There is some room for misunderstandings in your post.
If you would like to change your selfhosted blog to look like the purchhases theme this is what you do.
1. Use FTP to make a backup of your site before you start.
2. backup your database [e.g. plugin WordPress Database backup by Austin Matzko]
3. use FTP to copy the purchased theme to ../wp-content/themes
4. check Dashboard > Appearance > Themes
– your new theme should be visible
– activate the new theme
5. Should you wish to change this theme, use a childtheme [see helpfiles]
6. install and activate plugin ‘One Click Child Theme’
7. When the desired theme is active, Dashboard > Appearance > Childtheme, to create a childtheme.
– Fill out the fields to create te new childtheme and activate.
Now make all changes to the childtheme. Should the original theme be updated by the makers, your changes will remain; Whereas your changes would be lost when made in the original theme.
ok, I see what you mean, I was not very clear! I apologize.
I have an existing self-built website that has a menu link to a WP blog (which has been up for several years and has it’s own theme).
What I want to do is build an entirely new website (using WP and a new theme). I want to keep all my existing blog entries, photos, etc. from my WP blog database.
I am just not quite sure how to do this?
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks again and sorry for the confusion ; )
It appears what you want is a new look for an existing site… If that is the case,do the following:
1. find a theme that has the LAYOUT and features you require. [Don’t worry about colorschemes]
2. Check the theme is used by a large group of users and is updated regularly
Once you have found such a theme…
3. Make a backup of your [old] site [using ftp]
4. make a backup of your database
== == ==
5. upload the new theme [first unzip if needed] into ../wp-content/themes
6. open the dashboard > appearance > themes
Check if the new theme is visible
7. activate the new theme
Check if the new theme meets your needs. Don’t worry you can easily change colors and such.
8. create a child theme
8a. install plugin ‘one click childtheme’ and activate
8b. Dashboard>appearance>childtheme
Fill out the fields to create a child theme based on the newly installed theme. This protects your alterations, should the maker of your theme updat the original theme.
9. Make the changes to your site in the style.css etc. of your child theme directory
