The bread and butter of any theme. Below you'll find the layouts included with Minimal Mistakes, what they look like and the type of content they've been built for.
## Default Layout
The base layout all other layouts inherit from. There's not much to this layout apart from pulling in several `_includes`:
*`<head>` elements
* masthead navigation links
* {% raw %}`{{ content }}`{% endraw %}
* page footer
* scripts
**Note:** You won't ever assign this layout directly to a post or page. Instead all other layouts will build off of it by setting `layout: default` in their YAML Front Matter.
{: .notice--warning}
### Layout Based and User-Defined Classes
Class names corresponding to each layout are automatically added to the `<body>` element eg. `<body class="layout--single">`.
Using YAML Front Matter you can also assign custom classes to target with CSS or JavaScript. Perfect for "art directed" posts or adding custom styles to specific pages.
Example:
```yaml
---
layout: splash
classes:
- landing
- dark-theme
---
```
Outputs:
```html
<bodyclass="layout--splash landing dark-theme">
```
## Compress Layout
A Jekyll layout that compresses HTML in pure Liquid. To enable add `layout: compress` to `_layouts/default.html`.
**Note:** Has been known to mangle markup and break JavaScript... especially if inline `// comments` are present. For this reason it has been disabled by default.
{: .notice--danger}
* [Documentation](http://jch.penibelst.de/)
## Single Layout
The layout you'll likely use the most --- sidebar and main content combo.
**Includes:**
* Optional header image with caption
* Optional header overlay (solid color/image) + text and optional "call to action" button
* Optional social sharing links module
* Optional comments module
* Optional related posts module
{% include gallery id="single_layout_gallery" caption="Image header and meta info examples for `single` layout" %}
Assign with `layout: single`, or better yet apply as a [Front Matter default]({{ "/docs/configuration/#front-matter-defaults" | absolute_url }}) in `_config.yml`.
Auto-generated table of contents list for your posts and pages can be enabled by adding `toc: true` to the YAML Front Matter.
![table of contents example]({{ "/assets/images/mm-toc-helper-example.jpg" | absolute_url }})
| Parameter | Required | Description | Default |
| --------- | -------- | ----------- | ------- |
| **toc** | Optional | Show table of contents. (boolean) | `false` |
| **toc_label** | Optional | Table of contents title. (string) | `toc_label` in UI Text data file. |
| **toc_icon** | Optional | Table of contents icon, displays before the title. (string) | [Font Awesome](https://fortawesome.github.io/Font-Awesome/icons/) <iclass="fa fa-file-text"></i>**file-text** icon. Any other FA icon can be used instead. |
Below are sample archive pages you can easily drop into your project, taking care to rename `permalink`, `title`, or the filename to fit your site. Each is 100% compatible with GitHub Pages.
* [All Posts Grouped by Category -- List View][posts-categories]
Post and page excerpts are auto-generated by Jekyll which grabs the first paragraph of text. To override this text with something more specific use the following YAML Front Matter:
```yaml
excerpt: "A unique line of text to describe this post that will display in an archive listing and meta description with SEO benefits."
```
### Grid View
Adding `type=grid` to the `archive-single` helper will display archive posts in a 4 column grid. For example to create an archive displaying all documents in the portfolio collection:
**Step 1:** Create a portfolio archive page (eg. `_pages/portfolio-archive.html`) with the following YAML Front Matter:
```yaml
---
layout: archive
title: "Portfolio"
permalink: /portfolio/
author_profile: false
---
```
**Step 2:** Loop over all documents in the portfolio collection and output in a grid:
If you have the luxury of using Jekyll plugins, the creation of category and tag archives is greatly simplified. Simply enable support for the [`jekyll-archives`](https://github.com/jekyll/jekyll-archives) plugin with a few `_config.yml` settings as noted in the [**Configuration**]({{ "/docs/configuration/#archive-settings" | absolute_url }}) section and you're good to go.
If you're not using the `jekyll-archives` plugin then you need to create archive pages yourself. Sample taxonomy archives can be found by grabbing the HTML sources below and adding to your site.
A derivative archive page layout to be used as a simple home page. It is built to show a paginated list of recent posts based off of the [pagination settings]({{ "/docs/configuration/#paginate" | absolute_url }}) in `_config.yml`.
<figure>
<imgsrc="{{ '/assets/images/mm-home-post-pagination-example.jpg' | absolute_url }}"alt="paginated home page example">
<figcaption>Example of a paginated home page showing 5 recent posts.</figcaption>
</figure>
To use create `index.html` at the root of your project and add the following YAML Front Matter:
If you'd rather have a paginated page of posts reside in a subfolder instead of acting as your homepage make the following adjustments.
Create `index.html` in the location you'd like. For example if I wanted it to live at **/blog** I'd create `/blog/index.html` with `layout: home` in its YAML Front Matter.
Then adjust the `paginate_path` in **_config.yml** to match.
**Note:** Jekyll can only paginate a single `index.html` file. If you'd like to paginate more pages (e.g. category indexes) you'll need the help of a custom plugin. For more pagination related settings check the [**Configuration**]({{ "/docs/configuration/#paginate" | absolute_url }}) section.
{: .notice--info}
## Splash Page Layout
For full-width landing pages that need a little something extra add `layout: splash` to the YAML Front Matter.
**Includes:**
* Optional header image with caption
* Optional header overlay (solid color/image) + text and optional "call to action" button
* Feature blocks (`left`, `center`, and `right` alignment options)
Feature blocks can be assigned and aligned to the `left`, `right`, or `center` with a sprinkling of YAML. For full details on how to use the `feature_row` helper check the [**Content**]({{ "/docs/helpers/" | absolute_url }}) section or review a [sample splash page](https://github.com/{{ site.repository }}/blob/master/docs/_pages/splash-page.md).
A page with a search form. Add `layout: search` to the YAML Front Matter similar to [this example](https://github.com/mmistakes/minimal-mistakes/blob/master/docs/_pages/search.md) on the demo site.
**Note:** A page using the `layout: search` isn't compatible with the new [site search feature]({{ "/docs/configuration/#site-search" | absolute_url }}) incorporated in the masthead.
To add some visual punch to a post or page, a large full-width header image can be included.
Be sure to resize your header images. `~1280px` is a good width if you aren't [responsively serving up images](http://alistapart.com/article/responsive-images-in-practice). Through the magic of CSS they will scale up or down to fill the container. If you go with something too small it will look like garbage when upscaled, and something too large will hurt performance.
**Please Note:** Paths for image headers, overlays, teasers, [galleries]({{ "/docs/helpers/#gallery" | absolute_url }}), and [feature rows]({{ "/docs/helpers/#feature-row" | absolute_url }}) have changed and require a full path. Instead of just `image: filename.jpg` you'll need to use the full path eg: `image: /assets/images/filename.jpg`. The preferred location is now `/assets/images/`, but can be placed elsewhere or external hosted. This all applies for image references in `_config.yml` and `author.yml` as well.
By default the large page header or overlay images are used for sharing previews. If you'd like to set this image to something else use `page.header.og_image` like:
```yaml
header:
image: /assets/images/your-page-image.jpg
og_image: /assets/images/your-og-image.jpg
```
**ProTip:** `og_image` is useful for setting OpenGraph images on pages that don't have a header or overlay image.
The space to the left of a page's main content is blank by default, but has the ability to show an author profile (name, short biography, social media links), custom content, or both.
### Author Profile
Add `author_profile: true` to a post or page's YAML Front Matter.
Better yet, enable it with Front Matter Defaults set in `_config.yml`.
```yaml
defaults:
# _posts
- scope:
path: ""
type: posts
values:
author_profile: true
```
**Note:** To disable the author sidebar profile for a specific post or page, add `author_profile: false` to the YAML Front Matter instead.
{: .notice--warning}
The theme comes pre-built with a selection of links for the most common social media networks. These are all optional and can be [assigned in `_config.yml`]({{ "/docs/configuration/" | absolute_url }}).
To add more links you'll need to crack open [`_includes/author-profile-custom-links.html`](https://github.com/mmistakes/minimal-mistakes/blob/master/_includes/author-profile-custom-links.html) and add the appropriate `<li>` markup shown below.
**Please note:** Links added here will appear after the ones in [`_includes/author-profile.html`](https://github.com/mmistakes/minimal-mistakes/blob/master/_includes/author-profile.html). If you'd like to change the order of appearance you'll need to edit that file directly.
It's up to you if you want to wrap it in a `{% raw %}{% if %} ... {% endif %}{% endraw %}`conditional and add a variable to `_config.yml`. If you don't plan to change it then hard-coding the string is perfectly acceptable.
Start by copying [`_utilities.scss`](https://github.com/mmistakes/minimal-mistakes/blob/master/_sass/minimal-mistakes/_utilities.scss) `<site root>/_sass`. Open it up to the icon section (it's near the bottom) and nest a new class beneath `.social-icons` that matches the one used to declare the Font Awesome icon. In our case `.fa-reddit`.
**ProTip:** For bonus points you can add it as a Sass `$variable` that you set in [`_variables.scss`](https://github.com/mmistakes/minimal-mistakes/blob/master/_sass/minimal-mistakes/_variables.scss) like the other ["brand" colors](http://brandcolors.net/). You'll need to add this file to `/_sass/` as well if you're using the Ruby Gem version of the theme.
**Please please please** don't submit [pull requests]({{ "/docs/contributing/" | absolute_url }}) adding in support for "missing" social media links. I'm trying to keep things down to the minimum (hence the theme's name) and have no interest in merging such PRs :expressionless:.
{: .notice--warning}
### Custom Sidebar Content
Blocks of content can be added by using the following under `sidebar`:
| Name | Description |
| ---- | ----------- |
| **title** | Title or heading. |
| **image** | Image path placed in `/images/` folder or an external URL. |
| **image_alt** | Alternate description for image. |
| **text** | Text. Markdown is allowed. |
Multiple blocks can also be added by following the example below:
<figcaption>Example of custom sidebar content added as YAML Front Matter.</figcaption>
</figure>
**Note:** Custom sidebar content added to a post or page's YAML Front Matter will appear below the author profile if enabled with `author_profile: true`.
{: .notice--info}
### Custom Sidebar Navigation Menu
To create a sidebar menu[^sidebar-menu] similar to the one found in the theme's documentation pages you'll need to modify a `_data` file and some YAML Front Matter.
[^sidebar-menu]: Sidebar menu supports 1 level of nested links.
<figcaption>Custom sidebar navigation menu example.</figcaption>
</figure>
To start, add a new key to `_data/navigation.yml`. This will be referenced later in via YAML Front Matter so keep it short and memorable. In the case of the theme's documentation menu I used `docs`.
**Sample sidebar menu links:**
```yaml
docs:
- title: Getting Started
children:
- title: "Quick-Start Guide"
url: /docs/quick-start-guide/
- title: "Structure"
url: /docs/structure/
- title: "Installation"
url: /docs/installation/
- title: "Upgrading"
url: /docs/upgrading/
- title: Customization
children:
- title: "Configuration"
url: /docs/configuration/
- title: "Navigation"
url: /docs/navigation/
- title: "UI Text"
url: /docs/ui-text/
- title: "Authors"
url: /docs/authors/
- title: "Layouts"
url: /docs/layouts/
- title: Content
children:
- title: "Working with Posts"
url: /docs/posts/
- title: "Working with Pages"
url: /docs/pages/
- title: "Working with Collections"
url: /docs/collections/
- title: "Helpers"
url: /docs/helpers/
- title: "Utility Classes"
url: /docs/utility-classes/
- title: Extras
children:
- title: "Stylesheets"
url: /docs/stylesheets/
- title: "JavaScript"
url: /docs/javascript/
```
Now you can pull these links into any page by adding the following YAML Front Matter.
```yaml
sidebar:
nav: "docs"
```
**Note:** `nav: "docs"` references the `docs` key in `_data/navigation.yml` so make sure they match.
{: .notice--info}
If you're adding a sidebar navigation menu to several pages the use of Front Matter Defaults is a better option. You can define them in `_config.yml` to avoid adding it to every page or post.
**Sample sidebar nav default:**
```yaml
defaults:
# _docs
- scope:
path: ""
type: docs
values:
sidebar:
nav: "docs"
```
---
## Social Sharing Links
The `single` layout has an option to enable social links at the bottom of posts for sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn. Similar to the links found in the author sidebar, the theme ships with defaults for the most common social networks.
![default social share link buttons]({{ "/assets/images/mm-social-share-links-default.png" | absolute_url }})
To enable these links add `share: true` to a post or page's YAML Front Matter or use a [default](https://jekyllrb.com/docs/configuration/#front-matter-defaults) in your `_config.yml` to apply more globally.
If you'd like to add, remove, or change the order of these default links you can do so by editing [`_includes/social-share.html`](https://github.com/mmistakes/minimal-mistakes/blob/master/_includes/social-share.html).
Let's say you wanted to replace the Google+ button with a Reddit one. Simply replace the HTML with the following:
![Reddit social share link button]({{ "/assets/images/mm-social-share-links-reddit-gs.png" | absolute_url }})
To change the color of the button use one of the built in [utility classes]({{ "/docs/utility-classes/#buttons" | absolute_url }}). Or you can create a new button class to match whatever color you want.
Under the `$social` color map in `assets/_scss/_buttons.scss` simply add a name (this will be appened to `btn--`) that matches the new button class. In our case `reddit` ~> `.btn--reddit`.
```scss
$social:
(facebook, $facebook-color),
(twitter, $twitter-color),
(google-plus, $google-plus-color),
(linkedin, $linkedin-color);
(reddit, #ff4500;)
```
**ProTip:** For bonus points you can add it as a Sass `$variable` that you set in `_variables.scss` like the other ["brand" colors](http://brandcolors.net/).
{: .notice--info}
Add the new `.btn--reddit` class to the `<a>` element from earlier, [compile `main.css`]({{ "/docs/stylesheets/" | absolute_url }}) and away you go.
