sgordon

I have this same issue – how did you fix it?

You have to edit the css file, and the js file.

They’re in the assets folder of the plugin. in that, you’ll find three folders. One has the CSS file, another images and PSDs to use as a guide to edit, and the third folder has a JS file to edit.

It’s actually really easy to edit… and by easy, I mean, showing me CSS and JS is like trying to pass me a note in cuneiform. Anyway, you’ll actually, just be ‘uncommenting’ things in the CSS. Its best if you just save whatever image you want to use as the same filename already being used by the plugin.

You shouldn’t have given up on it… it’s one of the better branding plugins.

If you’re overly curious about the solostream themes, maybe an email to them directly with links to where you’re finding them might be worth the time.

Well mods have lives as well. Most site moderators are people doing it out of kindness, or they may feel that this thread is a shining example for others.

Solostream may or may not know about it. I’m not overly familiar with the manner in which solostream behaves as a company (their monitoring or level of concern), and it stands to reason that if someone buys from them, they can easily look up and see if they have a legit copy of the theme prior to giving their professional level of help. Pirates can be smart, but do can developers. Like you, I’m sort of broke – but like I said – there’s enough free resources that have a robust support structure that about anything can be accomplished.

If you need further assistance in finding a theme, let me know and I’ll do what I can to help you determine what theme based on what I’m familiar with (for starters – what is the overall purpose of your blog? – finding a theme that fits this is far more important than finding one that has neat features)

As for ‘trust’, that’s earned. Whether or not you trust me is dependent upon your willingness to do so and if you’ve researched who I am (not that I’m important, but I can bee easily Googled)

Also, THEIR source uses something other than their own server to store and distribute – but most of what I find is not the latest point releases of the themes, so – going back to your original question – outside of the situation, yes on most themes you can add a custom header image, a custom BG image – for the most part you can completely re-skin any theme, you just have to know where in which files to alter. Generally look through your style sheet and then the header.php or index.php

Just as an aside – Christine, in the future it is sometimes helpful to read the “READ ME” files upon unzipping content. The themes contained in the links more or less indicate that they’re stolen.

There are a multitude of free and high quality themes out there. I’m using Arras as mine. The big difference between premium and free themes are the premium themes sometimes come with the PSD files, come with specific plug-ins that add to the functionality (and are already properly integrated for their point release), offer developer support, and sometimes have a regular update schedule (at least from what I’ve noticed).

Still, a growing number of free themes are starting to do the same – even premium themes will sometimes have a ‘lite’ version to give you something, but encourage purchasing them.

I’m not going to assume you knew you were in receipt of a stolen product – as unlikely as some may feel, I can see where someone would be mislead into thinking that the acquisition point was legit – especially someone who’s not overly familiar with how insidious the interwebs can be, but it is important to check and make sure – particularly with design, that you’re not getting something stolen.

On that site there are a couple of tell tale indicators that the site isn’t exactly legit (yet I’m puzzled how it has remained ‘up’). There are a lot of sites like it also – the best place to get solid free themes if from the WordPress theme directory, at least for now until you get familiar with what’s legal and what’s not. WP isn’t going to distribute a stolen theme or plug-in. Other methods would be to google “WP theme designers” and from there just sort of trace their designs to legit site like MooThemes / ThemeForest / Smashing Magazine / Tutorial 9 / WDL.

On the other hand – everyone knows what mistake you won’t be making again…

Like – give a temp account to someone?

Try “access expiration”

If he’s putting it in the generic ‘text’ sidebar widget – it takes HTML – inline code isn’t going to work since the widget isn’t geared for that (I tried that with WPAudio a couple of weeks ago, but have since decided I didn’t need the audio in a sidebar).

If the current audio plugin isn’t working then he might try simply using either an audioplayer widget for the sidebar or getting a player that outputs HTML so that it can be used.

The only thing that seems kind of off about it is the slideshow category repeating – it makes the slideshow function superfluous and the two blog posts aren’t really ‘blogs’ but informative pieces that fit better in an ‘about us’ and the “0” comment blurbs detract from the professionalism that is being projected.

So what I’m getting at is that (and this is only constructive suggestion, not a manifesto) the site may better project the clients image if the following were rethought:

The comment blurbs: drop em. If the site is primarily a catalog of services and a gallery of events to impress potential clientele, they’re not going to drudge through comment after comment. Maybe the photo gallery would be a better place to implement the commenting (a new post per gallery?)

The top slideshow: Completely useless for its application. You can likely go on and play with the PHP script and remove the functionality of it. I know that you paid for it, but that theme really wasn’t designed for the application it’s being used. A couple off the top of my head that could be played with to work well is “Nami” or “Multichrome” (again… would have to really get dirty in it).

Twitter: isn’t a function I’d really consider implementing on this unless she were to twit daily promotions – same with the facebook thing. I know it’s all the rage ATM, but it’s really overused and improperly implemented (to a point that it can be self-defeating and detrimental). Besides, if the owner were connected with twitter, the promotion tweets (if that’s how they’d be used) wouldn’t be an ‘out front’ feature because the theme doesn’t utilize it to any sort of potential.

Map: Try it out in a widget instead of your elongated gallery. Do this along with phone numbers and the methods of payment. As it it, sitting up top and small like it is, it’s obscure and not completely noticeable.

10 Reasons: If you switch themes, you could have the 10 reasons listed below and across the bottom to keep the site more concentrated and professional yet fun and approachable.

Again, these are just suggestions – given from a user perspective. If you need help or have questions about what I’ve said – or in general want to cuss me out – my email is listed

The translator isn’t in the ideal place for your site. People looking to gain information or read what you’ve written will have to scroll to the bottom of the page to even know that they can read it in their native tongue. Try moving it towards the top of the sidebar so it’s easily seen or finding a more effective plugin to implement this ability.

I would, as an aside, also not use the sliding doors for the categories on this kind of site. It’s a bit flashy for what you’ve really got going on. That’s not to say your content is one thing or another, but the layout itself lacks that sort of “pop” that the sliding doors would really play off of.