Howto: Basic Steps to Create a xenForo Style

[AWS]

You have your server and software installed, Your community is ready. Now you need to style your forum. You could buy a premade style. They are great. Problem is other sites will have your look. What to do? Create you own style.

Creating a style for XenForo involves a few steps. Here's a general guide to help you design and implement a custom skin for your XenForo forum:

Step 1: Set Up Your Development Environment

1. Install XenForo: Ensure you have a working installation of XenForo.
2. Access Admin Control Panel: Log into the XenForo Admin Control Panel (ACP).

Step 2: Create a New Style

1. Navigate to Styles:
   • Go to Appearance > Styles.
2. Add a New Style:
   • Click on Add style.
   • Choose to create a style based on an existing one (e.g., the default style) to maintain basic functionality.
   • Name your style (e.g., "My Custom Skin").

Step 3: Customize the Style

1. Edit Style Properties:
   • Click on your newly created style to edit it.
   • Modify the style properties such as colors, fonts, and layout.
2. Customize Templates:
   • Go to Templates in the style editor.
   • Edit templates to change the HTML structure.
   • Use XenForo’s template syntax to ensure compatibility with the system.
3. Modify CSS:
   • Go to Styles > Style Properties > General to adjust CSS.
   • You can also add custom CSS under Styles > Templates > Extra.less for more specific changes.

Step 4: Add Custom Graphics

1. Create Graphics: Design any custom graphics or icons you want to use.
2. Upload Graphics:
   • Go to Appearance > Templates > Style Properties > Images.
   • Upload your custom images and set paths accordingly.

Step 5: Preview and Test

1. Preview Changes: Use the preview function to see how your changes look.
2. Check Responsiveness: Ensure your skin looks good on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).

Step 6: Finalize and Apply

1. Set as Default: Once satisfied, you can set your new style as the default for your forum.
2. User Group Permissions: Adjust permissions for user groups to access the new style if needed.

Step 7: Document Your Changes

• Keep a record of the changes made for future reference or updates.

Example CSS Snippet

Here’s a simple example of a CSS snippet you might include in your custom skin:

body { background-color: #f0f0f0; /* Light grey background */ font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; /* Change font */ } a { color: #007bff; /* Link color */ } .header { background-color: #333; /* Dark header */ color: #fff; /* White text in header */ } .footer { background-color: #222; /* Dark footer */ color: #ccc; /* Light grey text in footer */ }

Step 8: Backup Your Work

• Regularly backup your custom skin and any changes you make.

By following these steps, you can create a custom skin for your XenForo forum that reflects your unique style. 

Questions? Post them and we will help you.