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New Ning Design Studio, Coming - - Released in Beta on February 9, 2011

February 9, 2011 Update:

Ning just released the new Ning Design Studio in Beta.

How to Access new Design Studio
- Access My Network/Settings/Ning Labs and enable the beta for the new Design Studio.
- Click on Save.
Warnings:
- Please choose moving to the beta for Ning's new Design Studio, wisely. I would rather see Ning Network Creators test this some more, and then make the move.
- This is how I understand this. When/if you make this change, none of your original custom CSS tweaks will work. For the customization you would like to add back, you will need to start adding one at a time, and testing the results. Some examples would be: Overall site colors, backgrounds, the CSS tip for scrolling through Blogs-Videos-Photos-etc...on the home page, tip for removing right column, width of site, and any other customized CSS you have added to your site.

Well, it's exciting and pretty nerve-racking, all at the same time. Ning is introducing a new Ning Theming System. They're calling it the Ning Design Studio, and it's loaded with more themes, nicer features, and a lot more.

More About the New Ning Design Studio - -

According to Ning: (Original Discussion)

"The Ning Design Studio gives you an incredibly intuitive way to customize and transform your social experience."

Choose from 70+ hot new themes at launch
See a live preview of changes as you make them
Set a 2- or 3-column layout and choose navigation and sidebar locations
Tweak 80 dials and controls for your site appearance
Access Developer Mode, where design gurus can access the Ning CSS and create their own themes

For more screenshots and information about the Ning Design Studio, check out this page.

For new Ning Network Creators, it'll be great. For existing Ning Networks with a lot of CSS customization, it could become a real challenge, and decision making time.

Let me explain. You'll have to choose one or the other: the old way (your current customization), or the new way (new Design Studio Theming System). Fortunately, it sounds like Ning will provide ongoing access to both Appearance Panels.

Old Appearance Panel
- My Network/Settings/Appearance/Advanced
- Current panel where you tweak and add CSS.
New Theming System
- Developer Mode
- New panel where you will tweak and add CSS.

If you choose the new, then you've got to start over as far as your overall theme. There really was no other way for Ning to handle this, but to make the 2, separate entities. For those of us who have worked on our custom CSS for years, and a lot have paid for customization; you cannot use the new theming system without giving up your current customization. But, don't panic. It'll just take time to decide which way to go, and I'll be offering all kinds of help once I get my feet good and wet in the new theming system.

And as Ning explains it: What if my Ning Network is already perfect?

When the Ning Design Studio rolls out, your current theme and customizations won't change. In order to take advantage of the new features, including 2-column layouts and Developer Mode, you'll need to select one of the 70 new themes.

However, you can always revert back to your old theme at any time — you can find it in the "My Themes" section. And if you want to edit your old theme, you can choose to do so in the old appearance editor as well. This ensures a great experience for every Ning Creator. If you have any questions about this, take a look at our FAQ on the Creators Network.

Well, February 9th is right around the corner. We'll see how it goes. Here's hoping it's a great addition for all Ning Network Creators!

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Permalink Reply by Mario Benites on February 2, 2011 at 5:40pm

Well, it sounds good because today I just created a new social network. So now I think is better to wait until February 9th. Excellent.

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Permalink Reply by Magic Happens on February 2, 2011 at 5:57pm

Sounds good, so we are all happy.

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Permalink Reply by Carny Town on February 2, 2011 at 6:26pm

Sorry to seem so pessimistic. But considering the latest track record at developing new additions to networks. I would recommend sitting back and watching for a couple of days, rather than jumping right at it.

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on February 2, 2011 at 8:17pm

Yeah, my fear is all the NCs who have customized CSS. I'm afraid they're not going to "get" that they can't use both. Not until I figure out an easy way to copy the customized code to the new, at least.

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Permalink Reply by www.overtone.cc - Jens on February 3, 2011 at 4:08am

I hope we can test this theme designer without any problems for existing member pages. I took part of the beta test but stopped it. If we can't test it without affecting existing member pages - some customized CSS didn't worked on member profile pages I am not sure why I should use it. If I would start a new network on NING - sure I would like to use this theme designer. But the last two days running this beta theme designer was not so satisfying.

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on February 3, 2011 at 12:17pm

Cool Mark!

Jens, I agree. I do hope NCs think before they leap. Course, according to Ning they can revert back at anytime. And Jens, I'm not sure. But I feel sure you should be able to test in test environment, like I mention below.

Everyone, I suggest: experiment with the new via you test network, for quite some time. Then if you want to switch, do it.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Velouria on February 3, 2011 at 9:53am

Sounds like good advice Carny!

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Permalink Reply by Magic Happens on February 2, 2011 at 6:30pm

Jen can we test this out on the test network and not be afraid of changing the real network, or would testing this on the test network cause the real one to change over?

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on February 2, 2011 at 8:16pm

Honestly, I'm not sure. I think so. But, that will be after the final release.

Best,

Jen

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Permalink Reply by www.overtone.cc - Jens on February 3, 2011 at 7:43am

We will see ...

Nick Barr wrote:

"However, you can always revert back to your old theme at any time — you can find it in the "My Themes" section. And if you want to edit your old theme, you can choose to do so in the old appearance editor as well. This ensures a great experience for every Ning Creator. If you have any questions about this, take a look at our FAQ on the Creators Network."

we will see if this will be realized - if we can always use our "old" theme it should be no problem to give this theme designer - that members can use it. For my own as NC' s i think that I can't change the design of my network because my members are afraid of changes of the design.

I am interested to check it out when the BETA test is finished and we can use it without BUGS -

so I think in March or April 2011 it should be ready if I remember how NING lauchned the new text editor.

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Permalink Reply by JenSocial on February 3, 2011 at 12:21pm

Jens,

I do not think you can give to your members, without reverting your entire site. Nick means: if you choose the new, you can go back to the old. If you are correct, that would be great. But unfortunately, I'm thinking it's all or nothing. Keeping in mind though, like you mentioned - - you can revert back.

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Permalink Reply by Haitians United for Haiti on February 2, 2011 at 6:33pm

I am part of the beta, so there is a lot to be excited about; however they have to fix a few bugs before it is ready to go live. I am playing around with it on my test network. Thank you Jen for sharing!