Using Templates in Manila

[Samuel Reynolds]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: frontier-users-admin at userland.com
> [mailto:frontier-users-admin at userland.com]On Behalf Of Peter Thirkell
> Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 6:15 PM
> To: Frontier-Users
> Subject: Using Templates in Manila
> 
> 
> Hello
> 
> I'm trying to improve my understanding of how to design 
> templates for a more
> professional look in my Manila sites. At the moment I have 
> some "out of the
> bos" sites, but my students would like a more sophisticated look.

Most (all?) Manila sites use a table for their primary
layout. Some common variations:

<pre>
+-------------------------+
|  masthead               |
+--------+----------------+
+ navbar +    content     +
+--------+----------------+
+ other  +                +
+ stuff  +                +
+--------+----------------+
| footer (copyright stmt) +
+-------------------------+


+-------------------------+
|  masthead               |
+--------+----------------+
+ navbar +    content     +
+        +                +
+ other  +                +
+ stuff  +----------------+
+        +    footer      +
+--------+----------------+


+---------------------------------+
|  masthead                       |
+--------+----------------+-------+
+ navbar +    content     + other |
+        +                + stuff |
+--------+----------------+-------+
| footer (copyright stmt)         |
+---------------------------------+


+---------------------------------+
|  masthead                       |
+--------+------------------------+
+ navbar +    content     + other |
+        +                + stuff |
+        +----------------+       |
+        +    footer      +       |
+--------+----------------+-------+
</pre>

More complicated layouts (in Manila sites) often
involve the use of macros within this basic table
layout. For example, "other stuff" might include...
- a block of (syndicated) news items (from MyUserland.com),
- a block of "related links" for the current story
  (generated using the Metadata Plugin), and
- a "message of the day" block generated using the
  {includeMessage} macro.

HTH.

- Sam