http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/White_page

Spitfire, widgets are added to vazco_mainpage via API, dependant on version of the plugin.  With newest version it's enought to add view in start.php or via handler in another plugin, following syntax used in start.php.

If you want to add custom code, you can add it in vazco_mainpage/views/default/canvas/layouts/vazco_mainpage.php. Please don't use caching of main page then though.

There are a few additional customization instructions in forums in vazco_mainpage's plugin group on elggdev.com.

I added the Vazco topbar link and it solved all my problems.  I can't tell you how many searches I did for this feature!  It's hard to know the lingo for finding the right plug-in when you are new to ELGG:

http://community.elgg.org/pg/plugins/project/385048/developer/vazco/topbar-extensions

Hi Spitfire,

I am interested in the theme you have been working on. The theme I have in mind doesn't have the top toolbar seperately. More like facebook I would like to incorporate the toolbar into the top of the page. Alternatively i would like to make my brand part of the top toolbar and make it a bit higher in pixels. Your suggestions are welcome.

Seashells gives you the option to have the elgg bar or not.

http://community.elgg.org/pg/plugins/project/559243/developer/ihayredinov/seashells-theme-for-elgg-17x

I've been modifying a juipo theme http://juipo.com/  but I'm too new at this to be relied upon for good advice!   They have put the elgg topbar info into the header_elements.php page.  It's not the best solution.

First you have create a folder with you theme name in mod directory.

then create a start.php file with following code

<?php

    function your_theme_name init()
    {     }
    register_elgg_event_handler('init','system',' your_theme_name init');
?>

now create a manifest.xml file with the following code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<plugin_manifest>
    <field key="author" value="your name" />
    <field key="version" value="your version value" />
    <field key="description" value="your theme discription"/>
    <field key="website" value="your website" />
    <field key="copyright" value="(your compu right value" />
    <field key="licence" value="GNU Public License version 2" />   
</plugin_manifest>

Now you can create a folder named views and inside that another folder default.

you can put your css file here.

what i suggest is, download a theme from elgg and see the folder structure and create your own.

http://docs.elgg.org/wiki/Themes

The easiest method is to install any existing theme plugin and make the changes there.