I have updated TXP Manji in the light of recent changes to Textpattern. This theme will now only work with TXP 4.0.2 due to the use of certain new tags not previously available. If you don’t have 4.0.2 you are advised to upgrade. Do it now whether you use this theme or not. I have tried to maintain the original functionality of TXP Manji but I have also reduced the theme’s reliance on plug-ins.
First to go in a major way is rss_suparchive. The new “txp:if_different” tag sounds a little boring but is actually very powerful. TXP Manji 2 still incorporates monthly and category archives, both with menus, and not a single plug-in in sight.
Also dropped is rss_live_search. It’s a nice plug-in but isn’t really necessary as it doesn’t do anything the standard search doesn’t do and requires it’s own section/page. Having said that I have used a separate *search section* to keep the front-page as clean as possible.
Other plug-ins to hit the dust are glx_if, ob1_if_section and ob1_title. They simply aren’t required any more as TXP can now do their jobs.
So what remains? Only 4 plug-ins are left and of those only 1 is truly required, if_cookie, which controls the changes in the comment entry form for new or returning visitors.
mkp_version is used in the footer to display your current TXP version and revision numbers. If you aren’t too lazy this could be done manually.
hak_textile_tags is used in the comment entry form to provide visitors with easy textile formatting commands. This could be removed as there is a Textile Help button but removal would reduce the functionality from the original WordPress version.
zem_contact is used on the contact page to provide your visitors with a form mailer to aid contacting you. You could use your own form mailer if you prefer but this one is excellent. Of course your site might not require a form mailer so it can be removed.
None of these 3 plug-ins are necessary but I leave it up to you whether you install and implement them. If you decide not to use them you should remove the appropriate tags in the comments_form form template, footer form template and default page template.
New to TXP Manji 2 is the addition of *SmoothScroll*. This will enable smooth scrolling on all anchor tags. Try clicking on the Search option in the top menu or the Arrow at the bottom of the page. It also comes into play on the Archive pages. Try clicking an option in the Menu or one of the Back to the menu links. It is javascript so requires that your visitors allow this but if they don’t the anchor tags will behave in the standard fashion as they are coded in the usual way.
Also new to TXP Manji 2 is that it validates to XHTML 1.0 Strict. Now don’t tell me I don’t try hard enough.
There is a demo available.




Stuart
31 May 2005 at 09:06 AM
First of all I have been asked a couple of questions regarding the plug-ins. No particular problem with that but I do suggest in the installation instructions that users read the “Help” for the plug-ins included as they can be customised and used in different ways and in different situations. So far all the questions I’ve been asked about plug-ins would have been answered by reading the “Help” so PLEASE DO SO.
I’m not to happy with the way images are used for the construction of the pages. I’m not talking about true background images or the little icons, but about the rounded-corner images. In my view placing these inside div tags so that they can be positioned using CSS is just asking for trouble. I shall be putting TXP Rin back on-line and experimenting with this problem.