Community Forums › Forums › Archived Forums › Design Tips and Tricks › Custom CSS – Best Practice
- This topic has 7 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 5 months ago by TaiChiBetts.
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November 15, 2013 at 4:14 pm #73291TaiChiBettsMember
I am programmer of many years but new to wordpress and Genesis. I am using the sixteen nine template.
There are many methods of adding custom css. I am wondering what the "best" method is when considering future updates to genesis framework, sixteen nine theme, wordpress, etc.To provide a specific example, I am going to update the style on the author box through CSS.
It seems I have several options.1. Add custom CSS to then end of style.css
2. Install a plugin like "My Custom CSS" (not sure if this will work with Genesis.
3. Install Genesis Extender plugin - this seems to provide the ability to customize virtually everything from within the wordpress GUI.I could easily modify the style.css but am worried if the theme is update I will need to "remember" to migrate the updates. I like the way the genesis extender looks but afraid it may be overkill.
Any suggestions or guidance is appreciated.
http://www.palmbeachtaichi.comNovember 15, 2013 at 5:00 pm #73306nutsandboltsMemberYou're in luck - child themes never update, making your changes to style.css perfectly safe. 🙂
The framework will update periodically, but it won't wipe out your changes. All the functionality of Genesis is contained in the framework, with the child theme acting more like a skin that sits on top of the framework to change the way it looks. If there is ever a change to a child theme, it's considered a whole new theme and there is no reason to install it unless you want to redo your site. You won't be prompted to update the child theme in your WP dashboard. Hopefully that makes sense.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend adding changing to the end of the stylesheet since that's typically where the media queries are - you may get some odd results. Instead, search for the element you're changing to find existing rules and modify them to match what you need to do.
Andrea Whitmer, Owner/Developer, Nuts and Bolts Media
I provide development and training services for designers • Find me on Twitter and Google+November 16, 2013 at 8:21 am #73397TaiChiBettsMemberThat makes perfect sense. Thanks so much for the help and wonderful explanation!
November 16, 2013 at 8:53 am #73398nutsandboltsMemberNo problem! If you don't mind, please mark this topic as resolved so we'll know you've been helped. You can always open a new one if you need to. 🙂
Andrea Whitmer, Owner/Developer, Nuts and Bolts Media
I provide development and training services for designers • Find me on Twitter and Google+November 16, 2013 at 9:36 am #73407jhguynnMemberNutsandbolts,
You said the following: "child themes never update, making your changes to style.css perfectly safe".
Yet I note that many of the child themes are currently being updated, i.e. upgraded to HTML5. e.g. Magazine --> Magazine Pro. Isn't it true that changes made to style.css will be lost if someone using an older child theme version upgrades to the HTML5 version of the same theme?
TaiChiBetts: Another point to consider: what if you want to change themes for a website already well under way? If you keep all your broad customizations in a separate place, such as in Genesis Extender, they'll be retained when you switch themes. CSS changes that relate only to the theme itself should be kept with the theme of course, in its own style.css doc.
November 16, 2013 at 9:40 am #73410nutsandboltsMemberAs I also said above, any changes to the child themes (like updates to HTML5) are considered a whole new theme. So if you choose to use the newer version, you would have to start over just like you would with a completely different child theme. There is no update in the WP dashboard for child themes because there's no reason to update - you can stick with the one you're using forever as long as your framework is kept up to date.
Andrea Whitmer, Owner/Developer, Nuts and Bolts Media
I provide development and training services for designers • Find me on Twitter and Google+November 16, 2013 at 10:05 am #73412jhguynnMembernutsandbolts: Thanks, that clears it up.
November 16, 2013 at 10:10 am #73414TaiChiBettsMemberThanks for the further points to consider jhguynn.
The copyblogger / genesis community seems quite active and helpful.
I'm sure I'll be back with more questions. Thanks again. -
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