Question

I’m using Magento 1.6. I’ve created my own theme (mytheme) under base.

So my file structure is app/design/frontend/base/mytheme

I could also develop my theme under app/design/frontend/default/mytheme

Which is best practice? And what are the implications of using base/mytheme rather than default/mytheme?

Cheers,
Eddie

Answer 1

You don’t want to put your theme in the base folder. The base folder is meant to contain the “core” theme that ships with Magento. It’s the ultimate fall back, and the last place a file is looked for. It was specifically introduced to provide a place where core Magento developers could blow the entire directory away and replace everything (if need be)

To create a theme for Magento, you’ll want to create a theme folder in your design package

app/design/frontend/default/mytheme

Then, in the admin go to

System -> Configuration -> Design

and enter mytheme in the Default field. Your theme will now the the “default” place Magento looks for files. If it doesn’t find one, it will fall back on what it finds in the base folder.