Using themes to customize the look of a place

A theme controls the look and the layout of a place -- that is, where the navigational controls appear, how an element looks when it is selected, background colors, fonts, and so on. When you create a place, you can change the theme by choosing from a gallery of predefined themes. You can also create a custom look for your place by modifying an existing theme or by creating a new theme.

Each theme is composed of a group of layouts that define the appearance of specific place components. For example, the layout for a page differs from the layout of a folder, but they will probably share some style elements as part of a common theme. Using a custom theme, you can give your place a strong brand identity, design it to look like other corporate sites, or supply additional functionality as well as a unique look.

You must have manager access to a place to create a theme, or modify an existing theme. For more detailed information on customizing themes, see the QuickPlace Developer Help on www.lotus.com/qpdevzone

Note Custom Themes are only available through Internet Explorer.

To create a theme

When you create a new theme, it appears in the list of available themes in the Theme Gallery.

1. Open the place.
2. Click Customize in the table of contents.
3. Under "Advanced Customization Features" click "Custom Themes."
4. Click New Theme at the top of the page.
5. Give the theme a title.
6. (Optional) Add a description of the theme. This appears next to the theme's entry in the Theme Gallery.
7. (Optional) In the "Styles and Basic Layout" section, add the following:
   • A Style Sheet (.css) file to define the place's visual style (fonts, colors, etc.) for all layouts.
   • A Page Layout (.htm) file to define the layout of pages while they're being read.
   • An Edit Layout (.htm) file to define the layout of pages while they're being edited.
     
     Click Browse to find an existing file on your computer, or click Generate to have QuickPlace generate the file based on the other files that you supply.
   • (Optional) In the "Folder Layouts" section, add the following:
   • A List Folder Layout (.htm) file to define the layout of list and discussion folders.
   • A Headlines Folder Layout (.htm) file to define the layout of headlines folders.
   • A Slideshow Folder Layout (.htm) file to define the layout of slideshow folders.
     
     Click Browse to find an existing file on your computer, or click Generate to have QuickPlace generate the file for you.
   • (Optional) Add an image representing the theme. Click Browse to find an existing file on your computer. The image appears next to the theme's entry in the Theme Gallery.
   • Click Next. To see your theme in the Themes Gallery, click Customize in the table of contents, then click Decorate, then click "Choose a theme."

To edit an existing theme

1. Open the place.
2. Click Customize in the table of contents.
3. Under "Advanced Customization Features" click "Custom Themes."
4. Click the name of the theme.

To delete a theme

1. Open the place.
2. Click Customize in the table of contents.
3. Under "Advanced Customization Features" click "Custom Themes."
4. Select the theme you want to delete.
5. Click Delete Theme at the top of the page.