possible to use category view pages as templates for custom pages?

[guybr]

I'm using a plugin (dj media tools) which creates different types of gallery displays. Galleries get created as plugins and then get assigned to page locations by the admin.

I'm trying to create a "grid gallery" alternate display of the standard browse view which appears on the category pages: eg. if I have a category page on "cars", I want to create a parallel page for "cars" with a grid gallery display.

My question is, how can I use the existing category browse page design (including the existing formatting - subcategories on top, pagination below etc.) on pages that I want to have display just custom content (like the grid gallery)?

Is there a way to include it in the existing page framework (and deactivating the existing browse display callups)? Also, how do I create such a page in the control panel - do I create a new 'dummy' category?

[jenkinhill]

If you want just custom content, not VM content then write a template to hold that content and make it similar to the browse page layout, then the template(s) can be used in Joomla articles.

I am doing something similar for a client using Seblod. I have previously used NoNumber's Content Templater which workd OK, too.

[guybr]

Seblod looks interesting - thanks!

[guybr]

...Sebold isn't working with my version of VM, and the NoNumber extension is "for pay".

Are there any other (free) options available? What kind of extension I be searching for if I look on my own?

[jenkinhill]

What is it with free? If that is the case just create article layout overrides manually with your template layout. For an intro see https://www.ostraining.com/courses/class/joomla/overrides/