Overriding layout templates

[ghost]

I had a need to override my layout template (to move the page title to another region) and wondered how to do it. I found a comment on Reddit suggesting that you may be able to copy the template file to your theme and customise it there. Sure enough, that worked. But it didn't seem obvious to me at first.

I therefore suggest adding a page to https://api.backdropcms.org/developing-layouts explaining how to override layout templates by adding them to your theme. I can do it, just wanted to make sure it was allowed/approved and also ask what other info should go there...?

[klonos]

@BWPanda I think that you should go ahead and create something as draft, then link to it from here for others to review. We can edit it and/or move it around later.

[ghost]

Here you go! https://api.backdropcms.org/documentation/overriding-layout-templates It's a draft, so feel free to either make changes yourself, or post them here and I'll make them. Then we can publish!

[jenlampton]

I love this documentation!!! I made some small edits, and changed the names of things, as follows:

• Layout == the thing stored in config
• Layout template == the pattern that determines where you place your blocks
• Layout template .tpl.php file == the file containing the code for the pattern

Sure enough, that worked. But it didn't seem obvious to me at first.

This is how every single piece of markup in Drupal / Backdrop is overridden in a theme. It works with theme functions and template files that come from anywhere: system, modules, layouts (which are also just overriding the layout module) and base-themes.

A thought: Should we make a more general "how to override markup" docs page too, and then make this a child page of that page?

There's nothing special about layouts other than the fact that they are new and people coming from Drupal will have a hard time with the conceptual shift. But technically, they work the same way as everything else.