Accessing the CSS file.
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I followed the instructions on how to locate the themes CSS. I found that to be a bit too cumbersome. I prefer to access the full CSS file and tweak whatever needs change, while maintaining it’s original structure.
At the moment I’m using Suits, a theme you can also download from wordpress.org.
Would it be possible to use the CSS file, downloaded from wordpress.org, here on wordpress.com? Considering it’s the same theme.
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Hi there, at WordPress.com, you cannot edit the existing CSS file. All users here share the underlying theme and WordPress core files, so if one person where to edit one of them, it would change it for everyone using that particular theme.
Here at WordPress.com, you create new CSS rules to override the existing CSS for a theme. Your CSS changes are loaded after the original CSS, so your changes take precedence.
In addition, not all the CSS for a site here is in one CSS file. There are many plugins used here to create all the features available to users and some of that CSS would be in different files.
If you wish to use the existing CSS file as reference, you can find a copy of it here: https://wpcom-themes.svn.automattic.com/suits/style.css .
One last thing, do not copy and paste the entire CSS sheet into the CSS editor. In many cases that can cause things to go awry and in addition causes far more work for the user’s browser as it tries to sort out what rule from which file to apply. Add only the rules and only the declarations that you are adding or changing to your custom CSS here.
I would suggest making friends with the web inspector in your browser as it will make CSS changes much easier once you get used to it. I’ve been using one for many years and find it an invaluable tool when working with CSS.
And as always, if you get stuck, please do not hesitate to ask here in the CSS forum. We will be glad to help you get your site looking just the way you want it.
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Thank you for your reply. Especially pointing out being careful with copying the whole CSS file, as there are only minor cosmetic changes I need to make, mostly regarding fonts.
I find using the web inspector handy to check snippets of CSS, but as I’m used to working within a CSS file, looking at raw code, I’d stick with copying code for only the elements I need to change. Leaving out code I do not need to alter to avoid possible errors.
Also thanks for the link to the CSS file, as it will be helpful if I decide to use another theme, as I’m in the process of making some structural changes to my blog. So I can rely on the CSS file used within wordpress.com.
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Great, and you are welcome.
One other thing that I failed to mention is that CSS is nearly always theme specific, so the CSS for one theme will typically not work – or will severely mess up – another theme, but if you are used to working with code and such, you most likely already know that. :)
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