If this file was writable you could edit it.

  • Hi,

    I’ve set up WP on a few domains and never had problems. On the latest domain when I go to make changes to the sidebar or header, etc I see “If this file was writable you could edit it” and there is no Update button.

    What is wrong? and how do I fix this?

    Thanks for your help

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
  • Moderator James Huff

    (@macmanx)

    Make sure that the file is set to either 664 or 666.

    Thread Starter mikeherman

    (@mikeherman)

    All the files are 644, should I change all the files or just the presentation files.

    And if so which ones are the presentation files?

    Change them to 666, and ensure the directory itself is set to 755

    Typically all the files inside each of the /themes/theme-name directories would be chmod to 666

    Thread Starter mikeherman

    (@mikeherman)

    all the folders and the contents within the folders is 755, all the wp-xxx files are 666 and I still have the “If this file was writable you could edit it”.

    Ironically when I look at the other domain where everything is fine, it is as it was when installed, files 755 and wp-xxxx files 644.

    I even tried uninstalling WP and reinstalling. But it didn’t help.

    Any ideas?

    Since you want to edit only the theme files, chmod only those: as you said in the original post – sidebar, header etc. No need to chmod any other wp-xxxx files.

    Thread Starter mikeherman

    (@mikeherman)

    Moshu,

    Thanks that did the trick.

    Isn’t a 666 dangerous, since it allows public write access? Doing the 666 on the style.css worked for me too. But I’m concerned that it’s asking for trouble.

    Thanks

    Yes, it is. Edit on your computer and upload the edited files. Trouble avoided.

    Thanks, that’s what I thought. ??

    Warning: fopen(C:\Sites\Single21\yf17b1b19\webroot\blog/wp-content/themes/default/style.css): failed to open stream: Permission denied in C:\Sites\Single21\yf17b1b19\webroot\blog\wp-admin\theme-editor.php on line 55

    Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in C:\Sites\Single21\yf17b1b19\webroot\blog\wp-admin\theme-editor.php on line 56

    Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in C:\Sites\Single21\yf17b1b19\webroot\blog\wp-admin\theme-editor.php on line 57

    Warning: Cannot modify header information – headers already sent by (output started at C:\Sites\Single21\yf17b1b19\webroot\blog\wp-admin\theme-editor.php:55) in C:\Sites\Single21\yf17b1b19\webroot\blog\wp-admin\theme-editor.php on line 58

    what does that mean? I get that after editing css and it doesnt make any changes to my design.

    Bit late on this thread but its something I need to know myself.

    If I copy and paste the CSS text into notepad and edit it, I don’t need to change the file permissions?

    Well, I don’t know if I understand it correctly.
    If you meant: copying from the online editor into notepad and then copying back – that would require the same changed permission in order to be able to SAVE the modified version.

    Instead, I’d suggest: open the file on your computer (you must have a copy, since you uploaded the theme from your computer), make a back-up copy and start editing. When you are done, FTP your new version to the site.

    Thanks Moshu. Just looking for a way to do it without having to change that CHMOD stuff each time I want to make a change.
    If that is not possible, then I will do it as suggested and keep changing it.

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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