Hi Anne,
You say you can change simple code; Well changing an entire theme is just as easy or even a bit easier!
From the number of questions you have, it seems you have big plans with your site. To start with the most difficult one: Your site on mobile phones: If that is the goal, than you should find a theme that can do that well. [All themes do ‘the normal stuff’ well]
Why is displaying a website on a computerscreen AND a mobile phone so diffucult? Well it’s all about size and ability.
The PC has a big screen and a well known set of specs.
The phones have a very small screen and a variable set of specs.
So how to achieve both? and make them look good?!
To make a theme that displays a mobile version [usually not identical but similar] that is the challenge.
SOME themes do that well, AND are flexible in achieving the interface for the webmaster to adapt it to their wishes.
CHANGING THEMES
Changing themes does NOT affect the CONTENT of your site, such as texts, photo’s etc. It only changes the way your site LOOKS and its FUNCTIONALITY [what it can do].
- Open the Dashboard > Appearance > Themes
You’ll see a list of installed themes
- Click the Tab INSTALL THEMES
- search by keyword, of tick a number of boxes that show what you need n the new theme > click Find Themes
A list of results is shown.
- Check all results Click ‘details’ and see if your requirements are met
If it’s difficult to find what you’re looking for; Try changing the search criteria / keywords and see what it comes up with
- Have you found a number of ‘definite maybees?’
- Check out the following:
– does it have a large group of users?
– is it updated regularly and recently?
– does it have an active supportgroup?
The more ‘yes-es’ the better…
- Click: ‘install now’
- Testdrive the theme; Look around and see if it is as good as you hoped. If not? No problem.
- Delete a theme? Dashboard > Themes > re-activate the previous theme
- Then look for the undesired theme > delete.
- Start a new search for the right theme
Have you found the right theme? GREAT!
Install and activate it!
NOTE!!!
Now before you go and make it your own by changing and adapting it, MAKE a CHILDtheme!!!
- Don’t make any changes to a theme itself. Instead make the changes to a CHILDtheme. Should the author of your original theme update the theme, your changes will not be overwritten. Your site with your adaptations will remain intact.
(see: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Child_Themes )
- Suggestion: use the ‘one click childtheme plugin’ to create a childtheme. It does what it says, without the risk of syntax-errors.
- How? Dashboard > Plugins >add new >
search ‘one click child theme’ > locate and activate this plugin
- Then: Make sure you’ve activated your chosen new ‘parent’ theme
- Click Dashboard > Appearance > Childtheme
Follow the instructions i.e. give the childtheme a name.
- Check if the childtheme is activated! Click Dashboard > Appearance > Themes
Success!!
You can now safely make changes to your childtheme to make the site just the way you want it
- Make the changes in the CHILDtheme!
– copy php files / css-file(s) of the original theme [as required] to the childtheme directory and edit them as required.
Where to start?
- Start by setting up the ‘theme options’ [ some themes have many options for you to set and tweak, other themes have [very] few]
- make the rest of the changes by changing style.css and PHP-files in the childtheme
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Getting_Started_with_WordPress
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/CSS
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Finding_Your_CSS_Styles
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/FAQ_Troubleshooting