New features introduced in Joomla! 1.5 templates - Revision history

Ashwin: Fixed up some code typos (Extra semicolons). Also removed the comment on the defined JEXEC line which rendered it commented out

2009-03-04T10:11:13Z

Fixed up some code typos (Extra semicolons). Also removed the comment on the defined JEXEC line which rendered it commented out

Ashwin at 10:07, 4 March 2009

2009-03-04T10:07:58Z

Rliskey: fixed minor typo

2008-03-29T06:02:37Z

fixed minor typo

Radiant tech: added template directory structure transclusion; corrected initial cap

2008-02-19T15:55:09Z

added template directory structure transclusion; corrected initial cap

Chris Davenport: Made page a bit prettier!

2008-01-24T16:19:14Z

Made page a bit prettier!

Chris Davenport: 1 revision(s)

2008-01-14T23:27:31Z

1 revision(s)

Chris Davenport at 22:54, 14 January 2008

2008-01-14T22:54:17Z

New page

A summary of new features introduced in Joomla! 1.5 templates:

1. '''Model, View, Controller''': This structure has been implemented in Joomla! 1.5, separating out logic, data and view of data. This means that the HTML, CSS and other code used to display Joomla! (to the browser or other device) is now completely separate from the Joomla! logic and is contained entirely within the templating system. This gives you greater control over how you wish to display the data, without having to access (hack!) core Joomla! code.

2. '''Template positions''': The positions used in a template are now declared in templateDetails.XML.
e.g.
<positions>
<position>top</position>
<position>left</position>
</positions>

3. '''Joomla version''': The version number is now declared in the template,
e.g. <install version="1.5" type="template"> replaces 1.0.x <mosinstall type="template">

4. '''Template parameters''': Parameters may be defined in your template. These are declared in templateDetails.XML. Parameter default values can be set in params.ini, which is also referenced in templateDetails.XML as a template <file>. The parameters can be set in the Administrator Template Manager and also only the fly using the template's Javascript.

5. '''Template overrides''': The default system chrome ('views') for any module or component can now be overridden by the template. Default system chrome for each module and component can now be found in directories modules/mod_modulename/tmpl and components/com_componentname/views/layout/tmpl. The pagination chrome can also be overridden in pagination.php.

6. '''Objects and Methods''': The Joomla! 1.5 framework has been re-engineered and now includes the JApplication layer, which contains a number of objects and methods you can reference from the template index.php,
e.g.
<jdoc:include type="head" /> replaces the 1.0.x <?php mosShowHead(); ?>;
<?php echo $mainframe->getCfg('sitename');?> replaces the 1.0.x <?php echo $mosConfig_sitename; ?> [N.B. This new method works for all configuration.php parameters];
<?php // no direct access defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' ); ?> replaces the 1.0.x <?php defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Direct Access to this location is not allowed.' ); ?>
<?php echo JURI::base();;?> replaces the 1.0.x <?php echo $mosConfig_live_site; ?>

7. '''Module Positions''': There is a new way of checking which module positions have content to display on the current page. This logic can be used for collapsible columns (e.g. collapse the left or right column if no content is present). The 1.0.x 'mosCountModules' function has been replaced by the '$this->countModules', and conditions have been added: you can now use '+', '-', 'or' or 'and', e.g. if($this->countModules('left or right') == 1).

8. '''Template file structure''': The template directory and file structure has been expanded to include all of the above.

9. '''Accessibility and Standards''': Using template overrides, it is possible to create table-less Joomla! The new parameters and overrides encourage improvements in web standards, accessbility, SEO optimsation (source ordering and markup), language (left to right support) and browser optimisation (browser-dependent CSS).

10. '''Default system template''': The system template (in the /templates directory) has been expanded to include more CSS files and a standard modules.php (module chrome) and component.php (component chrome).
You can include some of the default CSS files in your template,
e.g.
<link rel="stylesheet" href="templates/system/css/system.css" type="text/css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="templates/system/css/general.css" type="text/css" />

11. '''Additional Javascript''': there are some additional Javascript libraries available for use in your template.
e.g.
<script type="text/javascript" src="media/system/js/mootools.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="media/system/js/caption.js"></script>
These are included in <jdoc:include type="head" />

12. '''Errors handling''': More default error pages are included in the system template (403.php and 500.php) and a new error message call has been introduced, which must be referenced in your template by <jdoc:include type="message" />
[[Category:Templates]]

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ; '''Objects and Methods'''
-: The Joomla! 1.5 framework has been re-engineered and now includes the JApplication layer, which contains a number of objects and methods you can reference from the template ''index.php''.  For example, ''<jdoc:include type="head" />'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php mosShowHead(); ?>'', ''<?php echo $mainframe->getCfg('sitename');?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_sitename; ?>'' [N.B. This new method works for all ''configuration.php'' parameters], ''<?php // no direct access defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' ); ?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Direct Access to this location is not allowed.' ); ?>'', ''<?php echo JURI::base();?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_live_site; ?>''.
+: The Joomla! 1.5 framework has been re-engineered and now includes the JApplication layer, which contains a number of objects and methods you can reference from the template ''index.php''.  For example, ''<jdoc:include type="head" />'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php mosShowHead(); ?>'', ''<?php echo $mainframe->getCfg('sitename'); ?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_sitename; ?>'' [N.B. This new method works for all ''configuration.php'' parameters], ''<?php defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' ); ?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Direct Access to this location is not allowed.' ); ?>'', ''<?php echo JURI::base(); ?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_live_site; ?>''.
 ; '''Module Positions'''

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ; '''Objects and Methods'''
-: The Joomla! 1.5 framework has been re-engineered and now includes the JApplication layer, which contains a number of objects and methods you can reference from the template ''index.php''.  For example, ''<jdoc:include type="head" />'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php mosShowHead(); ?>;'', ''<?php echo $mainframe->getCfg('sitename');?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_sitename; ?>'' [N.B. This new method works for all ''configuration.php'' parameters], ''<?php // no direct access defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' ); ?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Direct Access to this location is not allowed.' ); ?>'', ''<?php echo JURI::base();;?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_live_site; ?>''.
+: The Joomla! 1.5 framework has been re-engineered and now includes the JApplication layer, which contains a number of objects and methods you can reference from the template ''index.php''.  For example, ''<jdoc:include type="head" />'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php mosShowHead(); ?>'', ''<?php echo $mainframe->getCfg('sitename');?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_sitename; ?>'' [N.B. This new method works for all ''configuration.php'' parameters], ''<?php // no direct access defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' ); ?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Direct Access to this location is not allowed.' ); ?>'', ''<?php echo JURI::base();?>'' replaces the 1.0.x ''<?php echo $mosConfig_live_site; ?>''.
 ; '''Module Positions'''

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ; '''Template parameters'''
-: Parameters may be defined in your template. These are declared in ''templateDetails.xml''. Parameter default values can be set in ''params.ini'', which is also referenced in ''templateDetails.XML'' as a template <file>. The parameters can be set in the Administrator Template Manager and also only the fly using the template's Javascript.
+: Parameters may be defined in your template. These are declared in ''templateDetails.xml''. Parameter default values can be set in ''params.ini'', which is also referenced in ''templateDetails.XML'' as a template <file>. The parameters can be set in the Administrator Template Manager and also on the fly using the template's Javascript.
 ; '''Template overrides'''

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ; '''Template file structure'''
-: The template directory and file structure has been expanded to include all of the above.
+: {{:What is the typical template directory structure?}}
 ; '''Accessibility and Standards'''
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 ; '''Additional Javascript'''
-: there are some additional Javascript libraries available for use in your template.  For example,
+: There are some additional Javascript libraries available for use in your template.  For example,
 <source lang="html4strict">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="media/system/js/mootools.js"></script>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 A summary of new features introduced in Joomla! 1.5 templates:
-. '''Model, View, Controller''': This structure has been implemented in Joomla! 1.5, separating out logic, data and view of data. This means that the HTML, CSS and other code used to display Joomla! (to the browser or other device) is now completely separate from the Joomla! logic and is contained entirely within the templating system. This gives you greater control over how you wish to display the data, without having to access (hack!) core Joomla! code.
+; '''Model View Controller (MVC)'''
-. '''Template positions''': The positions used in a template are now declared in templateDetails.XML.
+; '''Template positions'''
-e.g.
+: The positions used in a template are now declared in ''templateDetails.xml''.  For example,
 <positions>
 <position>top</position>
 <position>left</position>
 </positions>
-. '''Joomla version''': The version number is now declared in the template,
+; '''Template parameters'''
-e.g. <install version="1.5" type="template"> replaces 1.0.x <mosinstall type="template">
+: Parameters may be defined in your template. These are declared in ''templateDetails.xml''. Parameter default values can be set in ''params.ini'', which is also referenced in ''templateDetails.XML'' as a template <file>. The parameters can be set in the Administrator Template Manager and also only the fly using the template's Javascript.
-. '''Template parameters''': Parameters may be defined in your template. These are declared in templateDetails.XML. Parameter default values can be set in params.ini, which is also referenced in templateDetails.XML as a template <file>. The parameters can be set in the Administrator Template Manager and also only the fly using the template's Javascript.
+; '''Template overrides'''
-. '''Template overrides''': The default system chrome ('views') for any module or component can now be overridden by the template. Default system chrome for each module and component can now be found in directories modules/mod_modulename/tmpl and components/com_componentname/views/layout/tmpl. The pagination chrome can also be overridden in pagination.php.
+; '''Objects and Methods'''
-. '''Objects and Methods''': The Joomla! 1.5 framework has been re-engineered and now includes the JApplication layer, which contains a number of objects and methods you can reference from the template index.php,
+; '''Module Positions'''
-e.g.
+: There is a new way of checking which module positions have content to display on the current page. This logic can be used for collapsible columns (e.g. collapse the left or right column if no content is present). The 1.0.x ''mosCountModules'' function has been replaced by the ''$this->countModules'' and conditions have been added: you can now use '+', '-', 'or' or 'and', e.g. ''if ($this->countModules('left or right') == 1)''.
-<jdoc:include type="head" /> replaces the 1.0.x <?php mosShowHead(); ?>;
-<?php echo $mainframe->getCfg('sitename');?> replaces the 1.0.x <?php echo $mosConfig_sitename; ?> [N.B. This new method works for all configuration.php parameters];
-<?php // no direct access defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' ); ?> replaces the 1.0.x <?php defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Direct Access to this location is not allowed.' ); ?>
-<?php echo JURI::base();;?> replaces the 1.0.x <?php echo $mosConfig_live_site; ?>
-. '''Module Positions''': There is a new way of checking which module positions have content to display on the current page. This logic can be used for collapsible columns (e.g. collapse the left or right column if no content is present). The 1.0.x 'mosCountModules' function has been replaced by the '$this->countModules', and conditions have been added: you can now use '+', '-', 'or' or 'and', e.g. if($this->countModules('left or right') == 1).
+; '''Template file structure'''
-. '''Template file structure''': The template directory and file structure has been expanded to include all of the above.
+; '''Accessibility and Standards'''
-. '''Accessibility and Standards''': Using template overrides, it is possible to create table-less Joomla! The new parameters and overrides encourage improvements in web standards, accessbility, SEO optimsation (source ordering and markup), language (left to right support) and browser optimisation (browser-dependent CSS).
+; '''Default system template'''
+: The system template (in the ''/templates'' directory) has been expanded to include more CSS files and a standard ''modules.php'' (module chrome) and ''component.php'' (component chrome).  You can include some of the default CSS files in your template.  For example,
-. '''Default system template''': The system template (in the /templates directory) has been expanded to include more CSS files and a standard modules.php (module chrome) and component.php (component chrome).
+<source lang="html4strict">
 You can include some of the default CSS files in your template,
-e.g.
 <link rel="stylesheet" href="templates/system/css/system.css" type="text/css" />
 <link rel="stylesheet" href="templates/system/css/general.css" type="text/css" />
-. '''Additional Javascript''': there are some additional Javascript libraries available for use in your template.
+; '''Additional Javascript'''
-e.g.
+: there are some additional Javascript libraries available for use in your template.  For example,
 <script type="text/javascript" src="media/system/js/mootools.js"></script>
 <script type="text/javascript" src="media/system/js/caption.js"></script>
-These are included in <jdoc:include type="head" />
+</source>
-. '''Errors handling''': More default error pages are included in the system template (403.php and 500.php) and a new error message call has been introduced, which must be referenced in your template by <jdoc:include type="message" />
+; '''Error handling'''
 [[Category:Templates]]