[drupal-devel] [task] Introduce theme wrapper, as discussed on the Sprint

Sat Jun 11 22:36:22 UTC 2005

Issue status update for http://drupal.org/node/23584

 Project:      Drupal
 Version:      cvs
 Component:    theme system
 Category:     tasks
 Priority:     normal
 Assigned to:  Bèr Kessels
 Reported by:  Bèr Kessels
 Updated by:   Bèr Kessels
 Status:       patch
 Attachment:   http://drupal.org/files/issues/theme_wrapper_1_0.patch (4.99 KB)

another attempt

Bèr Kessels

Previous comments:
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May 25, 2005 - 13:34 : Bèr Kessels

Attachment: http://drupal.org/files/issues/theme_wrapper.patch (1.23 KB)

I finally got around this.
On the useability sprint inAntwerp we agreed that theme_box is:
1) not flexible,
2) underused
3) very powerfull for themers, consistancy and developers if it has
enough information.

This patch introduces such a function, called theme_wrapper.
Theme('wrapper') should be called EVERYWHERE where we now have
hardcoded spans and divs, only to be able to add a class or ID to a
(part of -) a page.

>From the notes:

"
 ** HTML themed wrapper **
Currently, we use a theme_box to wrap parts of pages in HTML. This
should be extended, but most of, all, get better CSS support.
Thus a wrapper should be introduced, one that should replace theme_box.
This theme_wrapper can and/or will get an ID and a class.

* Both class and ID should be passed as elements, so that it is up to
the developers to pqss correct classes  and Ids;
* Both the ID and class are required. (?)
* Discuss whether or not they are required.

 **List of classes.**
When passing a class, the developer should be encourqged to choose an
existing class, instead of inventing new ones for every wrapper. This
will be achieved by a list of standard classes, that will be available
in drupal.css.
Think of classes such as “3-col-left”, “3-col-center” and
“3-col-right”, for wrappers that will make content in a 3 columned
way. This could be used, for example in a directory.module to present
three directories next to one another.
TODO: Create a standard set of classes, that can, and should be, (re-)
used by developers. 

 ** Ids**
Ids should be unique on a page, thus the developer must make sure, he
or she does not use an ID  that  is already existing on the page where
his or her HTML will be rendered. But just like with the classees, we
should avoid a wildgrowth of ids. Thus, good guidelines, including
lists of examples, lust be written.
TODO: Create guidelines for ID-ing elements in Drupal.

"

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May 25, 2005 - 13:45 : Bèr Kessels

Attachment: http://drupal.org/files/issues/box_to_wrapper_core.patch (3.8 KB)

... and here is a patch for core that replaces all theme('box' calls
with new wrapper calls.

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May 25, 2005 - 18:53 : drumm

theme_wrapper.patch looks okay.

The ids used in box_to_wrapper_core.patch are a bit vague I think we
should avoid using numbers in ids unless they correspond to an actual
id in the db- such as node-37 or comment-48. For example "comment-4" in
the patch could be renamed to "comment-viewing-options."

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May 25, 2005 - 20:45 : Dries

I vote against numbers too.  Can't we use 'comment' instead of
'comment-1', 'comment-2', etc.  

Most of the calls to theme('box') are used to print status messages. 
Shouldn't we use drupal_set_message() instead?  That would be a lot
more consistent with other status messages and is more likely to catch
the user's eye.  Please do.

One more revision and this can be committed.

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May 26, 2005 - 08:51 : Bèr Kessels

Attachment: http://drupal.org/files/issues/box_to_wrapper_core_0.patch (3.82 KB)

Here is an updated patch. 

Dries,: i agree on what you say about the messages, but my plan is as
follows:
1) get the wrapper in core
2) change *only* existing ox calls into wrappers (the two patches bring
us here.)

3) create a list of standard classes. i started that already, will
share it soon.
4) add a lot of wrapper calls, on places where html is hardcoded (a
lot: i see nearly fifty of them in core)
5) replace some wrapper calls by more appropriate calls, like the
messages. But some things should go to hook help too.
6) compile/extract a list of IDs

Step 3 and 4 will get us where you want, but for now i did not yet want
to change to much. This issues and these patches are about *introducing*
the new wrapper, not about *using* it, yet.

attached the patch for core modules, with improved ids.

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May 26, 2005 - 08:54 : Bèr Kessels

Attachment: http://drupal.org/files/issues/theme_wrapper_0.patch (1.22 KB)

and the patch for theme.inc. I changed the doxygen about IDs a little.

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May 26, 2005 - 20:13 : Dries

I wonder why we need a 6-step plan to get such simple changes
implemented ...

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May 27, 2005 - 16:25 : Bèr Kessels

Attachment: http://drupal.org/files/issues/theme_wrapper_1.patch (5.02 KB)

The new patch. and no, the six step plan reaches beyond this patch, far
beyond it.  Getting this patch in is only one step. I only put that
plan there to show why i am reluctant to add new features in this
patch. IMO adding new features is for after this wrapper is in core.
That is what i wanted to tell with that plan.

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May 27, 2005 - 16:30 : Bèr Kessels

*sigh* set_message does not return anything :)