Layout.php required?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:39 pm

the "how to" file states that to create themes, 3 files are required... layout.php, styles.css and info.txt.

In all of the included themes only one theme, Newspaper, has the layout.php file in the directory.

So the question I have is this; Is the layout.php file required or is the "how to" doc inaccurate.

What files are essential to developing a theme?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:12 pm

I've discoverd the answer to my question. 0.8 begins the use of .tpl files and the layout.php is deprecated. I guess the "how to" file should be updated to reflect this change.

Post by **garvinhicking** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:43 pm

To which "How to" are you referring to, please? Then I will correct it.

Regards,
Garvin

cnymike · Post by **cnymike** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:12 am

I am referring the the "HOWTO" file which is located in the "templates" directory of the Serendipity installation.

Code: Select all

*****************************
*     Serendipity Themes    *
*        temporary          *
*****************************

To create themes simply create a folder inside your template directory.
This folder has to contain 3 files.

* layout.php
    This file contains the layout of the main area of serendipity. You can normally find a template for this file in the default/ folder

* style.css
    The CSS stylesheet which will be imported on all pages, including admin area.

* info.txt
    Contains the information about the current theme. Things like Name, Author and Release Date should be put here. 
    Make sure format this file so that it is valid. Oherwise your theme will not show up correctly in the theme page

* inactive.txt
    If this file exists (no matter what its contents) the template will not
    be available to be chosen. Remove the file to test and work on the template.

* /img
    This folder contains images unique to the individual theme. 
    It is NOT advised for a theme to contain images which is not unique to that theme.
    Images from the default theme are used as fallback if the image cannot be found in the active template.

* /img/emoticons
    This folder contains the unique emoticons for the individual theme, these images are used by the emoticon plugin.
    It is NOT advised for a theme to contain emoticons which is not unique to that theme.
    Emoticons from the default theme are used as fallback if the image for that emoticon cannot be found in the active template.


Generally you can just copy the layout.php, style.css and info.css files from the default folder to a newly created folder of your choice -
Thereby you have a basis for a new theme and can now begin to modify the this theme to your liking and slowly start copying 
images from the default folder to your new folder as you find the need for them to change to fit your style.

Post by **garvinhicking** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:16 am

Hi!

Thanks a lot, I modified that file!

Regards,
Garvin