How to manage themes in OutSystems so multiple apps share a consistent look?

Managing Themes in OutSystems for Consistent Look Across Multiple Apps

Achieving a consistent look and feel across multiple applications in OutSystems is essential for brand identity and user experience. This guide outlines a detailed, step-by-step approach to managing themes that can be shared across applications using OutSystems.

Prerequisites

• Access to an OutSystems account with appropriate permissions to create and manage themes.
• Basic understanding of CSS and how themes work in OutSystems.
• A clear brand guideline or existing design standards to follow.
• OutSystems Development Environment installed (Service Studio).

Understanding Themes in OutSystems

• Themes in OutSystems define the overall look of the applications, including color schemes, fonts, and layout styles.
• A theme can be created and customized and then applied to multiple apps to ensure consistency.
• OutSystems provides default themes, which can be extended or modified to fit your brand guidelines.

Creating a Base Theme

• Open OutSystems Service Studio and create a new application or open an existing one as your theme's base.
• Navigate to the "Interface" tab and locate the "Themes" section.
• Create a new theme by right-clicking the "Themes" folder and selecting "Add Theme".
• Name your theme appropriately, such as "CorporateBaseTheme".
• Set your theme as the default theme by right-clicking it and selecting "Set as Default Theme".

Customizing the Theme

• Edit the newly created theme to define your styles. Click on the theme in the "Theme" tab to open its properties.
• Customize the CSS in the Stylesheet tab according to your design guidelines, including colors, fonts, and layout properties.
• Example CSS structure:

      body {
        font-family: 'YourCustomFont', sans-serif;
        background-color: #f4f4f9;
      }
      .Button {
        background-color: #007bff;
        border-color: #007bff;
      }
      

• Use the Theme Preview feature in Service Studio to see how your changes affect the application's design.
• Ensure all elements such as buttons, inputs, and text areas are styled consistently.

Packaging and Sharing the Theme

• Once the theme is ready, ensure it is well-documented and all styles are finalized.
• Export the theme module to share it across different applications. Go to "Module > Create Solution" in Service Studio.
• Include your theme in a solution and publish it to your environment, making it available for other applications.
• Document any custom styles or guidelines associated with the theme for developers who will use it.

Implementing the Theme in Other Apps

• In the target application where you want to apply the theme, open the application in Service Studio.
• Navigate to the "Dependencies" tab and select "Add/Remove Dependencies".
• Locate your shared theme module and add it as a dependency.
• Set the imported theme as the default theme for your application by selecting it in the "Themes" tab and setting it as the default.
• Verify the application to ensure that the theme is applied correctly and all elements are consistent with the theme's design.

Maintaining and Updating the Theme

• Regularly update your base theme module to reflect any changes in design standards or to apply improvements.
• Notify developers of any updates and guide them on how to resolve any version conflicts or incorporate new styles.
• Ensure that all applications using the theme are updated to the latest version to maintain consistency.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage themes in OutSystems and achieve a consistent look and feel across multiple applications. This approach not only enhances brand coherence but also reduces the effort required to apply design changes across different applications.