Customizing application.master

Question

Whats the best way to customize application.master Master Page without going into the "Microsoft's Unsupported Environment" state?

Answer 1

I have a blog post from a few years ago explaining how to create a httpmodule that sets your normal masterpage to be the one for the application pages. You can check it out here: http://www.thelineberrys.com/default-category/using-your-sharepoint-sites-master-page-on-all-application-pages-3.html. This is a supported scenerio.

Answer 2

The above reply would be the best approach if you are truly looking to modify the master and need an overhaul. Otherwise, if you just did a custom theme this would cascade to the application pages. Unfortunately it usually results in modifying the master. Looks like you have the option for that. :)

Paul

Answer 3

I've had a great deal of success using a custom style sheet. seems a great deal of the styles are the same across the default and application master pages.

The only difference in one site I branded was the search field that is not included on the application.master.