Orchard Core Theming

Orchard Core Theming

Use this skill for Orchard Core theming and content-definition/recipe work.

How to use

• Path A (task match): scan the Tasks list; if the request matches, open references/TASK-MAP.md and go directly to the leaf files.
• Path B (exploration): use the section cues to pick a reference section, open that section's INDEX.md, then choose the leaf file it points to.
• Determine Razor vs Liquid early using the workflow in references/TASK-MAP.md. If it cannot be decided, fall back to Liquid and confirm with the user.
• Open only the necessary leaf files; use a section INDEX.md only for orientation and discovery.
• Prefer examples and ready-to-copy patterns.

Evidence rules

• Prefer repo evidence over assumptions: active theme, base theme, placement.json, and existing templates.
• Trace the shape model first when it is unclear; use references/TASK-MAP.md to find shape tracing guidance and ask the user if needed.
• Confirm unknown part/field properties in ContentDefinition.json (or OrchardCore.db) and the relevant field references.
• Ask for missing identifiers (content type, part name, field name, display type) instead of inventing them.
• Do not invent recipe steps or feature IDs; use references/TASK-MAP.md to find the right recipe references.

Scripts

Use these scripts instead of hand-building extracts.

• scripts/extract-content-definitions.py to extract content types/parts/fields from ContentDefinition.json or OrchardCore.db, with optional related-type expansion and Markdown/JSON output. See references/50-content-model/CONTENT-DEFINITIONS-EXTRACTOR.md.
• scripts/extract-content-items.py to get content items from OrchardCore.db, filter by type/IDs/text, and optionally emit a recipe content step or a Markdown/JSON extract. See references/50-content-model/CONTENT-ITEMS-EXTRACTOR.md.
• scripts/generate-orchard-ids.py to generate Orchard Core IDs that match the DefaultIdGenerator alphabet for stable ContentItemId values in recipes. See references/70-recipes/ID-GENERATION.md.
• scripts/sync-skill.py to refresh the entire skill folder from the Lombiq/Orchard-Core-Agent-Skills repo (references, scripts, SKILL.md, assets). The running script is not overwritten until the next sync.

Sync example:

python skills/orchard-core-theming/scripts/sync-skill.py

Reference section cues

Use these cues to decide which reference section to open.

• Use references/10-understand-structure/ to confirm solution and theme structure (manifests, base theme), create themes, and locate layouts/zones.
• Use references/20-shapes-placement/ to find shape names, alternates, placement rules, and override workflow steps.
• Use references/30-razor/ to implement Razor theme changes with tag helpers, shape rendering, and IOrchardHelper.
• Use references/40-liquid/ to implement Liquid theme changes with tags, filters, and shape helpers.
• Use references/50-content-model/ to inspect content definitions/items, parts/fields, settings/containers, and the extractors.
• Use references/60-assets-resources/ to include scripts/styles and manage resources and static files.
• Use references/70-recipes/ to author, validate, and reuse recipes for setup, definitions, and content import.
• Use references/80-debugging-discovery/ to trace shapes, inspect logs, and find evidence in source.
• Use references/90-glossary/ to resolve terms and acronyms in Orchard Core theming docs.

Tasks

Use this list to decide whether to open references/TASK-MAP.md for the exact leaf files.

• Determine template language (Razor vs Liquid).
• Add or update a content type/part/field in ContentDefinition.json.
• Extract a focused content definition slice (large JSON).
• Create a setup recipe.
• Add content types and sample content to a recipe.
• Create or update workflows in a recipe.
• Create or override a content item shape template.
• Implement or override OrchardCore.Forms widgets and Form content.
• Inspect real content items (SQLite).
• Update a shape after adding fields.
• Render BagPart/FlowPart/ListPart items.
• Add scripts/styles and include them in the layout.
• Find shape alternates and placement rules.
• Find evidence in Orchard Core source.
• Work on theme structure or layout.
• Understand solution structure.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: Lombiq
• Source: Lombiq/Orchard-Core-Agent-Skills
• License: BSD-3-Clause

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.