My WP Blog Design Sucks...How Can I Change It And Not Lose All My Articles?

[Steven Wagenheim]

Okay, when I set up my blog, I used the default WP look. You know, that
ugly piece of garbage because quite honestly, I never really planned on doing
anything with it.

Well, now I have about 175 articles on it and want to spruce it up.

How can I do this without trashing all the articles?

[Ross Dalangin]

Try to add a new template and change it. It would be ok. Just try.

Ross

[Ross Dalangin]

What I mean is use the new template and it will work without having a problem. Just activate the new template you want if you have or modify it in the design section if you know HTML.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Ross Dalangin

Try to add a new template and change it. It would be ok. Just try.

Ross

Thanks Ross, but not very reassuring.

I don't even know where to go TO add a new template.

I guess I should have mentioned...I am technically challenged when it comes
to this stuff.

[cashcow]

The great thing about WP is that you can just upload a new theme and give your site a facelift in 2 seconds.

Might want to make sure you are using the latest wordpress version before you do that, though - I'm not sure if it matters but maybe some of the new themes might not work with an older version?

[Asher]

Hi Steven,

You don't have to. Just look for a new design theme, download
it and upload the new theme into your blog...

Upload the new theme folder into: wp-content > themes

Then when you login to your WP dashboard, click on Design > Theme
and choose the new look. Activate it.

Viola~

Asher

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by cashcow

The great thing about WP is that you can just upload a new theme and give your site a facelift in 2 seconds.

Might want to make sure you are using the latest wordpress version before you do that, though - I'm not sure if it matters but maybe some of the new themes might not work with an older version?

Thanks...Here is what I found on my blog.

You can find additional themes for your site in the WordPress theme
directory. To install a theme you generally just need to upload the theme
folder into your wp-content/themes directory. Once a theme is uploaded,
you should see it on this page.

I am using a VERY old Wordpress version. It's 2.1.3.

If I look up a theme, will it say what versions it's compatible with?

[Ron Douglas]

Adding and changing the WP blog template won't affect your content.

[Asher]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Thanks...Here is what I found on my blog.

You can find additional themes for your site in the WordPress theme
directory. To install a theme you generally just need to upload the theme
folder into your wp-content/themes directory. Once a theme is uploaded,
you should see it on this page.

I am using a VERY old Wordpress version. It's 2.1.3.

If I look up a theme, will it say what versions it's compatible with?

Download this plugin... It'll automatically upgrade your Wordpress
version. It probably saved me hours trying to figure how to upgrade
my own Wordpress.

WordPress › Wordpress Automatic upgrade WordPress Plugins

After that, go ahead and use any theme you like

Asher

Edit: For themes, check out http://www.wordpress.pro

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Asher

Download this plugin... It'll automatically upgrade your Wordpress
version. It probably saved me hours trying to figure how to upgrade
my own Wordpress.

WordPress › Wordpress Automatic upgrade WordPress Plugins

After that, go ahead and use any theme you like

Asher

Should I backup my blog before I do this? I don't want to risk losing
everything. And if I should back it up, what's the best way?

[matthewd]

Everyone is always telling me how easy Wordpress is, but I am with Steven on this one. I recently bought a new site that is built as a WP blog and I am completely lost when I log into the back-end of it.

[Asher]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Should I backup my blog before I do this? I don't want to risk losing
everything. And if I should back it up, what's the best way?

You'll be really glad to know (like I was) that the plugin does it
all for you

Here's the description to set your heart at ease.

Wordpress Automatic Upgrade allows a user to automatically upgrade the wordpress installation to the latest one provided by wordpress.org using the 5 steps provided in the wordpress upgrade instructions.

Wordpress automatic upgrade upgrades your wordpress installation by doing the following steps.

1. Backs up the files and makes available a link to download it.
2. Backs up the database and makes available a link to download it.
3. Downloads the latest files from http://wordpress.org/latest.zip and unzips it.
4. Puts the site in maintenance mode.
5. De-activates all active plugins and remembers it.
6. Upgrades wordpress files.
7. Gives you a link that will open in a new window to upgrade installation.
8. Re-activates the plugins.

The plugin can also can be run in a automated mode where in you do not have to click on any links to go to the next step.

Asher

[Ross Dalangin]

Most of the templates are compatible to old versions.

Just upload the extracted theme to /wp-content/themes/ folder on your FTP software.

Next step is to login to your wp-admin and find the design of the new template, click it and choose activate or similar words.

Just try it and if won't work just re-activate the old one and find another template you like.

Ross

[ChristianM]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Should I backup my blog before I do this? I don't want to risk losing
everything. And if I should back it up, what's the best way?

Backing up your blog shouldn't be necessary with something as simple as this but you may want to if you are worried.

Never run an old version of wordpress as it could leave you open to being hacked.

Changing a theme will not lose you your articles - short of actually deleting them almost nothing will lost you your data so I wouldn't worry too much.

Just give it a go and see what happens - you'd be surprised how often it's easier that you think it will be.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Asher

You'll be really glad to know (like I was) that the plugin does it
all for you

Here's the description to set your heart at ease.


Asher

Thanks Asher, and to everybody else. I can write, but if I had to build my
own platform to do it on, I'd be broke.

Oh and Matt, I do know enough about Wordpress to find my way around,
but I only saw one other theme in my backoffice and couldn't find where
to get others. Then I saw the note at the end of the page.

My only REAL concern was doing this and losing everything because I've
seen stuff like that happen.

Okay, last question.

What's like the "hottest" and most popular theme going today?

Is there one or does it really not matter as long as it's not one that's
older than dirt and makes you look like a rookie.

[JayXtreme]

Choose one that you like Steve..

The new revolution themes are cool... and they are now free...

Peace

Jay

[Ron Douglas]

The theme you use should be based on your topic and desired look and feel. A hot theme for one market might not be ideal for another.

There are thousands to choose from. Just browse for what you want your site to look like - 2 column, 3 column, right navigation, left navigation, full screen, plain, fancy, different colors, etc.

[lazavas]

Originally Posted by matthewd

Everyone is always telling me how easy Wordpress is, but I am with Steven on this one. I recently bought a new site that is built as a WP blog and I am completely lost when I log into the back-end of it.

i was the same, but if u just spend a little time playing with it, it gets easier

[Asher]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

What's like the "hottest" and most popular theme going today?

I use Flexibility.
Flexibility Theme for WordPress

As the name suggests, it's a very flexible theme.
You just need to subscribe at the site to login
and download the theme for yourself. The only
other I can remember using it is Stanley Tang

Or you could try a paid one...
Make Money Online | Make Money At Home With A 13-Year Old
I'm not an affiliate but it's a theme that has made
him money and I've seen a lot of successful bloggers
and IMers use a theme dangerously similar.

Or you could just wade through the whole sea of
themes at
Wordpress Themes

Take your pick =D

Asher

[tommygadget]

I usually start with searching for the phrase "free (my site's theme) wordpress themes" in Google and usually find lots of interesting stuff.

TomG.

[ArtDeco]

My advice is to backup first, then upgrade, then upload at least three or four themes you like to your wp-content directory and you can easily switch back and forth. Sometimes a theme that looks great in the demo looks like crap with your posts and pages.

[Asher]

Originally Posted by tommygadget

I usually start with searching for the phrase "free (my site's theme) wordpress themes" in Google and usually find lots of interesting stuff.

Yep, I do that too. Since wordpress.pro's down for the
count (just checked...) that's the other best option
for themes.

Asher

[Steven Wagenheim]

Okay, I'm running into a problem already.

I uploaded the entire wordpress-automatic-update folder to my
wp-content/plugins folder.

I then went to Wordpress and to the plugins section, but the plugin isn't
showing so that I can activate it.

What happened?

** EDIT ** Never mind...I'm an idiot.

[JayXtreme]

Steve.. what version of WP are you on at the moment?

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by JayXtreme

Steve.. what version of WP are you on at the moment?

A version too smart for a dope like me.

Don't ever let me get near technology if it means world peace.

We'll all be living on the moon.

I got it working thanks to dumb luck.

[JayXtreme]

lmao...

OK.. cool... now get some nice theme on there...

Peace

Jay

[Asher]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

A version too smart for a dope like me.

Don't ever let me get near technology if it means world peace.

We'll all be living on the moon.

I got it working thanks to dumb luck.

Great stuff.
Slap on more great stuff on your blog
or start helping some newbies so you
don't feel like a dope anymore ;D

Asher

[ArtDeco]

@Steven
Good for you. New WP really rocks. Static pages, categories, new editor, real tags, oh my! You will be like a kid at Christmas coming from 2.1.

There is even a plug in for newer wp that will do an automatic backup in XML and email it to you. I have mine sent to my GMail account weekly - lots of space there.

Search plugins in wordpress.org and you will find it, I believe it was WPbackup, but not logged in to my WP accounts right now.

[lgibbon]

Originally Posted by Asher

Or you could just wade through the whole sea of
themes at
Wordpress Themes


Asher

Or there's a nice WSO on page 3 where you can have your own unique design. Well recommended.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Okay, I ran through the upgrade and my blog still says version 2.1.3 at the
bottom.

So what's next?

[Ian Traynor]

Originally Posted by Asher

Download this plugin... It'll automatically upgrade your Wordpress
version. It probably saved me hours trying to figure how to upgrade
my own Wordpress.

WordPress › Wordpress Automatic upgrade WordPress Plugins

After that, go ahead and use any theme you like

Asher

Edit: For themes, check out Wordpress Themes

I noticed on the above plug-in's download page that quite a few people have had problems with the "Automatic Upgrade" plug-in

You should read the comments on the right-hand side of the page and then make your own decision based on what you read,

Regards

[capriliz]

Steve,

Make sure you check the template for coded garbage, especially the footer.

After you unzip the template on your computer, you can check the footer before you upload it to your site.

Then, you have other links you may want to eliminate from your blog code so you don't lose pr juice. Of course, some links you keep - especially if you are using a free template. It is a way to say thanks to the author. But, you don't need to thank the author 20 times.

Carmen

[JayXtreme]

Steve..

PM me and you can have an hour of my time for $100 to do this for you if you are having trouble...

Peace

Jay

[Steven Wagenheim]

Okay, I figured out the problem with the upgrade. It didn't complete. The
reason was file permissions. I had to modify the blog folder from 555 (don't
know why it was set at that) to 755.

The upgrade has now completed.

Here is my next problem.

When I clicked on the link to reactivate the plugins (I'm assuming the last
step of the process) I was taken to the login screen. When I filled in the
login info to login, it just takes me back to the login screen.

So now I can't login to the blog.

I know I'm using the right login and password, so something got messed
up somewhere.

Any tips on how to fix this?

[e-mail2u]

Steve,

did you get your new theme up and running yet. If not i just put a posting on mine with a quick video of me changing themes.

Simply place the new theme in the w-content/themes folder. It requires each theme to be in a separate folder/directory.

go to design and select and activate the new theme, just watch the video to see how simple. sorry no sound kids are home and are very noisy in my house.

wp theme changing how to | Write it down today, forget it tommorrow

Regards,
Geoff

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by e-mail2u

Steve,

did you get your new theme up and running yet. If not i just put a posting on mine with a quick video of me changing themes.

Simply place the new theme in the w-content/themes folder. It requires each theme to be in a separate folder/directory.

go to design and select and activate the new theme, just watch the video to see how simple. sorry no sound kids are home and are very noisy in my house.

wp theme changing how to | Write it down today, forget it tommorrow

Regards,
Geoff

Right now, I can't login. That's the next thing I have to fix.

Look, I had manually downloaded the latest Wordpress files. If I ftp
them up to my server, will they just overwrite the old ones, or is there
something else I have to do?

This is why I hate technology.

[e-mail2u]

steve,

Check your wp-config file has the correct mysql database settings for your database. Use your ftp client to do this, if they are wrong change them. Then try and login.

Also check the wp-config is named correctly as it comes as wp-config-sample.php when you get the new version.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Okay, I have a SERIOUS problem now.

I went to my database to look up my password. It appears to have been
whacked. So I clicked on the link to send me a NEW password.

The one it sent me was a mess. It had all kinds of special characters in it
and didn't look right.

Well, I tried typing it in to see if I could log in.

Still can't.

I am going to go to MySQL, manually change the password to something
that looks normal and see if that works.

If not, it appears that the upgrade has whacked my Wordpress.

So the next step will be to get back to where I was before I did the
upgrade.

[Jenni Mac]

Steven

sometimes, depending on what I'm doing I have to login to WP itself as opposed to loging into my blog. You might want to try that.

If you FTP the new theme to your wordpress themes folder, once you login and go to the DESIGN tab on your WP control panel you'll see the theme there. Just click on it to activate it and you're good to go.

Hope that helps!

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Jenni Mac

Steven

sometimes, depending on what I'm doing I have to login to WP itself as opposed to loging into my blog. You might want to try that.

If you FTP the new theme to your wordpress themes folder, once you login and go to the DESIGN tab on your WP control panel you'll see the theme there. Just click on it to activate it and you're good to go.

Hope that helps!

I can't login to WP. That's what I'm talking about. I have no idea what
I'm doing now. This whole thing is totally fubar.

[JayXtreme]

Steve..

The problem you have created is because of your plugins...

You need to pull them out with FTP.. then it will let you login, then throw them back in with FTP

Peace

Jay

[flnz400]

If you upgraded and didn't change the wordpressconfig file, nothing will sinc.

If you're technically challenged, the best way to upgrade wordpress or do a fresh install is with Fantastico through your Cpanel, or using a premier WP automatic update plugin.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by JayXtreme

Steve..

The problem you have created is because of your plugins...

You need to pull them out with FTP.. then it will let you login, then throw them back in with FTP

Peace

Jay

Thank you Jay...PM me your Paypal address.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Okay, last question...I'm almost there.

How exactly DO you get the new theme into your blog?

I'm browsing through them and don't see any link that says download or
anything like that. So where exactly do you go to get these and then
where do you have to upload them to in order to get them activated?

Thanks for all your help so far...we're into the home stretch.

** EDIT **

Sorry, one last thing. I notice that a lot of these themes are designed
for 1024 px wide. So if somebody is using 800 x 600 res like I am, the
design will essentially scroll to the right, similar to how this forum is for
me...correct?

If so, are 1024 px blogs more preferable for visitors or do they still
prefer 800 px? Just trying to think of the visitor experience here.

[Seattle Mike]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Thank you Jay...PM me your Paypal address.

Was wondering when you were going to get to this point Worth it to pay and have someone do this for you. Your time is too valuable to waste a day and get all aggravated. It's a fifteen minute job for an expert vs. 6 hours of pulling your hair out.

That's why I paid the extra to have my blog moved to a different server. Even the expert had trouble with that one

[Chris Bailey]

Not sure what site you're viewing themes at, but there has to be a download link somewhere.

You'll download the zip file, unzip it(I normally unzip to my desktop so I can find the damn thing) and then ftp the new theme folder to your wp-content/themes directory

As for width, that's your choice. Most people these days use at least 1024. You can go with fluid or fixed widths. You may want to see how each new theme looks in the various widths and also try viewing it in a couple different browsers.

Once you find something you're happy with, you can get back to doing what you do best and put this nightmare behind you.

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Okay, last question...I'm almost there.

How exactly DO you get the new theme into your blog?

I'm browsing through them and don't see any link that says download or
anything like that. So where exactly do you go to get these and then
where do you have to upload them to in order to get them activated?

Thanks for all your help so far...we're into the home stretch.

** EDIT **

Sorry, one last thing. I notice that a lot of these themes are designed
for 1024 px wide. So if somebody is using 800 x 600 res like I am, the
design will essentially scroll to the right, similar to how this forum is for
me...correct?

If so, are 1024 px blogs more preferable for visitors or do they still
prefer 800 px? Just trying to think of the visitor experience here.

[Seattle Mike]

They should all have a download folder.

Then upload the folder to wp-content/themes

Login into blog and activate it in the design tab.


I am old fashioned and like the narrow 800 better. But most people seem to have moved to 1024.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Chris Bailey

Not sure what site you're viewing themes at, but there has to be a download link somewhere.

You'll download the zip file, unzip it(I normally unzip to my desktop so I can find the damn thing) and then ftp the new theme folder to your wp-content/themes directory

As for width, that's your choice. Most people these days use at least 1024. You can go with fluid or fixed widths. You may want to see how each new theme looks in the various widths and also try viewing it in a couple different browsers.

Once you find something you're happy with, you can get back to doing what you do best and put this nightmare behind you.

Thanks all...Got my theme, really love it...all is cool with the world again.

Now it's time to get back to writing.

[Shannon Herod]

I might be a little crazy but I am under the impression that the vast majority of people on line are at least 1024.

Shannon

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Okay, last question...I'm almost there.

How exactly DO you get the new theme into your blog?

I'm browsing through them and don't see any link that says download or
anything like that. So where exactly do you go to get these and then
where do you have to upload them to in order to get them activated?

Thanks for all your help so far...we're into the home stretch.

** EDIT **

Sorry, one last thing. I notice that a lot of these themes are designed
for 1024 px wide. So if somebody is using 800 x 600 res like I am, the
design will essentially scroll to the right, similar to how this forum is for
me...correct?

If so, are 1024 px blogs more preferable for visitors or do they still
prefer 800 px? Just trying to think of the visitor experience here.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Shannon Herod

I might be a little crazy but I am under the impression that the vast majority of people on line are at least 1024.

Shannon

Yeah, but when you got eyes like me, forget it. 1024 would put me in a
coma.

I can only use that res with one program on my old machine, OOTPB, which
is a REALLY cool baseball strategy simulation. Problem is, I got so good at
it that I've won the World Series like 8 out of the last 9 years, so I've kind
of stopped playing it.

If only the Mets could be that good.