Rebuilding ECoverFX - Part 2

All right, it’s 7:30PM, and I’m able to type with the “quickness” now that the nails have been trimmed.

In the previous post, we have backed up all the files that were on the ECoverFX website, deleted the entire 1.3 Gig site using WHM (Web Host Manager) - then recreated a new Wordpress site on ECoverFX.com. Then we added a first post to the site so people know it’s being revised.

Next steps are to configure Wordpress correctly, add the plugins I need, find (or make) a theme for the website - then we can start adding .html pages, products, paylinks, posts, etc. Since I have the old site backed up to the hard drive, this will save me some time. I won’t have to create a whole lot of NEW material right off the bat, it will be mostly a matter of revising, updating and using some of the old pages from the other site.

So let’s get started. First I’m going to try creating my own theme with Artisteer. Artisteer is a program I purchased a while back after Beta testing it for a while. They just updated it to create Drupal and Joomla themes too, but so far I’ve only used it for Wordpress themes. First I’m going to dig out my old header.

Hmmm, since it’s been so long ago that I created this header - the .psd file is probably burned off on a disc somewhere. I’ve got a screaming 4 year old in the office, so I’m in no mood to dig for that file. Let’s handle the screaming kid first. Ok, digging for dinosaur bones will work for about an hour I’d say - let DAD take over for a while!

Another thing I’m going to have an issue with is the text on the header. I’d like to keep the text on the header as it is, but Wordpress is going to overlay another set of text on top of that. We’ll worry about that later. For now, I’ll crop the navigation off the bottom of the header, since I no longer need it - and add the header into Artisteer.

8:45 PM, and after much tweaking around, I have finally come up with a template I’m liking for now. It’ll do. I was able to make the header text and the subhead text “really small” 8 pnts. - and made them black in color. This will allow me to keep the header text on the site, but since it’s small, and of the same color as a portion of the header - nobody will notice it being there. Here’s what we have so far:

New ECoverFX Theme created with Artisteer.

I have exported the new theme from Artisteer, now all I need to do is install the theme on my server. Here’s how to do that:

1. Log in to your website using FTP.

2. Load the new theme folder into /wp-content/themes folder on your server. See pic below. It’s important to remember to have the file unzipped, and the folder for the theme (with all it’s contents) loaded on the server. If you for instance have /ecoverfxtheme/ecoverfxtheme/”files in second folder” - your theme WILL NOT WORK. The reason it will NOT WORK is because you have an extra folder (the first folder with nothing in it except another folder called /ecoverfxtheme) You need to load the SECOND folder. If that makes any sense. If you just open the folders until you see all the “FILES” back up one level - and that’s the folder you want to load. The one with the files in it, not the one with the extra folder - THEN the files.

Ok, Here’s what that will look like.

ECoverFX theme loaded into the Correct Wordpress Folder.

Time for a short break, walk around, check on the boys, get some hot tea, restroom break, etc. Sitting here too long starts to hurt! (Of course I’m sure sitting cross-legged on my chair has NOTHING to do with that.) When I get back we’ll go through setting all the Wordpress settings on the blog.

9:43 - and I’ve just logged into the backend of Wordpress. I’m a little unfamiliar with the newest version at the moment, but the “themes” link on the left hand nagivation was easy enough to find. I’ve clicked on themes, and here is where I’m at for the moment:

New ECoverFX Wordpress Theme Ready to be Installed.

Now all I need to do is click on the new ECoverFX theme to activate it. All right, I did that, and now we have a theme issue. My guess is that due to Wordpress updates, Artisteer has been unable to keep up - and will have to create some updates for their own software. Which, kinda puts me a bit behind now, because I’m going to have to search out a theme that works with this version of Wordpress.

Uhg, Theme Issue. See? There is no light table, the background shows through.

Never a dull moment. No, I do not want to go through the hassle of trying to fix the theme, because I know from experience - that it will take me so much time goofing around with stuff like that - the settings will never get done tonight. Plus I have OTHER things to do, and can’t waste time right now. Best to just search for some new themes.

I know I bookmarked a page just last night of some different themes, so let’s take a look there first.

Here’s the first theme page I’m going to look at. Then I’ll skip to somewhere else if I don’t find a theme here.

Hmm - although nice, they are “gallery themes” which are made more for a photography site for instance. Not usable here so I’ll do a quick search. Here are some more nice themes - one I’m liking is “curious”. I’ll go ahead and download that one, then look for some more. I’ve heard the “revolution” theme is good, so I just might search for that. Another one from the same site here that I like is this one “Monezine”.

Then here is the Revolution theme (or one of them anyhow). Here are a few more Revolution themes - and I’m not sure that they are the ones most folks say are good, but this is what pulled up on a Google search. Looks like those are “paid templates” which is fine, but for now I don’t need a paid for template.

Well, I have two so far - let’s load them up and take a look. 10:00pm, and I’m still messing around with themes. Par for course.

When I unzipped Curious and Monezine, I found in Monezine something a bit different than what I’m used to. Here are the instructions to install that theme. (Always make sure you look for readme files and other stuff when you unzip ANY file.) I always head straight for the “readmes.”

Ok, they want WP-Navi installed, and Popularity contest. That’s cool, because I was going to install wp-navi anyhow, and never used popularity contest. Here’s what it looks like to install Monezine:

Installing the Monezine Theme.

Installing Plugins for Monezine

Be sure to look at each image in the “larger format” by clicking on the images above, then by clicking on the back button on your browser to come back here. You’ll be able to see the paths where you should be installing your themes and plugins in general, not just for this theme.

Ahhh heck, OK, break time again. My oldest needs to install some batteries in this little handheld spelling unit I gave him a couple weeks ago. 10:10 pm already? No sleep for the Momma tonight!

If your house is anything like mine, I’m sure you are beginning to see why it takes me so long to get stuff online done. hehehehe. It’s now 10:30 on the dot - where were we?

Still on the themes. Honestly, getting a proper theme on the proper blog can take me longer than just about anything else. I tend to be a bit picky on the graphics, and as we have already wasted about an hour or so creating a theme - then had to go back and FIND one - that’s a lot of wasted time. Hey, at least I DID TRY to get a custom theme on there, and will be able to use it later once I figure out why the table isn’t showing up in front of the background. But quicker and easier to just move on. That kind of stuff can always be tweaked later. I can hire someone to look at it, or send a note to Artisteer with the problem, etc. But not right NOW.

With all that said - keep in mind, if something doesn’t work - select the easiest path for you at the moment, and JUST MOVE ON. Don’t let something like a theme issue waste 5 hours of your time when it really is NOT necessary. Got it? Good!

Back to the theme installs.

Here’s what we have now after loading up the last two themes. If you do not see a theme listed in Wordpress that you just got done uploading to your server, it’s probably because of the folder issue I talked about earlier. (Live and learn!)

New Themes Ready to be Installed.

You can see that both of the themes I just loaded are in the themes section where the ECoverFX theme popped up before. First let’s take a look at the curious one, then we’ll take a look at the monezine.

Hmmm - Well All RIGHT! I’m looking at the Curious theme, and I’m liking it. Wish there was some purple in it, but it’s nice. I like the Georgia font, looks like it will work just fine. One nice thing about black, is it’s a great highlight for bringing out the content of your pages (especially when the mid section for the posts is a very light color) and any other color will go with black. Think banners, my portfolio graphics, etc. Plus for anything “graphic” “photography” etc - black is great. Here is what the curious theme looks like:

I'm LIKING the Curious Theme!

Now let’s give the other one a shot and see what it looks like. It also has the black in it, so either one might end up working better than my own theme. We’ll see how it goes. For now, let’s look at Monezine.

Well, first thing we get is an error. Not good.

Theme error right on install

This tells me that this particular theme is going to take some time to work with. It’s not THAT nice for now, is it? Do we really need to spend more time goofing around with themes? No. Besides - when I ok the error, we now have this look:

Blank space that will be time consuming to fill.

So guess what. I’m going back to the Curious theme for now - so I can at least get through the SETTINGS. Heck, I’m no where NEAR posting at this point! 10:53 PM, and I’m still not done messing with the theme. We’re wasting time here folks, so Curious it is!

I’ll now separate the posts again, and go through the settings on the next post. Seeing how it is almost 11:00 PM, and I still have some graphic work to do for others, I’m going to “be done” with the ECoverFX site for tonight. Almost a full 12 hours today so far, but truthfully, I’d say a good 6 hours were spent on the ECoverFX site today. That’s a lot of time to not even be to the point of setting all the settings, installing plugins, etc. Time to give it a rest and move on to something else.

You guys and gals learning anything yet?

Thanks!
Michelle

PS - I’d rather be HERE - at this song of the day - than any OBAMA Rally. Who Rules?

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