Definition of Gantry

gan·try (gan′trē) noun

1. (RocketTheme) A framework used for assembling, building and maintaining a RocketTheme template

Overview of Gantry

Gantry is a sophisticated Joomla template framework with the sole intention of being the best platform to build a solid template with. Gantry takes all the lessons learned during the development of many RocketTheme templates and distils that knowledge into a single super-flexible framework that is easy to configure, simple to extend, and powerful enough to handle anything we want to throw at it.

Extensive Gantry Documentation

Key Features

The Gantry framework is packed with many great features that enable the rapid development of feature-rich designs with a minimum amount of effort. We've also gone to great lengths to enhance the standard Joomla administration user interface to make configuring a Gantry-powered template easier than ever before. Check out a sampling of the features Gantry brings to the table:

• 960 Grid System
• Stunning Administrator interface
• XML driven and with overrides for unprecedented levels of customization
• Per-menu-item level control over any configuration parameter
• Preset any combination of configuration parameters, and save custom presets
• 65 base module positions. Easily add more!
• 36 possible layout combinations for mainbody and sidebars
• Up to 3 sidebars for a total of 4 column layouts
• Many built-in features such as font-sizer, to-top smooth slider, IE6 warning message, etc.
• Flexible grid layout system for unparalleled control over block sizes

More Features

Installing/Updating Gantry

The Gantry library is a separate from the templates that use it. It is installed separately as com_gantry (although will not appear under Components in the Joomla Administrator). Therefore, to update Gantry, you just need to reinstall through the Joomla interface rather than manually edit files in the template.

Each template will have a bundle download option available to install both the template and the Gantry library at the same time, in conjunction with a standalone download.

Overview of the Administrator Interface

The administrative interface for Gantry is one of, if not the, most extensive and intuitive Joomla administrators in the community as a whole today. Gantry takes the template parameter ability of Joomla and takes it to the next level with a robust, diverse, functional and overall, substantial array of options to control, essentially, all aspects of the template.

The options are subdivided into various categories:

• Preset - Select from an array of prebuilt presets
• Settings - Configure preset specific settings such as Link Color
• Features - Control the various Gantry features such as Date
• Menu - Manage the menu parts of Gantry such as the javascript options of Fusion
• Layout - Customize the layout options of Gantry such as the Feature-a/f row distribution
• Advanced - Various other options are located here

There are 68 collapsible module positions. If no module is published to a position, it will not appear, collapsing the entire area.

Non-Standard Elements

There are non-standard elements that are injected into the template grid structure when enabled via the template parameter.

For example: The logo element is injected into the header-b position. It is inserted in a stacked fashion, meaning, if there are modules published to the header-b position, they will appear in the same column as the logo, just one place below.

You can change the positions of these elements at Extensions → Template Manager → rt_somaxiom_j15

Layout Control

The positions themselves are highly configurable, with the ability to change the width allocation depending on how many positions are published to a particular module row, such as feature-a/f. This is also applicable to the mainbody which, provides for an easy mechanism to switch the positions and widths of the side columns. For more information, check the documentation linked below.

Preview

The below diagram is of the Module Variations page.

Module Variations allow for the individual styling of each module within a position, without it being global. Code wise, this is achieved by adding a class into the module code which loads from the Module Class Suffix field in the Module Manager. The theme CSS adjusts accordingly.

Enter any available suffixes at Extensions → Module Manager → Module → Module Class Suffix

There are 11 suffixes: tab1-3, bg1-3, underline, number and flush, flushtop, flushbottom.

The Tab suffixes add a solid background image behind the header, in the shape of a tab. The BG suffixes change the color of the module background only. Underline simply adds a border to the bottom of the module header. Remember, you can always combine suffixes together such as tab3 b2, which will produce a colored module title, with a colored background. Number is specifically designed for the menu module, adding a decimal list before the border graphic.

Flush will disable all padding and margin to the module for a tighter fit, with FlushTop and FlushBottom disabling the margin/padding for the Top/Bottom parts of the module respectively.

Typography is a fundamental part of a template, providing you with the tools to characterise your content and bring it to life. There is a vast array of typography available with this template, as is with our previous releases, from list styles, notice blocks and a diverse number of other elements.

There are 2 methods in which to implement the typography into your Joomla content:

• HTML Mode: This is the traditional approach for implementing typography as used in the pre-2009 templates / demos, where you had to use HTML coding / syntax for the typography. This presents two main problems: the Joomla WYSIWYG editor is notorious for stripping out HTML so could easily remove your formatted article and no typography; secondly, using HTML for typography may present a problem for certain users who are unaccustomed to HTML and coding.
  
  
• RokCandy Mode: The RokCandy component from RocketTheme allows you to implement typography easily, without fear of the WYSIWYG editor ruining your formatting and allows you, and/or your clients to add them to your content with ease. This is through a method similar to BBcode (as seen in a forum). WYSIWYG friendly syntax can be used, or even custom configured that will transform a set snippet to the correct HTML when it is parsed by Joomla.

Why use RokCandy?

RokCandy is the ideal solution for those with limited coding skills or those who implement our templates for their clients. It is free from the WYSIWYG editors horrific filtering habits and can be easily pre-configured for your personal needs or the needs of your client.

RokCandy Typography

RokCandy Example

The RokCandy Typography button is created by using the following syntax with RokCandy:

[readon url="/typography/rokcandy-examples"]RokCandy Typography[/readon]

However, if we were to use HTML, the following code would be required:

<p>
  <a class="readon" href="/typography/rokcandy-examples">
    <span>Read more...</span>
  </a>
</p>

As you can see, the RokCandy version is a lot easier to use.