How should I go about writing a Joomla! template?

content-management-system, joomla, templates

Solution

Create a HTML page with the layout you want, inclusive of stylesheets and Javascript (1.5/2.5 is Mootools based) (Joomla 3.x is jQuery based) Adding Javascript

Keep the template initially very basic. Save this page as index.php page.

The default directory layout is:

- css

- html

- com_<componentname>/ mod_<modulename> (used to override the base templates of Components and Modules)

- images

- js

- templateDetails.xml

- index.php

- favicon.ico

Change/Add the different Joomla constructs Also updating the related templateDetails.xml with positions and file locations etc. See a current template for an example of the layout. Ex.

<?php
 // no direct access  
  defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' );  
?>

Header section:

 <jdoc:include type="head" />

Your different Modules:

<?php if($this->countModules('search')) : ?>
  <jdoc:include type="modules" name="search" />
<?php endif; ?>


<jdoc:include type="module" name="breadcrumbs" />

Your Main Content tag is:

<jdoc:include type="component" />

To allow your template the ability to display debug information add:

<jdoc:include type="modules" name="debug" />

For more advanced additions to a template have a look at the default templates (ja_purity, Beez). To override component and module layouts copy the layout files of the component or module into a similarly named directory below the html directory of your template and change it.

Edit... Extra utilities.

- To highlight the used module names in a browser add tp=1 to the end of your URL ex. yourdomain.com?tp=1

- To View an inactive but installed Template add template=template_name. ex. yourdomain.com?template=Beez

These two can be combined, like this. yourdomain.com?template=Beez&tp=1

For more information look at:

- Joomla Template Tutorial Part 1 - Joomla Template Concepts

- How to Create Your First Joomla Template

- Joomla! Docs: Template Development

- Google Joomla templates

Problem

I am using Joomla! CMS to develop a website. In the not-so-distant past I customized a template to schlep up a website. It was fun and interesting to tear apart the code to de-joomla!-fy the template. So interesting that in fact, I am flirting with the idea of making my own template from scratch. So, if I am to pursue this, where do I start? Do you know of any really good reference material, or should I just play with the code all day until things work out? I prefer to do tons of reading (for the concepts) before I go at it.

Original source