Installing the theme crashed my blog

Hi archaeis….first, thanks for the comment about Seasonal. However, you seem to be the first with that error, so I am wondering if something was conflicting with it or it had a bad install process (sometimes that can happen in WordPress). I used one of my test sites I have on my local computer and installed the theme Seasonal from within the Admin area, but was unable to replicate any errors.

What version of WordPress are you currently using?

If the theme is installed but not active, perhaps delete the theme, then try once more.

Thanks for the quick response. I have the most current version running. After I couldn’t get to any part of the site, I went into the hosting files and deleted the theme, and I’ve got it up again with my old theme.

I thought I would follow up before I call it a night here….you’ve set this topic as resolved, but I’m guessing you were still not successful with Seasonal?

I’m thinking if not, perhaps try a new install of WP somewhere like a sub domain or something and try Seasonal again on that one (with a clean install of WP).

Yes, I was unsuccessful with Seasonal. I don’t know what it was that caused the crash, but I also don’t want to deactivate everything to test what it was.

Earlier today I had someone who got my pro version also experience the exact same error. What is odd is that out of 1600 downloads, you and one other has experienced this issue, but no one else has as of today.

The error in reference to a core WordPress filter that I used to remove archive titles like:

Category:
Tags:
Author:
Archive:

etc….

So for example, in your blog, if you were to go to a category, by default, WP displays the page title as this:

Category: Healthy Eating

The filter I used removed the “Category:” part. The code I used is as far as I know is correct.

However, because two people have experienced an error, the hard part is to find out why only two. The theme was also reviewed and tested by the Review Team and passed without errors, so this is even more puzzling.

Today, I posted this issue to one of the support forums, so hopefully someone from WordPress core development will follow up with the reason and if there is a solution.

In your situation, there is a temporary fix, but it would mean removing that filter code from the theme. Doing so would add back the archive labels again.

I’m going to set this topic as not resolved, because technically it’s not resolved yet.

I had a similar problem as archeis trying to activate this theme today, except I didn’t get an error message – only a blank screen for both my admin page and my site as soon as it was activated. It was on a brand new WP install, and this is the only theme I’ve experienced this problem with – all others I’ve tried will activate fine.

Like archeis, I was only able to solve it by deleting the theme from my hosting files (but did not figure out how to successfully install the theme). Let me know if there’s any other info I can provide that would be useful in troubleshooting. Thanks!

@rainydayswithmandy….thanks for your input. So this makes 3 people now.

I’m going to assume the filter for the archive filters is not working 100% then. Still an odd issue to see happen because I’m able to install and activate the theme without problems, as well many others. What makes a few unique is definitely a curious thing that is happening.

So perhaps what I will have to do until the WordPress people get back to me about this filter, is to remove it and although the archive labels will be back in view, I will create them so they flow better with the archive names.

I will work on a new update version after I post this reply. Once done, I will follow up with this topic. Right now it’s 10:30pm, so I will try my best to do it before I call it a night, but more likely this will be done for tomorrow.

***Quick Note***

If you experience a blank screen or a screen with that error on it, you should be able to click the back button on your browser until you get back to the theme page. From there you can switch themes and then delete the Seasonal one.

Someone posted to my support question…do any of you know what version of PHP your host is using? Is it less than version 5.3 ?

Yes actually, it looks like mine is 5.2.17

@rainydayswithmandy….I think that is the problem. I was just reading up on this:
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/add_filter

Also this:

https://www.ads-software.com/about/requirements/

Absolute minimum is 5.2.4, but recommended is 5.4

@archaeis….what php version does your host use?

My host uses 5.5.21. So if your host is using an earlier version than what WordPress Recommends, then they need to consider catching up. As WordPress continues to develop, including themes and plugins, this could become a problem for some people.

So this could very well be the issue.

Ah, good to know. Bummer! Thanks for figuring this out. I’ll contact my host and see if there’s anything they can do.

EDIT: I was able to change my PHP version and can now activate the theme successfully! Thanks again!

@rainydayswithmandy….good to hear! So it turns out the issue is related to older PHP, which is why only a few had the problem. I was really puzzled by the mystery.