How do I change to new template and work on it while having current blog active?
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1. I have an existing blog – http://activeappetite.wordpress.com. My father, who is familiar with CSS, coding etc is updating the blog look. He wants to take all the existing information/posts and put it into a NEW, different template and use the SAME blog address. How does he do this without having any “down” time while he is working on the new template? He created a new template and named it “TEST BLOG” thinking that he could just rename it and replace the current activeappetite blog, but that appears to then create a seperate, new blog. Is there a way to simply click on all the existing information, move it to a new template, SAVE it under the current blog address while continuing to work on it and still have the existing, current blog LIVE while he does so? As I said he is familiar with CSS and coding so if you answer in that way, he will understand.
2. This came up because I went to upgrade the account to “Custom Design Upgrade” and it showed both the “activeappetite” and the “TEST BLOG” that he was working on – we want to continue using “activeappetite”
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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1) that is not possible. You can do practice editing etc on a second blog, but you’ll need to pay for the upgrade to that practice blog if you want to save the changes. You can work on the Custom Design preview for free, of course.
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Thanks SO much for your answer. But if we make all the changes on the “TEST BLOG”, can we then use it to replace the existing blog? I think the answer in NO and it sounds like the best way to do this is to take the current blog offline, work with the new template under that blog address (instead of “test blog”) and then when the work is done, put the revised blog back online?
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Can I switch templates and will all of my posts/pages carry over into the new on automatically? I know it may need “cleaning up”, but just want to know if and HOW I do this?
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Personally, I wouldn’t worry about taking the blog offline during the tweaking. The Preview lets you tweak it until you’re happy, then click to make the changes take effect. After that, you shouldn’t have to modify anything major.
Changing themes does not affect the content in any way. It all remains on your blog.
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Thanks again for your answers – very helpful. We are thinking up switching to WordPress.org to allow my father (who knows HTML & CSS) more editing ability with plugins, etc, but not sure if this is the right thing to do. Here are some questions:
1. Will the dashboard on wordpress.org be the same or similar to the one on wordpress.com, allowing me who knows very little to edit pages/posts easily while allowing my father to edit CSS and use plug ins etc? For me, I need it to be SIMPLE – can I easily edit without knowing any “code”?
2. On wordpress.com and wordpress.org, can we edit CSS and HTML? My father cannot write PHP.
3. We have the domain name activeappetite.com through wordpress.com. If we switch to wordpress.org, do we get to automatically keep the same domain name, activeappetite.com? If not, do I have to go to a web hosting company (like Go Daddy or one you suggest on your site) and will that name be available to me or will I have to search for a new name?
4. If I have to change to a new domain name, is there a way to direct people following my blog to the new address via the current blog/site, activeappetite.com?
5. Is the actual address activeappetite.com or activeappetite.wordpress.com?
Thanks for your help!
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1) Similar. The theme editor is more complex because you can edit both CSS and php. If you just want to post, you can do so easily; that part is almost identical.
2) You can edit anything that exists, and that includes HTML, php, and CSS.
3) You purchased the domain name for a period of time; that means it’s yours to do with as you wish. You may continue to have it pointed to your WP.com blog, or you may point it to your new .org blog in accordance with the instructions in the Support documents. Domain names and hosting are two separate issues.
Yes, if you are not going to be hosted on WordPress.com, you will need a blog host, and I suggest nearly anyone EXCEPT GoDaddy. They’re awful.
4) Realize that if you leave WP.com, you have left behind the community. You’re gone from the tag pages for good, for instance. But if you install the Jetpack plugin, staff here can transfer your existing blog followers to the new one.
5) Both. When you have a custom domain and mapping on a WP.com blog, you have two URLs. WP.org blogs can have as many as you want to pay for.
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Great – a couple more questions (of course!)
1. RE#2 Answer: When you say you can edit anything that EXISTS re: HTML, CSS, PHP – does that mean if it already exists in the theme or whatever area you work on? Meaning some things may have HTML, some CSS or PHP so you can edit whatever is there (remember I know nothing about this stuff, but my dad does and I am passing answers to him).
2. If we change to .ORG, while we work on our blog to refine it, will the .COM blog stay live or when we switch to .ORG does the .COM Blog go down. Just trying to determine if we can create a new blog while the other one stays active and then replace it. I understood that you said we could use Jetpack to re-direct at a later time so I am thinking the answer is yes.
3. Thanks for the Go Daddy info. If we make the switch to .ORG, we will use one of the hosts you guys reccommend on your site.
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1. Yes, you have access to every single file that is WordPress and your theme. I would suggest your dad go to WordPress.org and download a copy of WordPress to take a look.
When you do, open WordPress and look in the folder wp-content > themes > twentytwelve. Twenty Twelve is the default theme and has everything you need right out of the box. There you see all the files that you can edit.
Also take a look at the getting started documentation on WordPress.org. The documentation is very good on WordPress.org.
2. Your WordPress.com blog is separate from your WordPress.org blog. You essentially will have two blogs. You can export what you have on .com and import into your selfhosted blog. Import/Export is in Tools when you are in the dashboard.
Good luck!
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Great – my dad will do so! He had already made some changes that have really helped from the info you have given us. We are almost there, but a couple more questions:
1. We are now using the “Forever” theme and working in wordpress.com. We found another that is using the same “Forever” theme and a feature we like very much, but can’t seem to find how to do it. There is a dashed line “box” that a recipe has been put into that includes a pint icon. We want to the same thing – put a recipe in this dashed/dotted line box with the print icon so clients can easily print it out. My dad can’t find how to do this and is wondering whether it is a plug in of some kind or if he just hasn’t found the feature to do so. He could create it with code, but then when I want to do one on my own (I don’t know anything about code – I have to use the most simple “visual” editor) I won’t be able to do it without his help every time. Can you also tell us if this was done in wordpress.com or wordpress.org as I think if it IS a plug in, it would have to be done through .ORG as plug ins don’t work in .COM? Below is the link to the blog I am talking about that is using the same “Forever” template so you can see EXACTLY what I am talking about:
http://theharvestfoodblog.com/rhubarb-jam/
2. Another feature we liked on a different blog is the posting dates that are in black circles. Again my dad could code this, but he suspects it is some sort of plug in, etc. Now this is on a different template we are not using. Questions are: How is this done? Can he do this easily on our “Forever” theme? Below is the link to the blog that has the posting dates in the black circles so you can see them:
Thanks so much for your help – you guys have been amazing with all your answers and how quickly you respond!
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Are you asking about making these changes to your WordPress.com blog? Because I’m not sure if you’re committed to staying here or leaving and there’s no point answering for one if you’re just going to move to the other in a week.
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I totally understand. We truly would like to remain with WordPress.COM and not make the switch to .ORG if possible. As I said, we are almsot there with what we have done in .COM – if we are able to do the recipes in the dashed box with the print option we are pretty much done. The “black circles” would be a great option if we could add those too. Again, we prefer to just remain with wordpress.com, make these changes and call it a day. I understand that you answer lots of questions and .ORG has a different forum for support so if our plan is just to leave, you’ve spent time just helping us do so. We want to stay with .com! Thanks SO much for all your answers- you guys have been great!
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I suggest you make a new post in the CSS forum then. There are few volunteers who know CSS editing, and it’s possible those questions have already been answered in that forum, so take a look.
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You can’t even tell me how the dashed box works? Forget the back circles – can you PLEASE just help me with that?
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You indicated you would answer these questions if we intended to stay – which we do. Please help.
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I have no idea how to modify CSS. Do what I told you and make a post in the CSS forum, where people who know how to modify CSS will answer.
In the seven years I’ve been here I have never once indicated I would answer a CSS question, because I don’t know CSS. Go ask the people who DO know.
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I have no experience with CSS or any other coding which I have clearly stated. By your response above the “Because I’m not sure if you’re committed to staying here or leaving and there’s no point answering for one if you’re just going to move to the other in a week” – indicated that you would answer if we were committed to staying and you would not answer if we weren’t (and it bit odd if you ask me). We ARE and actually found that answer a bit off putting to begin with. I’ll document the response you gave us and take up the issue with someone else. Thanks.
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