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Creating Custom Themes

Trongate's theming system allows you to create comprehensive design packages that include templates, stylesheets, JavaScript files, and other assets. This guide will walk you through the process of creating your own custom theme.

Theme Location

Themes in Trongate are stored in the public/themes directory of your application. Each theme gets its own subdirectory where all its resources are contained.

Creating a Custom Theme

Step 1: Plan Your Theme Structure

Before creating your theme, plan its structure and organization. Consider what elements your theme needs:

• Template files (.php)
• Stylesheets (.css)
• JavaScript files (.js)
• Images and icons
• Other assets (if needed)

Step 2: Create the Theme Directory

Create a new directory in public/themes for your theme. Choose a descriptive name that reflects its purpose. For example:

Step 3: Create the Template File

Create your main template file (e.g., dashboard.php) in your theme directory:

Step 4: Register Your Theme

Open config/themes.php and add your theme configuration:

Key Theme Components

Your theme should include:

• A well-organized directory structure for assets
• The base tag with BASE_URL for proper path resolution
• Proper use of THEME_DIR for asset references
• The Template::display($data) call for content injection
• Support for additional includes ($additional_includes_top and $additional_includes_btm)

Using Your Theme

To use your new theme from any controller, specify it when calling the template method:

Creating Theme Variations

To create variations of your theme (e.g., different color schemes):

1. Create a new directory within your theme folder for each variation
2. Include variation-specific assets (CSS, images, etc.)
3. Register each variation in themes.php
4. Keep shared assets in a common location