build better websites with panels! - drupal · 2013. 2. 14. · - improving the theme layer for...

BUILD BETTER WEBSITES

WITH PANELS!

SITE BUILDING TRACK | JEN LAMPTON | FEBRUARY 7 2013

Thursday, February 7, 2013

I am Jen Lampton

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@jenlampton ~ http://www.jenlampton.com


I am Jen Lampton

- Building websites with Drupal since 2006

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I am Jen Lampton

- Building websites with Drupal since 2006- Building community around Drupal since 2007

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I am Jen Lampton


- Building modules for Drupal since 2008

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I am Jen Lampton


- Building modules for Drupal since 2008- Building training on Drupal since 2010

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I am Jen Lampton



- Improving user experiences with Drupal since 2011

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I am Jen Lampton



- Improving user experiences with Drupal since 2011- Improving the theme layer for Drupal since 2012

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I am Jen Lampton



- Improving user experiences with Drupal since 2011- Improving the theme layer for Drupal since 2012

I <3 Drupal. I <3 Panels.

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Who are you?

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Who are you?

- Building websites with Drupal for less than 1 year?

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Who are you?


- Building websites with Drupal for more than 1 year?

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Who are you?


- Building websites with Drupal for more than 1 year?

- Built websites with Drupal 6?

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Once upon a time...

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Once upon a time...

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every page on your site used the same layout


Once upon a time...

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where "the content" was often in the middle


Once upon a time...

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and a bunch of other "stuff" was placed around it.


Once upon a time...

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For a while, this was fine :)


Once upon a time...

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But over time, we discovered that this one-layout-fits-all approach doesn't always cut it.


One solution:

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Visibility: telling the blocks not to show up on certain pages


One solution:

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allow the layout to adjust if there are no blocks.


Problematic :/

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each individual block needs be configured


Another solution:

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adjust the layout to not show blocks on certain pages


Problematic :/

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In this case, Drupal retrieves the blocks from its database and does some work to prepare them for display.

But then that work ends up being a waste if Drupal throws out the blocks instead of printing them to the page.


Also, not good enough :/

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We still found the process of limiting when blocks appear - an insufficient solution for all our different page layout needs.


But, it’s time for Drupal 7!

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What do we do?



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I know, let’s start with a crazier layout!



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...with lots and lots of regions. For flexibility!


Problematic :/

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whoopsie, we over did it.


Also, not good enough :/

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Our “content” is still stuck in the middle.


So what is the solution?

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Panels.

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Panels allows you to control the layout of your site.


Panels.

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Panels allows you to control the layout of your site.But it requires a shift in how you think about site architecture.


Are you ready?

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Are you ready?

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Panels allows you to control the layout of your site.By controlling the layout of your content.


Panels

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a two column content layout.


Panels

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a two column site layout.


Panels

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a three column content layout.


Panels

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a three column site layout.


What does this mean?

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• You don’t need very many regions in your theme.(I never have sidebars in any of my themes)



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• You don’t need very many regions in your theme.(I never have sidebars in any of my themes)• You won’t be doing much with blocks.

(you can even disable block module if you like)



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• You don’t need very many regions in your theme.(I never have sidebars in any of my themes)• You won’t be doing much with blocks.

(you can even disable block module if you like)• Everything is content.

(don’t worry, this is how most people think about pages anyway)


Let’s make some stuff better, shall we?

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Let’s make some stuff better, shall we?

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• Home page• Node page(s)• User Profile page• Taxonomy Term page• Custom landing page(s)


EXAMPLE 1: Home Page

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EXAMPLE 2: Node Page (blog)

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EXAMPLE 2: Node Page (event)

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EXAMPLE 3: User Page

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EXAMPLE 4: Taxonomy Term Page

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EXAMPLE 5: Custom Landing Pages

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Where’s the code?

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Everything we’ve been playing with so far is pluggable.• You can code your own layouts.• You can code your own content types.• You can code your own styles.• You can even code your own access rules.


Are we out of time?

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• Go to the Panelizer session (next, Oceanic ballroom) • Video series on drupalize.me (more coming soon!)• Follow me on twitter @jenlampton• Come talk to me about panels!


BUILD BETTER WEBSITES

WITH PANELS!

SITE BUILDING TRACK | JEN LAMPTON | FEBRUARY 7 2013


build better websites with panels! - drupal · 2013. 2. 14. · - improving the theme layer for...

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