[Bug] Can't seem to create a theme

[fronbow]

Bug report

What I did

Trying to create a theme so I can override some colour choices of tabler (not found an easy way to do this yet!)
I've gone through the updated docs in (#417) and can't get my theme to be picked up by backpack.
In ui.php I commented out the view_namespace_fallback variable so that I could check if my files were being read and I get a 500 error.

The view: [backpack.ui::blank] was not found in any of the following view paths: [my-theme-folder.::blank ], [ backpack.theme-coreuiv2::blank ], [ backpack.ui::blank]- Called in: /storage/framework/views/9bd51d16f96d06902e0c9283968e1990.php on line: 21

even though I have a blank.blade.php file in the root of the theme folder.

My theme lives in resources -> views -> my-theme-folder.

If I reinstate the view_namespace_fallback variable then the error goes away but I'm left with no customisations, just the fallback theme.

What I've already tried to fix it

Going through the docs on the github issue, moving the theme folder to various different positions in the resources path

Is it a bug in the latest version of Backpack?

Yes, as far as I can tell

Backpack, Laravel, PHP, DB version

When I run php artisan backpack:version the output is:

PHP VERSION:

PHP 8.1.12-1ubuntu4.2 (cli) (built: Jun 28 2023 13:56:12) (NTS)
Copyright (c) The PHP Group
Zend Engine v4.1.12, Copyright (c) Zend Technologies
with Zend OPcache v8.1.12-1ubuntu4.2, Copyright (c), by Zend Technologies
with Xdebug v3.2.0, Copyright (c) 2002-2022, by Derick Rethans

LARAVEL VERSION:

10.17.1.0

BACKPACK PACKAGE VERSIONS:

backpack/basset: 1.1.1
backpack/crud: 6.1.3
backpack/generators: v4.0.2
backpack/logmanager: v5.0.0
backpack/permissionmanager: 7.0.0
backpack/pro: 2.0.10
backpack/theme-coreuiv4: 1.0.5
backpack/theme-tabler: 1.0.6

Cheers for any help/clarification if this isn't a bug!

[tabacitu]

@fronbow what if you enter your path for both view_namespace and view_namespace_fallback? That should force the system to use your theme, and your theme only, right?

[tabacitu]

I have a custom theme open right now - here's how the file structure looks in mine:

And in config/backpack/ui.php I have:

    /*
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    | Theme (User Interface)
    |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
    */
    // Change the view namespace in order to load a different theme than the one Backpack provides.
    // You can create child themes yourself, by creating a view folder anywhere in your resources/views
    // and choosing that view_namespace instead of the default one. Backpack will load a file from there
    // if it exists, otherwise it will load it from the fallback namespace.

    'view_namespace'          => 'theme-bootstrap.',
    'view_namespace_fallback' => 'backpack.theme-coreuiv4::',

Maybe it helps 🤷‍♂️

[fronbow]

Cheers @tabacitu I'll explore these tomorrow when I get back to my desk and let you know how I get on

[fronbow]

@fronbow what if you enter your path for both view_namespace and view_namespace_fallback? That should force the system to use your theme, and your theme only, right?

I get a 500 error

The view: [backpack.ui::blank] was not found in any of the following view paths: [theme-bens.::blank ], [ theme-bens.::blank ], [ backpack.ui::blank]- Called in: /storage/framework/views/9a27ed5633a88f77b9c63f87e16cfb32.php on line: 60

even though I have a blank.blade.php in the root of my theme directory

[fronbow]

I have a custom theme open right now - here's how the file structure looks in mine: ....

I've done it like this and everything shows, but backpack isn't reading the templates in my theme directory, it's just defaulting to the fallback theme's files.

So instead of reading my resources/views/theme-bens/dashboard.blade.php
it's reading resources/views/vendor/backpack/theme-tabler/dashboard.blade.php

This is turning out to be a very interesting problem!!!

[pxpm]

Hey @fronbow This may be interesting yes. Let's see if we can catch up.

I've just tested exactly what you said in two scenarios:
1 - overwrite the dashboard from backpack.
2 - add a new custom view for my theme

So I created the dashboard.blade.php like you did, and a custom_dashboard.blade.php.

The dashboard will overwrite the default dashboard of backpack, and I added a route test for the custom one.

Is it possible that you have your configs cached or something similar ?

Cheers

[karandatwani92]

Hey @fronbow
You mentioned using the old guide(#417). Just in case we are missing something.
The updated guide might help. https://backpackforlaravel.com/docs/6.x/add-ons-tutorial-how-to-create-a-theme

[fronbow]

Hi @pxpm, I just cleared the config:cache and it's still not showing my dashboard, and thanks @karandatwani92 it wasn't updated when I started this, it just referred to the github comment.

I'll go test the updated docs kindly posted by @karandatwani92, hopefully my mileage will be better!!

Cheers All :)

[fronbow]

Nope, my mileage is still the same. I've duplicated the folder layout under views, cleared all known caches!, and I even changed the view_namespace_fallback to the same as view_namespace (which still results in the 500 error).
I even checked the file and directory permissions in case linux was being a bit particular!!

The only way I seem to be able to alter the theme view is if I edit the files under resources/views/vendor/backpack/theme-tabler.

I'm now wondering if there's something I'm missing or if I need to fire-up a blank backpack install and test the theme stuff there before adding in all my CRUD files

[fronbow]

Hey @fronbow This may be interesting yes. Let's see if we can catch up.

I've just tested exactly what you said in two scenarios: 1 - overwrite the dashboard from backpack. 2 - add a new custom view for my theme

So I created the dashboard.blade.php like you did, and a custom_dashboard.blade.php.

I've just replicated this and got the 500 error again:

The view: [backpack.ui::custom_dashboard.blade.php] was not found in any of the following view paths: [theme-bens.::custom_dashboard.blade.php ], [ backpack.theme-coreuiv4::custom_dashboard.blade.php ], [ backpack.ui::custom_dashboard.blade.php]- Called in: /routes/backpack/custom.php on line: 20

Is it possible that you have your configs cached or something similar ?

I keep clearing everything that can be cleared!!!

Cheers

[pxpm]

I think I get your error now.

Can you show me what you added in routes/backpack/custom.php ?

I guess you added:
return view(backpack_view('custom_dashboard.blade.php'));
instead of
return view(backpack_view('custom_dashboard')); ?

I tried to raise the same error (giving it a view that doesn't exist) and I noticed that my error didn't contain the .blade.php part.

Cheers

[fronbow]

You're right, I did add the full filename. I've just changed it to return view(backpack_view('custom_dashboard')); and now I get the

InvalidArgumentException

No hint path defined for [backpack].

page. I'm still confused as to how you and @tabacitu can get your own themes working yet mine fail. My dev machine is linux, so I'm trying to see how windows behaves (though that has its' own set of problems!!)

Cheers

[pxpm]

I don't think this is related to windows/linux.

We are just serving simple blade files, it's core Laravel functionality. We just check in some more places when you use backpack_view() helper (we check on theme folder first, then in the fallback theme and finally in backpack ui). Nothing sketchy or something that would make any difference between operating systems.

What do you have inside your custom_dashboard.blade.php ? What I am guessing is that you have some call inside it to some view using the backpack hint path that does not exist as the error says. Something like: backpack::some_view or similar.

Cheers

[fronbow]

This is the entirety of my routes/backpack/custom.php files:

<?php

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;

// --------------------------
// Custom Backpack Routes
// --------------------------
// This route file is loaded automatically by Backpack\Base.
// Routes you generate using Backpack\Generators will be placed here.

Route::group([
    'prefix'     => config('backpack.base.route_prefix', 'admin'),
    'middleware' => array_merge(
        (array) config('backpack.base.web_middleware', 'web'),
        (array) config('backpack.base.middleware_key', 'admin')
    ),
    'namespace'  => 'App\Http\Controllers\Admin',
], function () { // custom admin routes
    Route::get('test', function () {
        return view(backpack_view('custom_dashboard'));
    });
   }); // this should be the absolute last line of this file

I (@pxpm ) edited this comment to remove all other routes. They are not relevant to this issue.

[fronbow]

Hi @pxpm ,
I got back to my work desk today, and everything seems in order, the test page is now showing up, my theme is being correctly read, and I haven't a clue what's changed. I'm going to chalk this one up to those random gremlins that annoy us all from time to time. At least it showed up a glaring bug with basset that only happens on Windows machines which I will report in case anyone else has a tendency to develop on windows (without WSL)

Cheers for all your help

:)

[pxpm]

No problem @fronbow, anytime. Glad you made it work!

If you enjoy your creation and want to share your theme with others consider releasing it as a package 🙏

Cheers