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How to make SharePoint 2010 not look like SharePoint. Branding for Developers By Matt Huber. About Me. SharePoint guy @ Cardinal Solutions Love all things SharePoint Branding is my favorite topic Video gamer. Agenda. Introduction Goals & Objectives What is Branding? Key Concepts Demo
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How to make SharePoint 2010 not look like SharePoint Branding for Developers By Matt Huber
About Me • SharePoint guy @ Cardinal Solutions • Love all things SharePoint • Branding is my favorite topic • Video gamer
Agenda • Introduction • Goals & Objectives • What is Branding? • Key Concepts • Demo • Q/A
Goals & Objectives • Learn what Branding is for SharePoint • Show how Branding can enhance the SharePoint experience • Get some ideas brewing for your brand • Show how branding solutions are created
I have some questions… • Who is using SP2010? Earlier? • Is anyone using the default brand? • Has anyone branded SharePoint before?
In a nutshell, branding is… • Customization of the look & feel of SharePoint • Making SharePoint not look like SharePoint • Design Elements: • Master Pages • CSS • Images • Page Layouts • Colors • Fonts • Taglines • Animation • etc…
Concepts again… • Design Elements: • Master Pages • CSS • Images • Page Layouts • Colors • Fonts • Taglines • Animation • etc…
What is a Master.page? • Acts as a container to each page. • Includes: Navigation, Search, Logos, Site actions controls and more
Many, Many, Master.pages • 5-6 different master.pages • Publishing, Teams, MySite, Search, Meeting Workspace • Each contain different controls and custom actions related to that Site Definition
What is a Page Layout? • Contains zones for webparts and content.
Page Layouts • Most pages have a page layout • Team & Publishing site templates behave differently • Has multiple <asp:Content> tags that put content into an associated <asp:ContentPlaceholder> on the master.page
What is CSS? • Cascading Style Sheets – is a simple way to add fonts, colors, spacing and more to web pages.
CSS • Multiple ways to apply CSS • External, inline, <style> tag • SharePoint has a lot of CSS… 75+ style sheets • CSS 3 is available…but know your target browsers
Browsers…. Plan for browser support link: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc263526.aspx
Should we edit OOTB files?? • Never! • Don’t edit the existing CSS files, master.pages, images, or page layouts. • We can create branding assets in a variety of ways while still being in a supported state
The implementation types • Comes in a few forms: • Farm Solution • Sandbox Solution • Custom Branded solutions that accept themes • Themes • SharePoint Designer…
The Farm Solution • Contains: • 1 Farm Feature • Applies branding to the farm (minus CA!) • SPFeature.Add(“Site Collection Feature”) • Also removes on deactivation • 1 Site Collection Feature • Applies branding to a site collection • Sets SPWeb.CustomMasterURL, SPWeb. MasterUrl, & SPWeb.AlternateCSSUrl values
More on the Farm Solution • Contains a lot more… • Multiple event receivers • Branding Assets (Master pages, page layouts) • Mapped Folders for _Layouts & _Images • Feature Stapling • Kitchen sink
Lots of work… but for some good benefits! • Automatic application of the proper master.page when the site definition is invoked • Global on/off switch • No modification of SharePoint files! • Clean application, clean removal, we are on auto pilot now
Tools • IE Developer Toolbar or Firebug • Multiple Browsers • Notepad++ and a text comparison tool • Fiddler • SharePoint Designer • PowerShell
Tips & Tricks • Use Starter Master.Pages • Available on CodePlex • Use CSS class ‘S4-NotDlg’ to exclude elements from the Modal Popup window • Web Parts can have different styles…per Web Part Zone.
More Tips & Tricks • Use those developer tools • MSDN has some great resources.. • Best starting point ever… • Bing: Real World Branding with SharePoint 2010 Publishing Sites
Contact Me • Email – Huber.Matt@gmail.com • Website – Matthuber.com • Twitter –@Huber84