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8.5 Custom Application Templates

Custom application templates are a powerful way of embedding PHP applications within a Tribiq CMS website. They can work like normal templates (i.e. related to a specific content item) or like fixed templates (i.e. aggregating data in some other way). Alternatively they can work in other, bespoke ways, which their code defines.

For security reasons, normal content Authors are not able to script in PHP; you will need FTP access to the web server in order to develop application templates. A custom application template typically contains PHP code, and this may in turn connect to either the CMS database or another database. It might also connect to external web services or XML feeds.

Here are a few examples of custom application template applications:

  • a bespoke booking form for meetings or events (the template could connect to a database of available places, and then accept a booking by taking online payment, adding the user to that database and emailing a confirmation)
  • a search page which allows a visitor to search a database of (say) products or hotels (this might be a separate database from TribalCMS’s database)
  • a page which enables a visitor to do a WHOIS lookup of a domain name (e.g. to facilitate the sale of a domain name); the custom application template might connect via XML to a WHOIS server (another server on the internet), format the response and present it to the user.


The examples would usually be written as bespoke application by a skilled PHP developer.

Note that the application does not have to be built totally from scratch:

  • the PHP developer does not have to be concerned with look & feel, since the template should use the same stylesheet as other templates on the site. If the developer intends to use tables or forms, it is possible that a table or form “class” may exists which he or she can easily use.
  • the developer should not need to be concerned with navigation: since the template only appears through virtue of there being item(s) of content associated with it, all navigation is managed via the CMS in the usual way
  • if the application needs to be password-protected, this again is taken care of by the CMS; so long as the developer can associate a single content item (e.g. an HTML item) with the Custom Application Template, the application will be protected by the CMS's Extranet system
  • if the application needs to be made available in more than one language, again this is handled by TribalCMS; the developer only needs to develop the application code itself, and then can create associated HTML items in each desired language (with the help of a translator); then when a site visitor changes to their desired language, the CAT will be presented in that language.
  • Please note that this is just a mere introduction to the extensive power of custom application templates.
  • This is an advanced topic and should only be undertaken by a skilled PHP developer with a good knowledge of Tribiq CMS. For help, you can contact Tribiq or one of our many Authorized Partners around the world.

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