Using a template

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  moymoyzai · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:32 pm

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  When I try to use a template obtained elsewhere from the net for example it doesn’t work. Even when I select the ‘start from scratch’ option, my blog still appears as a cross between the previous template I had used and the new one I am trying to install. It all just looks a mess really! Can anyone help me with this? Thanks.

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

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  vivianpaige · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:37 pm

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  You cannot use templates from other sites here. You can only modify the themes that are in your dashboard.

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  moymoyzai · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:43 pm

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  Thanks for the reply. I thought that we could write our own CSS templates and use those? This is what I intend to do in the future but was wanting to try some of the other WordPress templates available on the internet to see how they work etc as I am still learning CSS msyelf.

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  vivianpaige · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:48 pm

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  You can write your own CSS but remember that CSS is about styling and not about changing the underlying functionality of the blog, which is contained in files that we do not have access to. The most flexible theme you can use here is Sandbox, which is in your dashboard. It is basically a blank canvas.

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  moymoyzai · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:52 pm

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  Yes it is only the style of my blog that I am wanting to change. I am just a bit confused because there are clearly wordpress CSS templates available on the net that others are able to use successfully whereas I don’t seem to be able to.

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  justjennifer · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:55 pm

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  Here’s a couple of things you might be interested in reading:
  http://support.wordpress.com/themes/editing-themes/
  http://support.wordpress.com/editing-css/

  You could sign up for a test blog using the Sandbox-10 theme. You still can’t access the underlying PHP or HTML, but as far as the CSS goes, the sky is the limit.

  http://www.sndbx.org/

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  vivianpaige · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:57 pm

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  Please spend a little time searching the forums. There is a difference between wordpress.ORG (which is what you see themes for) and wordpress.COM. (A big sticky at the top of the forums explains the difference.) No one here at wordpress.COM can use the themes you see on the net (except those in the quite expensive VIP program).

  Almost all of the themes on the net, as I said before, require access to files that we do not have here.

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  justjennifer · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:57 pm

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  @moymoyzai-We can’t use those external templates. Those are meant for self-hosted blogs running the standalone version of WordPress software.

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  justjennifer · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 7:58 pm

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  /waving at vivianpaige

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  moymoyzai · Member · Mar 1, 2009 at 9:12 pm

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  I see, thanks, that makes things much clearer. I knew there was a difference between .com and .org but I think the ‘start from scratch’ option threw me off as I thought it meant we can upload templates from scratch. Will check out the links justjennifer thank you.