you need to edit your theme css file…  I dont know which theme you are using…  for example, if using default theme, you would want to edit wp-content/sp-resources/forum-themes/default/styles/default.php

or you can use the sp theme editor on forum – themes – edit theme… and select the main theme css file…

after you edit your theme, go to forum – toolbox – housekeeping and clear the combined css cache so it rebuilds with your changes…

as always, we strongly recommend you have your own theme and not edit one of ours so you dont lose changes on updates…

That’s what I don’t understand, Steve…

In wp-content/sp-resources/forum-themes/default/styles/default.php I find things like background: <?php echo($itemListBackGroundHover); ?>;

Now, how do I change that? It’s just an example.

Using Firebug, I see for example a code spGroupViewSection. The colour is whatever, I want it red. So I edit the file sp-plugin-styles-all.css and that colour turns red. Easy.

If I edit wp-content/sp-resources/forum-themes/default/styles/default.php, what I see for spGroupViewSection is:

color: <?php echo($itemHeaderColor); ?>;
background: <?php echo($itemHeaderBackGround); ?>;

How do I edit that? It’s driving me nuts…

In the case of the ‘default’ theme then all of the colours etc., are held in the relevant ‘overlay’ file that you are using. So whatever that is – you would have selected it in the forum admin > theme panel – and you will find it in the /styles/overlays folder of the SP theme.

Depending on what it is you are doing then there might even be an overlay closer to what you are looking for if you run them all.

At the moment don’t forget that as always we recommend that you create your own SP theme so that any customisation is not lost during a future update. (http://codex.simple-press.com/codex/themes/theme-basics/creating-a-theme/)

But that will become easier in our target 5.5 release when we will hopefully be introducing ‘child themes’.

I think now I understand a bit more…

I will have to set up my own theme.

Thank you so much for your help, I will probably ask you some more questions but I will try and do as much as I can.

Thank you!

That’s OK. If you get stuck – ask.

The good news is that all being well we hope to introduce ‘child’ themes in version 5.5 which will help remove the need for making on-going changes to custom themes. So our fingers are crossed that we can do that.

OK, I have done everything I found on this page.

I copied the folder of the theme “Default” and renamed everything as explained.

But when I activate the theme, the site turns blank. No access to the site, no access to the admin section.

I need to delete the theme’s folder via FTP and voila’! The site is back online.

I am getting headache…

can you explain what you did? what did you change the directory name to? and the css file? and did you edit the spTheme.txt file to change it to the css name?

if you want to give me ftp access (via PM), I can quickly go and in create a new theme for you to make your edits to…

doesnt help now, but in 5.5, child themes will make this so much simpler…

Steve, thank you for your help.

Now, the name of the website is IRSA so I named the theme simply irsa-theme.

It works perfectly now! Time to get to work on those damn CSS!

Thank you once again!

Here comes the problem…

I am trying to change the colour of the forum… OK, on this forum that colour is blue, on shades-of-gray is #333333.

Using Firebug, I found this:

#spMainContainer .spGroupViewSection,
#spMainContainer .spForumViewSection,
#spMainContainer .spTopicViewSection,
#spMainContainer .spTopicListSection,
#spMainContainer
.spMemberGroupsSection{color:#fff;background:#333333;

In Firebug, if I change the 333333 to DF5429 it works perfectly. But in shades-of-gray I am not able to find it.

Which line of code control that colour, please?

I do know those overlays in Default are rather difficult to find stuff in. This is just another god reason why we are simplifying this process.

OK – I am going to need a little more information. Using Firebug which element exactly is showing as #333333 that you wish to change? And by ‘Colour’ do you really mean ‘color’ as text colour or ‘background-color’?

Andy, I’ll try…

I inspected this forum, the colour I want to change is a background, code #0090D8.

It is the blue around each post and under the title of the thread at the top.

I hope I have been clear enough…

OK – in the ‘shades of grey’ overlay file – find the entry for $itemHeaderBackGround

It is probably set to use another variable – in this case $itemHeaderSolid which is set to #333333 a couple of lines above.

You can change $itemHeaderBackGround to any value that you prefer.

I really am sorry. I do know those overlays can be a bit difficult to follow.

Awesome, Andy!

It worked perfectly!

Now I will try to set up the breadcrumbs the same way as you did here, which is beautiful.

there are a couple of topics in this forum on how to do it…  holler if you cant find them and we can search…

I’ve done it, Steve!

It works almost perfectly. The only problem is, I don’t know how to get rid of the arrows (the image called sp_ArrowRight.png) which is still there.