Optional Responsive Layout

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Category: Latest

Published on Monday, 11 June 2012 21:25

Written by Super User

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Responsive design at its most elementary definition is simply the use of css media queries and some javascript to rearrange a website's layout to fit multiple screen sizes. This can range from a wide screen monitor down to the smallest of smart phones. It is done all through the same site, same installation, sharing the same files, and no extra layouts needed as in the past. Unlike many pixel grid based templates, Shape5 Vertex templates are already built on a fluid width layout based on percentages, with an optional pixel width wrapper, which is what responsive layouts require. Because of this Vertex templates do not require a responsive layout, instead is completely optional! That's right, if you're uncomfortable with responsive layouts or it won't work with your site, then simply turn it off and use the standard fixed or fluid width layout instead!

See It Live On Responsinator.com

Open this website on responsinator.com to see its layout on multiple devices.

What Makes The Vertex Responsive Layout The Best and Most Flexible?

• The responsive layout is completely optional, don't use it if you don't want it!
• Virtually no javascript. The only javascript used is for the mobile bar effects and to add responsive capabilities to IE7. We believe that javascript should only be used as a last resort.
• Start with a fixed or fluid layout.
• Optional IE7/8 responsive layout.
• Very easy to understand layout, which allows you to setup your site with very little effort.
• Fully customizable mobile bar styling.
• Hide divs, modules and content easily with hide classes at specified screen sizes.
• Wide screen support options.
• Multiple options for fluid width images.
• And much more!

Easy To Understand Layout

One of the biggest advantages to the Vertex Responsive Layout is that we start the layout as if it were designed for a desktop viewer, and then simply reduce, modify, or remove certain sections or font sizes based on the size of the user's screen. This is all done through css media queries, and is all done automatically for you!

The best way to see this approach, is simply resize your browser to see it all take effect.

Some responsive designs simply use a series of floating divs that re-arrange themselves on the page and add columns as the screen width increases or decreases. The biggest con to this approach is it can become very confusing as to where your content will actually exist on any given screen; making it very hard to create a specific layout and confusing for a client; especially those with specific product and content placement needs.

Our approach is much easier to understand. The site will always keep its core layout shown here. When the screen changes it will adjust as described below. The majority of rows and columns will not change their basic styling or positions until they reach the mobile version. Again, only minor adjustments are made on varying screen sizes so that you always know what your site will look like and where content will be placed!

• If the column width option is enabled, the body is set to fluid, and the body width reaches 1300px the column sizes will increase by 30%. If it reaches 1900px they will increase by 60%. If it reaches 2500px they will increase by 90%. If you are using the max-body width calculations the column widths will be based off of this setting instead of screen width.
• Between 971px and 1300px no changes will occur to the layout. This is the standard desktop view of the template.
• At 970px (a standard 10 inch tablet screen) the body width will become fluid and will fill most of the viewing area. If the inset columns are used on the page they will be combined into their adjacent columns to create one column to increase the center column's available width.
• At 750px (a standard 7 inch tablet screen) the mobile navigation bar will appear for easier navigation. If the column width option for small tablets is enabled you can set the center column to stay their original sizes, reduce the width by 20%, or stack into one column.
• At 580px (a standard mobile device size) the entire body will become one single column and module stack on top of each other. Some adjustments to the header and footer will occur.

Below are illustrations of the center columns only in the scenarios described above.



Below you will find a screenshot of the responsive options available in the Vertex framework. Below that you will find documentation for each feature shown.

General Layout

The general layout options are the ones starting with Enable Font Resizer? and ending with Right Inset Width. These parameters are the core layout options that apply to all templates, whether responsive is enabled or not. Configuring this area is the first step in configuring a responsive layout. You can choose to set the site to either a fixed pixel width or fluid percentage width, the responsive layout will work with either option. If you are using the fluid width option we recommend enabling the Max Body Width option so that that your site does not go above the set pixels; this helps keep your site looking proportionate across very wide screen.

Enable The Responsive Layout

If you wish to use the responsive layout simply turn on the switch and the Vertex framework will take care of the rest! It's really that simple! Notice there is a separate switch for IE7 and IE8. This browser does not support css media queries natively, which is what makes responsive layouts possible. In order to add this functionality the template must use javascript, which can affect the performance of a website. With this added javascript IE7 and IE8 will support the responsive layout, but we highly recommend leaving it turned off. Keep in mind that the primary target for responsive websites is tablet and mobile devices, where IE7 and IE8 do not exist.

Hide Tablet and Mobile Divs

One of the biggest obstacles to overcome when designing a responsive layout site is that not all content, images and extensions were designed to work with responsive layouts. That means that sometimes you need the ability to hide a specific element on only certain sized screens, so that something doesn't break the site's layout and everything looks proportionate. We've made that all possible and very easy to do for you with hiding classes! There are three main ways to hide content on different size screens, and they are documented here.

Column Widths

If you are designing your site for very wide screens as well as standard desktop screens, then consider enabling this feature. If the body width is set to fluid then the left, left_inset, left_top, left_bottom, right, right_inset, right_top, and right_bottom positions will increase their widths for larger screens to keep everything proportionate. If the body width reaches 1300px this size will increase by 30%. If it reaches 1900px it will increase by 60%. If it reaches 2500px it will increase by 90%. If you are using the max-body width calculations will be based off of this setting instead of screen width. The original widths are calculated in the general layout area.

For smaller screens it is often hard to make all of your content fit in the main center columns. If the screen size reaches 750px you have the option to keep the widths of the center columns how they are, reduce them by 20%, or stack them on top of each other in a single column. This option is meant for 7 inch tablets and effects the main center columns only. At 580px all positions will become a single column for mobile devices.

Mobile Bars

When the screen size reaches 750px wide (anything smaller than a standard 10 inch tablet), a navigation bar will appear across the top of the site and the bottom. This bar replaces the main menu, login, register, and search, for easier user on mobile devices. In the configuration you can choose what to enable on these bars as well as change the colors and style however you would like.

Mobile Links

Even though this is a responsive layout and there is no separate layout page for mobile devices, that does not mean that your site's viewers will understand this or even know what a responsive layout is. It has become a standard for websites that use a mobile layout to have a link to view the desktop view of the website, and this is what your site viewers will expect to see. This link simply turns off the responsive configuration using a cookie and calls the website like a standard desktop would when viewing in mobile. There is then a link to return back to the mobile view of the site presented.

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