main_page.tpl.php

• This document is the main control of the entire structure of your site.
• It is basically an HTML table wireframe into which all of the content of the site is loaded.
  • header
  • left_navigation
  • content
  • right_navigation
  • footer
• If you look through the file you will see the above sections enclosed within <!– content –> and <!– content_eof –> to make it easier to find which bits are which.

• Find the following code in your template (assuming you have copied the aabox template)

<!-- All TS references added by TemplateShopper.com November 2003
TS: 750 pixel centered table for all pages of store -->
<table align="center" width="750" border="0"  cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

• And simply change the width=“750” to the required width. Eg. 850, 100%, etc.
• You can also change the alignment of the store by changing the align=“center”

• The best way to do this is to start with a pen and piece of paper!
• Draw a simple diagram of the home page of your site
  • you will probably need to include areas for:
  • Header
  • Menu
  • Left Column
  • Main content
  • Right Column (if you want one)
  • Footer
• You then need to build a HTML table which matches the layout you have drawn.
• Once you have the table built it is best to follow the lead shown in aabox and put some markers in your new file - (it may look simple at the moment but it will get full of code soon and when you lose a <td> or </table> you will look back and thank yourself for spending a little extra time at the start.)
  • eg. <!– Menu –> <!– Menu_eof –>
  • <!– content –> <!– content_eof –>
• You can now start moving blocks of code over from the aabox template into your new template.
• Start with the simple stuff like the headers etc.
• You should now be able to fill up your new template with all the info you need.