How to set up an accessible template switcher?

[Jim the Chin]

Hi Forum

Please forgive me if this is covered elsewhere and point me in the right direction?

On my site at http://disability-norfolk.org/ I've added a simple template chooser in the accessibility tools in the header. Thing is... it switches but then after it's switched, any clicked link reverts to the default template. I've used a simple link from the icons to (eg) /index.php/?template=ncodp-wht. I'm sure this is a bit simplistic but hey, I had to try it!

Can anyone suggest how to get it to play nice, please?

[juanparati]

Hi Jim,

I use a trick for a permanent template switch.

Rename templates/[yourtemplate]/index.php to multimedia_index.php

Now create a new index.php in templates/[yourtemplate] with this code:

Code: Select all

// no direct access
defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' );

if ($_GET['accesible']==1) {
  setcookie('accesible', 1);
  $_COOKIE['accesible']=1;  
} 
else if ($_GET['accesible']==2) {
  setcookie('accesible', 2);
  $_COOKIE['accesible']=2;
}
  
if ($_COOKIE['accesible']==1) {
  require(JPATH_SITE.DS.'templates'.DS.'[yourtemplate]'.DS.'acessible_index.php');
else
  require(JPATH_SITE.DS.'templates'.DS.'[yourtemplate]'.DS.'multimedia_index.php');

Now create an accesible version of your template called accesible_index.php.

You can change permanently the template using a link like "index.php?accesible=1" for change to accesible template or "index.php?accesible=2" for come back to multimedia version.

I use this trick for create several accesible versions of a multimedia template.

[Jim the Chin]

Many thanks, that's great. I'll try it

[juanparati]

Remember replace [yourtemplate] for your template path.

Regards!

[Jim the Chin]

Hi

My skill with php is not good. I tried your method but all I get is a few lines of code.

Can you show me the method in action please?

[juanparati]

See: http://forum.joomla.org/viewtopic.php?f=428&t=377667

[Jim the Chin]

See: http://forum.joomla.org/viewtopic.php?f=428&t=377667

That's this topic?

[juanparati]

Sorry!! A cut and paste error!

[Jim the Chin]

So, can you show your method in action, please?

[companymerchant]

Jim

Did you resolve this?

Tony

[Jim the Chin]

I'm afraid not, Tony,

I had to pass the job over and lost track of it. I'll ask the new administrator how they got on and post any news here.

[companymerchant]

OK

Ive started to do something similar myself but using a different template based on the domain name in use. Ive gone down a different route to do it but I can see that juanparati's code would work and can expand on what they said if it will help.

Tony

[juanparati]

The code works!! Because I was used in two differente website.

Also you can change the template using the domain reference.

Example:

Use template1 from http://www.mysite1.com
and use template2 from http://www.mysite2.com

In the index.php of the default template you must add code like this (untested):

Code: Select all

// no direct access
defined( '_JEXEC' ) or die( 'Restricted access' );

if ($_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']=='www.mysite2.com' ||  $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']=='mysite2.com' )
  $usesecond=true;
else
  $usesecond=false;

if ($usesecond)          
     require(JPATH_SITE.DS.'templates'.DS.'second_template'.DS.'index.php');
else {
  ... Your template code
}

[juanparati]

I am working in a plugin for doing this work!

[JayShoe]

Hello juanparati,

Thanks for this wonderful information. I have a software website that has online tutorials in a joomla blog. In my software, I want to be able to call up that section of the site with a specialized template that looks good inside the software. I only want the specialized template to show when inside the software, so I don't want to put a cookie on the user's computer because I'm assuming that when they go out of the software and load the site from their browser, if there is a cookie, the other template will show. Right now, I can call up the special template using www.example.com/?template=specialtemplate but when I click any link, it just goes right back to the other template.

Do you have any ideas? Do you have a plugin for this? One of the other ways I was thinking this could be solved is a way to append the ?template= variable to all links found on a particular page with a mambot. Can this be done?

Thanks for your help!

Jay

[alex4842]

Hello i have the exact problem. I try the solution that juanparati gave but i get blank page. Is there an other way? Or is there anyone that i can ask specific questions for this solution?

[alex4842]

can anyone please help us?