Fallback themes, introduced in SuiteCommerce and SuiteCommerce Advanced version 2023.2, allow developers to customize specific parts of a theme without taking responsibility for the entire codebase. This architecture enables a custom theme to "fall back" to the base theme for any components not explicitly modified, simplifying maintenance and updates.
What are Fallback Themes in SC/SCA?
Fallback Themes are a mechanism that allows the system to use a predefined hierarchy of themes when rendering a website. Instead of having to manually copy and maintain all theme files, fallback themes inherit missing templates and styles from a parent theme. This ensures that if a file is not present in the active theme, the system automatically pulls it from the fallback theme.
This system simplifies theme management by:
Reducing code duplication by avoiding redundant copies of theme files.
Easing maintenance by allowing global updates in parent themes.
Ensuring compatibility by automatically retrieving missing assets from a base theme.
How it Works
The system checks for a requested template, CSS file, or asset in the active theme.
If the file is missing, it searches in the fallback theme.
If it’s still not found, it continues searching in the base theme (e.g., SuiteCommerce theme).
The first available version of the file is used.
This hierarchical structure ensures that websites remain functional even when certain assets are not explicitly defined in the active theme.
Examples of Fallback Themes Usage
1. Inheriting a Template from a Fallback Theme
If you modify a theme and remove a template file (e.g., product_list.tpl
), the system will automatically use the same file from the fallback theme.
Example:
Active Theme:
MyCustomTheme
Fallback Theme:
SuiteCommerce Base Theme
If
MyCustomTheme/Templates/product_list.tpl
is missing, the system usesSuiteCommerce Base Theme/Templates/product_list.tpl
.
2. Customizing a Specific Template Without Affecting Others
If you want to customize only the header template (header.tpl) but keep all other templates from the fallback theme:
Steps
Create
MyCustomTheme/Templates/header.tpl
and modify it.Do not include other templates unless needed.
The system will load the customized
header.tpl
but retrieve other templates from the fallback theme.
3. Extending Sass Files from a Fallback Theme
You can override or extend styles by only defining the changes needed in your theme.
Example:
The fallback theme has variables.scss defining:
$primary-color: blue;
In your custom theme (MyCustomTheme), you override it:
$primary-color: red;
The system will apply
red
as the new primary color while keeping other styles from the fallback theme.
4. Using a Fallback Theme for Multiple Brands
If you manage multiple brands with slight variations, you can:
Create a base theme with shared elements (e.g., layout, fonts, common styles).
Create child themes that override only brand-specific elements like logos, colors, or typography.
Example Structure:
BaseTheme
(fallback) - Standard header, footer, buttonsBrandATheme
(active) - Changes logo and primary colorBrandBTheme
(active) - Uses different fonts and background styles
Each brand theme inherits everything else from BaseTheme, reducing maintenance effort.
Key Benefits
✔ Modular & Scalable – Makes managing multiple themes easier.
✔ Less Maintenance – Only update what's necessary in the active theme.
✔ Update Independence – Allows to update SuiteCommerce Base Theme to the latest version without any risk.
✔ Automatic Inheritance – Ensures missing files are retrieved seamlessly.
🔗 Sources
SuiteCommerce Themes: Interface Improvements, Upgrades, Maintenance
Introducing Template and Sass Changes to a Fallback Theme
New Fallback Themes Architecture
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Mastering SuiteCommerce Themes for Enhanced E-commerce Design
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How to Monitor and Improve Deployment Performance in SuiteCommerce
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Simplifying NetSuite CSV Imports: Tips for Accurate Data Handling
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