I finally found the answer to including the global banner, footer, and menu the files into the Gallery2 templates. As it turns out, it is possible to embed php code into smarty templates. So, it’s easy to include the normal global files like so:
{php}
include(‘../ssi/Footer.php’);
{/php}
With that, the visual integration of the photography gallery is complete!
The good news is that I figured out how to include a file in the Gallery template files.
{g->theme include=”Main_Menu.htm”}
The bad news is that I have not figured out how to include a file outside the Gallery directories. Therefore, I cannot use the same files for the banner, nav, and footer that I use in the rest of the site. To change any of these, I would need to edit 2 files instead of one.
I have revised my position (and the page) since this original post. I found performing the include was to problematic in that manner. I have returned to manipulation of the theme.tpl for output (viewable), and .css changes for control of how it is rendered.
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The php include worked like this however- I made a page which was called new.php, on which the design (style) of the page was defined using existing site specific css. I utilized it exactly like a template file, but instead of call for content, the page was strictly for links and positioning of site specific navigational blocks/areas. the conclusion of the page was left ‘open’….meaning the last line was <div id=”content”>. Then another page was created titled newend.php, and you guessed it- was everything I wanted displayed after the division content was sealed. Then I went into gallery, and on the page titled main.php, in the header I linked the existing site specific css adjacent to the gallery generated css. Just under the header I performed a php include “../new.php”; and at the end of the page another include “../newend.php”;…the output on some browsers was decent, and flat bad on others, there were too many things to go wrong so I quit this method.
————————————————————————————————————————-The manner in which I do it now is just link the site specific css in the head of the theme.tpl I have chosen to use. Then I C&P everything from new.php before any gallery specific calls…which includes opening the div tag content..it works. Tweak the css for some things an it seems to be fine. I set up overflow to auto, and changed the block for admin tools to be specific size and overflow scroll as wel. the font needed changing in both methods from em’s to absolute (I used 8, 10, and 12pt)….
If you would like copy of these files I will get them to you, but it is not something you can see by observing source, because much of it is pre-handled.
And this about adding hit counter to bottom of pages.
This obviously brings Gallery2 into the website. Maybe this is the way to go.
Made progress in the wee hours converting the photo gallery to CSS. I had 2 installations of Gallery 2, and I was working on the wrong one. Had no luck creating a “local” version of of the template as described here. Also useful will be this page on customizing themes. The theme.tpl in the local directory simply would not take control of the parent file. So, I edited the parent file. The original file is in the local directory in the event that I ever need to restore the old theme. I also made some changes to theme.css in htdocs/Photography/themes/matrix/ which is the main style sheet controlling the appearance of most pages. I commented out the original code. The page does not render correctly from subdomain photography.glenpritchard.com. I will need to specify a static path to the style sheet files.
And then all of a sudden, without explanation or warning, the local copy of the Gallery theme.tpl kicked in and is running the show. Go figure. So, theme.tpl at ftp://glenpritchard.com/htdocs/Photography/themes/matrix/templates/local/ is the integration. The original file in the parent directory is the original full page version. I also changed the reference to all style sheets and graphics to static http addresses so that all elements work at http://photography.glenpritchard.com/main.php as well as http://www.glenpritchard.com/Photography/main.php. Largly finished tweeking the appearance of the gallery, although I still don’t like the blue background in the body area.
Converted Document Library and Paralegal pages to CSS. Added last modified date to footer. Added Facebook and LinkIn logos.