WordPress.org

1. Ben B
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   I tend to use WP to create CMS-style sites, rather than blogs. My way of working is to get everything I need into page.php (incl. sidebars, header, footer) and work from there. The problem comes when I split this back out to each individual files. Using Sandbox as a starting point, there's 13 or so files for content.

   I know that a theme requires only an index.php; but working practically -- and using the template hierarchy -- would it be worthwhile only using these files to display everything --

   • archive.php
   • home.php
   • page.php
   • search.php
   • 404.php
   • single.php

   In your practical experience, would this be a good trade-off between using the 13 content presentation files; and a single index.php with loads of conditionals?

   Any insight into theme development like this is appreciated.

   Sincerely

   Ben

2. dsdeur
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   I would recommendt using header.php, footer.php and if u use a sidebar sidebar.php and include them in all of your files. Then just use the template files you need. If a single page needs a other structure then the index.php create page.php, if a single post needs different structure use single.php and so on.

   Just use the files that you need there is no point in having a page.php if it's exactly the same as index.php.

   Hope this will help you further.

   Greetz,

   Durgé
   Dimics.com

3. Ben B
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   Thanks Durgé, I should have said I would expect to always use header.php, footer.php and sidebar.php. It's obvious one you said it, but perhaps I should start with just index.php and see where I need additional controls and drop that new template in.

   Anyone else?

4. Peter Boosten
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   actually, two files are mandatory: style.css and index.php

   You can build your entire site on these two files.

   Peter

Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies.