Steps to create a Layout Page

First Lets see what are Page Layouts:

1#.Page layouts are templates that define content structure for a page and are always associated with a content type.
2#.A content type contains a document template, data columns, workflows, and other information that completely define a document.
3#.The publishing feature of MOSS uses a single root content type for publishing called Page.
4#.All of the page layouts inherit from this base. Here’s how to create a new page layout in MOSS.

Now lets see the steps to create the Page Layouts:

STEP 1: Define Site Columns
The individual content elements that appear in a page layout are derived from site columns. When you create a page layout, you can use any of the site columns already defined or define your own.

STEP 2: Define a Content Type
Page layouts have a direct relationship to a content type defined within the site. The content type is a collection of site columns, a page template, workflows, and other information that determine the appearance and behavior of a page layout. In order to create a page layout, you must create a new content type that derives from the existing Page content type. Inheriting the Page content type allows the new page layout to function correctly within the MOSS content management Feature.

STEP 3: Create the Page Layout
Page layouts are stored in Master Page and Page Layout Gallery. From this gallery, you can create a new page layout and associate it with a content type.This process makes the site columns that are defined for the content type available to the page layout as field controls that you can place on the page with the SharePoint Designer.

STEP 4: Edit the Page Layout in SharePoint Designer
Once you have created the new page layout, you must open it in the SharePoint Designer so that you can add the desired field controls. The site columns you defined as part of the content type become available in the SharePoint Designer as field controls that you can place on the page layout.

STEP 5: Publish the New Page Layout
Once the page layout is created, you must publish and approve it so that it becomes available for content authors. This process is essentially the same as publishing any item in MOSS. First the document is checked in, then it is published, and finally it is approved.

STEP 6: Create a New Page
Once the page layout is published and approved, content authors may use it to create new pages. This is done in the normal way by selecting the Create Page item from the Site Actions menu. After the page is created, the field controls may be edited to develop the actual page content.

Try a Question on Page Layouts

Or Try a Question on Page Layouts and Content Type