Basic Explanation of Admin Dashboard Editor

  • internationaleclaire

    (@internationaleclaire)


    10 years, 7 months ago

    Hi All,

    I am very very new at managing my own blog. I have a wordpress.org website that is hosted with BlueHost (I’m not even sure if I used accurate description there…).

    I’m trying to make customizations to my blog, particularly header images, font, post order, etc. What I don’t understand is where/ how to do this.

    I’m looking for answers to some basic questions.
    – Do I need to download something or install wordpress on my computer?
    – Do I need an FTP? What is an FTP? Why can’t I just make changes from WordPress Admin> Appearance> Editor?
    – What is a function php? What is the difference between that and css?
    -When I go to WordPress Admin>Appearance>Editor> I am automatically taken to my child theme. This is where I usually copy/paste code. Is this correct? Is this the correct place?

    I used a plug-in to create a child theme. I now login into to my blog (www.myblog.com/admin), click on “Appearance” and click on “Editor”. Then I copy/paste code from other websites and forums to make the change I’m looking for. I have successfully made some changes (font color) but not others (changing the post order of category archives).

    I’d appreciate any and all help or guidance, or a point in the direction towards a basic explanation of all these options and files and functions and so on…

    Thank you!

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • ronangelo

    (@ronangelo)

    10 years, 7 months ago

    – Do I need to download something or install wordpress on my computer?

    No.

    – Do I need an FTP? What is an FTP? Why can’t I just make changes from WordPress Admin> Appearance> Editor?

    Not necessarily but FTP access could be really helpful in a lot of cases. FTP is used to manipulate(upload, delete, rename) files without going through WordPress itself. Example: while editing php on your theme, if something goes wrong and you can’t access WordPress. With FTP you can locate the file you were editing then correct the mistake or upload a fresh copy.

    – What is a function php? What is the difference between that and css?

    style.css contains css codes that dictate the appearance of your theme like colors, backgrounds, borders… functions.php handles functionality. If you want to change the way the theme works then you can modify the php codes on the functions.php. It can also be used to change the theme’s appearance like style.css

    -When I go to WordPress Admin>Appearance>Editor> I am automatically taken to my child theme. This is where I usually copy/paste code. Is this correct? Is this the correct place?

    Yes.

    I have successfully made some changes (font color) but not others (changing the post order of category archives).

    Since the change you want is about functionality and not necessarily about design then this is where functions.php would be useful.

    Thread Starter internationaleclaire

    (@internationaleclaire)

    10 years, 7 months ago

    Thank you for your response! I appreciate your time.

    When I go to Appearance>Editor I am automatically in my Child Theme style sheet. I do not have the option to access the function.php.

    I can access the function.php of the parent theme. I thought, based on recent research, that it was not a good idea to edit parent theme files (in case I mess something up or in case the theme gets updated). Therefore, is it true that I shouldn’t edit the parent theme function.php file? If I shouldn’t edit it, how can I create a function.php under the child theme?

    Thanks again!

    ronangelo

    (@ronangelo)

    10 years, 7 months ago

    When I go to Appearance>Editor I am automatically in my Child Theme style sheet. I do not have the option to access the function.php.

    You probably don’t have a functions.php file on your child theme’s folder.
    Where did you get the child theme?
    You can add a functions.php file by deleting the old child theme and uploading a new one.
    OR you can just upload an empty functions.php file this is where FTP becomes useful.

    Thread Starter internationaleclaire

    (@internationaleclaire)

    10 years, 7 months ago

    Hmm, okay, thank you. I think I’m getting it. I used a plug-in to create my child theme because I couldn’t figure out how to create the child theme without an FTP.

    Once again, thank you, you’ve cleared up a lot for me.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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