What is the difference in a style a skin and a template?
 

Ok first Im not a total Idiot I do have a basic concept of the meaning of the terms, but I am confused about, what to look at first and the order to install it. the number of passwords I have created in the last week has my head a little sore , I need help, and I would be glad to answer any Horticultural question in exchange for your time.

I have my basic install done and I want to ad vbcredits and games, both sets I believe arcade Pro and vb gaming, I like the random picture show on the cover of this forum http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/index.php? and I like the dark colors for the arcade.

But I want the forum to be much brighter, yet warm and homelike, sutle green and toast like colors with a white fourm and black type.

I need a little room for ads but I want to make it a pleasent place for the members first.

so, if your still with me are these seperate things or sets of the other? templates skins and styles, which should take priority?

Modifications (vbcredits, games, etc) are separate from styles. Modifications change the code, usually, whereas styles change what your site looks like. A style is made up of a bunch of templates.

Most mods these days do not have you do template edits, so it doesn't matter if you install the modification before the style or after.

Thank you Lynne, I am getting there, so if I understand correct a skin is just a piece of a style mainly the colors and buttons, the template is the arrangement of the different parts of the forum.
I will carry on with my install and hope I get it right, so far so good with all the ad ons I have installed.
until the next noob question arrives Thank you.

Style and skin are basically two words meaning the same thing - they makup everything that is visually displayed. Every style/skin is built from a series of smaller pieces called templates. Rather like a house is built from bricks.

THank you Paul, great explaination, I love parables. :D