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ThemeShaper Forums » Thematic

1. 

   kenyafever
   Member

   I'm wondering if there are any super bare bones basic guides to getting started in customizing the theme. I have pretty good (if basic) understanding of css and html, but I'm still learning exactly how WP structures these files.

   That said, I'm having trouble and would love a start up guide for dummies. Don't know what a theme hook is, or where to find wp_page_menu etc.

   I realize much of this has to do with me becoming educated, but I'm wondering if there's any way to get some simple help.

   Thanks.

   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   helgatheviking
   Moderator

   here is one of my favorite tuts on child themes:

   http://www.catswhocode.com/blog/wordpress-how-to-easily-create-a-thematic-child-theme

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   tarpontech
   Member

   my 2 cents is to just focus on the css. Don't even sweat functions.php, hooks, filters. Pick a child-theme, install it, and change it. By the time you've wrapped your head around how thematic does css, you'll have gained more than you'd first expect regarding thematic, childthemes, and wordpress.

   To me, knowing the CSS layout of wordpress, and thematic, is the core stuff I needed to be able to really navigate. Once I knew where I was going, making real under-the-hood changes was much easier to do.

   Oh...that...and knowing what the hell "the loop" was, and how to avoid it.

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   kenyafever
   Member

   Great, thanks so much for the info. I'm loving the css idea, and I've done some customizing of indexhibit.org using only css and it works great. But when I look at the style sheet for Thematic (and try to make some changes), it doesn't feel as easy. I'll play with it some more.

   So

   Do you think it would it be possible (in your estimation), to make the following changes to Thematic using only CSS?:
   1. create a fixed/stable upper menu (stays in place, even when you scroll) at the top of the page..
   2. create a home page (static) that has thumbnails of all the projects i've worked on?

   (I'm modeling the basic structure of my site loosely on Ed Nacional's site: www.ednacional.com ... is this possible using only CSS?)

   Many, many thanks again.

   KF

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   tarpontech
   Member

   With just CSS, no. What you are looking for will call for a hook for the menu re-location, and assuming you want to use thumbnails of your projects as links to the actual article regarding the project, take a look at the Gallery theme for thematic...i know you can find it at smashing magazine if it's not right on the themeshaper site. It uses a nice thumbnail format you can work with.

   The good news is there are at least a half-dozen forum discussions regarding how to move the menu around the page, you won't have much difficulty getting that accomplished.

   The thumbnail layout is going to be a bit of a wrestling match, but that Gallery theme should give you a BIG head start.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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