Layouts

Managing store layouts and module positions in OpenCart 4

Layouts in OpenCart 4 give you complete control over the structure of your store's pages. Each layout defines which modules appear in specific positions (like sidebars, headers, or content areas) and which store routes (URL patterns) use that layout. This powerful feature allows you to create unique page designs for different types of content.

Default Layouts

OpenCart 4 includes several pre-defined layouts for common page types:

Layout Type	Typical Routes	Description
Default	common/home	Home page and general fallback layout
Product	product/product	Individual product pages
Category	product/category	Category listing pages
Manufacturer	product/manufacturer	Brand/brand listing pages
Information	information/information	Static content pages (About Us, Contact, etc.)
Article	cms/article	Blog/article pages (if CMS enabled)
Topic	cms/topic	Blog topic pages (if CMS enabled)

Tip: You can modify the default layouts or create entirely new layouts to match your design needs. The Default layout cannot be deleted but can be modified.

Accessing Layouts

1

Log in to Admin Panel

Open your browser and navigate to your OpenCart admin URL (typically yourstore.com/admin).

Enter your administrator credentials to log in.

2

Navigate to Design → Layouts

From the admin dashboard, go to the main menu and click Design, then select Layouts from the dropdown menu.

You can also use the quick search: type "Layouts" in the admin search bar.

3

View Layouts List

Layouts List

You'll see the layout management interface showing all existing layouts.

The list displays layout names, associated routes, and action buttons for editing or deleting.

Creating a New Layout

1

Step 1: Click Add New

Click the Add New button (+) in the top-right corner of the layout list.

2

Configure Layout Settings

Layout Configuration

Fill in the layout configuration form:

Layout Name

Layout Name Requirements 📝

• Required: Yes

• Length: 3-64 characters

• Purpose: Internal name for admin reference

• Example: "Homepage Special Layout", "Product Detail Custom"

Layout Routes

Route Configuration ⚠️

• Store: Select which store this layout applies to (for multi-store setups)

• Route: Enter the URL route pattern (e.g., product/product for all product pages)

• Multiple Routes: You can add multiple route-store combinations to a single layout

Module Positions

Positioning Modules 🔢

• Content Top: Above main content area

• Content Bottom: Below main content area

• Column Left: Left sidebar

• Column Right: Right sidebar

• Sort Order: Controls display order within each position (lower numbers appear first)

3

Save the Layout

Click Save to create the new layout. You'll see a success message confirming the layout has been created.

Editing an Existing Layout

1

Locate the Layout

From the layout list, find the layout you want to edit. You can use the search filter or browse through the list.

Click the Edit button (pencil icon) next to the layout name.

2

Modify Layout Settings

Make your changes in the layout form:

• Layout Name: Update the name if needed

• Routes: Add, remove, or modify route-store associations

• Module Positions: Reorder modules, add new modules, or remove existing ones

Use the same configuration guidelines as when creating a new layout.

3

Save Changes

Click Save to update the layout settings.

You'll see a success message confirming the layout has been updated.

Note: You cannot delete the Default layout if it's assigned as the default store layout. Other layouts can be deleted if they're not in use by products, categories, manufacturers, information pages, articles, or topics.

Layout Configuration Details

1

Define Layout Name

The layout name is the internal identifier used in the admin panel. It should be descriptive and unique.

Click the Layout Name section below for detailed requirements.

2

Configure Layout Routes

Routes determine which store pages will use this layout. You can assign multiple route-store combinations.

Click the Layout Routes section below for route patterns and examples.

3

Arrange Module Positions

Modules are placed in specific positions on the page. Each position can contain multiple modules with sort order control.

Click the Module Positions section below for position descriptions and adding modules.

Layout Name

• Required: Yes

• Length: 3-64 characters

• Purpose: Internal reference name for administrators

• Validation: Must be unique and descriptive

Layout Routes

Routes determine which pages use this layout. Each route consists of:

Setting	Description	Examples
Store	Which store this applies to (multi-store)	Default Store, Store 2
Route	URL pattern that triggers this layout	product/product, information/contact, common/home

Common Route Patterns:

• product/product - All product pages

• product/category - All category pages

• product/manufacturer - All manufacturer pages

• information/information - All information pages

• cms/article - All article pages (CMS)

• cms/topic - All topic pages (CMS)

• common/home - Home page

• account/* - Customer account pages

• checkout/* - Checkout pages

Route Matching: OpenCart uses the most specific route match. If no specific route matches, it falls back to the Default layout.

Module Positions

Layout Positions Diagram

Modules can be placed in four main positions:

Position	Location	Typical Use
Content Top	Above main content	Banners, featured products, promotions
Content Bottom	Below main content	Related products, additional information
Column Left	Left sidebar	Categories, filters, navigation
Column Right	Right sidebar	Cart, search, special offers

Sort Order: Within each position, modules are displayed in ascending sort order (0 appears before 1).

Adding Modules:

1. Select a module from the available modules list

2. Choose a position (Content Top, Content Bottom, Column Left, Column Right)

3. Set the sort order (0, 1, 2, etc.)

4. Click "Add Module" to add it to the layout

Use Cases for Custom Layouts

1. Homepage Special Layout 🏠

Create a unique homepage with different module arrangements:

• Route: common/home

• Modules: Featured products in Content Top, latest products in Content Bottom, special offers in Column Right

• Purpose: Highlight promotions and new arrivals on the homepage

2. Product Page Enhancements 🛍️

Customize product pages with additional modules:

• Route: product/product

• Modules: Related products in Content Bottom, manufacturer info in Column Left, also bought in Column Right

• Purpose: Increase cross-selling and provide better product information

3. Category Page Optimization 📂

Improve category browsing experience:

• Route: product/category

• Modules: Category filters in Column Left, featured category products in Content Top, banner in Content Bottom

• Purpose: Help customers find products faster and promote category-specific offers

4. Checkout Process Simplification 🛒

Streamline the checkout process:

• Route: checkout/*

• Modules: Remove sidebars for full-width checkout, add trust badges in Content Bottom

• Purpose: Reduce distractions and increase conversion rates

Practical Example: Creating a Homepage Special Layout

Let's walk through creating a custom homepage layout from start to finish.

1

Plan Your Layout

Before creating the layout, decide what modules you want on your homepage:

• Content Top: Featured products slider

• Content Bottom: Latest products grid

• Column Right: Special offers banner

• Column Left: Category navigation

Sketch the layout to visualize module placement.

2

Create the Layout

1. Go to Design → Layouts

2. Click Add New

3. Enter Layout Name: "Homepage Special"

4. Add Route: Store: "Default Store", Route: common/home

5. Click Save to create the empty layout

3

Add Modules to Positions

• Content Top: Select "Featured" module, set sort order 0

• Content Bottom: Select "Latest" module, set sort order 0

• Column Right: Select "Banner" module (configured with special offers), set sort order 0

• Column Left: Select "Category" module, set sort order 0

Click Add Module for each, then Save the layout.

4

Test the Layout

1. Visit your store homepage

2. Verify all modules appear in correct positions

3. Check mobile responsiveness

4. Test different screen sizes

Adjust sort orders or module settings if needed.

Success: You've created a custom homepage layout that highlights featured products, shows latest arrivals, and provides navigation—all optimized for conversion.

Integration with Other Features

Multi-Store Support 🏪

Layouts support multi-store configurations:

1. Create different layouts for different stores

2. Assign layouts to specific stores via the route configuration

3. Each store can have completely different page structures

Module Management 🧩

Layouts work with all OpenCart modules:

1. Install and configure modules in Extensions → Modules

2. Add configured modules to layouts in Design → Layouts

3. Each module instance can be placed in different positions across different layouts

Template System Integration 🎨

Layouts complement the template system:

1. Templates control the visual design (HTML/CSS)

2. Layouts control the module placement and page structure

3. Together they provide complete design control

Best Practices

Layout Strategy 🎯

1. Start Simple: Begin with the default layouts and modify as needed

2. Consistent Structure: Use similar module arrangements across similar page types

3. Mobile-Friendly: Consider how layouts appear on mobile devices

4. Performance: Limit the number of modules per page for faster loading

Route Management ⚠️

1. Specific First: More specific routes should be configured before general ones

2. Avoid Conflicts: Ensure routes don't overlap unintentionally

3. Test Thoroughly: Check all route patterns work as expected

4. Document Routes: Keep a list of custom routes for future reference

Module Placement 🛠️

1. Logical Order: Place modules in logical reading order (top to bottom, left to right)

2. Visual Hierarchy: Important modules should have higher visibility

3. Balance: Distribute modules evenly across positions

4. Empty Positions: Leave empty positions if not needed (they won't display)

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Layout not applying to pages 🔍

Possible Causes:

• Route pattern doesn't match the page URL

• Another layout has a more specific route match

• Layout is not assigned to the correct store

Solution: Check the route configuration and ensure it matches the page's route exactly.

Cannot delete layout 🗑️

Possible Causes:

• Layout is assigned as the default store layout

• Products, categories, or other entities are using the layout

• Permission restrictions

Solution:

1. Check if layout is the default in System → Settings → Store

2. Reassign entities to other layouts first

3. Verify user has permission to delete layouts

Modules not appearing 📦

Possible Causes:

• Module is disabled

• Module is not added to the layout

• Module position doesn't exist in the template

• Sort order conflict

Solution:

1. Check module status in Extensions → Modules

2. Verify module is added to the layout in correct position

3. Check template supports the position

4. Adjust sort order if modules overlap

Layout conflicts between stores 🏪

Possible Causes:

• Route-store combinations overlap

• Default layout conflicts with store-specific layouts

Solution: Review all route assignments and ensure each store-route combination is unique.

Performance Considerations ⚡

• Each additional module on a page increases load time

• Complex layouts with many route checks can slow down page routing

• Consider caching strategies for frequently accessed layouts

• Regularly review and remove unused layouts

Documentation Summary 📋

You've now learned how to:

• Create and manage layouts in OpenCart 4

• Configure layout routes and module positions

• Use layouts for different page types and stores

• Integrate layouts with modules and templates

• Apply best practices for layout management

Next Steps:

• Banners - Create promotional banners for your layouts

• SEO URL - Configure search-engine-friendly URLs for your pages

• Modules - Learn about available modules for your layouts

• Themes - Customize the visual design of your store