Switching templates at run time

[eccentric]

Another way of switching templates at run time could work like this (a tad sketchy, but placing the code as I suggested earlier in includes/init_includes/init_templates.php) - there could be several ways to do this but this is just one:

// template directory/folder name = array of category ids (cPath) that are to use that template
// also set the template directory names
$mens = array(1,2,4,5,8);
$mens['template_dir'] = 'mens';
$womens = array(3,6,7,9);
$womens['template_dir'] = 'womens';
$kids = array(10,11,12);
$kids['template_dir'] = 'kids';

// put all the templates listed above together in an array
$templates = array($mens, $womens, $kids);

// find the appropriate template to use
// loop through all the template dirs
for($i=0; $i < count($templates); $i++) {
  if($template_dir != '') {
    break;
  }
  // loop through all the category ids (cPath)
  for($i2=0; $i2 < count($templates[$i]); $i2++) {
    // if the current cPath we're looking at matches the cPath that the visitor is browsing, set the current template we're looking at as the template to use
    if($templates[$i][$i2] == $_GET['cPath']) {
      $template_dir = $templates[$i]['template_dir'];
      break;
    }
  }
}

[eccentric]

Why not do a stylesheet for the category call it c_4.css
Where 4 would be the category for "shirts"

the stylesheet would consist of declarations used only by that category.

You could change the header_bg image and any thing else to make that page unique.

The stylesheet would only be called when that category page is displayed.

doing this saves messing with the core code.

I guess it depends on the layout/structure of your site and how good you are with CSS. But sometimes you might want a completely different layout for a different category - not just a different banner, different fonts, different background, etc. For this reason I needed to be able to switch entire templates (folders).

[gluckfs]

You mention the file

includes/init_includes/init_templates.php

as the file that has to be modified.

Being a great believer in the override system, where would I copy the original file to before I make any modifications?

[kuroi]

Your override file would go in includes/init_includes/overrides

[gluckfs]

A clarification ... just to see if this solution will work for me...

I have two "categories".

Category #1 are items that needs to be displayed using one large photo. (displaying them using the standard row-based layout on the category page won't do).

The idea here is to click on the category "categ_1", then be taken to a page with a large image that is the first product in categ_1. To see the next product in categ_1, click on next (or previous). If you want to purchase the product, you click on the image and are taken to a product page.

The other type of category (categ_2) contains items that can be displayed in the normal way -- the category page contains 3 or 4 items per row. Click on one of the items and you are taken to a product page.

So.. the question is, how do I get a different layout for the category page for categ_1 and keep the default layout for the category page for categ_2?

[raimond]

Why not do a stylesheet for the category call it c_4.css
Where 4 would be the category for "shirts"

the stylesheet would consist of declarations used only by that category.

You could change the header_bg image and any thing else to make that page unique.

The stylesheet would only be called when that category page is displayed.

doing this saves messing with the core code.

This works fine, but it is only for that category and not for that category with his sub-categories and products.

Howe can i set this to al the products and sub-categories?

[Lawbird123]

This does not seem to be working for me....

  //change flash header for different categories
  
  if($_GET['cPath']) {
  
  	switch($_GET['cPath']) {
    
    case 1: // Video
    
      $template_dir = "jlawless_video"; // directory name of Men's Clothing template (includes/templates/mens)
    
      break;
    
    case 2: // Software
    
      $template_dir = "jlawless_software"; // directory name of Women's Clothing template (includes/templates/womens)
      
      break;
    
    default: // If none of the above
    
      $template_dir = "default"; // directory name of default template (includes/templates/jlawless)
      
      break;
   
     }
  
  }

ive copied, renamed my default template and changed out my flash header and nothing seems to be happening. is there something wrong with my code? im thinking i havent specified a cPath.... but im not sure. any help with this would be great!

[kuroi]

The code has some problems and may be simply being ignored.

For the syntax I would recommend using if(isset($_GET['cPath'])), and switch((int)$_GET['cPath']).

The logic may then be slightly off. Is it your intention to only execute the switch when you are on the index pages and do you have alternative code to set $template_dir when you're not?

Finally, using integer categories will only work for top level categories. Sub category paths are passed in the GET defined as strings showing the category hierarchy (e.g. "2_19" for subcategory 19 in top category 2) and will break your approach if you use them.

[Lawbird123]

I have a flash header that i would like to switch when a new category is chosen. If someone clicks on video category the video swf starts. I would like it to work with the subcategories of the video category as well... is this possible? Im having probs just getting it to work with the main cat at the moment, so first things first i guess.

[kuroi]

If it's only the flash header that changes, why switch the whole template? It would be easier to put the switch in where you have embedded the call to the flash file.

You haven't said whether you want different flash files for the subcategories or simply for the subcategories to also display the file appropriate to their parent category (ironically the later is marginally more difficult!)