[3.0.x] Template Design : Any Tutorials?

[Redmatrix]

I really like that I can edit the templates IN my ACP.

However, I would like to learn how to make my own template and not have to hack somebody else's.

Is there anywhere that I can go to read up on the basics?
Also, what are all the phpLD object names and such? Is there a list somewhere?

Thanks for your time.

[Redmatrix]

Kind Bump. Any takers?

[Bill]

Content visible to registered users only.

Im also interested in this. I will take a look into it for you.

[David]

Most of the work would be editing the html is 3 files:
template/tenplate_name/header.tpl
template/tenplate_name/footer.tpl
template/tenplate_name/style/style.css

[praveen]

and top bar.tpl

possibly main.tpl (if you know what you are doing...)

[Redmatrix]

Okay, from all my hacking, this is what I could come up with..

The main.tpl file is the one that gathers all the data, and all the other .tpl files and spits them out to the browser.

This is the file where you include other template (tpl) files. Currently, the default includes are header.tpl, top_bar.tpl, & footer.tpl. [do I need to keep adding the extention in this post?]

You really shouldn't be messing with this file at all unless you are including a template file, if anything.


header.tpl
The header is where you will find your logo. It's the top part of the page that has no links or menu or data. The logo is linked to your root domain, though.

top_bar.tpl
Here is where the menu exists. You have the "Home | Submit | Top Sites | New" menu links. You also have the Search box, search logo, and search submit button.

footer.tpl
Here is where you have the bottom of the page; where you have all your credits.

All of these files use php and html in conjunction. The good thing is that the style is separated into its own file, called style.css.

style.css

Or whatever you choose to call it, is where you will do most of your coding. It contains everything you need. Background colors, link colors, category, featured everything is customizable here.

[praveen]

and you do not have to keep the elements and structure in those resp tpl's.

i have a habit of not using the topbar.tpl as i just add those to the header.tpl and i remove all references to it as well.

and sometimes i create some tpl's for specific needs like google ads or other content which i know i will be changing from time to time.


but typically, editing the above files should do the trick + some css edits ;)

[arindra]

nice , i will subscribe to this thread for picking anythng i havent yet got around to . :D