Introduction
Welcome to our guide on how to specify custom header.tpl for your entire SugarCRM. As you may know, SugarCRM is a popular customer relationship management software that helps businesses manage their interactions with customers. One of the ways you can customize your SugarCRM is by changing the header.tpl file. In this article, we will show you how to specify a custom header.tpl file for your entire SugarCRM, step by step. Let’s get started!
What is header.tpl?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s first discuss what header.tpl is. Header.tpl refers to the template file that powers the header section of the SugarCRM layout. It includes the logo, navigation menu, and other header elements that appear on every page of your CRM. By default, SugarCRM uses a pre-built header.tpl file. However, you can customize it to match your brand or organizational needs.
Why Customize header.tpl?
Customizing the header.tpl file is crucial for businesses that want to create a cohesive branding experience for their customers. By customizing the header, you can align it with your website’s header or branding guidelines. Additionally, customizing the header is useful for businesses that have specific navigational needs.
Understanding the Header.tpl File Structure
The header.tpl file is a Smarty template file that is located in the /custom/include/ folder of your SugarCRM installation. The file’s extension is .tpl. The file structure consists of HTML and Smarty tags. Smarty tags are used to generate dynamic content that can be pulled from SugarCRM’s database, such as user names, account information, or logo files. For example, the {$app_strings.APP_NAME} tag pulls the application’s name from SugarCRM’s database.
The header.tpl file has three significant sections:
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Smarty Initiation | This section includes the definitions of the smarty variable scope. |
| HTML Elements | This section includes the HTML markup and styling of the header. |
| Smarty Variables | This section includes the helper functions and the smarty tags that link to the SugarCRM database and backend. |
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Specify Custom header.tpl for Entire CRM
Step 1: Create a copy of the default header.tpl file
The first step is to create a copy of the default header.tpl file. This ensures that if anything goes wrong during customization, you can revert to the original file. Here are the steps to follow:
- Locate the default header.tpl file in the /include/ folder of your SugarCRM installation.
- Create a new directory named “custom” in the root of your SugarCRM installation directory.
- Inside the “custom” directory, create the following subdirectories: “include” and “layout”.
- Copy the default header.tpl file from the /include/ directory to the newly created /custom/include/ directory.
Step 2: Customize your header.tpl file
Now that you have a copy of the default header.tpl file, you can customize it to match your needs. Here are some of the things you can customize:
- Logo: Replace the default SugarCRM logo with your company’s logo. To do this, find the line of code that includes the SugarCRM logo and replace it with the path to your logo file.
- Navigation Menu: Add, remove, or modify the links in your navigation menu. To do this, find the line of code that includes the navigation menu and modify it accordingly.
- Styling: Modify the CSS code to match your brand colors, typography, or padding.
Step 3: Save and Deploy your customized header.tpl file
Once you have finished customizing your header.tpl file, save it and deploy it to your SugarCRM installation. To do this, follow these steps:
- Copy your customized header.tpl file from the /custom/include/ directory to the /include/ directory of your SugarCRM installation.
- Clear the SugarCRM cache by deleting the contents of the /cache/ directory in your SugarCRM installation. This step ensures that SugarCRM reads the new header.tpl file.
- Refresh your SugarCRM page to see the changes.
FAQs
Q1. Can I customize other parts of SugarCRM?
A1. Yes, you can customize other parts of SugarCRM, such as the footer, body, or subpanels. Each part has its own template file that you can customize using the same method as the header.tpl file.
Q2. Will customizing the header.tpl file affect SugarCRM’s functionality?
A2. No, customizing the header.tpl file will not affect SugarCRM’s functionality. However, it may affect the CRM’s appearance, so it’s essential to test thoroughly before deploying to production.
Q3. How can I revert to the default header.tpl file?
A3. To revert to the default header.tpl file, replace your customized header.tpl file with the copy you made in step 1. Then, clear the SugarCRM cache and refresh the page.
Q4. How often can I customize the header.tpl file?
A4. You can customize the header.tpl file as often as needed. However, it’s essential to test every customization before deploying it to production.
Q5. What happens if I make a mistake while customizing the header.tpl file?
A5. If you make a mistake while customizing the header.tpl file, SugarCRM may not load correctly. To avoid this, make a copy of the default header.tpl file before customizing it. If anything goes wrong, you can always revert to the default file.
Q6. Can I add JavaScript to the header.tpl file?
A6. Yes, you can add JavaScript to the header.tpl file. However, it’s important to ensure that the JavaScript code is valid and does not conflict with SugarCRM’s own JavaScript code.
Q7. Can I hire someone to customize my header.tpl file?
A7. Yes, you can hire a professional developer to customize your header.tpl file. Ensure that the developer has experience with SugarCRM and can provide references.
Conclusion
Customizing the header.tpl file is a straightforward process that can significantly improve your SugarCRM’s branding and navigational experience. In this article, we have discussed how to customize the header.tpl file step by step. Remember to create a backup of the original file and test every customization before deploying it to production. If you have any questions or encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to SugarCRM’s support team.
Are you ready to customize your SugarCRM header.tpl file? We hope that this guide has been helpful. Start customizing today to create a more tailored CRM experience for your customers!
Closing Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. We do not take any responsibility for any damages or losses that may occur as a result of following this guide. Always back up your files and test every customization thoroughly before deploying it to production.