I have a couple of wordpress websites and I intend on having a lot more of them in the future. But, sometimes I don't like the limitations of a theme I'm using and I'd like to know how to make changes in the code to get them to look how I want them too. Well, actually I think you're suppose to make a child theme first so the changes don't revert back when the theme gets updated. I don't know how you do that either.

 

I've learned that I can make changes by going into the editor, and making changes to the right file. I understand some of the code (the basics), I read a book on XHTML and CSS a few years ago. But a lot of it I have forgotten, and now I think they've even updated the languages (html5 and CSS3 or whatever). So most of it I don't understand.

 

I don't want to have to spend a lot of time learning code languages. And I don't want to learn how to create my own themes from scratch - that takes too long. Is there a book or website I can use to just look up how to change things in an existing theme? Here are some of the things I would like to know how to change:

• remove or replace text in the footer
• increase or decrease the size of the footer area.
• increase or decrease the size of my header area.
• Change all colors to whatever I want (hex color specific) Some themes don't let you.
• Change the shape of boxed areas so that the corner are rounded off.
• Change fonts to whatever font I want.
• Add a picture somewhere, such as in the footer that will show on every page.
• Change background layout.

Basically, I want to be able to pick a theme that is closest to what I'm looking for and modify it the rest of the way until I'm happy with it. I find things I don't like about most of them.

 

Or maybe there is some tool or software that I don't know about that makes it easy to design your own theme/page layout? Or a book or course somewhere that shows how to make these kinds of changes to an existing theme without having to learn everything there is to know about the code language - just the things you'd need to know?

 

 

 

I think you will at least need to know HTML and CSS.

I think you will at least need to know HTML and CSS

 

All of it? No short cuts?

 

Are there any books where I can just look up how to change something when I need to - a learn as I go approach?

there is no book. If you want to change a theme you need to develop the skills just like everyone else. Pretty much everything you want to do is in the stylesheets, so if you have the theme all you need is a text editor.

I'll keep things brief.

 

• There are no shortcuts
• You will never learn everything there is to know
• Developers get paid a lot of money because it is difficult to code and takes considerable effort and time to become competent.
• To become good requires thousands of hours.
• The true experts make an absolute fortune, even those whose expertise is in CSS which is considered one of the easiest 'languages' to learn, because even it has it's nuances and quirks and to deeply understand architecture for large codebases is an extremely difficult skill to acquire.

In short you either learn enough to do what you want to do for this particular instance, or hire somebody to do it for you (Of course paying them fairly)

 

Based on your post I'd advise the latter. Otherwise take a look at sitebuilders like squarespace, but you will be limited by their software so it's unlikely you will get 100% of what you want. If you budget for a good developer almost anything is possible.

Edited April 16, 201610 yr by rbrtsmith

I'm not wanting to know how to do that much. I just had a few bullet point list of things. I don't want to waste thousands of hours learning a bunch of stuff I don't need to know for the few things that I do want to know. Maybe I should just tackle each one, one at a time by looking for how to do them on Youtube, google, and forums like this.

I could spends thousands of hours learning how to be a plumber or I could just pay someone to come fix my boiler.

 

The choice is yours: learn it yourself or pay someone to do it for you.

 

If you choose the DIY route, do your research and then come ask for help if you get stuck. You will find people much more receptive if you have had a go yourself.

I'm not wanting to know how to do that much. I just had a few bullet point list of things. I don't want to waste thousands of hours learning a bunch of stuff I don't need to know for the few things that I do want to know. Maybe I should just tackle each one, one at a time by looking for how to do them on Youtube, google, and forums like this.

Everything is possible in Love & War.

Just be a smart warrior !

LOL !

 

You said you have read XHTML.

You know some basics is fine.

 

Just Google your points :

HTML / css3 code to round a square.

 

 

And try many other words with some change. You will get w3school page open most of the times.

Everything is there.

Just learn that html code / css3 code.

Play with it.

Similarly html5/css3 code to colour a div/ background/ text etc.

 

Similarly find time for YouTube videos as your tutorials at times. It will be easy to understand some coding. It will take 15 -30 min on an average to watch.

 

Just learn to Google your querry.

You will become smart with time.

 

Beware you can't find everything this way but you will have a way to move ahead.

All things are on internet. We have to learn how to find it !

 

You should remember some 25-30 basic words of html5/css3 only.

All other things are manageable.

 

All coders do not know every code / command. All know basics of it. With experience only they get few words of feed daily in their mind.

 

Good Luck !

Edited April 18, 201610 yr by satindertech

• remove or replace text in the footer - I think you need to change the footer.php file - I have done it before despite not knowing any php. Google is your friend - like for most of these

increase or decrease the size of the footer area. - You'll need to change the css. I've only used a couple of themes but they have both had the option to add my own css which will write over it. The option is under Appearance - Edit CSS. At least it is for my two WP sites.

increase or decrease the size of my header area. - As above.

Change all colors to whatever I want (hex color specific) Some themes don't let you. - As above.

Change the shape of boxed areas so that the corner are rounded off. - As above, border-radius is the CSS you need.

Change fonts to whatever font I want. - Possibly trickier depending on what font you want. Google may help.

Add a picture somewhere, such as in the footer that will show on every page. Ask Google. I've done it - but forgotten how I did it.

Change background layout. - Not quite sure what you want here. The layout will require re-writing the php templates I would have thought, but if you just want to change the background colour/image then edit CSS as above.

Google is your friend for specifics. I hope this helps.