Themes are the color/graphic information for a style. This includes the font colors, background color and/or image, and much more. For more information, see 3.4.4.1 Editing Styles.
Templates are the HTML-like files that are used to generate the output HTML of phpBB 2.0. They control the layout and organization of all of the pages, using basic HTML and special template variables.
So for a given template, you may have three or four themes. This results in having three or four styles, each Style = Template + Theme.
3.4.1: Adding Styles
This panel will allow you to add new styles. To add a new style, simply click Install in the appropriate row. This panel automatically detects uninstalled styles in your template directory.
Important: When installing a new template(e.g. one that you downloaded), be sure that your new template directory is nested correctly in the templates directory. It also must have the correct name (case sensitive). For instance, if you had a new template named subCheese, then in the templates directory you should have a folder called “subCheese” (not “subcheese”), and in that folder will be all of your template files (*.tpl files).
3.4.2: Creating Styles
This panel allows you to create new Themes for any template you have installed. This creates a new style, since a Style = Template + Theme.
Theme Name: The name as it will appear in the style dropdown selection box in the Edit Profile panel (see 4.7 Profile Settings) or General Configuration panel (see 3.2.2 General Configuration).
Template: Drop down box that contains all of the currently installed templates. Choose the template that you want the new theme to apply to.
All of the settings below Template are self-explanatory. Color settings must be 6-digit hex codes (as used in HTML). Class settings must be a valid CSS class name.
All settings below Hover Link Color are template-dependent. If these template-dependent settings are not explained by the Simple Name, check the documentation included with the template you have questions about.
3.4.3: Exporting Styles
When you create a style according to the instructions in 3.4.2 Creating Styles, the new information is entered into the database, but is not written to any files. The Style Export panel will export the information from the database into the theme_info.cfg file in the appropriate template directory. Once the data has been exported, you can copy/distribute your template directory, and you will not lose the theme/style information.
To export style info for a template, select the template from the dropdown box and click Submit. It will then write the data from the database into the theme_info.cfg in the appropriate template directory. If it has trouble writing to that file, follow the instructions if gives you. Your template should then be ready to be copied/distributed with all of its themes.
3.4.4: Managing Styles
In Style Management you can edit or delete styles that are installed on your board. For more information, see 3.4.4.1 Editing Styles.
3.4.4.1: Editing Styles
To edit a style, go to Style Management and click Edit in the appropriate row. You are then presented with a form that will allow you to change all of the theme information for that style.
Theme Name: The name as it will appear in the style selection box in the Edit Profile panel (see 4.7 Profile Settings) or General Configuration panel (see 3.2.2 General Configuration).
Template: Drop down box that contains all of the currently installed templates. Choose the template that you want the theme to apply to.
All of the settings below Template are self-explanatory. Color settings must be 6-digit hex codes (as used in HTML). Class settings must be a valid CSS class name.
All settings below Hover Link Color are template-dependent. If these template-dependent settings are not explained by the Simple Name, check the documentation included with that template.
3.4.4.1.1: Simple Names
Simple Names are short descriptions of what the different theme variables correspond to. Theme variables with Simple Names are template-dependent; similarly Simple Names are template dependent.