Understanding the Properties and Functions of your Template Files
Earlier this week, I spoke a little bit about working with BANS templates and a few of the on page factors that may have an effect on your Build a Niche Store website. Today, I am going to discuss the template files. More specifically, the different sections of the template files and what each of those control. Understanding which template files perform the different functions is very important when you decide to start modifying them!
There are several basic templates included with Build a Niche Store. All of them however, focus on two specific page layouts, 2-column templates and 3 column templates. When I started developing stores, I preferred the 2-column layout that can be seen on sites like: Carolina Closeout and Get a Race Car. After working on several more sites, I decided that I preferred the 3-column layout, due to the extra real estate on the right column for different promotional ads I may want to show, or the addition of a link table to other sites. The 3-column layout can be seen on: Earnhardt 88 and Slick Ninja.
Build a Niche Store 2 and 3 Column Layout Templates
Looking at both layout examples above, you can see that top and left side of each page is controlled by the header.php file (Colored red) in the theme or template that you choose to use on your site. The content section (in green) is always controlled by the BANS software itself, and everything after the content is controlled by the footer.php file.
Links to more info about the templates:
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From Adam and Kelvin – Building BANS Friendly Templates
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From the BANS Site – BANS Template Guide (Must login to view)
Assuming many people dont want to get into modifying templates – there are several resources for buying prebuilt templates. (Will list more shortly)
Great reading for CSS Layout – Since your BANS store layout is controlled with a combination of html and CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), the links below will act as a great primer for your first template design!
In my next post – I am going to walk through a 3-column layout modification… from the point of deciding on a template design, to modifying the files and getting that design to work in BANS.
Mark
Previously Published Articles You May Like to Read:
- Setting up Your BANS Header & Footer Files for WordPress
- Installing the BANS/Flex Template
- Free Build a Niche Store Template and the Beginning of Customization!
- Build a Niche Store Empire – Setting your Main Page Properties
- BANS Template for WordPress – Simple CSS
- Convert Almost ANY WordPress Theme to a BANS Template
- Simple CSS BANS WordPress Template
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I have been doing my part to "Build the Internet" since 1994, when I built my first website! Since then, I have built hundreds of niche websites for myself and many others, focused on design, applications, ecommerce, search optimization and internet marketing.
I LOVE the images showing the differences in layouts! Like you, I have gone from the 2-column layout to the 3-column layout. I prefer to move my site navigation links to the right side so they don’t interfere with the store links.
I look forward to your template tutorials.
Rochelle
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