Support Forum

Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
themes-topic
Unused overlays - can they be (safely) deleted?
Avatar
David McCarthy
Member
Offline
Apr 29, 2016 - 8:49 am

Good afternoon.

I copied the Default theme to make my custom theme, and I've edited the sky-blue overlay to change some CSS.

Can I safely delete the other overlays ... I won't have a use for them.

Many thanks,

David

Avatar
Ike
Sawtry, UK
Member
Free Members
Offline
Apr 29, 2016 - 9:01 am

Hey David,

Yes, you can safely delete the overlays you copied but you're not using.

However, you should really consider making a child theme rather than a direct copy. Child themes only contain the changes you want to make, and these changes are loaded over the top of the parent. This means the parent theme still receives updates and as your child theme is loading over the top it doesn't need to be updated manually.

Using a full custom theme as you have there, you will need to keep an eye on the updates we put out to make sure you keep your themes CSS and templates updated or things might start to break.

You can download a free child theme framework for Default to get started here, and there is more information on how to set that up here.

Just a thought anyway, up to you of course!

Avatar
David McCarthy
Member
Offline
Apr 29, 2016 - 9:20 am

Hi Ike

Thanks for the info about overlays.

I'd gone for making a custom theme as that looked easier than making a child theme (something I've never done). I'll read though the documentation link and think about changing over.

I don't currently understand how a line of code can be commented out by using a child theme, but I'm sure all will become clear once I've read the instructions!

Many thanks, David

Avatar
Ike
Sawtry, UK
Member
Free Members
Offline
Apr 29, 2016 - 9:30 am

No problem!

Commenting lines from the template would involve only copying over the template you want to change to the templates folder in your child theme, then commenting out the line you want to.

Unfortunately minor template changes are the only caveat of child themes, as CSS can be overwritten, the templates can't.

.. But it's still worth it!

Avatar
jim
Here and Now
Member
Pro Subscribers
Offline
Apr 29, 2016 - 5:36 pm

davidmcc3 For what it's worth...I found what you're trying to do more easily done, and much safer in regard to upgrades by creating a child theme.

I created a Reboot kid, and included only the overlay I want to use, then made my edits to that file. Yes, it took some time up front. But it has saved me a lot of time! I ran a custom hacked theme for a few years, and updates were always pretty time consuming...

TripawdsSimple:Press powers the Tripawds Discussion Forums.

It's better to hop on three legs than to limp on four.

The Tripawds Blogs Community is made possible by The Tripawds Foundation.

Forum Timezone: Europe/Stockholm
Most Users Ever Online: 1170
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 1
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Mr Papa: 19448
Ike: 2086
Brandon: 864
kvr28: 804
jim: 650
FidoSysop: 577
Conrad_Farlow: 531
fiddlerman: 358
Stefano Prete: 325
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 619
Members: 17361
Moderators: 0
Admins: 4
Forum Stats:
Groups: 7
Forums: 17
Topics: 10127
Posts: 79625