php files

• 

  glsireland · Member · Aug 9, 2012 at 2:33 pm

  • Copy link
  • Add topic to favorites

  Hi there,

  I’m new to website development on wordpress. I’m looking to customise a theme to look like a website rather than a blog (twenty eleven). I’ve been reading forums about how to to edit various php files (e.g. header.php or single.php). The trouble is, I don’t know how to access those files – I’ve tried http://<**my blog name**>.wordpress.com/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/header.php etc.

  Can someone advise how to access the php files?

  Much appreciated,
  Gavin
  Blog url: http://glsireland.wordpress.com/

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

• 

  auxclass · Member · Aug 9, 2012 at 2:37 pm

  • Copy link

  Can someone advise how to access the php files?

  you can’t – security reasons – we all use common files – your changes could show up on my site if I use the same theme – so please keep your fingers off my theme

• 

  auxclass · Member · Aug 9, 2012 at 2:46 pm

  • Copy link

  For more on the difference: http://support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/

• 

  glsireland · Member · Aug 9, 2012 at 2:53 pm

  • Copy link

  Thanks @auxclass (I think!)

  As I say, new to it, but from what you say, if I want to customise beyond what options are available on a .com theme, I should go down the .org route.

  Ten four

• 

  auxclass · Member · Aug 9, 2012 at 3:12 pm

  • Copy link

  If you want to work with the php files then yes you need to do a WordPress.ORG install – then you can change away to the point of crashing your site

  you can install WordPress.ORG on your PC if you don’t want to pay for a host – but if you need help it can be difficult to get help at WordPress.ORG as many times they need to see your site and code