Joomla! Documentation - User contributions [en]

Setting up a directory structure

2008-06-06T14:06:20Z

Mechanix: case matters

To make the most basic template, create a new folder in the "templates" folder. Name this folder after your template i.e. "mynewtemplate".

Using a text editor (or dedicated html/php/xml/css editor such as dreamweaver) create the files "index.php", "templateDetails.xml"

To keep things organised, make 2 new folders called "images" and "css". Insided the "css" folder create a file called "css.css"

This is the most basic practical setup. Theoretically, the css could be missed out but if you place the styling information within your "index.php" it will bloat the size of webpages and give a poor user experience.

Creating a basic templateDetails.xml file

2008-06-06T14:05:24Z

Mechanix: case matters

The <tt>templateDetails.xml</tt> file is essential. Without it, your template won't be seen by Joomla!. The file holds key "metadata" about the template.

Lets look at an example:
<source lang="xml">
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE install PUBLIC "-//Joomla! 1.5//DTD template 1.0//EN"
"http://dev.joomla.org/xml/1.5/template-install.dtd">
<install version="1.5" type="template">
<name>mynewtemplate</name>
<creationDate>2008-05-01</creationDate>
<author>John Doe</author>
<authorEmail>john@example.com</authorEmail>
<authorUrl>http://www.example.com</authorUrl>
<copyright>John Doe 2008</copyright>
<license>GNU/GPL</license>
<version>1.0.2</version>
<description>My New Template</description>
<files>
<filename>index.php</filename>
<filename>templateDetails.xml</filename>
<filename>template_thumbnail.png</filename>
<filename>images/background.png</filename>
<filename>css/css.css</filename>
</files>
<positions>
<position>breadcrumb</position>
<position>left</position>
<position>right</position>
<position>top</position>
<position>user1</position>
<position>user2</position>
<position>user3</position>
<position>user4</position>
<position>footer</position>
</positions>
</install>
</source>
So, as you can see, we have a set of information between markup tags ( the <thing> ). Your best approach is to cut and paste this into your "templateDetails.xml" file and change the relevant bits (such as <name> <author> ).

The <files> part should contain all the files that you use - you possibly don't know what they are called yet - don't worry update it later.

Leave the positions as they are - these are a common set so you will be able to switch easily from the standard templates.

J1.5:To log in to the Back-end

2008-06-06T13:42:58Z

Mechanix: New page: We'll assume you have a Joomla site at http://server.name/joomla/ To log in to the back-end you thus have to navigate to http://server.name/joomla/administrator/

We'll assume you have a Joomla site at http://server.name/joomla/
To log in to the back-end you thus have to navigate to http://server.name/joomla/administrator/