override region template for a specific content type

@RedTop: Have you got any answer for this question? I thought that I maybe could use THEMENAME_preprocess_region(&$variables) together with $variables['theme_hook_suggestions'] but I have not been successful.

How do you want to alter the template? Could this be done via delta/context?

Anyone figure this one out yet? I too need to change the region--content.tpl.php file for one content type, what is the template suggestion we should use?

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this may help... http://eureka.ykyuen.info/2012/05/10/drupal-7-customize-region-template-...

I was just in the need of that and came up with a similar solution as stated in #6. (Thanks jowchie! Your way is actually smoother since it doesn't drag the node variable along.)

I have some special content types which require different layouts including the node title. For theming the content, I am already using node--mycontenttype.tpl.php, but node title is set in region--content.tpl.php. Though, $node is not available in that file.
I tried to make $node available by adding it via preprocess function and after reading the link stated above, I merged both ways and added this function to my preprocess-region.inc:

function MYTHEME_alpha_preprocess_region(&$vars) {
  $menu_object = menu_get_object();
  if (isset($menu_object->type) && $vars['region'] == 'content') {
    $vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'region__content__'.$menu_object->type;
    $vars['attributes_array']['class'][] = 'region-content-'.$menu_object->type;
  }
}

Now, I can use special template files for each content type by creating custom region--content--CONTENT_TYPE1.tpl.php, region--content--CONTENT_TYPE2.tpl.php and so on.
Further, I added another class (see last line of code) to style the region itself if necessary.

Don't forget to clear cache after adding the preprocess function and the template file.

That's just what I needed, Paul - thank you for posting it.

Why are you creating a preprocess-region.inc? It doesn't work for me and it only worked until I just put the function in my template.php. Isn't that the usual way to go?

I put this inside template php and this does not work for me, array for hook suggestions is not being appended with new item, nor atributes.

@mths: Sorry for confusion. You are right, the default way is to put it into template.php. In that case however, I was using an Omega subtheme (it's an Omega issue after all) and it separates the various process and preprocess functions into different folders and files. For most of my projects this is quite handy as it helps to have custom code snippets organized.

@mths: If you are using a preprocess function in the template.php be sure you format it MYTHEME_alpha_preprocess_hook(&$vars){} like the example. Preprocess functions can go into the template.php but like Paul.B stated they can also go into custom .inc files in the preprocess folder. Both should work for you though.

I had a custom region region--site-nav.tpl.php

I wanted a variable from region.tpl.php (which I define in template.php) to be available in my region--site-nav.tpl.php template. Here's how I did it:

This is where I defined a variable for search box that I will need in my custom region:

function ctvenglishtheme2_preprocess_region__sitemap_nav(&$variables) {
  $search_form = drupal_get_form('search_form');
  $variables['search_box'] = drupal_render($search_form);
}

And this is how I make a region.tpl.php variable available in region--site-nav.tpl.php

function ctvenglishtheme2_preprocess_region(&$variables, $hook) {
  // Don't use Zen's region--no-wrapper.tpl.php template for sidebars.
  $function = 'ctvenglishtheme2_preprocess_region__sitemap_nav';
  if (function_exists($function)) {
    $function($variables);
  }
}