[ckan-dev] Changing themes/background image

Wed Aug 7 10:43:42 UTC 2013

Hullo Aaron,

Let me clarify a couple of things. There are basically several ways you can change your CSS for a CKAN instance:
Sysadmin config - within your CKAN instances sysadmin panel there is a Custom CSS field. If you are simply trying to change one or two display things on your instance this is the simplest way to do it. So for example adding: `.hero { background: red; }` would replace the homepage squares with a red background. I do not recommend doing this if you planning on customizing it beyond one or two things.
Customizing the default CSS - this is the method you are referring to already. I've added instructions on how to do this [1]. This is recommended if you are want to change a few default theme colours, fonts, backgrounds, etc.
Create a custom extension - this is more in depth but best way of customising your CKAN instance. It's also the most supported and documented [2]

[1]
> What directory should the custom CSS/LESS be located?
>  

The file you need to edit is `ckan/public/base/less/custom.less`

> How is the custom style applied to the entire site?
Once you've added your CSS tweaks you'll need to run `./bin/less` (or `./bin/less --production` if you are debug == false). To understand the reasons why you need to run `./bin/less` (and to install the dependancies) it's recommended you read our front end documentation [3]

> What is the syntax for setting the background image in the custom style, is it the same as homepage.less?
The element you'll want to target is `.hero` and you'll need to change the `background-image` on it. For example: `body .hero { background-image: url("http://placekitten.com/300/300"); }` would give you a wonderful repeating cat background. The MDN docs on the `background-image` attribute [4] are a good start if you wan't to understand more.

> Do changes in the custom style sheet override homepage.less?
If you follow the steps above: yes.

[2] http://docs.ckan.org/en/ckan-2.0/theming.html
[3] http://docs.ckan.org/en/ckan-2.0/frontend-development.html
[4] https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/background-image

Hope this helps.   

--
John Martin
Front End Developer, CKAN · skype: johnamartin
The Open Knowledge Foundation
Empowering through Open Knowledge
http://okfn.org/ · @okfn (http://twitter.com/okfn)

On Wednesday, 7 August 2013 at 05:38, Aaron McGlinchy wrote:

> Hi, previous advice on changing the background image pointed to using custom.less.
>   
> Following on from that we have some more questions:
> What directory should the custom CSS/LESS be located?
> How is the custom style applied to the entire site?
> What is the syntax for setting the background image in the custom style, is it the same as homepage.less?
> Do changes in the custom style sheet override homepage.less?
>  
> Thanks
> Aaron
>   
>  
>  
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