Templates and layouts

Hi,

I'm using SitePublisher and am attempting to build the wireframe of a page that will not be editable by the content providers (I am trying hard not to use the words 'template' or 'layout' because they have specific meaning in SitePublisher, so I hope wireframe will suffice).

So, in the wireframe, I have areas like the navigation menu, footer, and header that I would like locked. It appears that I can do this by building a SitePublisher template and then locking down the components of each element.

However, my wireframe is extremely complex. Dragging and dropping components onto a page will not provide me enough granular control over the XHTML emitted.

I had a look setting up a custom layout which I think perhaps would give me the control, but I am having difficulty following the instructions in the developer's guide. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the example as it is written throws an error:

java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: A row with non-zero spacing may only contain areas whose widths are of the same unit of measurement as the spacing.

I don't seem to be the only one with this issue (http://devnet.interwoven.com/forums_vb/showthread.php?t=29773&forumid=66&highlight=custom+layout)

At any rate, I truncated the example and fixed the measurement units, but while I can select the layout when I create a page, I'm unsure if I'm on the right track.

If someone knows how to create a locked-down wireframe, and perhaps can point me of some linear instructions on how to do it, I would be extremely grateful!

Regards,

Chris

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Comments

vpatel

Seems like you are creating something called *Fixed Area Layout* (FAL). FALs are useful when you want to limit the users to drop their components in given areas (rows and columns) on a page rather than anywhere on the page as is the case with default *Freestyle Layout*.

The tutorial in the dev guide should be a good start for FAL. Not sure why you are getting the error. However, there are some guidelines to follow in creating FALs. For example: a row may not contain more than one liquid area OR a row with non-zero area-spacing may only contain areas whose widths are the same unit of measurement as the spacing, etc. If you violate some of these guidelines then you'll see appropriate error message(s).

HTH!

chrishardie

Thanks for the response. I'm getting the error indicating: A row with non-zero spacing may only contain areas whose widths are of the same unit of measurement as the spacing

In the developer's guide, the example includes this:

<Row Id="row-1" html-id="my_row_1" css-class="my-row"
area-spacing="10em">
<Area Id="row-1-area-1" html-id="my_area_1"
css-class="my_area" component-spacing="25.5em"
width="250px">

The mixed units (em and px) appear to be throwing the error. I copied the example verbatim and I got this error. Perhaps I set it up incorrectly?

At any rate, can you confirm that I will be able to completely control the emitted XHTML with a FAL? I can't have a single injected div, span, inline style, etc... Is that possible?

Regards,

Chris

vpatel

If you use FAL (and external CSS), your inline styles should be minimized, if not removed all together. Make sure you set your *inline-css* attribute to false.

You'll have to test and confirm for your use case with your own FAL. Also your components will have to be coded so that no inline styles are generated.

With freestyle layouts, inline styles are minimized but there may be a few minor instances (depending on your use case) where you may see them. Again, test and confirm for your requirements.