Drupal main theme template file for any node - drupal

Question

How can I switch to a different theme template file for any node that I want?
I understand how to create sub-themes like node-recipes.tpl.php for a node that has a path of "recipes". But what I want to have control of the entire base template like page.tpl.php.
Can I use some preprocess function in template.php for this?
Right now I have this in my template.php file:
function mythemename_preprocess_node(&$vars) {
// template name for current node id
$suggestions = array('node-'. $vars['nid']);
// additional node template names based on path alias
if (module_exists('path')) {
// we already can have a path alias
if (isset($vars['path'])) {
$alias = $vars['path'];
}else{
// otherwise do standard check
$alias = drupal_get_path_alias('node/'. $vars['nid']);
}
if ($alias != 'node/'. $vars['nid']) {
$add_path = '';
foreach (explode('/', $alias) as $path_part) {
$add_path .= !empty($path_part) ? $path_part.'_' : '';
$suggestions[] = 'node-'. $add_path;
}
// adding the last one (higher priority) for this path only
// node-some-long-path-nofollow.tpl.php (not for anchestors)
$suggestions[] = end($suggestions) .'-nofollow';
}
$suggestions=array_map(stripTag, $suggestions);
//print_r($suggestions);
}
$vars['template_files'] = isset($vars['template_files']) ? array_merge($vars['template_files'], $suggestions) : $suggestions;
}
thanks

Answer 1

Yes,
You can fully control the $vars['template_files'] array. I always suggest adding onto the array rather then overwriting it completely.
I have a module that I maintain that adds a few small suggestions that I use often.
http://github.com/electblake/template_suggestions/blob/master/template_suggestions.module
You can manipulate the $vars['template_files'] array in preprocess_node, preprocess_page, etc.
If you want to switch you page.tpl.php to another theme file do it in the preprocess_page hook...

Answer 2

I'm using this function to create template suggestions that works for me now. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
/**
* Override or insert PHPTemplate variables into the templates.
* These are the main outer templates such as page.tpl.php
*/
function phptemplate_preprocess_page(&$vars) {
$alias = drupal_get_path_alias($_GET['q']);
if ($alias != $_GET['q']) {
$template_filename = 'page';
foreach (explode('/', $alias) as $path_part) {
$template_filename = $template_filename . '-' . $path_part;
$vars['template_files'][] = $template_filename;
}
}
//----
//print_r(arg());
/* print '<pre>';
print_r($vars);
print '</pre>';*/
//dpm($vars);
//print_r($vars['template_files']);
}