Using Elements Now

[Keitho]

I read that Matt Zimmerman suggested not to use Elements unless a store owner was creating a new theme. I put it on my 9.7 Dev store (which already has most of our store items and categories in place) and think that we only need to make a few tweaks (primarily in the Navigation Set) to get it up and running. Are there reasons for us not to proceed? I really like the idea of getting "on the curve" (rather than always being behind it).

One other thought is that I still like Levels and there is older version of it on my other Dev store which is stuck at 9.3 or so (and refuses to update to anything newer). It does has the Navigation Set I'd like to use to but I'm thinking that we could just be bringing along possible legacy problems. Can you even roll in a Ready Theme from an older installation into a 9.7 store?

[makco1]

I'm wanting to try the the new Shadows (Element) Theme to be finished.

Last message I received on the Shadows was 12-1-2017
>>> We’re currently working on Shadows which is another developer framework based on elements. The first customer focused readytheme should be out Jan/Feb." <<<

[Rick Wilson]

Keitho There's no technical reason to not use Elements. It's just considered a Developer Framework internally vs an actual Ready Theme. However nothing will go wrong by using it and it's the core we're building from.
makco1 Shadows should be out very soon.

[Keitho]

Thanks Rick. Is there a blurb about Shadows somewhere?

[Matt Zimmermann]

Keitho We will have more information about the Shadows ReadyTheme soon; the theme should be launching in the next couple of weeks. As for the use of navigation sets across the ReadyThemes. all new ReadyThemes built off of Elements have components that will work across the themes. However, they are not backwards compatible and the old ones were not created to be progressive. I will be created a 2.0 version of some of the legacy ReadyThemes with Levels being one of them.

[Keitho]

Ok. That answers my question. I'll rebuild the Navigation set in Elements and hopefully be good for a while.

[Keitho]

Hi Matt. Any update on Shadows?

I'm having a heck of a time with the Elements (mostly having to do with the Navigation Sets) and keep finding leftover Luxe templates (my previous theme before updating to 9.7) and ReadyTheme components in the Navigation Sets section. Do I need to make sure all the Templates are Elements and delete anything else leftover from Luxe?

Also, should I be able to change the Navigation Layout in Elements? I really liked the Horizontal Mega-Menu in Levels but in Elements nothing seems to change. It is locked down?

If I decide that Elements is not working for me, what happens if I swap in Levels before you update it to 9.7?

Sorry for all the questions but I just don't do this very often...

[Matt Zimmermann]

Hi Keith,

Nothing pre-Elements will work directly with a site/ReadyTheme built on the Elements framework. There should be no reason to keep the old sets unless you want to have the code to reference for creating new navigation sets. Everything in Elements should be editable, there is nothing locked down. As for changing to a different ReadyTheme, you should be able to do that.

As for Shadows, I am in the home stretch on that one; should be a few more weeks.

[Keitho]

Thanks. If I understand correctly, there are no other themes I can use now? I'm ok with that but would like to know if the Layout options should be working in Elements. They don't seem to. Does the Template need to change (or should it automatically) when you select a different layout and save?

[Matt Zimmermann]

Hi Keith,

The layout selector has no impact or use with the Elements navigation sets. You would have to either create customer code or use one of the navigation extensions to achieve different layouts.

[makco1]

Are there any updates on when Brennan might be ready with Shadows?

[Matt Zimmermann]

If all goes well, I should be releasing Shadows within the next week.

[Keitho]

Will the navigation setting be any easier to work with than Elements? Right now I can't get anything to work and having to make changes in three places is laborious. With Levels I was able to just drop in the titles and links.

[Matt Zimmermann]

Hi Keith,

Shadows will come with its own navigation sets which should be easy to work with. However, you can still use any of the navigation extensions available through the Elements framework.