We will have a look at some common things that need to be performed while setting up your website with Templatic’s Themes. We will focus more on basic things that are required for smoothly using Templatic Themes while making your websites with it.

General Questions

1. How to install WordPress?
2. What are the server requirements to run Templatic’s Themes?
3. How and from where to download Templatic’s Themes?
4. How to install Templatic Theme?
5. How to upgrade Templatic Theme?
6. Know which version of your theme, you are using ?
7. How to insert Sample Data?
8. What happens if I remove sample data?
9. How to set up the widgets?
10. How to make a custom menu?
11. How to customize and style my site?
12. How to translate the language
13. Where do these words and sentences located in .po files?
14. What are Page Templates and How to use it?
15. What are shortcodes and How to use it?
16. How to change the company’s logo and name in the footer?
17. How to take up back ups?
18. What is the importance of back ups?
19. Why use custom.css always while applying any style related changes?
20. How to use custom.css?
21. How to create WordPress network (multi site)

Common Problems:

1. Common WordPress Problems
2. Facing the problem of 404 error 
3. Slider size is not appropriate, what to do?
4. Not able to configure “Send to Friend”  link?
5. Struggling with size of Thumb nail images?
6. Not able to locate the sentences in .po file?
7. Get the exact answer within no time from support

 

General Questions

1. How to install WordPress?

To install it, you need to first download the WordPress. (You can check and download for the latest version of it with the help of Google search)

There are Lots of sources available, using which you can easily install the WordPress in your computer. Few of which are:

Read the Tutorials:

http://www.shoutmeloud.com/how-install-wordpress-locally-using-wamp.html

http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress

See the Video:

2. What are the server requirements to run Templatic’s Themes?

To run your website using Templatic Theme, you need to have certain things setup for it. Know in detail about it.

3. How and from where to download Templatic’s Theme?

After you purchase your favorite Templatic theme with the particular selected license, you get an email from us with your login credentials (Same is true for club members).

• Using these credentials, login to the member area and expand your theme section.
• Download all the available files. (This section includes all the necessary Theme and Plugin files that are necessary to let the theme work correctly)

4. How to install Templatic Theme?

After downloading all the Theme files, now start installing them following these steps,

• Connect to your WordPress dashboard (wp-admin) and then navigate to Plugins -> Add New. Now click on Upload and then on Browse. Load the Plugin file that you downloaded earlier and then click on Install Now
• Once the install process is done click on Activate Plugin
• Repeat this process till all the required plugins are installed and activated,  mentioned for the particular Theme.
• With the plugins installed navigate to Appearance -> Themes. Click on the Install Themes tab and then on Upload. Use the Browse option to locate your theme zip file on your hard drive. Once done click on Install Now
• Once WordPress is done with installing the theme click on the Activate button

In case WordPress rejects the .zip files use FTP to install the theme

• Upload your plugins files to /wp-content/plugins directory
• Upload your theme files to /wp-content/themes directory
• Once uploading is done connect to the WordPress dashboard and activate them in the orders specified in your particular theme guide

 

5. How to upgrade Templatic’s Theme?

Generally, we release updates or say versions of the theme with additional functionality taking care of the issues that users felt using the older versions. So basically, our idea is always making it easier for you to use yet with the top quality of functionality.

To upgrade any theme, these are the general steps that you need to follow, just what you have to take care of is the Theme folder name (your particular one)

• First of all connect to your server and navigate to /wp-content/themes directory. Rename your existing theme folder with suffix “_old” (as name “old” will be easy to remember)
  
• Now, download the updated Theme version from the member area. (Refer faq – 4 to know about downloading)
• While still connected to the server upload:theme folders to /wp-content/themes directory and Plugins folders to /wp-content/plugins directory
• Apart from above common process, upgrading is theme specific so please refer upgrade section of your Theme Guide

6. How to find the version of Templatic’s theme?

Many time, we hear that your theme version is older or latest version of theme is available but from where to know that which theme version we are currently using? well, there are few very easy ways for it as mentioned here,

1. It will be there in your wp-admin > Appearance > (For activated Theme)
2. you can also see that in the “changelog.txt” file located in your theme’s root folder (../wp-content/themes/…)
3. You will always get the latest version of your theme in your members area. (It will be mentioned under version column)
   * Before actually upgrading the theme you can know that which files are changed in the updated version, just click on Version number to download changelog.txt which contains all the changed files

7. How to insert sample data?

The great feature that Templatic has come up with to make it even easier to set up the sample site for the users. You should definitely use it, it will make you more creative to set up your site.

•  After you complete the installation process (mentioned in faq-4)
• In wp-admin > Appearance
• There will be a button saying “Yes, insert please” at the top of the screen, just click it
• Refresh your site in the front end to see the effect (Your Sample site must be ready now!)

8. What happens if I remove sample data?

•  As soon as you insert the sample data, the button “Yes, insert please” will change into “Yes, delete please” to let you delete the sample data.
• On deleting the sample data, it deletes all the pages,widgets,posts,custom posts etc those were added when you clicked the insert button
• So, if you have modified the things using these sample pages, posts etc then do not delete it at all otherwise you will loose all your hard worked data forever and there is no recovery state for it.

9. What are Widgets?

Generally websites are divided into certain areas like “Header”, “Sidebars”, “Middle content area”, “Footer” etc and to fill these areas we need different kind of design pieces allowing content in it which also suits the area and overall make our website look good and useful. For this purpose WordPress gives the feature called “Widgets”.

When you install WordPress, there will be some default WordPress widgets named “Tag Cloud”, “Text”, “search” etc. To enhance the usability of the website in terms of functionality and design, the Theme that you install also provides you some widgets dependent on the subject of the Theme design and purpose. For Example, with Templatic you will find widgets with the Prefix ” T ” like ” T – Newsletter”. Know more about widgets

10. How to set up the widgets?

Setting up widgets is not that hard. Follow these steps for that,

• Navigate to wp-admin
• Hover on Appearance
• Click the “Widgets” option

Now you are in the widget area, from where you decide how your website will look.

• In general at left side, you will be having 2 sections named as “Active Widgets” and “Inactive Widgets” (Tip: All the areas and sections contain the “help text” that suggests you briefly about its relevance and meaning)
• At right side, there will be the Widget Areas (divided areas of the website – faq 10) with the name according to the place that they affect at the front end.
• Just drag the widgets of your choice from the “Active Widgets” and drop it to the particular “Widget Area” on the right side.
• Fill up the asked fields in the widget (if necessary)
• Save it and refresh your site’s front end to see the effect

Know More

See Tutorial – http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Widgets

See Video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf-NkMPI7NY

 

11. How to make a custom menu?

Menus play a vital role in helping users navigate your website easily. With WordPress, Custom Menu helps you to set up the menu for your site but in a simple manner (Default WordPress style).

Additional Info:

In some of our themes, you may find Navigation Menu widget instead of custom menu widget (both serve the same purpose, just labels are different).

To create it see the Video Tutorial

 

12. How to customize and style my site?

With every theme we provide you a ready made customizer where you just have to select your preferences.

• Navigate to wp-admin > Appearances
• Click “Customize” option visible for the activated theme their.
• You will have all the customizing options available there like
  • Setting Up Logo
  • Site Tagline
  • Background color
  • Background image etc

These are the general options that will be available in most of our themes, still refer your specific Theme guide to know exact available options.

Tip:

It is advisable to make style modifications in custom.css file located in your theme root folder (../wp-content/themes/../custom.css) and apply that to your site.

Reason – It is because that way you will be able to sustain your css settings and modifications even if you take updates of the your theme version and won’t have to go through all the hard work again! know how to use custom.css

13. How to translate the language

You can translate your Templatic Themes in two possible ways dependent on the type of the theme you are using.

1) Using poEdit tool

2) Using WPML Plugin for multiple language translation

To know, which of the above way is for you and how to use it, read and follow this article – https://templatic.com/docs/how-to-translate-templatics-wordpress-themes

 

14. Where do these words and sentences located in .po files?

When you are using poEdit tool to translate your theme, you have to locate the different words in different .po files residing in your theme root folder because all the words are not located in the same .po file, some are coming from plugins’ .po files whereas some are theme specific and some are from Parent theme.So, you have to find and translate accordingly.

As per our folder structure you can locate .po file in the folder named as  “language” inside your theme folder.

learn how to locate the .po files (Also learn how to use poEdit tool)

Tip:

• Open all such .po files together from all the folders that came along with your downloaded theme
• Start locating and translating words in each of the .po files with “CTRL + F” 

This way, you will be able to locate your words immediately by switching your search in all the .po files.

 

15. What are Page Templates and How to use it?

Page Templates are nothing but a ready made page that is designed with a specific purpose including the sidebar areas too. e.g. Contact Us Page template, it shows a contact form with which user sends you an inquiry.

To use Templatic Page Templates, you just have to,

• Create a new WordPress page
• Select page template from the option given in the right side of the page
• If you want to write any content in the page then type it like a normal WordPress page otherwise leave it blank

To know that what templates you are facilitated with your theme, you can check in your back end at wp-admin>pages>Add/Edit > Page Template (at the right side of the screen) and also should verify it with your Theme guide.

16.What are shortcodes and How to use it?

Like Page Templates, shortcodes also serve the same purpose. Just the difference is that page templates covers whole page along with the sidebars whereas short codes just affect the content area of a page.

There are 2 different kinds of Shortcodes available with every Templatic theme,

1) Functionality oriented

• These short codes are theme specific and are related to particular feature or function of the theme. e.g. [booking_form] short code, it shows whole pre designed booking form! But it is applicable only for our Booking oriented themes.
• You should check out your theme guide to know how many short codes are available and what pages you can create with its help as they are theme specific.

2) Design and style oriented

For this purpose, we provide you a Shortcode plugin that helps you in styling your content like button, progress bars and many more such styles. To get it, follow below steps;

• Download, install and activate Shortcodes Plugin
• Make sure that you have placed this plugin  folder in your active wordpress/Plugins directory
• Navigate to Pages > Shortcodes (You will have all the shortcodes written there which you can use while creating your content)

17. How to change the company’s logo and name in the footer?

Templatic Themes are divided into certain categories according to their purpose like eCommerce Framework based Themes, Booking System and Tevolution based themes etc, so the option for Logo is placed on different location as per the theme design, so you should (Check out your theme guide for the detailed direction)

But the general steps would be

• Their will be a field called “Upload Logo” ( it will be “Custom Logo” for the older themes )
• Simply upload your Logo image in this field from your Computer Hard Drive
• Save your changes and you are done!

18. What is the importance of back ups?

Back Ups are nothing but an identical copy of your current site. You can also have the copy of your database as well along with it.

When due to any reason, you loose your database or any such disaster happen with your site, you don’t have to worry a lot if you have the latest back ups with you, that way, you can immediately upload all your back up to your site and thus your site becomes as it was…In fact, you should take back ups at regular intervals if your site keeps on changing or frequent additions are done to it.

It is also helpful while taking theme updates, trying out any add on, feature etc as there is always a high risk involved of loosing your specific manual changes.

19. How to take back ups?

Back ups are like life savers when anythings goes wrong with your site. Having an identical copy of all the things that you have on your site including database is known as ideal Back Up.

Read Tutorials

• http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Backups
• http://codex.wordpress.org/Backing_Up_Your_WordPress_Files

20. Why use custom.css always while applying any style related changes?

The main purpose of using custom.css is to sustain all your style modifications even if you take theme update. It is highly advisable to always make such changes and apply them to custom.css file located under your theme root folder (..\wp-content\themes\..\custom.css) because when you do not use custom.css concept and do manual style changes to your theme and then when you take theme updates, it is likely that you will loose all those modifications as new theme may be having other styling approach. ( See the below mentioned faq to learn using it)

21. How to use custom.css?

Please refer these tutorials for the detailed description.

See Tutorial – https://templatic.com/docs/using-custom-css-for-theme-customizations/

Watch Video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKiylIzIqzk

 

Common Problems

2. Facing the problem of 404 error

• In most of the cases, its solution is very easy, know what.
• But if above solution does not solve the problem then you should troubleshoot from your end that Whether or not you have actually added that page!! Because this error comes when it doesn’t find the particular page URL
• If everything seems to be okay from your side but still the problem persists then report us at Help Desk.

3. Slider size is not appropriate, what to do?

In most cases, the problem is with the image size uploaded in the Slider! Slider image size should be according to the ideal size mentioned for the slider area. If it exceeds that then chances are of messing it up!

Do this to avoid such problem

• Always check in your theme guide about the ideal size of the Slider as it varies theme to theme
• Other option is to insert sample data and figure out the ideal size of image using Firebug tool in front end.

4. Not able to configure “Send to Friend”  link?

With “Send to Friend” option you can send a direct email to your friend for sharing any post or custom post from the website.

For Tevolution Based themes  –  It comes from wp-admin > Tevolution > General Settings > Email Settings > Send to Friend (Check mark this option)

Likewise you can locate the same for other themes as well, just check out in your Theme guide for it’s accurate location.

5. Struggling with size of Thumb nail images?

Read this tutorial  –  https://templatic.com/docs/change-image-thumbnail-size/

6. Not able to locate the sentences in .po file?

Generally Templatic Theme comes with the whole pack of Themes and necessary Plugins and all these Themes and Plugins have their own .po file. So, it  may happen that the word you are searching for is perhaps located in other folder’s .po file! So the best option is to open all the available .po files and search accordingly! Refer the above mentioned FAQ 14.

7. Get the exact answer within no time from support

Support is very important for any beginner or any other user when they get stuck somewhere using the theme and therefore to let you set up your site in the minimum possible time, we recommend you to follow this article