Drupal node templates which apply to more than one content type. Possible?

Question

I've started looking at content type specific node.tpl.php files. However, say I have two content types, and wish both to be displayed in a similar manner, but not apply this to every content type (at the level of node.tpl.php).

It seems a bit of an overkill to have two identical files for node--contenttype_1.tpl.php and node--contenttype_2.tpl.php which are the same? Is there a way to have a multi-content-type template for this?

In case you're wondering the reason for having two different content types in the first place, one is a simpler version of the other, has different URL generation rules (via pathauto), and fewer fields associated with it.

Answer 1

Implement a preprocess function that adds a template suggestion.

Assuming your theme is called EXAMPLETHEME, your content types are content_type_1 and content_type_2 and the template file is called node--example.tpl_php, add the following function to the file template.php of your theme:

function EXAMPLETHEME_preprocess_node(&$variables) {
  $node = $variables['node'];
  if ($node->type == 'content_type_1' || $node->type == 'content_type_2') {
    $variables['theme_hook_suggestion'] = 'node__example';
  }
}

Answer 2

An "evil" suggestion would be to create a symlink node--contenttype_2.tpl.php which points to node--contenttype_1.tpl.php. I have actually used stuff like this on production sites.