NOTE:   This Guide is for simplemachines version 1.0.     

Another guide by me...this time for stylesheets.
Now may I warn you before you start reading. You MUST know CSS and HTML before you begin. If you have no idea what I'm talking about or if you don't know CSS/HTML but want to learn it here's two great sites for learning both.

www.w3schools.com
www.tizag.com
Check out both and pick your favourite!
If you want a stylesheet now but don't have the time to learn you can request a free stylesheet here


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Note: You must be viewing the Default theme to do this. Remember Stylesheets ONLY work on the Default Theme.
Step 1) AdminCP-->Manage Styles
Step 2) Click Create Style


Step 3) Enter the name of the Style and several values if you want. Then click Create Style.


Step 4) Click Manage Styles once again then in the drop-down menu right there select the style you just created and click "Pick Style"
Your page might look very ugly right now. VERY, VERY UGLY. So hurry to the next step...
Step  5) Click Modify Style. Choose that style again in the drop down menu. Click "Pick Style"
Step 6) There's your stylesheet. Go crazy, change stuff. Just keep it in slight moderation...you don't want to ruin anything!!
Oh, for reference, here's a good site with Hex colours
Now when you save the changes you SHOULD see the changes immediatly.
If you don't clear the cache(hit refresh)

Continue changing if you want...you probably won't get it perfectly on the first try! There ya go.

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Now a small FAQ.

What is a stylesheet?[/u]
A stylesheet uses CSS(Cascading Style Sheets) to modify your entire forums appearance by simply modifing one document. I'll make the stylesheet, you just put it in your forum.
If you would like to learn CSS places like www.w3schools.com can teach you. You should have a good grasp on HTML first though.

Why should I use a stylesheet when I have themes already?
Well anyone that has been with a SMF For Free forum knows that the default theme has many extras that all the other themes don't have. And stylesheets are used in the default theme. Therefore you get all the benefits of the default theme with the beauty of the other themes.
Plus stylesheets are fully customizeable and a couple of letters and numbers in the right place can change a whole forums appearance.

I don't see any changes...what went wrong?
Ensure that you have selected the style properly under the Style Picker(its in Home in the Manage styles section)
If that doesn't work ensure that you are on the default theme. Remember, stylesheets ONLY work with the default theme.
And hit refresh.

My stylesheet isn't working. What happened?
You might have screwed with the code a little more than you should. CSS is somewhat picky and deleting the wrong thing in CSS can be disasterous. Simply remake your stylesheet or find that missing character and replace it.

I don't know how to make a stylesheet..can you make one?
Sure, PM me or leave a request here
There's also some premade stylesheets there.
As well if you request one here someone might make you one.

Another guide...heh, I forogt I already made a CSS Guide here...for those of you that noticed heh. Oh well, this one's better. I killed the other one.

Wow great guide.