How to design templates

  • I just installed WordPress and would like to create a template, but don’t know where to start. I have a solid grasp of web design and HTML, but know absolutely nothing about CSSs and WP templates. I have a prototype of the design I would like completed in HTML (a “prototype”, if you will)–what would I have to change to make it a WP template?
    Is there a site that spells out in ridiculously easy terms how to create a WP template?
    Obviously I can’t just paste WP tags into my HTML. How do I get tags to display what they’re supposed to?
    What role does the CSS play?
    I apologize if this seems rudimentary. Thanks in advance for your help.
    Doug

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

  • You can start with searching the Wiki. There is a whole bunch of WP css and index.php related info in there!
    https://wiki.www.ads-software.com

    CSS controls almost all of the design part of the WP template, you can learn CSS here: https://www.w3schools.com/css/

    Here are some free CSS resources from Community MX that are listed on my site.
    Also you can visit this annotated wp-layout.css file on my site as well.
    Can’t forget Podz’s most excellent CSS Demo for the more adventurous student, and his guides as well.

    I would reccomend to scrap the entire index.php and start over using only the php functions. It makes life easy. Basically, make your design then wrastle with WP until you make it work. Spend a few hours with the program looking at the code and how it works. There are a few loops you need to be aware of, and a few different ways functions act, but overall it’s pretty simple.
    Also if you don’t know how CSS is structure, I highly reccomend you check it out – I wouldn’t say anyone has a grasp on web design unless they have a firm grasp for CSS.

    I learned CSS looking at other people’s sources, figuring out how things worked.
    It’s not hard, you can pin it down in just over a week, if that.
    Orient yourself with WordPress’s templating engine, then, as Brak said, scrap index.php and create a new file with the desired functions.
    It takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s actually quite simple after awhile.

    https://www.ads-software.com/support/5/8170

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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