Best way to edit Wordpress themes

Jenna Paulson · 01-19-2009, 07:25 AM

Hi,

I finally selected a free wordpress theme i would like to use. But how do i visually edit it? I only know html and not php.

Any advice will be most welcome.

Jenna

JayMartins · 01-19-2009, 07:29 AM

Hi Jenna,

In my opinion the only way is to dive and experiment. Get the theme running on a test blog and then go into the online 'Theme Editor', back up all the files and just have a play - make changes, save, see what they did and go from there. It's how I learnt and I don't know PHP either.

GlenH · 01-19-2009, 07:37 AM

I know of this: Theme Designer Pro | Quickly & Easily Design Your Own WordPress Themes | WordPress Theme Designs

cliffmaster · 01-19-2009, 07:40 AM

What do you want to edit ? There are many free lessons on the net that teach php .

Allurre · 01-19-2009, 07:45 AM

Experimentation.. that's all there is to it. I'll take some time, but be patience. I had to go through the same thing. It's better to learn yourself as it'll pay off in the long run!

Vincent Sparreboom · 01-19-2009, 08:03 AM

Make a back-up of your files that you edit, this way you can easily undo your mistakes and just do it, that's it.

TelZilla · 01-19-2009, 08:13 AM

Almost all of the changes you'll most likely want to make are CSS changes. You can change the entire look and feel just by playing with CSS. I learned everything I know about WordPress just by experimenting. If you need help with CSS, w3schools is a site that I've used many times for a reference.

George Katsoudas · 01-19-2009, 09:06 AM

Jenna, you may also want to find a webmaster/programmer/PHP+CSS dude and tell them what you want your website to look like.

I did this for a blog and it took them a little over an hour - came out perfect the first time. For $10 it may be worth it to delegate this task.

Or, you can learn how to do it yourself of course.

George

capriliz · 01-19-2009, 09:20 AM

First, know exactly what you want to change in your template. Start with small edits. As you get more comfortable, then move on the more involved editing.

Take the advice already given: backup, backup, backup.

One time I made a change that actually prevented me from getting back into the editing process! Luckily, I knew how to FTP that original file back to my site. Then I was OK. That sure got the adrenline flowing!

Once you know what you want to edit, do google searches. If you don't find it the first time, reword your search and try again. You will soon find your favorite sites that you will continue to reference when you want to change something on your blog.

Carmen

01-19-2009, 07:25 AM	#1
Jenna Paulson Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 67 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Best way to edit Wordpress themes Hi, I finally selected a free wordpress theme i would like to use. But how do i visually edit it? I only know html and not php. Any advice will be most welcome. Jenna

01-19-2009, 07:29 AM	#2
JayMartins Offline Marketer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 85 Thanks: 7 Thanked 79 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes Hi Jenna, In my opinion the only way is to dive and experiment. Get the theme running on a test blog and then go into the online 'Theme Editor', back up all the files and just have a play - make changes, save, see what they did and go from there. It's how I learnt and I don't know PHP either.
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01-19-2009, 07:37 AM	#3
GlenH HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney - AUSTRALIA. Posts: 445 Thanks: 0 Thanked 35 Times in 24 Posts Contact Info	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes I know of this: Theme Designer Pro \| Quickly & Easily Design Your Own WordPress Themes \| WordPress Theme Designs

01-19-2009, 07:40 AM	#4
cliffmaster Active Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Posts: 80 Thanks: 16 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes What do you want to edit ? There are many free lessons on the net that teach php .

01-19-2009, 07:45 AM	#5
Allurre HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bangkok, Los Angeles, Coast to Coasting Posts: 159 Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes Experimentation.. that's all there is to it. I'll take some time, but be patience. I had to go through the same thing. It's better to learn yourself as it'll pay off in the long run!
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01-19-2009, 08:03 AM	#6
Vincent Sparreboom HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 104 Thanks: 17 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes Make a back-up of your files that you edit, this way you can easily undo your mistakes and just do it, that's it.
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01-19-2009, 08:13 AM	#7
TelZilla Caffeinated Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisiana, USA Posts: 292 Thanks: 140 Thanked 66 Times in 33 Posts Social Networking	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes Almost all of the changes you'll most likely want to make are CSS changes. You can change the entire look and feel just by playing with CSS. I learned everything I know about WordPress just by experimenting. If you need help with CSS, w3schools is a site that I've used many times for a reference.
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01-19-2009, 09:06 AM	#8
George Katsoudas Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Greece Posts: 560 Thanks: 262 Thanked 700 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes Jenna, you may also want to find a webmaster/programmer/PHP+CSS dude and tell them what you want your website to look like. I did this for a blog and it took them a little over an hour - came out perfect the first time. For $10 it may be worth it to delegate this task. Or, you can learn how to do it yourself of course. George
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01-19-2009, 09:20 AM	#9
capriliz HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: PA , USA. Posts: 275 Thanks: 57 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Best way to edit Wordpress themes First, know exactly what you want to change in your template. Start with small edits. As you get more comfortable, then move on the more involved editing. Take the advice already given: backup, backup, backup. One time I made a change that actually prevented me from getting back into the editing process! Luckily, I knew how to FTP that original file back to my site. Then I was OK. That sure got the adrenline flowing! Once you know what you want to edit, do google searches. If you don't find it the first time, reword your search and try again. You will soon find your favorite sites that you will continue to reference when you want to change something on your blog. Carmen
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