IE 8 responsive design

Sorry, it’s a bug with IE8.

Is there any way to ensure that IE 8 displays the standard site design?

Sure, some CSS modifications should resolve that. Probably need to create an entirely new stylesheet just for IE8 and manually write the desktop styles.

See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5769493/ie8-support-for-css-media-query
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Child_Themes

Okay, thanks! Unfortunately that fix would be well beyond my abilities. Should I be concerned about many other browsers doing this or is it specific to IE8? I’ve tried to use browsershots.org to check for myself but I’m being blocked. Thanks!

Should I be concerned about many other browsers doing this or is it specific to IE8

It seems Media Queries do not work in:
IE 9-,
Firefox 1+ (up to and not including the new versions),
Safari 2,
Opera 7-

https://code.google.com/p/css3-mediaqueries-js/
That link also shows a JavaScript library that you could adopt to resolve the issue, but note that it doesn’t work with @import styles.

Sorry, I don’t think there is a plugin that fixes Media Queries for you.

I recommend finding a theme that does not incorporate a mobile or responsive version.

Wow, what a nightmare! I guess I will have to change themes (why would anyone use media queries if they won’t work for so many viewers when IE still has such a chunk of marketshare?), but that’s such a shame!! I really like the Path theme otherwise.

I don’t even know where to look to find whether or not @import styles are being used. I searched through the Path stylesheet and don’t see “@import” used anywhere. But the stylesheet is optimized so I’m not actually able to read it, and I don’t know what else to be looking for.

I’m using a different responsive theme for another site that looks fine in IE8, but I guess I just got lucky with that!

Thanks for the info!

why would anyone use media queries if they won’t work for so many viewers when IE still has such a chunk of marketshare?

Some organisations don’t even aim to reach the users of old browser versions anyway, because they’re out of their demographic. It matters not if the website cannot be viewed by them.

Okay, thanks. I want to be able to reach everyone. I’ve been trying for hours to put in a fix using some of the suggestions you mentioned, but nothing is working and I don’t know enough about this stuff to see how to straighten it out.

I’d love to put in a request to the creator of the theme to ask if perhaps there would be a way to address this (by including an IE stylesheet?] in a future update. Many thanks!

Link to your site and I show you what to do. Path works just fine with IE8 also but if you’re using child theme there is one little trick you should do.

Thank you so much! Yes I just this moment realized that the fact that I am using a child theme seems to be causing the problem — that’s where the “@import” must be causing havoc. My site (not yet ready for launch) is here: https://www.startaskingquestions.com/. Thanks again — I really like Path and want to stick with it!!

You should remove @import rule and copy all styles from parent theme style.css to child theme style.css.

@import rule doesn’t work with respond.js and that’s the tool that enables media queries in legacy browsers like IE8.

Ah okay! Thank you again!! Now it is looking great in IE 8 — I really appreciate your help!

But, one thing. I’m now getting this error message in my Path Child editor in WordPress:

“This theme is broken. Template is missing.”

I can’t see a visible problem with the site. Is there something else I have to do to the child theme stylesheet to fix this?

Thanks again!

Well that’s because you are missing that Template:) Child theme style.css header should look something like this.

/**
 * Theme Name: Path Child
 * Theme URI: https://foxnet.fi
 * Description: A child theme of Path parent theme.
 * Version: 0.1
 * Author: Sami Keijonen
 * Author URI: https://foxnet.fi
 * Tags: post-formats, sticky-post, theme-options, threaded-comments, translation-ready, one-column, two-columns, three-columns, flexible-width, left-sidebar, right-sidebar, custom-background, custom-header, featured-images, editor-style, red, white, light
 * License: GNU General Public License v2.0
 * License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 * Template: path
 */

You’re missing the most important line.

* Template: path

Fixed! I’m so thrilled. Thank you again!

This is an example of both the problem and the joy of wordpress — a novice can play around and get stuff mostly working, but also runs the risk of getting completely lost and confused! Having support like this is completely invaluable for someone like me. I am so grateful!

And thanks again for the great theme!

And this is nothing compared to official support of Path theme at Theme Hybrid.

https://themehybrid.com/support/forum/path

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This is an example of both the problem and the joy of wordpress — a novice can play around and get stuff mostly working, but also runs the risk of getting completely lost and confused! Having support like this is completely invaluable for someone like me. I am so grateful!

Double-ditto here. I was in the process of turning my Twenty Twelve Child Theme into a modified Twenty Twelve to get rid of that pesky @import line, then I found this thread with a much better way to proceed. Many thanks to you, emmawp, for asking the question, and especially to you, Sami Keijonen, for such a fine solution!

I’d like add couple of notes here.

1. For most people there is no reason to support IE8 anymore because they site don’t get traffic with that browser. Any many theme developers don’t support IE8 because it kinds of slow us down to create new stuff and better themes.

2. For future themes of mine there is not gonna be this @import problem because parent and child theme style.css is loaded automatically.