After all branding files have been created we as designers sometimes don't get the option to install and implement the visual design ourselves. So the creation of an Install Guide can be important in two ways.
- Ability for the site owner/Administrator to have a back up guide on how to re-apply the visual design in case of a Disaster Recovery.
- If someone other than the creator of the branding files needs to apply the branding due to security reasons/Location.
Below are some install instructions for a site with the following:
- Publishing Site
- Custom Master Page
- Custom Page Layout
- Custom CSS
- Custom Images
Step 1: Enable Publishing Feature:
- Enable the Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure Feature for the top level site collection.
- Click on Site Actions > Modify All Site Settings
- Click on Site collection features
- Make sure the "Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure" is Active
- Enable the Office SharePoint Server Publishing for the site.
- Click on Site Actions > Modify All Site Settings
- Click on Site features
- Make sure the "SharePoint Server Publishing" is Active
Step 2: Images:
- Go to the following directory on the server (if there are more than 1 web server make sure this is done on each)
- C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\TEMPLATE\IMAGES
- Copy over the “XYZ_Images” folder.
Step 3: Styles:
- Go to the following directory on the server (if there are more than 1 web server make sure this is done on each)
- C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\1033\STYLES
- Copy over the “XYZ_Styles” folder.
Step 4: Upload Master Page and Page Layout:
- From the top level site collection do the following:
- Click on Site Actions > Modify All Site Settings
- Click on “Master pages and page layouts”
- Upload both the “XYZ_Custom.master” and “XYZ_PageLayout.aspx” files. Make sure these files are Checked in as a major version, and Accepted if approval is required.
- Change the XYZ_Custom.master file properties to the following:
- Content Type: Publishing Master Page
- Change the XYZ_PageLayout.aspx file properties to the following:
- Content Type: Page Layout
- Content Type Group: Page Layout Content Type
- Content Type Name: Welcome Page
Step 5: Apply Master Page and Alt CSS:
- From the top level site collection do the following:
- Click on Site Actions > Modify All Site Settings
- Click on “Master page”
- Choose the “XYZ_Custom.master” for both the Site Master Page, and the System Master Page.
- Check off the boxs to reset all sub sites.
- At the bottom of the page click on Specify a CSS to be used… and paste in the following path:
- /_layouts/1033/styles/xyz_styles/xyzstyle.css
- Check off the box to reset all sub sites.
Step 6: Apply Page Layout:
- From the top level site collection do the following:
- Click on Site Actions > Edit Page
- In the Toolbar click on the “Page” button then “Page Settings”
- Under Page Layout section choose “xyz_PageLayout.aspx” from the drop down
Drop me a note if you found this useful!
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