How do I modify the skin CSS in Academus 2.x?

Academus 2.x CSS Structure

In the Academus 2.x architecture, six CSS files are used for presentation on the screen and one CSS file is used for presentation of paged (print) format.

Locating CSS files

Note: All file location references will begin from your Academus portal Web application root directory. Since this setup can differ between deployments, the generic "[portal]" convention will be utilized to indicate this root directory. Additionally, these examples use "academus" as the name of the skin. This name (of the directory underneath "academusTheme") may be different in your environment if you have a custom skin.

Skin CSS files are located in the "css" folder of your skin directory:

Screen Presentation CSS

Screen presentation specifications are broken down into four CSS files, separated by category. Given the cascading nature of CSS, specifications from one style sheet can affect or override the specifications in another. The style sheets listed below are listed in order of cascading priority, from highest priority to least priority.

Navigation

The navigation CSS file (navigation.css) formats all of the navigation elements in Academus, including default navigation (tabs), alternate navigation (left-side), flyout menus, Quicklinks, and subnavigation menus.

Preferences

The preferences CSS file (preferences.css) formats the preferences/customization areas of Academus, including adding content, changing layout, and changing skins.

Main

The main CSS file (main.css) contains the majority of the theme level specifications. This CSS file covers the default views of the portal, sets branding specifications, page layout, font specifications, and color specifications.

Academus Deprecated

This CSS file (academus_deprecated.css) is a stripped-down version of main.css file, included to cover presentation specifications of Academus channels from past releases.

Portlet

To support portlets in Academus portal, this style sheet (portlet.css) covers the portlet CSS specifications for portlets as set forth in the Java Community Portlet Specification JSR-168.

uPortal

To support open source channels that utilize the uPortal specification, this style sheet from open source uPortal was included.

Print Presentation CSS

Print presentation specifications for paged media are designated in a single style sheet (print.css).

Modifying Cascading Style Sheets

It is recommended that anyone modifying a skin should possess a thorough understanding of CSS technology and syntax before making modifications. Any text editor and most html editors can edit CSS files.

Learn more about the W3 CSS specification

Academus CSS Change Examples

See some example changes of the Academus skin CSS