startup_tutorial_and_checklist:design_configuration:design_tools:design_template_sets:what_is_a_template

What is a Template Set?

A template set can be thought of as a "theme" or a "skin" for the site. You can switch between what template set (or even multiple template sets) are used just by "flipping a switch" in the admin panel. You can create one from scratch, start from the default ones that go with the software, or even upload a template set that a 3rd party designer creates for use with the Geo software. Once you create your template set, you can easily transfer it to other installations, or if you are a designer, can sell your custom templates.

For a more advanced explanation:

A template set is a sub-folder in the geo_templates/ folder. A template set can have file templates, media files¹⁾, and PHP files that store different aspects of the design, such as what template is attached to what page in the software²⁾.

A template set can easily be backed up (just download it using the download button!) or restored (just upload the template set file using the upload button!). It can also be easily copied from one site to another³⁾, and the design will be kept intact, with no changes needed in the admin panel besides "activating" the template set.

The templates are broken up into 5 main sub-folders, each for it's own type of files:

main_page/ folder : Main Page Templates: These templates are used for the "overall" templates and sub-templates used for each page.
external/ folder : Media Files: These are CSS files, JS File, and images that are referenced from the main page templates. Sometimes CSS or JS files here will be used by modules or system templates, especially with highly dynamic parts of system or module templates.
module/ folder⁴⁾ : Module Templates : These are template files that are responsible for displaying each of the modules within the system. The template file name will correspond with the tag name used to display that module within a main page template.
system/ folder⁵⁾ : System Templates : These are template files that display the dynamic part of each page, it is what replaces the {body_html} tag within the main page templates. For instance, if viewing the login page, the system template will display the login box part of the page.
addon/ folder : Addon Templates : Not normally found in a template set, these template files would replace same-named template files within the addon's templates folder. Changes may be required after updating an addon.

You can find more information on the tools that are available to use on template sets, in the documentation in this section of the WIKI.

¹⁾

Such as images, CSS or JS files that are used within the templates in that template set

²⁾

Note that the PHP files are handled by the admin panel, you only need to set the settings like you like (such as what template is used for what page), and the admin panel will make any needed changes to the PHP files for you.

³⁾

Just download it from one site, then upload it to another site!

⁴⁾ , ⁵⁾

These templates are highly dynamic, and will usually need updates to them after each software update. You should not customize templates here unless there is no other way to do it, and be aware that customizations will make software updates much more difficult.