August 09, 2003

template modules
by Liza Sabater

TypePad User Group :: View Forum - Tips and Tricks

While fiddling around with my TYPEPAD template, I noticed that, just like in MOVABLETYPE, I have the option of creating a template module. Now, I read and re-read the MT manual but for the life of me, I could not understand for the life of me how to use them. It basically has taken me to use TYPEPAD to better understand MOVABLETYPE.

I had created an advanced version of my current template. There I noticed that the sidebars for this blog are actually not coded directly into the INDEX template. They are files that are embedded into the main index file.

<||div id="left">
<||!--#include virtual="<$MTBlogRelativeURL$>sidebar1.inc"-->
<||/div>

Then, upon further inspection, I noticed that within these sidebars the TYPELISTS are embedded as so:

<||!--#include virtual="/lists/news/module.inc"-->

(*Note: I had to put these marks "||" at the beginning of the code in order to disable it and make it readable on the browser.)

I would have thought I'd "get it" easily but alas, I can be slow with these things. It took me three blinks of the eye to get that what I saw above was similar to what I read on the ADVANCED TEMPLATES webpage:

What are Template Modules?

Template Modules allow you to re-use pieces of content and TypePad template tags throughout your site, but store them in one place, making updates easy. You can include them using the <||MTInclude> tag.

Well, I have tried it out and it's fabulous.

If you create a BOOK/MOVIE/MUSIC TYPELIST with TYPEPAD, it will automatically look for the product on AMAZON and create a link to the merchandise. Now, I don't have a problem pluggin a product, especially if I like it, but I do have a problem having only the choice of using Amazon. As any good New Yorker know, Barnes and Noble started here in the city and, like any good NYC vendor, it will deliver to your door anywhere in New York City on the same day if you post your order before 11am. Can't beat that!

So, in order to create my own TYPELIST, I have to create a module from SCRATCH. It is more time-consuming than going along with AMAZON but, really, AMAZON is to B&N what PCs are to MACs. Gotta go with the "David" on this one.

So, you will need a TYPEPAD PRO account in order to use this feature:

(1) Take your current template set and clone it with the CONVERT.

Once it has made your clone, it will appear in the ADVANCED template set section.

(2) Click on its name or on EDIT.

You will see your template set: Archive Index, Main Index, RSS Template, Stylesheet, and sidebars 1 and/or 2 (depending on whether you have 2 or three columns).

(3) Go to the end of the page and click on CREATE NEW TEMPLATE MODULE.

This will open up a window. Call it test and copy and paste the following code (TAKE THE ## AFTER EACH FIRST "<"):

<##IMG SRC="http://service.bfast.com/bfast/Serve?bfmid=2181&sourceid=40465604&bfpid=0782141846&bfmtype=book"
BORDER="0" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" NOSAVE >
<##A HREF="http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=2181&sourceid=40465604&bfpid=0782141846&bfmtype=book"
TARGET="_top">
<##IMG SRC="http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/6340000/6343594.gif "
BORDER="0" ALIGN="center" ALT="Cascading Style Sheets: The Designer's Edge">

Cascading Style Sheets: The Designer's Edge

(4) Hit Save.

Now go to any of your sidebars. You are going to include this at the top of the sidebar but right after the "div class="sidebar" piece of code.

(5) Embed the new BOOK MODULE by using the MTInclude tag (make sure you take out the #):

<#h2>BOOKS
<#br />
<#MTInclude module="books">

(6) SAVE and REBUILD your site and, VOILA! you have your book module working.

Play with it. I'm really excited because that means that all I have to change now is the module. Every time I add something to it, save and rebuild, my blog will be immediately updated without having to fiddle around with the main index template (and risk effing it up).

LOVE IT!

Posted by Liza Sabater in Blogs, Design
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