Where is the very beginning of theme processing?

  • Unknown's avatar
    astroham46 · Member ·

    Where is the beginning of this process? I want to replace an existing HTML website with a new one. I looked at the topics for themes and I don’t understand what much of the terminology is saying. I didn’t even know there was a theme showcase. Where do I start? How do I get a theme on my desktop? How do I change it?
    what software do I use to edit the theme? Do I modify the theme on my desktop and then upload it to a server or is it edited and posted in some other manner?

  • staff-happychia · Staff ·

    Here is the theme showcase: http://theme.wordpress.com/ which can also be accessed from your WordPress.com Dashboard > Appearance > Themes.

    Where do I start?

    Here: http://en.support.wordpress.com/themes/

    How do I get a theme on my desktop? How do I change it?
    what software do I use to edit the theme? Do I modify the theme on my desktop and then upload it to a server or is it edited and posted in some other manner?

    You can’t do any of these things on WordPress.com. You can edit themes only for your self-hosted WordPress.org based site/blog.

    In case you are unaware, please read the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

    If your theme related question is for WordPress.org, then https://wordpress.org/support/forum/themes-and-templates is where you should ask your further questions.

  • Unknown's avatar
    astroham46 · Member ·

    I obviously over-stated my situation because I don’t know what a dashboard is or what tools I should be using. I was hoping to create a new website to replace an existing one written in all HTML for our HAM radio club. My experience should say that I have the computer turned on and the Windows 7 Pro desktop open in front of me.
    What website do I access?
    What files do I need to download?
    What do I do with those files?
    Based on your response, how am I supposed to use a theme?
    Is there a difference between a theme and a template?
    How are they used?
    wordpress.org? Never heard of it until this reply.
    I read the differences and wordpress.com is what I want.

  • senff · Staff ·

    What website do I access?

    Start at https://wordpress.com/ to create a new site.

    What files do I need to download?
    What do I do with those files?

    With a WordPress.com site, you don’t actually download files — everything will be located on the WordPress server.
    If you want to do everything on your own desktop, or your own server, that’s when you’d have to create everything yourself using software from http://wordpress.org. This is a lot more work but will give you full control over the code of your website.

    Based on your response, how am I supposed to use a theme?

    Once your site is up and running, you log in to the dashboard of your site (which will be at some place like http://mynewsite.wordpress.com) and that’s where you can change your theme (= the look of your site) under Appearance > Themes.

    Is there a difference between a theme and a template?

    A theme is a group of files that make up the look and functionality of your site. A theme uses templates to “build” the pages.

    How are they used?

    That will require a very, very long answer… It’s a very complex system.

    If you still think WordPress.com is the way to go (and not hosting it yourself), I suggest you start reading all the basics here: http://en.support.wordpress.com/

    It may seem a little overwhelming but once you get started, it will all make sense.

  • The topic ‘Where is the very beginning of theme processing?’ is closed to new replies.