How to customize Pages template?

For pages in general, create a template named “page.php” To make a template and assign a particular page to it, see this.

Page.php is indeed the file to modify. For starters, I commented out get_sidebar and link_pages.

But I’ll need to make some CSS mods – because the_content of a Page is generated in the same way as a post.

But if I want a custom nested ordered list, for example, I have to change the behavior of BOTH regular posts AND the Page – because <ol> is redefined in the .entry class.

Nesting another class will not work here. So I’ll need something like a <page-entry> class…

developing…

1. You can have hundreds of Page templates – if you want ??
2. You can use all kind of specific div classes and id’s in those templates, and define them in your stylesheet – so a Page can look totally different.
It’s just a little bit of work, but it can be done!

That “little bit of work” is largely discovery since I’m relatively new to WP (but fairly well-versed in CSS, PHP and HTML).

Can you give me a hint on how I can create Pages based on different templates?

I was successful in changing a couple of lines in page.php:

For example: entry to page-entry and commenting out link_pages:

<div class="page-entry">
<?php the_content('<p class="serif">Read the rest of this page &raquo;
'); ?>
<?php //link_pages('<strong>Pages:</strong> ', '
', 'number'); ?>
</div>

The link filosofo gave you (Page Templates) describes fairly well how to create successive Page templates – besides the default page.php. That one doesn’t have to have the additonal lines at the top – all the others will need it. [see the Codex]

After having 2, 3, 4…57 templates, in the Write Page area you’ll have a dropdown menu to choose a template for the new Page you are creating. It cannot be simpler.

As to what to have in the templates and what kind of markup to use around the Loop – it is entirely up to you. You were/are on the right track by defining a “page-entry” class. In the next template you can have “my-red-entry” calss and defined in the CSS as bg: red etc.
And you always pick the proper Page template when creating a new Page.
Does this help?

Ah, I see… use the drop-down to select a page template.

more to learn… ??

I’ll figure it out.

It would be nice if WP shipped with a few (no more than 3) different page templates (each with some minor difference in appearence). So users would see the 3 different selections in the drop-down, and could hack each template with impunity.

Anyway, thanks for the tip!

Don’t forget that template files (including Page templates) are theme specific.
The Default does have several Page templates:
page.php
archives.php
links.php
The Classic has none.

for page templates can we have a separate theme folder for it ? i have not read in the docs about creating another folder with its own images and stylesheet, do the added page templates remain in the main theme folder ?