The 14 Hive

This term refers to the location of SharePoint 2010's application files, binaries, and data files on the server. It is also the root location for all of the branding support files. The full path to the 14 hive is: C:Program FilesCommon FilesMicrosoft SharedWeb Server Extensions14. Most developers and front-end designers could rattle off this path in their sleep. The directory contains two major folders that support the overall SharePoint branding.

• SharePoint Images Folder: Contains around 2,800 image files of the following types. The path to the images folder from the 14 hive is: 14TEMPLATEIMAGES. With more modern browsers, such as IE8+ and above, .PNG files are more widely used than .jpg files based on quality and their ability to be fully or semi-transparent.
  • Graphical Interchange Format (.GIF): 1,889 files
  • Portable Network Graphic (.PNG): 849 files
  • Joint Photographic Experts Group (.JPG): 23 files
  • Icon (.ICO): 11 files
  • Bitmap (.BMP): 2 files
• SharePoint Styles Folder: Contains around 43 different CSS style sheets. The path to the styles folder from the 14 hive is 14TEMPLATELAYOUTS1033STYLES. The primary CSS files are:
  • COREV4.CSS: Includes all of the base CSS classes and properties that make SharePoint 2010 look the way that it does.
  • SEARCH.CSS: Includes the base styles for the search scope, search input, and button. It also includes all of the styles used for the search result pages.
  • LAYOUTS.CSS: Includes some of the base form and list view styles.
  • CALENDARV4.CSS: Includes all of the styles for branding the OOTB list calendar views.
  • BLOG.CSS: Includes all of the styles for branding the OOTB blog post styles.
  • mysitelayout.CSS: Includes all of the styles for branding the My Profile pages. The mysitelayout.css file has been renamed, and in Figure 5-5 you can see how much of the profile page style is being affected. The positioning, tabs, and background colors are all supported by that one single CSS file. When creating your own custom master page for My Site, make sure to include a reference to this file, or use the CSS classes and make the design your own.

Figure 5-5. SharePoint 2010 My Profile with mysitelayout.css removed