wordpress styles
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- MLP
any good reference for coding css for wordpress? this is my first dive into anything php related. i'm reading a lot on the wordpress forums, but am trying to find something that's a more basic overview than a bunch of specific questions.
- trooperbill0
just download the sandbox designs and use css to hide the unused bits.
- MLP0
i don't really want to use templatets an would rather learn how all this shit works for future projects
- mg330
It was fun to learn how to tweak it a bit. My blog uses wordpress and I spent much time figuring out how to mess up the standard theme.
- jamble0
You don't really need to know any of the php to make WP themes. You just need to know what the various tags do and as their names are pretty descriptive, you can code around them to make your theme.
I'd suggest probably the easiest way to go is simply to duplicate the default theme (so you've got a working version backup) and just play around with it.
- blackspade0
download one of the blank templates and go from there, site "tomorrows laundry" had some nice blank ones but the site is down for maintenance
- neverblink0
Just start with a basic wordpress-page, save the html and edit the css and html to represent the design you want. Then copy the default theme and rename it's folder to your theme (also edit the css comments in style.css). Then look at what php you will need to change to get the html in the place you want it to be.
- if you have any Q's post them and I'll see if I can help you out.neverblink
- SigDesign0
Like blackspade and neverblink said... copy the default template first. Just make another folder inside the Templates folder. Once you get going it's pretty simple, and Wordpress has a good help system:
- matt310
I recently started building themes myself and I had the same problem (not knowing much about php). I used this wordpress starter theme
http://wpcandy.com/articles/the-…
it's a breakdown of all the files with the minimum php code that is required to get the theme rolling. you can bascially then add in your layout and test it out. I'd recommend going with something pretty simple to start just so you can see how all the files work together. here's a list of what the pages actually do:
404.php - this should be straight forward, customize it how ever you want
archive.php - this is the page template viewers are taken to when they click any archive link on your theme
comments.php - this is the file that sets up comments for the theme and how they are displayed. probably the most confusing file of them all, most php code
footer.php - paste your footer code in here
functions.php - leave as is for basic themes
header.php - paste your header code in here
index.php - homepage, make sure you include the wp loop
page.php - this is the template for actual static pages - ie:about
searchform.php - search form code - can leave as is unless you want to customize the search form appearance
sidebar.php - sidebar for the website - make sure it is outside of the loop.
single.php - this is the page template for when someone views an individual post page
style.css - your styles
I find it easiest to code the index page first then just cut and paste out the header, footer, etc... then make any changes to the single.php and archive.php file. fire me a message if you have any other questions.
- if you know nothing about php - make sure you look up "includes" that is important to understand and awesomematt31
- jonatne0
mat31 posted some great stuff
thats really all you need to know, simple stuffbesides includes conditional statements are essential as well
- nocomply0
I agree with what others have said. Just pick a theme you like (or maybe a really simple one like sandbox) and start hacking away at it.
It seems really intimidating at first, but really it's just a bunch of small steps when you break it down.
I started out just making changes to the header. Then the footer, and eventually started making my own custom themes once I got comfortable enough. To do that I basically start out with the sandbox theme and modify it as I see fit. http://www.plaintxt.org/themes/s…
You don't need to be able to write php code, but a rudimentary understanding would be helpful just to give you an idea of what's going on.
- Anders0
The easiest way is; use the sandbox design + CSSEDIT.. it's very much WYSIWYG
http://macrabbit.com/cssedit/
- squire2250
This was just posted on Smashing Magazine last week.
- MLP0
thanks dudez
- ximeraLabs0
What everyone else says. Its pretty straightforward to customize/create your own WP theme. Either start with the default theme and get rid of/replace what you don't need; or lift the bits you need and integrate them in your own design – thats what I did with my blog (hellomuller.com/blog)