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ADD TEMPLATE
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General Overview
Page Name
Page Width
Style
Open & Close HTML [Page]
Content
Name
Height
Content Block Width
Colspan
Rowspan
Open & Close Row
Open & Close HTML [Content Block]
Previous and Next Buttons
Preview, Cancel & Save
Templates drive the way content is laid out in the web browser but contain no content. They contain content blocks for inserting HTML into prepositioned display areas.
Unlike most WYSIWYG software, templates on the SpearTek platform contain no predefined content. There is one overall table allowed, so the standard html rules regarding tables are in place. The goal is to view the site in terms of one or more templates in which specific blocks are shared.
Templates can be edited after creation, as well as after pages are created using them. However the changes will not be reflected across the site on the pages created from the template. Only new pages created using "Create New Page from Template" within Content Manager will reflect an updated Template. You can update previously created pages and change the Open and Close HTML to your revised code at any time.
Please Note: Changes will not be apparent until you have clicked the “next” “preview” or “save” button.
The top left portion of the page are "page properties" (except for Page Name) when a new page is created using this template.
Page Name
This will be the Title of the Template being created. If there will be a large number of templates it can be helpful to name them according to their purpose [e.g. interior pages, pop up window, ect.]
Width
The width of the template can be entered in absolute pixel dimensions, or percentages. Percentages are based upon the percentage of the entire browser that will be used by the template.
Templates can be any pixel size or percentage, however, a large range of internet users still use a 800 x 600 monitor resolution.
Style
In the event that the default background class does not handle the background presentation (the image or color), the Style field is where the name of the class to use is placed. This will allow for custom classes to be applied to specific pages, without them affecting other templates.
Open and Close HTML
Open and Close HTML can be used for a wide variety of things. If the design is to be centered in the browser window, the Open HTML field would contain < DIV align=center >, and the Close HTML field would contain < DIV >. Depending on your design's needs more can be placed into these fields, but they cannot exceed 3000 characters. If a design requires more than a simple positioning or "containment table," it is advisable to use these fields for include statements. The SpearTek platform uses Microsoft's IIS server, so include statements are done in the following manner: < !-- # include file="../content/includes/YourFile.inc" -- >. In the event that you have decided to use includes, it is recommended that you use the File Manager to create a folder in the Content directory named includes for keeping the bulk of your include files for display purposes. Content:
The next step is to enter the number of content blocks into the field labeled "Content #". The number of needed content blocks will depend entirely upon your design.
The items below the screen properties are specific to each content block. After entering the information for the first content block, by clicking the “Next” button, you will be prompted to enter the information for each remaining content block.
Name
Each content block within the template will need to have a name. It is typically easiest to name each block in a manner that relays its function. For example, naming the header “Header”, the area where the navigation will be “Navigation”, the block where content will be stored “Content.”
Height
A pixel or percentage height may be entered for a content block, but in most cases this field may be left blank. Since templates are built using a table based layout, the content block will have the same height as the content put into it.
Width
A pixel or percentage width may be entered for a content block. If a content block spans the entire template – like a header or a footer, then the number entered into the width field would be equal to the entered into the width for the entire template. If a content block is smaller than the width for the entire template, be sure that the when adding with the widths for the entire row of content blocks it is equal to the entire width of the template.
If there is to be padding around the content that will be added to this content block, this padding should be added to the width.
Colspan
If a content block is to span across several blocks [horizontally], you must set a colspan. Because the template uses the traditional rules of HTML, a colspan would be used in the same manner as it would when creating a table. For example, a header block that may span 3 content block below it [i.e. Left Navigation, Content, Right Navigation] will have a Colspan of 3.
In the row that contains the 3 content blocks [i.e. Left Navigation, Content, Right Navigation], the Colspan for each block has no value. The Colpsan effectively equals zero, since the content block is not spanning any additional blocks, and the feild may be left blank.
Rowspan
If a content block is to span across several blocks [vertically], you must set a rowspan. Because the template uses the traditional rules of HTML, a rowspan would be used in the same manner as it would when creating a table. For example, a right navigation block that may span 3 content blocks next to it [i.e. header, Content, footer] will have a Rowspan of 3.
In the row that contains the 3 content blocks [i.e. Header, Content, Footer], the Rowspan for each block has no value. The Rowpsan effectively equals zero, since the content block is not spanning any additional blocks, and the feild may be left blank.
Style
A style or custom style can be applied to a content block just as it can be applied to an entire page, or individual elements of a page. This can be useful to apply padding or text treatments that will appear in a singular block.
Open Row & Close Row
By checking the “yes” and “no” checkboxes, you can determine whether a content block open or closes a row. If a row spans the entire template both the open and close checkboxes would be set to: “yes”. If a row has multiple content blocks, the opening block is set to “yes”, “no”, and the ending block in the row would be set to “no”, “yes”. Any blocks in the middle of the row are typically set to “no”,”no”.
Open HTML & Close HTML
Open and Close HTML can be set on an individual content block just as they can be set on the entire page or template. HTML tags can be placed within these to apply to the content that will be within this block. They can center or align the content, add padding, amongst other things.
Previous & Next Buttons
The Previous and Next Buttons will appear if a template has multiple content blocks. As each content block is added and defined, you will need to click the “next” button in order to add the properties for the next content block. To go back to previous changes, click the “previous” button.
Preview
The preview button will allow you to preview the current template.
Cancel
Click cancel to cancel the creation of a template.
Save
Click save to save a template.
See Also:
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