How to create a template for New Member Registration page?
How Do I?
Hi. I’m new to EE and liking it so far! I was wondering how can I create a template for the member/register page, so I can add a header, some intro paragraphs and maybe style the CSS for the form. Any pointers or links on how to approach this will be appreciated!
Thanks
Hi OmbuStudio, you can edit the native member theme in Developer > Template Manager > System / Member templates. You can use any tags in those themes that you can in regular templates, including layouts, embeds, etc. so you can make the member theme fully integrated into your site’s design.
Hi! Thanks for your reply.
I see the section you mention in the template manager, but it contains no templates (“No templates found.”)
I also see some tags in the documentation, but I’m wondering how to name an HTML for the member/registration page, where to put it so EE will use it, and what tag should it contain to display the registration form.
Did you follow the link to the documentation in that message? 😉
This page should get you going. 😊
Yes. But the directories mentioned in the documentation are empty. There’s no base or default templates to copy. I could not find any information or example file regarding the template I’m trying to create (Registration page.)
From that page on the user guide:
Copy themes/ee/member/theme_name/ to themes/user/member/custom_theme_name/
Copy system/ee/templates/_themes/member/theme_name/ to system/user/templates/_themes/member/custom_theme_name/
If you don’t have those source files to copy from, someone must have deleted them from your installation, or you are running the old free “Core” version which does not include the Member module. Please check that you are running the full version, and if you are missing those files you can download a fresh copy from your manage purchases page and get them from there.
Hi Derek. Thanks for your reply. There’s currently only 1 version available through the store, which is a free version (previously $299). I understand this is a full version which is going open source. In that installation, the directory you mention only contains an index.html with:
<html> <head> <title>403 Forbidden</title> </head> <body>
Directory access is forbidden.
</body> </html>
and an images folder with some icons. This is in the “default” theme directory. No other files are present.
Yes, that’s the one that is used in your public web folder. The other is in your system folder, please see step two above.
Oh I see the files now. I’ve copied both folders with a new name for my new theme. But how do I set EE to use this theme? Is there anything else required to start my theme? Or do I need to add them somehow in the Template Manager?
Yes, that’s also covered on that same page of the user guide. 😉
If you do create a custom theme, you may set it as the site default under Settings ‣ Member Settings
I’m sorry but I just couldn’t get around to how to create a theme from scratch. There just doesn’t seem to be enough info in a streamlined dummy-proof form. Is there a guide where I could read step 1, step 2 so I can understand in a simpler way instead of trying to figure it out from across the documentation? I’ve been developing themes for wordpress for years but I just can’t seem to get around the first steps here.
Googling hasn’t enlightened me much either.
Member themes are admittedly not intuitive—they are a very old legacy design that inherited a lot from how forums used to work, and there are not any step by step directions. They are an exception to ExpressionEngine’s typical architecture, and essentially you start from a copy and each template is a predefined partial that is displayed on predefined endpoints. The easiest way is to replace each theme partial one at a time. The variables available will be in the existing theme you copied over, and should be self explanatory.
FWIW, this feature is slated for a complete rewrite in the near future so that it works like the rest of ExpressionEngine’s templates. Are you already familiar with ExpressionEngine’s normal templating? If not, check out this video here: ExpressionEngine 10-minute Primer
That’s very exciting news Derek, I can’t wait to see a more integrated set of member templates that offer more flexibility without having to resort to third party solutions! Can I also throw in a request for a member register form tag to pair up with the login form tag 😉