How to output just a page's contents in page.tpl.php in Drupal 7?

Question

I am creating a page.tpl.php template in Drupal 7 in which I want to rearrange how certain elements of the page are laid out. Specifically I want the title of the page to appear before the tabs and messages section (which I have done) and have the content of the page appear after the tabs and messages section (this is where I run into issues). I can't find a way to just render the $page['contents'] without the title. Is there a way to achieve this in Drupal 7?

I know that the node.tpl.php template handles the node specific layout, but it doesn't allow me to layout the page like as described above.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Somethings can be done in page.tpl.php & some in node.tpl.php

Like you said, you need to make title of the node appear before tabs. You can do this in your page.tpl.php. Find $title variable as well as $tabs & arrange accordingly in your page.tpl.php. Like --

<?php if ($title) : ?>
  <h1 class="title">
    <?php print $title; ?>
  </h1>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php if ($tabs): ?>
  <div class="tabs">
    <?php print render($tabs); ?>
  </div>
<?php endif; ?>

After this you will have print render($page['content']);, where node.tpl.php comes into the scene, so arranging other things like node content, comment, links you will have to go to your node.tpl.php & arrange accordingly. More modification such as in comment & other TPLs will come into the scene like comment.tpl.php etc..