Help with Child Theme

  • When I created my website in 2020, I used the Rookie theme, and made customizations to it. I didn’t use a child theme, but probably should have.

    Now, as the Rookie theme is updated, I can’t update my theme properly, because WordPress will only do updates to their own themes.

    Trying to figure out if there is a way to go back – without disrupting my site for longer than a day, let’s say – and fix this? My thinking is, go back to the original Rookie theme temporarily, then generate a child theme and make the changes there.

    Does anyone have any suggestions for this? Is there a better way? I should point out, my knowledge is fairly basic… “I know enough to be dangerous” ??

    Mike

    The page I need help with: [log in to see the link]

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

  • Now, as the Rookie theme is updated, I can’t update my theme properly, because WordPress will only do updates to their own themes.

    What do you mean with the above. What updates you cannot do with Rookie?

    If you use a 3nd party plugin to create your child theme like https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/child-theme-configurator/ then most (if not all) your current changes will migrated to child theme and will be safe from future theme updates.

    Thanks, Savvas

    Thread Starter mpavlichko

    (@mpavlichko)

    Savvas

    I never made a child theme to begin with. I had changed the original Rookie Theme. Then I made that “my own” theme and am using that. It’s as if I copied and pasted the original and just used he copied version. So my version, while based on Rookie, is not set up as a child theme.

    So, when WordPress does updates to the original Rookie theme, it doesn’t do them to mine.

    Mike

    Savvas

    (@savvasha)

    Hi @mpavlichko ,

    Now, as the Rookie theme is updated, I can’t update my theme properly, because WordPress will only do updates to their own themes.

    What do you mean with the above. What updates you cannot do with Rookie?

    Thanks,
    Savvas

    Thread Starter mpavlichko

    (@mpavlichko)

    Savvas

    Here’s how I did the site, which was a mistake from the beginning:

    • I initially used the Rookie theme. (All good there)
    • I made color and style changes to the Rookie theme. I did not use a child theme, which I should have.
    • I then saved Rookie (with changes) as my OWN theme, with me as the publisher, which WordPress will not update because it is technically NOT a WordPress theme anymore. It’s technically my own, custom there. And if updates were made, it would wipe out any customizations I made.

    Now, WordPress is switching to php 8.1, and my site won’t work with 8.1 because MY theme has not been automatically updated, because it’s not a WordPress theme. It’s 99% based on one, but it’s technically not.

    So, I’m trying to find a way – without manually going through all the code and changes – to set MY theme up as an actual child theme to Rookie to avoid issues in the future.

    Mike

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.