Post on 08-May-2015
Drupal Front EndTips and Tricks
www.hicktech.comwww.designtotheme.com@emmajanedotnet
PHP Survival TechniquesUsing Square Dancing
as an Analogy
About this talk● There are a lot of theme snippets available in the Theme Guide. There
is not, however, a lot of information about PHP which is the language that makes up these snippets. If you're tired of copying, pasting and praying and are ready to understand some of the magic behind those snippets, this session is for you!
● In this session you will learn how to manipulate and master:
● The very, very basics of PHP and the popular theming engine PHPtemplate
● Variables and tpl.php template files
● Arrays and objects and other crowbarworthy data containers.
● The really scary looking stuff that's in the mysterious file template.php
● Examples will be pulled from the Drupal.org Theme Guide as well as the wildly successful book on theming, Front End Drupal (coauthored by Emma Jane and Konstantin Kaefer).
Stick around, I've got copies to give away.
Drupal Theme Guidehttp://drupal.org/themeguide
Theme snippetshttp://drupal.org/node/45471
The Zen Themehttp://drupal.org/project/zen
Learning through analogies
www.travelinghoedowners.com
bootstrappingbootstrapping
http://www.jontwest.com/ProBono.php
VariablesVariables
Variables
Contents of variablesexist inside their containers
Contents of variablesexist inside their containers
http://www.laboutiquedupetitprince.com/en/figures56/pixi81/pixifigurethelittleprincesheepbox518.html
http://opswingers.free.fr/cestquoi.htm
RegionsRegions
Regions
http://www.dehnbase.org/sd/tutorial/counterrotate.php?p=4
FunctionsFunctions
Functions
user_is_logged_in ()
Homework (f'reals)
● It's time to make your firstever function!● www.designtotheme.com
Functions with Parametersuser_access ('access administration pages')
in_array ('admin', array_values ($user>roles))
theme('links', $primary_links, array('class' => 'links primarylinks'))
Theme Functionshttp://api.drupal.org/api/group/themeable/6
theme('links',
$primary_links,
array('class' => 'links primarylinks')
)
See also: theme_links
Homework Part 2 (also f'reals)
● www.designtotheme.com
ThemingTheminghttp://usawestwa.com/Outfit/
www.squaredanceomaha.org/dress
ThemingTheming
Decide on the danceChoose your clothes Dance the dance
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=6m9np57.9mj7q0yf&Uy=ripni&Ux=0
PHPtemplatePHPtemplate
PHPtemplate
Collect the content from Drupal using modules Run through the
Drupal theme functions & your
custom theme layer
Print the variables in your template
files
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=6m9np57.9mj7q0yf&Uy=ripni&Ux=0
How to create themes
1.Download an existing theme.
2.Look for variables and functions.
3.Alter the placement of the “printed” things.
4.Save and upload the theme files.
5.Clear the theme registry (Drupal admin).
6.Enjoy your new theme.
page.tpl.php template file<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1strict.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="<?php print $language>language ?>" xml:lang="<?php print $language>language ?>"> <head> <title><?php print $head_title ?></title> <?php print $head ?> <?php print $styles ?> </head> <body> <div id="container"> <div id="header"> <div id="logoWrapper"> <?php if ($logo) { ?> <div id="logo"> <a href="<?php print $base_path ?>" title="<?php print t('Home') ?>"><img src="<?php print $logo ?>" alt="<?php print t('Home') ?>" /></a> </div><?php } ?>
page.tpl.php template file<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1strict.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="<?php print $language>language ?>" xml:lang="<?php print $language>language ?>"> <head> <title><?php print $head_title ?></title> <?php print $head ?> <?php print $styles ?> </head> <body> <div id="container"> <div id="header"> <div id="logoWrapper"> <?php if ($logo) { ?> <div id="logo"> <a href="<?php print $base_path ?>" title="<?php print t('Home') ?>"><img src="<?php print $logo ?>" alt="<?php print t('Home') ?>" /></a> </div><?php } ?>
Variables must be printed
<?php print ?>
Variables must be printed
<title>
<?php print $head_title ?></title>
Zomgwhere'd you find those variables?● Look at /modules/system/page.tpl.php
OR● http://api.drupal.org/api/drupal/modules
systempage.tpl.php/6
api.drupal.org is your friend.go there often.
The modules folder is also your friend.
Look with your eyes,not your editor.
tpl.php files
● Look for basic files:● /modules● Download Zen.● Download Root Candy.
● Copy tpl.php files into your theme's folder.● Manipulate them.
Even more tpl.php files
● www.example.com/node/5● pagenode5.tpl.php● pagenode.tpl.php● page.tpl.php
● http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1336146
http://www.dehnbase.org/sd/tutorial/counterrotate.php?p=4
ConditionalsConditionalsif (you're the inside couple) {
go clockwise}
} else {go counter clockwise.
}
What's an “if”?
if ($logo) {
<?php print ?>
}
page.tpl.php template file<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1strict.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="<?php print $language>language ?>" xml:lang="<?php print $language>language ?>"> <head> <title><?php print $head_title ?></title> <?php print $head ?> <?php print $styles ?> </head> <body> <div id="container"> <div id="header"> <div id="logoWrapper"> <?php if ($logo) { ?> <div id="logo"> <a href="<?php print $base_path ?>" title="<?php print t('Home') ?>"><img src="<?php print $logo ?>" alt="<?php print t('Home') ?>" /></a> </div><?php } ?>
Fancy data structures: arrays + objectsGrouping and sorting your data
Fancy data structures: arrays
Multiple values stored in one array
Multiple “drawers” of sorted content
Devel Module: Themer Info
$node object
$node>nid$node>body$node>content['body'][#value]
“Advanced” PHP
● Never be afraid to try something.● Always back up your files first.● Take a LOT of notes.● Be bold! And be brave!
Lessons from Drawing Class
1. Imagine what you want.2. Make a gesture drawing.
3. Fill out the details.
Applied to PHP
1. Imagine what you want.
2. Find the right place for it.
3. Write the comments In PHP for what you're about to do.
4. Fill in the code for the comments.
My first Perl scripts had comments explaining “foreach” loops.There is no shame in this level of commenting because I say so.
A snippet for node.tpl.phphttp://drupal.org/node/120855
<?php if ($submitted) { ?>
<span class="submitted">
<?php if ($node>type == 'book') {
if ($node>parent != 0) {
print format_date($node>created, 'custom', "F jS, Y") ;}
} ?>
</span>
<?php } ?>
PHP Snippetfrom: http://drupal.org/node/21401
<?php if ($submitted) { ?><span class="submitted"><?php if ($node>type == 'blog') { print 'Posted ' . format_date($node>created, 'custom', "F jS, Y") . ' by ' . theme('username', $node); } else { print 'By ' . theme('username', $node) . ' <br /> ' . format_date($node>created, 'custom', "F jS, Y") ; } ?></span><?php } ?>
Homework
● Read a snippet and imagine, sketch, visualize what it does.
http://drupal.org/node/45471
template.php: sup with that?
● Preparing variables that weren't assembled by Drupal and its modules.
● Altering the contents of variables that were prepared by Drupal and its modules.
● Special theming functions to do fun things like 'edit this block' links and random images.
● Read the Zen base theme documentation and template.php file.
Using template.php
Collect the content from Drupal using modules and run it through the
default theme functions provided by Drupal.
Create new Create new information to feed information to feed
to your themeto your theme
Print the variables in your template
files
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=6m9np57.9mj7q0yf&Uy=ripni&Ux=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98274023@N00/3335326425/
TomatoesPeanut butter and
Mayonnaiseon brown bread.
Wrapped in saran.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chegs/190039408/
Preprocess functions:making your own (*^#Q$% lunch.
In the file template.phpfunction bolg_preprocess_page (&$variables) {
// Add a "go home" button to page.tpl.php
if ($variables['logged_in'] == TRUE && $variables['is_front'] == FALSE) {
$image_path = $variables['directory'] . "/images/go_home.jpg";
$image_text = t("Go home!");
$image = theme('image', $image_path, $image_text, $image_text);
$variables['go_home'] = l($image, "<front>", array('html'=> TRUE));
}
} // End of the preprocess_page function
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1336146&seqNum=2
Homework
● Download and dissect the Zen Theme● http://drupal.org/project/zen
● Read Chapter 4 of Front End Drupal● http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1336146
● Imagine why you'd want a new template variable.
● Create a preprocess function.
In short.....PHP theming essentials:
● PHP is a linear “programming” language, just like a dance.
● PHP stores information in variables and actions in functions.
● Sometimes variables hold lots of information in special variables called “arrays” and objects.
● PHP and Drupal both have functions.● Drupal has lots of magic variables that are loaded
with content. Check out: http://drupal.org/themeguide
ThemingTheminghttp://usawestwa.com/Outfit/
http://www.jontwest.com/ProBono.php
VariablesVariables
http://opswingers.free.fr/cestquoi.htm
RegionsRegions
http://www.dehnbase.org/sd/tutorial/counterrotate.php?p=4
FunctionsFunctions
http://www.dehnbase.org/sd/tutorial/counterrotate.php?p=4
ConditionalsConditionalsif (you're the inside couple) {
go clockwise}
} else {go counter clockwise.
}
Snippets &Snippets &VariablesVariables
● Create a library.● Use a base theme.● Beg, borrow, steal snippets. GPL 'em and
give 'em back to the community.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98274023@N00/3335326425/
PreprocessPreprocessfunctionsfunctions
Friends don't let friends eat peanut butter and mayo sandwiches.
Questions?@emmajanedotnetwww.designtotheme.com < homeworkFront End Drupal < theming book