We used cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. What For?

« Back to Blogs

Liferay 6.2 Theme using Bootstrap 3

There are lots of people thinking about feasibility of using Bootstrap 3 in Liferay 6.2. Bootstrap 2 is upgraded by bootstrap 3 and also new features have been introduced according Twitter Bootstrap development community. Let's fulfill the wish of many Liferay theme developers to work with Bootstrap 3 in Liferay 6.2.

Bootstrap 3 provides flat design with no more fluid and fixed classes. Everything in bootstrap 3 is fluid to create fluid design. Besides, Bootstrap 3 is available with four level of responsiveness. We also can order columns using pull and push classes.

Here, I have tried to support most used bootstrap 3 component like flat design button, forms, media object, responsive image classes, completely responsive grid system.

Consider following requirements to develop theme.

 

System Requirements : -

  • Liferay 6.2 CE/EE version
  • Liferay plugin SDK

Follow the below steps to build sample theme.

Make the following selections:

  1. Open IDE(Eclipse/Liferay Developer Studio) and go to File -> New -> Liferay Plugin Project.
    • Build type: Ant (liferay-plugins-sdk) / Maven (liferay-maven-plugin)
    • Plugins SDK: [a configured Plugins SDK]
    • Liferay runtime: [a configured Liferay runtime]
    • Plugin Type: Theme
    • JDK: [a configured Java runtime 7 and above]
    • Click Next
    • Choose parent theme ( _styled / _unstyled / classic) according to requirement. For now select classic as a parent theme.
    • Choose Theme Framework ( Freemarker / Velocity / jsp).
    • Click on Finish.

After step 1, Theme will resemble to below structure.

Note :- Make sure _diffs directory is not created during step 1. Create it manually and copy resource folders (css,images,js,templates) according to requirement.

Theme Design:

  • Liferay-theme
    • docroot
      • WEB-INF
        • Liferay-look-and-feel.xml
        • liferay-plugin-package.properties
      • _diffs
        • css
        • images
        • js
        • templates
      • css
      • images
      • js
      • templates
  • The _diffs directory must mirror the parent theme’s directory structure.

2. Follow below steps for theme customization.

  • Copy  custom.css from css directory to _diffs --> css directory as per the requirements.
  • Add bootstrap_3.css and theme_6_2_bootstrap_3.css to  _diffs --> css directory.
  • Import bootstrap_3.css and theme_6_2_bootstrap_3.css at the end of _diffs --> css --> custom.css file.

 

Note : - Take bootstrap_3.css from attached war file, Because It's classes hierarchy is changed to meet liferay theme rules.

Custom.css

-----
--------
----------
@import url(bootstrap_3.css);
@import url(theme_6_2_bootstrap_3.css);

 

Theme_6_2_bootstrap_3.css

.aui {
    body {
        background:url(../images/cover1.jpg) no-repeat 0 0 /cover;
    }
    .site-title .site-name {
            color:#fff;
    }
    
    #wrapper {
        background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
        #content {
            min-height:500px;
        }
    }
    
    #footer {
        background-color: #ffffff;
        p {
            padding:5px;
        }    
    }    
}

 

3. Follow the steps to make default layout for theme ( Optional).

  • Create layout plugin by following step 1 and select plugin type as layout.
  • Create layouttpl directory under _diffs directory in theme plugin.
  • Copy layout files ( B3_layout.png, B3_layout.tpl and B3_layout.wap.tpl)  from layout plugin and paste under layouttpl directory in theme plugin.
  • Add layout configuration inside theme configuration in WEB-INF --> Liferay-look-and-feel.xml.

 

Liferay-look-and-feel.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE look-and-feel PUBLIC "-//Liferay//DTD Look and Feel 6.2.0//EN" "http://www.liferay.com/dtd/liferay-look-and-feel_6_2_0.dtd">

<look-and-feel>
    <compatibility>
        <version>6.2.10+</version>
    </compatibility>
    <theme id="L6_2withBT3-theme" name="L6_2withBT3">
           <layout-templates>
            <custom>
                <layout-template id="B3_layout" name="B3 Layout">
                    <template-path>layouttpl/B3_layout.tpl</template-path>
                    <wap-template-path>layouttpl/B3_layout.wap.tpl</wap-template-path>
                    <thumbnail-path>layouttpl/B3_layout.png</thumbnail-path>
                </layout-template>
            </custom>
        </layout-templates>
    </theme>
</look-and-feel>

 

4. Deploy theme using command ant clean deploy.

5. Deploy layout if created separately.

 

Responsive Layout (optional):

For example, To use bootstrap 3 layout with new grid class ( col-* ). Follow below link

https://www.surekhatech.com/blog/liferay-dxp-theme-with-bootstrap-3

After successful deployment, theme will look as shown in following snapshots.

 

Mobile View

Liferay 6.2 Theme Mobile View

Tablet View

Liferay 6.2 Theme Tablet View

Desktop View

Liferay 6.2 Theme Desktop View

Large Desktop View

Liferay 6.2 Theme Large Desktop View

 

Download illustrative war from below link :-

L6_2withBT3-theme-6.2.0.1.war

 

For more implementation details or support, you may contact us at [email protected].

contact-us Request a callback WhatsApp