I'm building a site for a TV networking group that is a closed network. So I need a splash page that just has the site logo/background, a little bit of copy and the user login/register block. And then I also have a custom front page that I built via Panels which is currently set as the front page (and should be the front page for all logged in users).
The dilemma: How to implement the splash/login page? Creating a front.tpl.php template file would affect the styling of my logged-in user front page. So I installed the Front Page module (http://drupal.org/project/front) but would need to use php to print the login block, which would mean I'd have to totally theme the splash page from scratch. I'd like the page to inherit *some* of my theme's elements, just not the structure.
Any suggestions on how to accomplish this? I've been Googling for hours and finally decided to ask. There must be an easier way that I'm just not thinking of! Site (which is rough--it's still being designed/built!) is http://dev.friendsintv.com if that helps.
Comments
no php needed
I think you were on track with the FRONT module. I don't see why you would need to write custom PHP to add the login block. The login block is available on the block administration page. You can assign it to a region and limit it to only show up there for certain roles or paths.
A list of some of the Drupal sites I have designed and/or developed can be viewed at motioncity.com
Good point, thanks! OK so I
Good point, thanks! OK so I made a splash page node and set the user login block to display only on that node. I then created a custom page--node--#.tpl.php file which my theme is picking up. Hooray. I'll theme it later but for now I modified it a bit so that I could tell it was reading the theme override.
I pointed the Front Page module to that node page as a redirect (and I also tried the alias version). Both work great--except when the user logs in, it takes them right back to the splash page. Hmm. Looks like there may be a solution here: http://drupal.org/node/782424. Just wanted to report on my progress in case someone searching later has a similar issue!
Login Destination
Yes I think you may need Login Destination or Login Toboggan to finish the task. (There ws some talk of merging these under D7, but I don't know if that is the case.)
A list of some of the Drupal sites I have designed and/or developed can be viewed at motioncity.com
Yep, I now have Login
Yep, I now have Login Toboggan AND Login Destination installed... I already had Toboggan enabled because logging in via email is an essential for this site, and although you can specify a login redirect, I needed the more granular control over the redirect that Destination provided. Phew! Feels a bit silly to have both modules but they don't seem to be causing any conflicts with each other.
Thanks again for your help. I was so close to a solution but frustrated and not thinking it through clearly. I kept trying to make a panel + page.tpl override work (which doesn't work without a lot of extra effort), but why get complicated when a node does the trick!
Can I ask for your help setting up something similar
Amanda
I have tried following your posts and comments but am running round in circles - would it be ok to ask a couple of questions?
Philip