the pound is against the dollar! Ha ha!

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