Are you currently using a theme and planning to switch over to a new different theme? Or maybe you want to overhaul your current theme layout a little bit. What do you usually do?
- Put your blog to maintenance mode and start tweaking the live theme?
- Tweak the current live theme and pray that it works when you press the “Update File” button?
- Create a clone of your current blog to a different directory and tweak the new one there?
If you are doing any of the above, then STOP! Because there is a WordPress plug-in called “Admin Theme Preview” that will make your life so much easier.
I was having a chat on the WLM with Daniel from MyMyTech.com (we’ve been good friends for a while now from blogging) and found out that he’s on the process of designing his WordPress’ blog. I mentioned to him about the Admin Theme Preview plug-in that I used a few months earlier and thought I might as well knock up this post to share it with others.
After you install the plug-in, there will a new sub menu called “Theme Preview” under your WordPress Administration Design menu. Clicking on it will bring up all available themes that you have on your WordPress themes folder.
Simply click on a theme and you will see how your blog looks like on that theme WITHOUT changing your live theme. Only you (the admin) can see the selected theme. Your current will NOT be affected at all. You can also set the “Show toolbar” option to preview themes easily on-the-fly.
For example if I click on my old theme (Ads Minded) under the Admin Theme Preview, I’ll see:
where as you (or my blog viewers), will still see my current theme:
This will make it safe for you to modify the new theme files, without affecting your blog whatsoever! When things go wrong, it will only go wrong for you to see. At least until you are happy with all the changes and switch to the new theme.
Admin Theme Preview plug-in for WordPress is a MUST if you are still in the process of choosing the right theme and tweaking your current theme heavily.
Just for fun, here is what my blog will look like on different themes (without any changes):
If you are using WP-SuperCache plug-in, you’ll need to remove the cache every time you want to preview a new theme.
What do you think of my current theme? I like the layouts, but I’d want to have a better color theme for it. I just don’t want to spend $200-$1000 for a new redesign at this stage. Perhaps later, when this blog has given me enough cash for a customized design.
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thank 4 dropping by and make a comments bro. You have a great work with this blog. Thanks also for sharing this good info. I’m newbie with WP and currently still finding useful plugin for my blog.
You’re a lucky Indonesian
Is this plugin compatible with the new WordPress? It hasn’t been updated in over a year, according to the place you linked to in your post. I’m assuming it is, since you are showing us screenshots using it on your blog.
The Raging Techs last blog post..Shop For a New Credit Card Online
@Adie: Thanks for the nice comment there
@The Raging Tech: I’m using WordPress 2.5.1 at the moment (the latest) and yes it works. Someone posted a comment on the official plug-in site and said that it’s not compatible, but it works fine on my end here ??
Ohhh… I was just thinking of changing my theme
Also check out my blog for my EC contest for 2000 EC
thank micheal, do you have the link on where to download wp-cache plugin ?
Hi Vickie, I’d suggest to use WP-SuperCache (it’s WP-Cache + more). WP-Cache will still use PHP calls on every blog’s post request where as WP-SuperCache will auto-generate static HTML files.
You can download WP-SuperCache from here. If you want to, read my post about it to find out why you need it at all
Really impressed of the plugin, it is much more easier for me to try out new themes.
Thanks Michael
David Cheongs last blog post..I do, do you comments?
simply cool, I guess I should’ve looked more into this plugin before bothering to set up another database for a testing page, etc
sJ_Dans last blog post..Do you like Entrecard’s Pricing System?
I like the idea of being able to preview your theme before making any major changes. Cool plugin.
archondigitals last blog post..Saying Goodbye to the Grid
oh thank you Michael
vickies last blog post..Nothing Specific about MerDuriaN – 5/5/08
Good idea, never though of doing that really, but makes sense.
Geoservs last blog post..Are you Listed…
Thanks for coming guys. It’s always good to see a fresh look of an old blog, eh?
Great post Michael, thanks for sharing the info!
theaffiliateposts last blog post..Creating Bans Headers
Always good to backup your websites
Sounds like a cool plugin. I may have to give it a go.
Sires last blog post..A Good Wife Always Knows Her Place?
Thanks for this info dude, whenever I will experiment with new themes, I ended up using the maintenance mode plugin
Sonnies last blog post..EntreCard Surprise
Michael Aulia,
Thanks for letting me know this useful plugin. Just now downloaded and activated the plugin.
I visited your site from WP Premium Theme page. I will now install using the above plugin and start tinkering the theme .
One quick question. How did you add adsense link unit on the TOP, below NAV bar.
Nihars last blog post..33th Match : Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils Highlights – IPL T20
Glad the post helped you guys.
@Nihar: I put it on the Header (header.php), inside the [div id="nav"] area, just below the wp_list_pages code
Hi Michael,
Trying to do testing of WPPremium theme. Got one problem.
In Firefox everthing is fine.
In IE. the most right sidbar that is 2nd sidebar is not coming beside 1st sidebar. It is starting after 1st sidebar ends.
Any help. please let me know
Hi Nihar,
Have you made changes to it? The CSS, the codes, etc? If you have, then it’s always good to change it back to the default files and start from there.
What IE version are you using? And does my blog turn out to be okay on your IE? (I don’t think I’ve made a “hack” to make it work on IE)
I’m about to change my theme soon to something else in a day or two
Michael,
Hey got it. my subscribe input text button length was big. shortened it and now working in IE too
Giving final touchups. changing the color codes in google adsense and other networks then will apply the theme today..
I have one more question. how you got rid of 100X100 3 ad blocks and seen you have put to big square boxes.
Thanks
Nihars last blog post..41th Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings Highlights – IPL T20
Good to hear you could make it to work
The ad blocks are located on the sidebar_featured.php file.
If you go through the files one by one, you’ll get a hang of what’s located where. Good luck!
Michael,
I tried dark brown 443b34 and light brown 73685c for background for ads on the sidebar but both are not synching with the sidebar background.
Could you give me the sidebar background color.
your adsense skyscrapper is blended well..
Nihars last blog post..41th Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings Highlights – IPL T20
Michael,
I have changed the theme…
Visit my site when you are free…
Nihars last blog post..42th Match : Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians Highlights – IPL T20
Looking great
It brings back memories
Happy that you liked it
Nihars last blog post..Planning to change Wordpress Theme?
I used a plug-in for my blog, it’s the fun with sidebar plug-in. I want to customize it’s contents and some of it’s design. I tried aditting it’s css in widgets, but it doesn’t yield the effect that i desire. Can you help me with this matter? Thanks a lot!
I’m afraid that you need to contact the plug-in creator if you need any help in customizing/hacking the plug-in yourself. I don’t use the plug-in as widgets, so I’m not too sure how the modification works