Branding SharePoint : Page Layouts

A Page Layout in SharePoint allows you to create a template for a page that users apply to their content for a consistent layout of information. Unless master page there could be different page layouts for different page types. For e.g. in a product catalog we could have single master page and a different page layout for each category. An electronics pages might need image placeholder but on some other category not.

We basically design the structure on the content placeholder of Master Page.

• Inserting Webparts and Webpartzones
• Creating the layout of the pages (within the bounds of the master page)
• Controlling page-level design elements.
• Including page-level css files to override master page styles
• Including custom codes for a particular type of pages (javascript, etc.). Please note we could also add JS ro master page but that will apply to all the pages. 
• Things that occur only on this page layout, not site-wide 

Location of Page Layout:
Just like page master pages Page Layouts are also available in Gallery available in Site Settings

How is Master Page and Page Layout connected:
Each page layout has a MasterPageFile element which decides which master page will render when any page with the page layout will render.

Please layouts are available in the publishing site template and for that we will need a publishing content types.

Click here to learn how to create Page Layouts.

Branding SharePoint : SharePoint Master Page

Lets start with Understanding what exactly Master Page in SharePoint is.

Master Page is like a template which is applied on all the pages of the site. It Provides the basic structure to all the pages on the site and provides certain place holders to be filled with content.

Controls which are needed through out all site pages are added here. Master Pages mostly used for the following:

• Linking CSS files.
• Calling JavaScript
• Top and Left Navigation
• Site Footers.
• Tracking Code like Google Analytic.

Now that we understand, what Master Page is Lets see how we could customize Master Pages:

Master pages are available in the Master Page gallery which is available in site settings. You can simply download the files, update in any file editor and upload it back. I prefer to work with SharePoint Designer.

To customize the master page in SharePoint designer, open the site in SharePoint designer and open the master pages from left navigation.

We can either create a master page from scratch or copy any master page and modify as per our needs. Once we are done all we need to do is to set the new master page as default master page for the site. we could use the set as default command available in the ribbon.

For deeper understanding on customizing master page, visit this Microsoft link.  

Note: You might see many elements which could sound like of no use, but SharePoint use them. You it is important not to remove any element unless you know what you are doing

Branding SharePoint : Customize SharePoint CSS

There are two ways to update SharePoint CSS.

• Add Alternate Access CSS on your site.
• Update the default SharePoint CSS file.

Default SharePoint CSS is available on following paths:

• Sharepoint 2013 : C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\15/1033\styles\Themable\corev15.css
• Sharepoint 2010 : C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\1033\STYLES\CoreV4.css

You can update these CSS files as per your needs. This Link provides quite a good details on the styles. This CSS file is directly linked in the master page of the site and hence impact the complete site.

Alternate Access CSS: Updating the default CSS could even impact the whole site badly if you are not good with CSS. So this is the alternate option. Go to Master page from Site Settings. Here you will find find a place to put in the URL of a CSS file. Styles in this file are given more importance than default CSS file. So we can create a CSS file, store it any where on the SharePoint and connect here.

What is Publishing in SharePoint

Below the meaning of publishing in SharePoint shared by Microsoft here

Office SharePoint Server 2007 makes it easy for users to upload documents to document libraries and add tabular information to lists. However, when you want to publish longer or more unstructured information in a Web page format, and you want the content owners to be able to produce the pages themselves, you can use publishing pages to enable browser-based page editing by authorized contributors. For example, in a team that manages a news Web site, it is easier for reporters to submit articles if they can enter them via their Web browsers. At the same time, this arrangement can be useful in standardizing the information that each writer submits.

Each publishing page is associated with a page layout. The page layout controls the look and feel of the publishing pages that are created from it. It also defines the fields where contributors can enter various types of article content, such as article titles, graphics, quotations, and unstructured text.

Publishing pages use the publishing feature in Office SharePoint Server 2007. Publishing automates the workflow process, making it easy to use the browser to create new pages that are based on a page layout. When the page is created and edited, the content owner submits it for review. When the reviewer approves the article and publishes it, the page becomes visible to other users on the site.

1. A Web developer creates and customizes the page layout in Office SharePoint Designer 2007.

2. A content owner creates a new page based upon one of the available page layouts (in the browser).

3. The content owner completes the page in the browser, and then submits it for approval.

4. An authorized approver edits and then approves or rejects the article.

5. Upon approval, the article is published..

How to Enable Share-point Designer in Central Admin

Below are steps for SharePoint Designer settings in Central Admin:

1. Open Central Application Website.
2. Open SharePoint Designer Settings under General Application Settings.
3. Select your web application from the drop down at the top of the form.
4. Select the appropriate options as mentioned below(per your needs) and click  ok.

There are four check boxes as listed below:

Enable SharePoint Designer : This Enables or disables SharePoint Designer for the Web Application and all of its site collections.

Note: If unchecked, users still see SharePoint Designer buttons in the browser, but when they click them, they get a message stating that SharePoint Designer is not allowed on the site.

Enable Detaching Pages from the Site Definition : This option enables or disables the ability to detach pages from the site definition. If unchecked, SharePoint Designer only allows you to edit pages in normal mode. The Edit File in Advanced Mode is disabled. Running in Advanced mode lets a user ghost pages by modifying them from the content originally in the site definition stored on the server’s hard drive. The customized version of the page is stored in the SharePoint content database. Any changes made to the site definition files aren’t reflected in detached pages. This can create maintainability problems and should be used with care.

Note: This setting does not apply to pages that have already been detached as well as new blank ASPX or HTML pages created by the user.

Enable Customizing Master Pages and Layout Pages : This enables or disables the ability to customize master pages and page layouts. If unchecked, SharePoint Designer does not display Master Pages or Page Layouts in the Navigation pane.

Note: Page layouts also require publishing enabled on the server, so if you have enabled it here but the site is not a publishing site, you will still not see the Page Layouts option in the Navigation pane.

Enable Managing of the Web Site URL Structure: This enables or disables the ability to view and edit files in the URL structure of a site. If unchecked, SharePoint Designer does not display the All Files option in the Navigation pane.

Note: These four options are also available at site collection settings.