I have noticed that many modern websites have slightly different layouts on their homepages versus interior pages. In that some store homepages, now have a large image or slideshow in the middle. but if you click an interior page the layout can change a little. Usually a div or 2 that splits the content area.
I need a little help or some suggestions to help me achieve the type of template I am looking for.
For my template I am going to set up a header and footer with a menu bar on each. The top menu bar will have root categories, the bottom menu bar will link to the informational pages which will be EZ pages. This is not a problem I know how to do this. But on the homepage, informational pages (EZ Pages), checkout, create account, and all other non-category/catalog pages, I want one large content area for the information and/or images I add through EZ pages. So on these pages I know how to get this layout as I have a header and footer with included menu bars. Where it gets a little tricky is that when someone is in my category pages (or catalog) I want a left navigation bar to pop up that has shop by items. So i only want this shop by nav bar to show up when directly in the product view, category or catalog view.
You can see an example on this website here: http://www.nancymeyer.com/ On this homepage the center area is wide open for an image. If you click on any of the top category links, then another menu bar pops up that says: Shop by Size, Shop By Style, Shop By Designer, etc. This is what I want to do as well and what I am seeking help on. Now if you click the bottom menu bar an information bar pops up on the left. I don't want or need this information bar to show up on the left, I want the full context area for the information (or EZ Pages).
I am wondering if this can be done directly by CSS or if I have to have some PHP modifications. I would think that with PHP I could say: If in category pages, then show LEFT HAND SHOP BY BAR and this CSS rule so split this content area. Else show full context area and a different CSS rule that shows 100% area.
If I were creating these pages in Dreamweaver I would simply create 2 different templates. The homepage and interior pages and then for my category pages, create different CSS rules and split the content area layout. But I am not sure how to do this in a dynamic cart that seems to have one permanent template across the whole site.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I don't even know exactly where to start?
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