RailsLayout Gem RailsLayout Gem

Use this gem to set up layout files for your choice of front-end framework:

  • Zurb Foundation 5.3
  • Bootstrap 3.2

It also will set up Devise views with styling for Bootstrap or Foundation.

RailsLayout is a utility gem to use during development.

Other Tools

The RailsLayout gem is used by Rails Composer tool, an application template used to create starter applications. You can use Rails Composer to generate entire applications.

If you like the RailsLayout gem, you might be interested in the RailsApps Testing gem which sets up a testing framework for Rails.

Join RailsApps

Support the RailsApps Project

If the RailsLayout gem is useful to you, please accept our invitation to join the RailsApps project. The RailsApps project provides example applications, tutorials, and starter tools, including the RailsLayout gem.

Command Summary

Generate Application Layout, Navigation, and Flash Message Files

  • $ rails generate layout:install foundation5
  • $ rails generate layout:install foundation4
  • $ rails generate layout:install bootstrap3
  • $ rails generate layout:install bootstrap2
  • $ rails generate layout:install simple
  • $ rails generate layout:install none

Add Links to the Navigation File

  • $ rails generate layout:navigation

Generate Devise Views

  • $ rails generate layout:devise foundation5
  • $ rails generate layout:devise bootstrap3

Installing a Front-End Framework

Refer to instructions for:

In summary, to install a front-end framework, add the gems you need. Then use the RailsLayout gem. It will set up your assets files.

Add the gems you need to your Rails application Gemfile:

Zurb Foundation 5.3


gem 'foundation-rails'

See a note below about a necessary change to the config/application.rb file.

Zurb Foundation 4.0


gem 'compass-rails'
gem 'zurb-foundation'

Bootstrap 3.2


gem 'bootstrap-sass'

Bootstrap 2.3


gem 'bootstrap-sass', '~> 2.3.2.2'

Use Bundler

Use Bundler to install the gem:


$ bundle install

Install the RailsLayout Gem

Add it to your Rails application Gemfile:


group :development do
  gem 'rails_layout'
end

You don’t need the gem deployed to production, so put it in the development group.

If you want to use a newer unreleased version from GitHub:


group :development do
  gem 'rails_layout', github: 'RailsApps/rails_layout'
end

Use Bundler to install the gem:


$ bundle install

The “layout:install” Command

The command will rename application.css to application.css.scss.

It will add:

  • framework_and_overrides.css.scss

And modify the JavaScript asset file:

  • application.js

It will set up a default application layout.

It creates partials for:

  • Rails flash messages
  • navigation links

Additionally, if Devise or OmniAuth is present, the command will add Sass mixins to accommodate forms. The Sass mixins add form styling to be used with either Bootstrap or Foundation (so we don’t have to maintain separate views for each front-end framework).

Supported Frameworks

You can generate layout files suitable for use with the following front-end frameworks:

  • foundation5 – Zurb Foundation 5.3
  • foundation4 – Zurb Foundation 4.0
  • bootstrap3 – Bootstrap 3.2
  • bootstrap2 – Bootstrap 2.3
  • simple – simple layout
  • none – removes all changes

Generated Files

The RailsLayout gem generates application layout files:

  • app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
  • app/views/layouts/_messages.html.erb
  • app/views/layouts/_navigation.html.erb
  • app/views/layouts/_navigation_links.html.erb

Additionally, when the simple option is selected:

  • app/assets/stylesheets/simple.css

Note About the Navigation Partials

Two navigation partials are created:

  • app/views/layouts/_navigation_links.html.erb
  • app/views/layouts/_navigation.html.erb

The _navigation_links.html.erb file is only a list of links. You can add additional links to this file as needed. It contains no framework-specific styling.

The _navigation.html.erb file contains framework-specific styling. Separating the files makes it easy to change the front-end framework without disturbing the links.

Support for ERB, Haml, or Slim

If you are using ERB for Rails views, the RailsLayout gem will generate ERB files.

If you are using Haml or Slim, the RailsLayout gem will generate Haml or Slim files instead.

Additional Documentation

See these articles for information about how to set up the application layout:

Look at the Learn Rails example application to see how the generated files from the RailsLayout gem are used. You’ll find details about the example application in the book Learn Ruby on Rails.

Learn Ruby on Rails

Zurb Foundation 5.3 Layout

To create layout files for use with Zurb Foundation 5.3:


$ rails generate layout:install foundation5

Use --force if you want to overwrite existing files:


$ rails generate layout:install foundation5 --force

See the files that are generated:

The RailsLayout gem will create the file:

and modify the file:

config/application.rb

The rails_layout gem will make a necessary change to the config/application.rb file. It will add:


module RailsFoundation
  class Application < Rails::Application
    .
    .
    .
    # For Foundation 5
    config.assets.precompile += %w( vendor/modernizr )

  end
end

See issue 19 for an explanation.

Zurb Foundation 4.0 Layout

To create layout files for use with Zurb Foundation 4.0:


$ rails generate layout:install foundation4

Use --force if you want to overwrite existing files:


$ rails generate layout:install foundation4 --force

See the files that are generated:

The RailsLayout gem will create the file:

and modify the file:

Bootstrap 3.2 Layout

To create layout files for use with Bootstrap 3.2:


$ rails generate layout:install bootstrap3

Use --force if you want to overwrite existing files:


$ rails generate layout:install bootstrap3 --force

See the files that are generated:

The RailsLayout gem will create the file:

and modify the file:

Bootstrap 2.3 Layout

To create layout files for use with Bootstrap 2.3:


$ rails generate layout:install bootstrap2

Use --force if you want to overwrite existing files:


$ rails generate layout:install bootstrap2 --force

See the files that are generated:

The RailsLayout gem will create the file:

and modify the file:

Generate a Simple Layout

To create a set of simple layout files:


$ rails generate layout:install simple

Use --force if you want to overwrite existing files:


$ rails generate layout:install simple --force

See the files that are generated:

The RailsLayout gem will create the file:

Reverting to None

To revert your application to a default application layout:


$ rails generate layout:install none

The RailsLayout gem will remove any files it may have added:

  • app/views/layouts/_messages.html.erb
  • app/views/layouts/_navigation.html.erb
  • app/assets/stylesheets/simple.css
  • app/assets/stylesheets/bootstrap_and_overrides.css.scss
  • app/assets/stylesheets/foundation_and_overrides.css.scss
  • app/assets/stylesheets/framework_and_overrides.css.scss

Additionally, it will restore these files to the default versions:

  • app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
  • app/assets/javascripts/application.js

The file app/assets/stylesheets/application.css.scss will contain a CSS rule but you can ignore it or remove it.

The “layout:navigation” Command

If you are using Devise or OmniAuth for authentication, you can generate a navigation links partial containing appropriate links.

This command is used to populate the navigation bar in starter applications created by the Rails Composer tool.


$ rails generate layout:navigation --force

Here’s an example of a file app/views/layouts/_navigation_links.html.erb appropriate for Devise:


<%# add navigation links to this file %>
<li><%= link_to 'Home', root_path %></li>
<li><%= link_to 'About', page_path('about') %></li>
<li><%= link_to 'Contact', new_contact_path %></li>
<% if user_signed_in? %>
  <li><%= link_to 'Edit account', edit_user_registration_path %></li>
  <li><%= link_to 'Sign out', destroy_user_session_path, :method=>'delete' %></li>
<% else %>
  <li><%= link_to 'Sign in', new_user_session_path %></li>
  <li><%= link_to 'Sign up', new_user_registration_path %></li>
<% end %>
<% if user_signed_in? %>
  <% if current_user.has_role? :admin %>
    <li><%= link_to 'Admin', users_path %></li>
  <% end %>
<% end %>

The full set of links will be created if the following files are found in your application:

  • app/views/devise/sessions/new.html.erb
  • app/views/devise/registrations/new.html.erb
  • app/views/users/index.html.erb

The “layout:devise” Command

Devise is a gem for authentication and user management (signup, login, and related features). Devise provides a utility command rails generate devise:views. The Devise command creates view files for signup, login, and related features. However, the views generated by Devise lack CSS styling.

Use the RailsLayout gem to generate Devise views with styling for Bootstrap or Foundation.

  • $ rails generate layout:devise foundation5
  • $ rails generate layout:devise bootstrap3

The command will create (or replace) these files:

  • app/views/devise/sessions/new.html.erb
  • app/views/devise/passwords/new.html.erb
  • app/views/devise/registrations/edit.html.erb
  • app/views/devise/registrations/new.html.erb

Limitations

At this time, with the “layout:devise” command, only Foundation 5 or Bootstrap 3 are supported. Files are not generated for Haml or Slim.

Issues

Any issues? Please create an issue on GitHub. Reporting issues (and patching!) helps everyone.

Credits

Daniel Kehoe maintains this gem as part of the RailsApps project.

Please see the CHANGELOG for a list of contributors.

Is the gem useful to you? Follow the project on Twitter: @rails_apps. I’d love to know you were helped out by the gem.

MIT License

MIT License

Copyright © 2013-2014 Daniel Kehoe

Useful Links

Getting Started Articles Tutorials
Ruby on Rails Analytics for Rails Rails Bootstrap
What is Ruby on Rails? Heroku and Rails Rails Foundation
Learn Ruby on Rails JavaScript and Rails RSpec Tutorial
Rails Tutorial Rails Environment Variables Rails Devise Tutorial
Ruby on Rails Tutorial for Beginners Git and GitHub with Rails Devise RSpec
Install Ruby on Rails Send Email with Rails Devise Bootstrap
Install Ruby on Rails – Mac OS X Haml and Rails Rails Membership Site with Stripe
Install Ruby on Rails – Ubuntu Rails Application Layout Rails Subscription Site with Recurly
Ruby on Rails – Nitrous.io HTML5 Boilerplate for Rails Startup Prelaunch Signup Application
Update Rails Example Gemfiles for Rails
Rails Composer Rails Application Templates
Rails Examples Rails Product Planning
Rails Starter Apps Rails Project Management

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