# How to use an alternative external (file-based) stylesheet?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-an-alternative-external-file-based-stylesheet/80157>\
**Category:** Radiant CMS\
**Created:** [December 21, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-an-alternative-external-file-based-stylesheet/80157 "2006-12-21T19:51:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-an-alternative-external-file-based-stylesheet/80157/1 "2006-12-21T19:51:14Z")

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Hello list,

again some (three) newbie questions:  
1.)  
What steps are necessary to create an alternative CSS style sheet in an  
external file?  
2.)  
Also: How does the (Pages-\>) Styles page and the (Layouts-\>) Stylesheet  
layout interact? I know that (Layout-\>) Normal uses /styles.css as  
style sheet definition.  
3.)  
Is it right that the (Layout-\>) Normal layout assembles the whole page  
from the defined parts (or children of (Pages-\>) Home Page)?

Many thanks for any help!

Best regards,  
Andreas S.

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**Author:** ![andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@andreas](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/how-to-use-an-alternative-external-file-based-stylesheet/80157/2 "2006-12-21T19:57:15Z")

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Andreas,  
If you want your CSS in an external file outside of Radiant, just drop  
the CSS  
file under public/ and reference it.

Examples:

1. Delete the Styles Page from Radiant and put a styles.css in public/.

2. Update the Layout to uses /examplecss.css and put a examplecss.css  
file in  
public/

Todd M

Quoting Andreas S. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid):