By default eZ Flow has five layouts. The screenshot below shows the editor's view for selecting one of the five layouts in the Website Interface. Because layouts are defined via a configurable plug-in system, it is possible to create custom layouts.

Defining new layouts

A layout is a combination of zones that are placed on a page. The placement of the zones is defined in a template that is specified as part of the layout configuration. You can define as many layouts as you need. To define a new layout, edit the zone.ini file located by default in the following directory:

extension/ezflow/settings/zone.ini.append.php

Add the layout name to the AllowedTypes array.

Once you have defined the layout type, define the following settings:

This example shows a configuration for a layout called '2ZonesLayout1":

[General]
AllowedTypes[]=2ZonesLayout1
 
[2ZonesLayout1]
ZoneTypeName=2 zones (layout 1)
 
Zones[]=left
Zones[]=right
 
ZoneName[left]=Left zone
ZoneName[right]=Right zone
 
ZoneThumbnail=2zones_layout1.gif
 
Template=2zoneslayout1.tpl
AvailableForClasses[]=frontpage

 Layout templates for zone definition

The template used by a layout must display the contents of the layout's zones. You can place the zones anywhere in the template. The variable that is made available in the template is called $zones. This variable is an array containing different $zone objects. Each $zone variable contains both a $zone.name and $zone.blocks.

A simple example of a layout template is shown below:

{foreach $zones as $zone}
 
 <h1>Zone: {$zone.name}</h1>
 
        {foreach $zone.blocks as $block}
            {block_view_gui block=$block}
        {/foreach}
 
{/foreach}