Layout

The Layout section of the XML file takes the controls defined in the Controls section and arranges them on the screen. This is where the majority of customization occurs.

This section is organized to reflect the structure of the page. The first level of organization is <zone>. This element encompasses all others and, for the time being, can be thought of as the page on which everything else will be arranged.

Each page is divided into columns, panels, and rows, so the corresponding tag order is <column>, <panel>, <row>.

Columns and panels always have at least one attribute: ID. The ID attribute allows the computer to identify specific objects so it can arrange or modify them.

Rows can have an index attribute. If present, the index attribute identifies which position the row should fill (rows can only be arranged vertically in a panel). For example, if you wanted to make sure a specific row always appeared first, add the index attribute to the row element and give it a value of 1 (<row index="1">).

ID and index attributes make it easy for users to rearrange a page without having to cut-and-paste or completely rewrite large sections of code.