How to Change the Product Detail Page Layout in Magento 2.3

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Understanding Magento's Layout Architecture
  3. Setting Up the Layout XML File
  4. Creating the Template File
  5. Deploying and Upgrading Static Files
  6. Common Issues and Troubleshooting
  7. Conclusion
  8. FAQ

Introduction

Are you struggling to alter the layout of the product detail page in Magento 2.3? You're not alone. This process can seem daunting, especially if you’re new to Magento's ecosystem. A lot of store owners and developers face a similar challenge: customizing the look of their e-commerce website to better fit their brand and improve the user experience. This blog post aims to demystify the steps involved in changing your Magento 2.3 product detail page layout to a two-column structure. By the end, you'll have a clear and actionable guide on how to accomplish this task.

We will cover steps ranging from setting up your layout XML file to ensuring your changes reflect across your Magento store. If you are managing a Magento website or planning to do so, this article is a must-read.

Understanding Magento's Layout Architecture

Before diving into the step-by-step process, it's crucial to understand Magento's layout architecture. Magento uses a combination of XML layout files, templates, and blocks to control the structure and rendering of pages. These layout files (often found in your theme folders) dictate how different elements are displayed on a page.

Layout XML Files

The XML files are particularly powerful because they can call templates, add new blocks, and set the page layout. For example, a catalog_product_view.xml file can be used to modify the product detail page's layout. XML files in Magento follow a parent-child inheritance model, making it easy to extend and customize existing layouts.

Setting Up the Layout XML File

First things first, you will need to create and set up a layout XML file for your custom theme. Follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to Your Theme Folder: Go to app/design/frontend/<Vendor>/<Theme>/Magento_Catalog/layout/.
  2. Create the Layout File: Create a file named catalog_product_view.xml.
  3. Set the Layout to 2 Columns Left: Populate catalog_product_view.xml with the following XML structure:
<page xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:View/Layout/etc/page_configuration.xsd">
    <body>
        <referenceContainer name="columns">
            <container name="column.left" as="left" label="Left Column" after="header.container" before="main">
                <block class="Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template" name="custom.left.sidebar" template="Magento_Theme::html/sidecolumns.phtml"/>
            </container>
        </referenceContainer>
    </body>
</page>

This sets the product detail page to have a left sidebar.

Default Layout Setting

To ensure that this setting is consistent across your website:

  1. Navigate to Stores > Configuration > General > Web > Default Layout.
  2. Set the default layout to 2columns-left.

Creating the Template File

The next step is to create a template file that matches our layout settings.

  1. Navigate to Your Default Theme Folder: Go to app/design/frontend/<Vendor>/<Theme>/Magento_Theme/templates/.
  2. Create a Template File: Create a file named 2columns-left.phtml.

Template Content

Populate 2columns-left.phtml with HTML and PHP code as needed. For simplicity, you might start with basic sidebar content and then extend it as required.

<div class="main-content">
    <!-- Main content goes here -->
</div>
<div class="sidebar">
    <!-- Sidebar content goes here -->
</div>

Deploying and Upgrading Static Files

After making changes to layout and template files, it’s important to deploy the static content and upgrade your Magento instance to reflect these changes.

Steps

  1. Open your terminal and navigate to the Magento root directory.
  2. Run the following commands:
php bin/magento setup:upgrade
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy
php bin/magento cache:clean
php bin/magento cache:flush

These commands will upgrade your setup and deploy the necessary static files, making your layout changes visible on the frontend.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

While the steps provided should work smoothly, here are common issues you might encounter and how to resolve them:

Clearing Cache

If changes aren't appearing, ensure that you clear the Magento cache. Navigate to System > Cache Management, select all caches, and click Flush Magento Cache.

Incorrect File Paths

Make sure your file paths are correct. Any typo or misplaced folder could prevent Magento from recognizing your custom layout.

Permissions

It is also crucial to ensure that all the new files you have created have the correct permissions. Set read and write permissions appropriately to avoid server issues.

Conclusion

Customizing your Magento product detail page layout to a two-column structure involves a series of detailed but manageable steps. By understanding Magento's layout architecture, setting up the appropriate XML and template files, and deploying your changes, you can achieve a well-structured product detail page that enhances user experience.

FAQ

1. Can I apply different layouts to different product types?

Yes, you can customize the XML layout file for specific product types by including condition-based structures within the catalog_product_view.xml file.

2. How do I add other custom content to the sidebar?

You can create custom blocks and add them to your 2columns-left.phtml template file. This is done via XML directives in your layout files.

3. What if I want a different layout for the mobile view?

Magento allows responsive design implementations. You can create additional XML and template files targeting specific screen sizes and include CSS media queries to style them accordingly.

4. Will these changes affect my site performance?

If done correctly, customizing the layout should not adversely affect your site performance. However, always test changes in a staging environment before going live.

5. Can these changes break during Magento upgrades?

This depends on the extent of the upgrades and changes in Magento’s core codebase. It's good practice to document your custom changes and revisit them when performing major upgrades.