How to Use the Base Theme

Revision as of 00:07, 27 December 2011

The Base Theme for PageLines 2.0 has several different uses. Developers can use it as a reference for creating their own child themes for the PageLines Store. It can also be used for inserting your own custom CSS & PHP coding into your website, just like the PageLines Customize Plugin. However, the Base Theme goes a step further in that you can also use it to customize PageLines 2.0 core Sections without them being wiped clean whenever you update PageLines 2.0.

Install the Base Theme

The Base Theme is available for free in the PageLines Store.

From your WordPress Administration Panel:

1. Select the "PageLines" panel, then "Store"
2. Select the "Themes" tab, then "Add Themes"
3. Select "Top Free"
4. Click the Base Theme "Install" button
5. Select the "Added" tab, where you will now find the newly installed theme
6. Click "Activate"

You will now see the Base Theme located inside: /wp-content/themes/pagelines-template-theme

Customize Your Site Using the Base Theme

There are two files in the Base Theme for customizing your site: style.css & functions.php.

• style.css - This is where you should put all your custom CSS (graphical changes)
• function.php – This is where you put all your custom PHP and hooks

Editing the style.css file, you can apply custom CSS to your theme.
Editing the functions.php file, that you can add pretty much anything else.

You can edit these files directly using a good Text Editor via FTP:
/wp-content/themes/pagelines-template-theme

You can also access the files using WordPress:
From your WordPress Administration Panel:

1. Select the "Appearance" panel, then "Editor"
2. Choose the "Base Theme" then click "Select"
3. Click on either "Theme Functions" (functions.php) or "Stylesheet" (style.css) to make your changes

Customize Core Sections Using the Base Theme

If you would like to make custom changes to any of the core Sections, you can easily do so through the Base Theme. This method is preferred over editing the core files directly, because

• Your edits won't be overwritten when you update PageLines 2.0
• The original section files remain safe & unedited, preventing any accidental changes that might cripple your section or entire site

To make changes to a core Section:

1. Make sure the Base Theme is installed & activated
2. Navigate via FTP to the PageLines Sections folder
   • /wp-content/themes/pagelines/sections
3. Copy the folder of the Section that you want to customize
4. Navigate via FTP to the Base Theme Sections folder
   • /wp-content/themes/pagelines-template-theme/sections
5. Paste the folder of the Section that you want to customize
6. Go to Dashboard => PageLines => Store & click "Refresh Store"

Now any changes you make to the section inside the Base Theme will be reflected on your site as long as the Base Theme is active.