Creating a basic templateDetails.xml file

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

Let's take a look at an example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE install PUBLIC "-//Joomla! 1.5//DTD template 1.0//EN" "http://www.joomla.org/xml/dtd/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>
                <folder>images</folder>
                <folder>css</folder>
        </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>

So, as you can see, we have a set of information between markup tags (the <element>s). Your best approach is to cut and paste this into your templateDetails.xml file and change the relevant bits (such as <name> and <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. The <folder> element can be used to define an entire folder at once.

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