A new module for Drupal's Display Suite

Often we get designs that call for specific layouts, sometimes these layouts are uncommon, other times it's run of the mill. In most cases we have to lay content out in a specific way that requires some wrenching around in code. The problem with diving into code is that sometimes the layout still isn't determined even after wireframes, prototypes, and designs have been approved. There is also the speed factor, building a new template usually takes just enough time that it becomes tedious. So queue the "invention" of Display Suite. 

Display Suite (DS) is a set of modules that allows us to override the default output of the node display in Drupal. These layouts are normally dictated by the template files found in a site's active theme. Using DS on a project allows a site builder to select a different layout for a specific content type at a global level. This selection all happens inside of the interface under Manage Field. 

I'm a big fan of Display Suite. I really like being able to change the layout of a display with out having to dive into code. Out of the box you can change to many helpful layouts, however, from time to time a project calls for a layout that DS just doesn't have. One of the great things about DS is a developer can create custom layouts or override existing layouts. But now we've come full circle to the original problem. Now I'm back in the code. To solve this problem I used to store my previously made custom layouts in Dropbox to re-purpose them on another project. This works great for a while but it's still not as easy as downloading a module right from Drupal.org and turning it on. 

Now for the best of both worlds! I've created a module that provides additional layouts for Display Suite. It's named DS Extra Layouts. This will add a handful of layouts that should cover the majority of custom layouts one might need in a project. It can't solve everyone's problem but at least it will help others.