Creating Templates | Previous Next

Templates are uploaded and incorporated into the EasyCreate Site Builder. When this is done, please follow the rules listed below. These rules are similar with both the Simple Type and the Advanced Type, but they differ in some cases.
Rules for creating Simple Templates
1. All images of the template should prefix tp_ with the image name
For eg. tp_background.gif,tp_line.jpg
This is to distinguish the images present in the template from other images like system gallery images or user images.
2. Each site assumes the following structure when it is created from a simple template. So the relative urls also should comply with this structure.
Fig. 2.7.1
Thus you have an images folder and all other files directly in the root.
3. There should be two htm files and one css file with the following specifications:
The two htm files define the layouts for two kinds of basic pages. While creating pages, users will be offered with two page layouts - Home and Sub. Every page created with the Simple Type will either be a home type page or sub type page. Both home and sub types will have a unique layout of its own having a fixed part and an editable area. The fixed part usually contains the logo, caption, company name etc which are customized by the user by editing site properties. Only the editable area is loaded to the simple editor and user can do anything with this editable area.

- home.htm

This is a page with a more flashy design, which can be used as the template for home page of the site. The user can use this page for other normal pages also. It is however mandatory that the name of this file should be kept as 'home.htm'.
This page should have the following images (with the names exactly as specified):

1. tp_logoimage.jpg [ with default logo embedded]
2. tp_company.jpg [ with default company embedded]
3. tp_caption.jpg [ with default caption embedded]
4. tp_logoband.jpg [ with no logo embedded with the same size (height and width) of tp_logoimage.jpg ]
5. tp_companyband.jpg [ with no company embedded with the same size (height and width) of tp_company.jpg ]
6. tp_captionband.jpg [ with no caption embedded with the same size (height and width) of tp_caption.jpg ]

sub.htm
This is a page with a more simple design, which can be used as the template for sub pages of the site. It is mandatory that the name of this file should be kept as 'sub.htm'.
This page should have the following images (with the names exactly as specified):

1. tp_innerlogoimage.jpg [ with default logo embedded]
2. tp_innercompany.jpg [ with default company embedded]
3. tp_innercaption.jpg [ with default caption embedded]
4. tp_innerlogoband.jpg [ with no logo embedded with the same size (height and width) of tp_innerlogoimage.jpg ]
5. tp_innercompanyband.jpg [ with no company embedded with the same size (height and width) of tp_innercompany.jpg ]
6. tp_innercaptionband.jpg [ with no caption embedded with the same size (height and width) of tp_innercaption.jpg ]

If the images above are exactly the same as they are in the home.htm, you need not recreate them, you can specify that while uploading the template (in Step #2).

- style.css

This is the style sheet for the template.
This file should have the following two classes:
a. variable
This tag defines the main stream color of the site. The template pages (home.htm and sub.htm) should have some bands or colored areas having this color and thus making the site in this color.
b. anchor1
The main links in the pages should be assigned this class. So define this css class how your links should appear and behave.
You can define any number of other classes also in this style.css
4. The links should be placed in a single TD with separators if any.
5. Starting and ending of the links block should be between
<!-- start linkarea --> and <!-- end linkarea -->
The html code of editablearea should be of the form given below :
Fig. 2.7.2
6. Starting and ending of editable area (user's editable area) block should be between
<!-- start editablearea --> and <!-- end editablearea -->
The html code of editablearea should be of the form given below :
Fig. 2.7.3
7. The main links should be given a style named "anchor1"
8. The home.htm and sub.htm pages should use few bands or colored areas whose color is set by .variable class in the style.css
Rules for creating Advanced Templates
Creating Advanced Templates are easier than creating Simple Templates. This is because there is no editable area in the Simple Templates. With Advanced Templates, users are in full control of their layouts and pages. All of it can be edited accordingly. However, in order to comply with the standards, the following rules must be observed:
1. All images of the template should prefix tp_ with the image name
For eg. tp_background.gif,tp_line.jpg
This is to distinguish the images present in the template from other images like system gallery images or user images.
2. Each site assumes the following structure when it is created from an advanced template. So the relative urls also should comply with this structure.
Fig. 2.7.2
Thus you have an images folder and all other files directly in the root.
3. There should be two htm files and one css file with the following specifications:
The two htm files define the layouts for two kinds of basic pages. While creating pages, users will be offered with two page layouts - Home and Sub. Every page created with the Advanced Type will either be a home type page or sub type page. Both home and sub types will have a unique layout of its own. Unlike in the Simple Templates, there is no such concept as editable and non-editable areas in Advanced Templates.

- home.htm

This is a page with a more flashy design, which can be used as the template for home page of the site. The user can use this page for other normal pages also. It is however mandatory that the name of this file should be kept as 'home.htm'.
This page should have the following images (with the names exactly as specified):

1. tp_logoimage.jpg [ with default logo embedded]
2. tp_company.jpg [ with default company embedded]
3. tp_caption.jpg [ with default caption embedded]
4. tp_logoband.jpg [ with no logo embedded with the same height and width of tp_logoimage.jpg ]
5. tp_companyband.jpg [ with no company embedded with the same height and width of tp_company.jpg ]
6. tp_captionband.jpg [ with no caption embedded with the same height and width of tp_caption.jpg ]

- sub.htm

This is a page with a more simple design, which can be used as the template for sub pages of the site. It is mandatory that the name of this file should be kept as 'sub.htm'.
This page should have the following images (with the names exactly as specified):

1. tp_innerlogoimage.jpg [ with default logo embedded]
2. tp_innercompany.jpg [ with default company embedded]
3. tp_innercaption.jpg [ with default caption embedded]
4. tp_innerlogoband.jpg [ with no logo embedded with the same height and width of tp_innerlogoimage.jpg ]
5. tp_innercompanyband.jpg [ with no company embedded with the same height and width of tp_innercompany.jpg ]
6. tp_innercaptionband.jpg [ with no caption embedded with the same height and width of tp_innercaption.jpg ]

If the images above are exactly the same as they are in the home.htm, you need not recreate them, you can specify that while uploading the template (in Step #2).

- style.css

This is the style sheet for the template.