[OpenLayers-Users] GeoExt layout help

[Brad Bordine]

I am trying to incorporate GeoExt into the next generation of my team's 
mapping product, and of course the learning curve is very steep. Right 
now at the outset I am struggling to understand the right approach to a 
specific layout issue. I would like to have my various info windows such 
as layerpanel, legend etc. overlay a full-window base map. Ideally I 
would be able to make the layers backgrounds transparent, turn off 
border and hopefully turn off the menu bar display in come cases. My 
question though is how to set up the structure to have a slippy map 
sized to the browser window and a layer above with controls within the 
Ext context. At this point, any learning resources, tutorials, etc. 
would be very helpful...