Template Customization

The Preads Platform features a sophisticated design engine that allows you to fully customize the visual identity of your network. Through a combination of modular templates and a dynamic section editor, you can manage your site's aesthetic without touching a single line of code.

🎨 Theme Management

The core of the customization system lies in the Template Manager, located in Admin Panel → Design → Templates.

Installing New Themes

Templates are packaged as standard ZIP files. The platform supports two upload methods:

  • Standard Upload: Ideal for smaller themes (up to 100MB).
  • Chunked Upload: Automatically activated for massive theme packages to ensure reliable installation even on restricted server environments.

Activation & Versioning

  • One Active Theme: Only one template can be active globally at any time. Activating a new theme will automatically place the previous one in the inactive library.
  • Version Control: The platform tracks template versions, allowing you to maintain multiple variations of your brand and toggle between them instantly (e.g., Seasonal/Holiday themes vs. Core themes).

🛠️ Visual Section Editor

The Section Editor provides a real-time interface for modifying the content of your active theme. It translates complex database schemas into intuitive input fields.

Dynamic Field Types

Each template section (e.g., Hero, testimonials, FAQ) supports several field types:

  • Plain Text/HTML: Update titles, descriptions, and CTA labels instantly.
  • Image Manager: Upload logos, banners, and feature icons. Assets are automatically optimized and stored in public/templates/{slug}/uploads.
  • Content Repeaters: A powerful tool for managing dynamic lists. Use repeaters to add/remove an unlimited number of features, pricing cards, or team members with a single click.

How to Edit

  1. Navigate to Admin Panel → Design → Templates.
  2. Find your Active template and click the Sections button.
  3. Choose the section you wish to modify (e.g., Homepage Hero).
  4. Update the fields and click Save Changes. The updates are reflected globally across your network instantly.

📂 For Developers: Custom Templates

The Preads platform uses a headless view architecture. Developers can create custom themes by following these technical specifications.

ZIP Structure Requirements

A valid template ZIP must follow this directory structure:

/
├── schema.json           # Mandatory: Defines fields and metadata
├── views/                # Blade templates (stored in storage for security)
│   ├── layout.blade.php
│   └── home.blade.php
└── assets/               # CSS, JS, Images (extracted to public root)

The schema.json Manual

The schema.json file is the brain of your template. It must define:

  • slug: A unique identifier (e.g., vibrant-dark).
  • name: The display name in the Admin Panel.
  • sections: An array of editable keys. Each section contains fields (text, image, or repeater) that the Admin Panel uses to generate the UI.

🛡️ Best Practices

  • Safe Deletion: You can only delete inactive templates. This prevents accidental downtime on your live network.
  • Asset Paths: Always use the platform's asset helper or relative paths to public/templates/{slug}/ to ensure your theme remains portable across environments.
  • Backup Before Update: When uploading a new version of an existing theme (same slug), the platform will safely overwrite the previous files. It is recommended to download a backup of your configuration before major updates.

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