This is the "sibling" issue of #1131 and part of the #345 meta-issue. Also part of #378. See https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop-issues/issues/2894#issuecomment-435... for details/screenshots.

The Field Layout experimental module in D8 core seems to be doing this:

One of the nice improvements that went in Drupal 8.3 was the Field Layout module, which provides the ability to apply pre-defined layouts to what we call "entity displays". Instead of applying layouts to individual pages, you can apply layouts to types of content regardless of what page they are displayed on. For example, you can create a content type 'Recipe' and visually lay out the different fields that make up a recipe. Because the layout is associated with the recipe rather than with a specific page, recipes will be laid out consistently across your website regardless of what page they are shown on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJBHQJFHqws https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3zDt_cR2g


Original issue summary by @bobchristenson

As I started using Backdrop and learned about Layouts, I expected to be able to choose a default layout per content type in the UI. So, for example, I expected to be able to edit my content type (ie. /admin/structure/types/manage/page) and in the 'vertical tabs' see a "Layout" tab.

In that tab I'd envision a simple selector that would default to the 'default' layout template, but listed all available/active Layout templates. You'd choose one and that would be used in the backend for the content type.

I don't know a lot about Layouts, but it seems that technically making a selection here would enter a layout based on path (node/%) and would add a visibility condition for that content type....more or less making it a more streamlined (and obvious) process for per-content-type-layouts.

You'd then be able to manage/delete/whatever this layout in the Layouts screen (if you deleted the Layout or removed the condition/path, it would default the content type selection back to Default)

Just a perspective from a D7 user coming to Backdrop...hope the idea is helpful!

GitHub Issue #: 
2894