Title: Editing code in a child theme
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Editing code in a child theme

 *  Resolved [Gloria333](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gloria333/)
 * (@gloria333)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/editing-code-in-a-child-theme/)
 * (almost)brand new to WordPress. I tried to change the color background on my 
   site to a color #000066. Went into the code (and I am scared to death to mess
   around with code since I don’t know what I am doing) and changed the color in
   what I thought was the right spot. Patted myself on the back, published, and….
   no change at all. Tried to figure out why but could not. That was yesterday afternoon.
   This morning when I look at my site, the color has changed to what I selected.
   Question…do changes like this normally take a while?
 * Also, looking at it today I think I actually changed the code for the parent 
   theme (twenty twelve). I am using a child theme based on twenty twelve. I don’t
   know how to access the code for the child theme that I am using. Any suggestions?
 * Here is my temporary site: [http://thecatho.w13.wh-2.com/wordpress/](http://thecatho.w13.wh-2.com/wordpress/)
 * sorry for the long drawn-out question…still learning all this stuff!

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/editing-code-in-a-child-theme/#post-3696991)
 * > do changes like this normally take a while?
 * No. A CSS change should take effect immediately. But do remember to press CTRL
   and F5 simultaneously when viewing an updated page/site. Or try emptying your
   browser cache. This should ensure that your web browser fetches a fresh copy 
   of the page rather than serving up an out-dated copy from your own cache. Also
   disable/deactivate any caching plugin(s).
 * > I think I actually changed the code for the parent theme (twenty twelve).
 * From what I can see, you changed the color code via Appearance -> Background –
   which is exactly the right way to do this kind of change.
 *  Thread Starter [Gloria333](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gloria333/)
 * (@gloria333)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/editing-code-in-a-child-theme/#post-3696995)
 * Thanks esmi.
 * I will remember the CTRL+F5 next time. Can you tell me how I might change the
   font on the right where is shows previous posts? I would like it more noticeable–
   either bold or black font color–but I don’t see a way to edit that.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/editing-code-in-a-child-theme/#post-3697000)
 * You’d need to add the relevant CSS to `.widget-area .widget h3` in your child
   theme’s CSS. I’d suggest that you try using Firefox with the [Firebug add-on](http://getfirebug.com/)
   for this kind of CSS troubleshooting. Or use whatever developer tool is available
   in your web browser.
 *  Thread Starter [Gloria333](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gloria333/)
 * (@gloria333)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/editing-code-in-a-child-theme/#post-3697009)
 * Thanks. I don’t know css and so will just leave it alone for now. I hope to get
   comfortable enough with WordPress so that I can have my main site at [http://www.thecatholictravelguide.com](http://www.thecatholictravelguide.com)
   on WordPress also. Right now it is with Intuit and I did not feel confident enough
   to try to design it with WordPress. I did buy Headway Themes but have not tried
   to learn it yet.
 *  [WPyogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpyogi/)
 * (@wpyogi)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/editing-code-in-a-child-theme/#post-3697292)
 * Firebug is the best tool for working with CSS – it will show you the parent CSS–
   you can then copy that to your child theme and make the change you want there.
   There is also lots of useful info on the Firebug site.
 * This is another good reference site for CSS:
 * [http://www.w3schools.com/w3c/w3c_css.asp](http://www.w3schools.com/w3c/w3c_css.asp)

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Editing code in a child theme’ is closed to new replies.

 * 5 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [WPyogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wpyogi/)
 * Last activity: [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/editing-code-in-a-child-theme/#post-3697292)
 * Status: resolved

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