Title: Theme Editing Last modified: August 18, 2016 --- # Theme Editing * [chifu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chifu/) * (@chifu) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/) * I am using the Michael Heilemann theme and would like to make a few edits to my blog. I would for instance want to add my google tower to the side bar but at the bottom of the theme it says:If this file were writable you could edit it. What can I do to successfully edit my blog? Can somebody please help me? Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 31 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/page/2/?output_format=md) [3](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/page/3/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/page/2/?output_format=md) * [PozHonks](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pozhonks/) * (@pozhonks) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503548) * A link to your website please. It will help us a lot to exactly figure out what’s happening. * [msadventures](https://wordpress.org/support/users/msadventures/) * (@msadventures) * [19 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503551) * If you want to edit the blog theme, open the files on your computer using Notepad or Dreamweaver, edit them there, then upload the edited pages into the appropriate theme folder. * [Godsgirl](https://wordpress.org/support/users/godsgirl/) * (@godsgirl) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503801) * I am using the Purple-40 theme from Home Loans and I want to remove the google ads or adsense portion of the theme. How and where do I do this? * [moshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/moshu/) * (@moshu) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503802) * It is exactly as it says in the post above yours: Open the template files of the theme on your computer, edit them and upload via ftp. * [Godsgirl](https://wordpress.org/support/users/godsgirl/) * (@godsgirl) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503803) * ok my question is, can I remove them all together. My site is a non-profit site, I do not want ads at all. * [Godsgirl](https://wordpress.org/support/users/godsgirl/) * (@godsgirl) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503804) * One more qustion. Can I use Front Page to edit the theme? * [moshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/moshu/) * (@moshu) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503805) * Depending on the theme’s license (if it has any) or readme. * Normally, with themes released under GPL – you can do whatever you want. * [moshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/moshu/) * (@moshu) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503806) * NO!!! Never use frontpage to touch any of the WP files! * [moshu](https://wordpress.org/support/users/moshu/) * (@moshu) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503807) * This is what you should use: [http://codex.wordpress.org/Glossary#Text_editor](http://codex.wordpress.org/Glossary#Text_editor) * [Godsgirl](https://wordpress.org/support/users/godsgirl/) * (@godsgirl) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503808) * Ok so now when your done YELLING about what not to do, I still am not sure how to edit the page. * I probably COULD do whatever want, but I still not sure how. * [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/) * (@whooami) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503809) * you can do whatever you want, sure. But then you will be right back here asking for advice about to fix the problem caused by your actions. * Good Advice is even better when you take it. * Dont use Frontpage for editing wordpress files. Dont use Dreamweaver for editing wordpress files. * What is unclear about what you need to use to edit a theme file? * The link Moshu provided explains what a plain text editor is, as well as providing links to a more than a few of them. * Plain old notepad IS a plain text editor. * Use that. * [Godsgirl](https://wordpress.org/support/users/godsgirl/) * (@godsgirl) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503810) * Well, as I have said SEVERAL times now, I have no idea what to do when I get to what ever plain text editor!! * I am brand new at this. I was sold on the idea the WordPress is so SIMPLE. Well it might be if one has a degree in HTML, but I just barely know what HTML is. * To tell me to “go to wordpad and make changes” is like giving a 4 year old the keys to your car and telling them to go get a bottle of milk!! It might be good advice, but not really helpful. * Obviously, WordPress is not for me and the support is non-existent. Oh and yes I have read all of the tutorials. * I give up. * [Root](https://wordpress.org/support/users/root/) * (@root) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503811) * Ok. Some basics. WordPress and its themes are made up of very simple text files. They are written in plain text. That means you can find them, open them, and change them. To do such a thing you need a text editor which is a program or application. Specifically you need a text editor which is fit for purpose. Notepad ++ is good. Next up figure out where the files are (go and have a good look). Now start to identify the files you need (commonly style.css). Now start to edit it. * [Dgold](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dgold/) * (@dgold) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503812) * There isn’t really a visual editor for WP themes (although some Themes you can get have Options pages that makes it more like that). * *If* you really want to change parts of the templates, you do have to learn to read the code in the text-files. It actually isn’t hard to start learning if you just read the text file, while looking at your webpage display, to see what’s going where. A lot of the code has almost-English in it that you can read. * For example you’re looking for the Google adsense in the code, well, it is the section of code that has the word “adsense” or “google” with a bunch of blah- blah-blah around it. * Before you make any changes, keep a back-up of whatever you’re editing. Now you can find the block of code about “google” and delete it, save it (FTP), and re- load your page after this 1 change. If it worked, you’re good. If not, try again, or ask a specific question here. * HOWEVER… If you are totally uncomfortable looking at the code, you can easily use simple good-old WordPress, because of these features: * (1) Themes. Just go choose a theme that is what you want, no modifications. There are 100’s * (2) Widgets. Tons of themes work with Widgets which gives you the way to arrange your sidebar with any content you want, and remove anything you don’t want, anytime. * Good luck getting started! It’s not too hard to get what you want if you’re patient and figure things out! * [whooami](https://wordpress.org/support/users/whooami/) * (@whooami) * [18 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/#post-503813) * _I am using the Purple-40 theme_ * How does one upload a theme without noticing the files? * — * Completely off topic: * I will be forever amazed by people that upload things to their website without ever looking at what theyre uploading. * There is a fundamental flaw in that behavior. Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 31 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/page/2/?output_format=md) [3](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/page/3/?output_format=md) [→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ‘Theme Editing’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [editing](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/editing/) * [writable](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/writable/) * 31 replies * 11 participants * Last reply from: [A2JC4life](https://wordpress.org/support/users/a2jc4life/) * Last activity: [18 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-editing-2/page/3/#post-503836) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics