template.php

• node-page.tpl.php
• node-story.tpl.php
• node-blog.tpl.php

• page-user-register.tpl.php

• page-user-edit.tpl.php

• wants 3 styles that are shared by 20 blocks
• wants 4 possible layouts for dozens of pages in a site
• has 12 node types, but wants them to share 3 styles

function example_preprocess_node(&$vars) {
  $node = $vars['node'];
 // only switch for story type
  switch($node->type) {
    case 'story':
      $vars['template_files'][] = 'node-batman';
      break;
  }
}

function example_preprocess_block(&$vars) {
  // sure why not -- we'll pass our node.tpl.php file to our block
  // That's how tpl pimpin works sometimes
  $vars['template_files'][] = 'node-batman';
}

Update: appparently, today was the day to write about this. Nedjo Rogers submitted a handbook page that shows a different method of achieving the same end.

For the most part, Drupal 4.7's block system is underutilized. This is a shame; with the proper templating, drupal's block system can become a valuable workhorse. In this tutorial, you will learn:

1. How to override default functions in the phptemplate.engine
2. Create new regions to place blocks
3. Pass a block region into node.tpl.php

By the end of this tutorial, you will have the ability to place blocks into node's like a so:

If you are like me, you've been pulling your hair out trying to make teasers work in CCK. Well, as it so happens, I figured out a crazy simple phptemplate method of making CCK body fields act like any other node's body. Observe:

As you can see, these menu links have unique icons. Yet another miracle accomplished using Drupal's PHPTemplate. This technique is especially cool because it automatically generates CSS ID's from the menu link's name.

TEMPLATE.PHP: Override theme_menu_item() (includes/menu.inc)

Now create a menu_item.tpl.php file.

There's good news and bad news. First, the good news: overriding theme functions is easy. The bad news: every theme function is different, and there isn't a standard proceedure of going about it; if you don't know what you are doing, its quite easy to accidently do something ugly, or foolish.

So, in the next few tutorials, we are going to explore the hows, whys, why nots, and what ifs of overriding theme functions. Each of these functions will present a different set of challenges, and opprotunities to do something stupid, etc. Today's lesson is "Building a better node form". In this tutorial you will learn

Drupal's phptemplate is the most powerful, simple, and flexible templating/theming system on the planet*. Yet, it seems that the majority of drupal themers, (and wannabe drupal themers) are ignorant of its true power.

More disturbingly, vast numbers of people still insist that Joomla!, typo3, and wordpress's templating systems are easier, sexier, and slicker. These people are either loony, or wrong.

As an expert in PHPtemplate (isn't that scary), I've decided its my duty to show the true power of PHPtemplate to world.

Consider these tutorials, a proper (and steadily growing) introduction to drupal's templating system.

Michael Angeles' post on creating different looks for different sections by switching body classes and ID's inspired me to write up a related method.

The advantages of this method are that it dynamically builds classes on the basis of vocabulary and term that allow you to have wildy different styles for every node.

This method requires two parts, one snippet in your template.php file, and a special body tag in your page.tpl.php file.

Ah, chickens -- delicious chickens. Its a timeless truth, however, that not all chickens were born equal. And clearly, the best tasting chickens are those who've been allowed to feed, graze, and socialize on the open range.