TemplateToaster

TemplateToaster
Developer(s) AcrossSoft[1]
Initial release 20 March 2012 (2012-03-20)
Stable release Version: 6.0.0.8412 / 23 October 2015 (2015-10-23)[2]
Development status Active
Written in C#
Operating system Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Window 8, Windows 8.1[3]
Available in English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Finnish, Polish.
License Trialware and Proprietary Software[4]
Website templatetoaster.com

TemplateToaster is website template and theme generating software. It is developed by AcrossSoft, a software development company in New York, NY. The software is desktop based application and generates templates or themes for all the popular content management systems i.e. WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, Prestashop etc.[5][6]

TemplateToaster is available in both in demo and premium. Version 6 was released on 23 October 2015.[7]

Overview

TemplateToaster is a CMS theme generating software that generates code automatically. A user can create fully functional templates of CMSs like WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal. It also generates templates for two major eCommerce platforms that are Prestashop and Magento. Add to it, TemplateToaster also generates blogger's template too.[8][9] Advance options are available for designing at frontend, such that TemplateToaster produces the source code for the design at backend. The code is not visible to the user while designing, although it can be seen when the user exports that design.[10]

Interface

Upon initializing TemplateToaster, a screen displaying the choices for content management systems appears. After selecting the content management system user is directed to choose either to start from scratch or to begin with sample template, thereafter one is directed to main the interface. The interface seems familiar due to the similar look with the Microsoft office. The Ribbon is seen on the head part of the interface. The Ribbon consists of these tabs i.e. General, body, page, header, slideshow, menu, sidebar, content, widget areas, elements, footer, and responsive layout.[11]

General Tab

The general tab consists of the options to select the sample templates, choosing a color scheme, layout and sidebar options. Add to that, General tab also includes CSS editor, JavaScript editor, typography options, bookmark option, and an option to add page template.

Body Tab

The BODY tab consists of the options for setting Background, option for applying texture, the option to show the scroll to top button, option to make the body background fixed or scroll.

Page Tab

The PAGE Tab consists of all the options to design the page. In this tab, options for Background settings, Layout settings and Effects are given. User can customize the properties of page by selecting the respective options. A user can even make a full width web template.

Header Tab

The HEADER Tab consists of a Preset group, option for header position, options for Background customization, Layout customization options, the option for applying texture and shadow in the header, foreground image customization options, option to create a text area, Typography options, and several logos are provided.

Slideshow Tab

The TemplateToaster provides several options for making slideshow such as to choose the Slide Show position, transition effects of the images, Background customization, Layout customization, Texture and Shadows options, Foreground image customization options, option to include text area in the slides with custom settings.

Menu Tab

The MENU Tab consists of all the options for designing menus. Preset menus are provided, the option to choose menu position, the options for customizing menu background, options for customizing menu layout, texture and shadow effects, option to keep a foreground image on the menu and options to customize menu buttons are given. A user can apply the hover effect on the menu, options to create three types of menus viz. Mega, Vertical and Horizontal. Further, the submenu container can be customized, and sub menu items and headings can also be customized using the given options such as "height", "width", "background", "border", "Hover Border", "Shadow", "Hover Shadow", "Separator", "Margin", "Padding", "Icon", "Typography".

Sidebar Tab

The SIDEBAR Tab has the options for selecting the layout. The user may keep one sidebar, or two sidebars, or no sidebar. More customization options include, options for background customization, options for setting border, width, margin, and padding, texture and shadow effects, and user can make the setting pertaining height of the sidebars.

Blocks/Widgets/Modules Tab

Depending upon the CMS, name of tab changes to Blocks in HTML, Widgets in WordPress, Modules in Joomla and Blocks in Drupal. The presets are given as the first option to the user. The rest of the options include, container customization options, such as, "Margin", Padding", "Border", "Shadow", "Background", header customization options, such as "Background", "Border", "Height", "Typography", "Texture", "Effects", and "Shadow", content customization options, such as, "Margin", "Padding", "Text Typography", "Headings Typography", "Ordered/Unordered List style", "Background" etc.

Sidebar Menu Tab

There are more choices for adding design elements into the templates. The presets, Container options and Header Options are common in WIDGET and SIDEBAR MENU Tabs. The additional options found on this tab are for customizing menu buttons and submenu.

Content Tab

The user may either apply one from given presets, or can do manual customization. The content styles and post styles can be customized with the provided options. In-depth customization is possible with many options.

Widget Areas/Module Positions/Regions Tab

Depending upon the CMS, name of tab changes to Widget Areas in WordPress, Module Positions in Joomla and Regions in Drupal. A user can make custom Widget Areas/Module Positions/Region in the template from the tab. Several Widget Areas/Module Positions/Region become visible when this tab is clicked. It is the user’s choice to increase or eliminate the areas finding the "+" and "-"in the "Position Bar" group of options. The options chosen from this group get applied to the complete widget bar, whereas, the options chosen from "Position Cell" get applied to the individual Widget Areas/Module Positions/Region. "Draw Position" group contains the option to draw the Widget Areas/Module Positions/Region as per user’s choice with background and border customization.

Elements Tab

The ELEMENTS Tab contains the customization options for the rest of the design elements of a template such as, button, textbox, pagination, bread crumb, block quote, label, alert, badges, check boxes and radio buttons.

Footer Tab

This tab contains the options for designing footer part of the template. The user is offered inbuilt social media icons for RSS feeds, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google plus. Plus, the presets, background customization options, Layout customization options such as "Border", "Height", "Width", "Margin", option to set foreground image, option to draw text area, the options for typography, texture and shadow effects are given.

Responsive Layout Tab

This tab provides the user with the option to view the designed template in different mode to verify is it works as per specifications. Custom height and width can also be put in the respective fields if the user’s device has different dimensions than given devices.[12]

File Format

TemplateToaster project have a file extension as .ttr,[13] which stands for "TemplateToaster Raw". A ttr file opens up only with TemplateToaster. The ttr file is not the theme to be installed, but it is created when the user saves the ongoing project on TemplateToaster. The actual template is created when the project is exported. Two options are given while user exports the projects, to have the template exported in Zip format or in the form of a simple folder. The exported folder consists of PHP files, Cascading Style Sheet documents, Fonts folder, folder of images, js folder and language files folder.[14]

Version history

Version Release Date Optimized features
6.0 23 October 2015
  • WordPress with Content
  • Social media configuration in the header
  • Generates Bootstrap output
  • Sticky menu
  • Sticky footer
  • Independent customization of responsive views
  • Dynamic font styles
  • Great new Themes
5.0 20 December 2014
  • It has brough a lot features in one time, support for new CMSs, PrestaShop and Blogger added
  • Generates Bootstrap output
  • Responsive menu
  • Presets for each design element
  • Independent customization of responsive views
4.2 27 February 2014
  • Custom fonts can be browsed from the application itself
  • Custom images can be browsed and added
  • WordPress theme options introduced
  • All bugs fixed
4.1 26 November 2013
  • Improved slide show
  • Joomla 3.2 support added
  • CSS editor introduced
  • Text areas can be drawn in Menu and Footer
4.0 6 November 2013
  • Magento 1.8 support included
  • Integrating themes/templates with social platforms provisioned
  • Texture and glare choices for posts or articles added
  • widget/module areas can be reserved as per liking of user
3.1 20 August 2013
  • New Start Page
  • Added Joomla 3.1 support
  • User Interface up-gradation
3.0 9 July 2013
  • HTML websites can be developed with content editing
  • E107 Support added
  • WooCommerce compatibility added
  • VirtueMart Compatibility added
  • Editing properties of elements on right click enabled
2.1 23 May 2013
  • Magento Support added
  • CSS3 support enhanced
  • Magazine menus brough as options
  • Slide Show introduced for first time
  • Option of Margin and padding for individual row and positions brought into
2.0 17 March 2013
  • Options added for Shadow and effects
  • Addition of new layouts
  • On hover preview feature introduced
1.5 23 December 2012
  • Added Joomla3 Support
  • Made localized in six languages
1.5 Release Candidate 12 November 2012
  • Responsive Design support developed
  • RTL support
1.4 Beta 30 September 2012
  • Added sample templates
  • Layout options added
1.3 beta 5 August 2012
  • Improved user interface
  • previous bugs fixed
1.2 6 July 2012
  • Facility to users to see the changes on mouse hover
  • drag & drop feature
  • improved user interface
  • Grid layout
1.0 beta 20 March 2012 First beta version released
1.1.0 7 May 2012
  • Many layouts have been added
  • Bookmark feature introduced
  • Google fonts integrated

[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "We Develop Industry Leading Tools Like TemplateToaster". acrosssoft.com. Acrosssoft. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Version 6 of TemplateToaster Released with bootstrap feature". TemplateToaster. Pressbox. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "TemplateToaster". cnet.com. TemplateToaster. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Chirila, Alexandru (27 December 2014). "TemplateToaster 5.0.0.6848". Alexandru Chirila. Softpedia. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "TemplateToaster". alternativeto.net. alternativeto. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "simpleNewz - templatetoaster.com News for 2014-10-05". simplenewz.com. simplenew. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Cherim, Zubin. "TemplateToaster theme generator updated, enabling Bootstrap feature and SEO Functionality". onlineprnews.com. Zubin Cherim. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Review: "TemplateToaster, Best for both Developers, Designers and other IT professionals"". www.trustradius.com. trustradius. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Brown, Davis. "Bootstrap 3 support has really made TemplateToaster, ahead of its competitors". www.g2crowd.com. G2 Crowd. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Mccallum, Sophie. "TemplateToaster- Helping You in Making Your Website". ultimatethemesreviews.blogspot.com. Blogger. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Andrew, Do. "Editorial review - TemplateToaster". informer.com. informer. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "TemplateToaster Documentation". templatetoaster.com. templatetoaster. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Opening TTR files". file.org. file. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Artisteer vs. TemplateToaster". geeksbearinggifts.com. master. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "TemplateToaster Changelog". templatetoaster.com. templatetoaster. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
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