Showcase - Child Themes

StudioPress is happy to announce the release of the AgentPress 1.0 child theme. This new child theme works on the Genesis Theme Framework and can be downloaded by Pro Plus members in the support forum. All others can purchase the AgentPress child theme package here.

If you have already purchased the Genesis Theme Framework and any other child theme, you can simply purchase the child theme by itself, otherwise you need the AgentPress + Genesis Theme package.

Take AgentPress for a test drive…

We have also closed down the AgentPress.com website/support forum and merged that here on StudioPress – you can read more about the reasoning behind that if you wish. For those of you who have purchased the original AP theme, your forum account has been merged into the StudioPress forum, and you should now have access to AgentPress “classic” support forum, as well as the ability to download Genesis and the AP child theme for no additional charge.

AgentPress: “classic” Theme vs. “child” Theme

I’m sure there will be many questions, so I’ll cut to the chase – first and foremost, the most significant change is that the AgentPress child theme works with the Genesis Theme Framework. This is a robust theme framework that is now the foundation of all of our themes going forward. The frameworks’ code security is top notch (we hired WordPress lead developer Mark Jaquith to audit the code) and it has been fully search engine optimized. More about Genesis and why it’s so great….

We have changed the way we handle the Property post template – property detail fields are now customizable in the dashboard, and we’ve introduced shortcodes to place content such as the photo gallery (which, by the way is now using the organic WordPress image gallery), property detail sections and property maps. All in all, the process by which a Listing is entered and displayed is much easier now. More about the AgentPress child theme features…

You will need to load, BOTH, the Genesis parent theme and the AgentPress child theme for it to work – just activate the AgentPress child theme and you’ll be good to go. Unfortunately there isn’t an easy upgrade path for current AgentPress “classic” theme users, but one of the best benefits of Genesis is automatic updates without the need to re-do any design customizations.

Here’s a screenshot of the Theme:

AgentPress Child Theme

StudioPress is happy to announce the release of the Amped 1.0 child theme. This new WordPress theme works on the Genesis Theme Framework and can be downloaded by Pro Plus members in the support forum. All others can purchase the package here.

If you have already purchased the Genesis Theme Framework and any other child theme previously, you can simply purchase the child package by itself, otherwise you need the Amped + Genesis Theme package.

We are also very pleased to announce that the Amped theme is the second design to be released from our featured designers – it was designed by the very talented Lauren Mancke, who has already designed a number of themes that will be made available in the near future here.

Take it for a test drive…

Here’s a screenshot of the Amped Child Theme:

Amped Child Theme

With the launch of Genesis in the rear view mirror, I thought it would be helpful to start introducing some of the elements of a theme framework. They are a relatively new thing in the WordPress world and a lot of people either don’t know what one is or how they work.

What is a Theme Framework?

In short, a theme framework is a robust WordPress theme that can be utilized out of the box as is, but also easily extended with child themes and hooks. Not only do they provide a number of enhancements above a typical WordPress theme, but they also serve as a platform to build upon for additional functionality. This post will focus exclusively on the Genesis theme framework and how it is structured.

What is a Child Theme?

A child theme is an extension of a theme framework which is comprised of typical theme elements – with Genesis, it includes a screenshot, theme files, a stylesheet, a functions file and an images folder. These elements are grouped together in what’s known as a child theme folder and can be activated like any other WordPress theme. To help explain the relationship of a child theme and the parent Genesis theme framework, I’ll go into detail with each one.

A Screenshot

All WordPress themes have a screenshoot image included – typically this is called “screenshot.png”, is 600 x 450 in dimension and is a visual display of the theme, which can be seen on the Appearance > Themes page inside your WordPress dashboard. Since child themes have their own folders and are activated like any other theme, they require a screenshot like a standard theme.

Theme Files

The Genesis theme framework, which in essence is the parent theme, is where all of the theme files are kept. This would include the typical theme files such as 404.php, comments.php, footer.php, header.php, index.php, page.php, single.php and so on. Child themes can also include these files – and the hierarchy works in a way that if any of those files exist in the child theme folder, they will override the parent theme. In other words, if you customize a footer.php file and place it into your child theme folder, that will be used in lieu of the one in the Genesis parent theme. Currently the only theme files that may be found in some of the Genesis child themes are a custom home.php file, which will control the way a site’s homepage will appear. If one is not a part of a child theme, then the theme will use the index.php file, in the Genesis-parent theme, for the homepage.

A Stylesheet

Many theme frameworks are built in a way that imports the parent theme stylesheet, then allows for customizations to be made by way of the child theme stylesheet. While there is nothing wrong with the way that works, we’ve chosen to simplify things and just give the child theme it’s own stylesheet. In other words, if a child theme is being used, the style.css file in the child theme folder has complete control over the way the child theme looks. You don’t have to compare and sift through multiple stylesheets to look for and change style elements.

A Functions File

Most WordPress themes have a functions.php file – which is typically a file where you can control certain behaviors of how WordPress is run or how the theme outputs various things. For instance, a functions file can register sidebar widgets and how they are styled, as well as a number of other “function” related things. With Genesis, the functions.php is simple – it calls the entire theme framework to run and that is the only code found there. The great thing about the way Genesis is built, is that the child theme’s functions file is where a number of things occur – additional sidebar widgets can be registered, and from a development side, custom functions are defined as well as filtered and hooked. (more on that in upcoming posts.)

An Images Folder

This one is pretty self-explanatory – as with any WordPress theme, there is an images folder which is used to hold any images that a theme requires. Use this to hold background images, icons, navbar gradients, and what not.

In Conclusion

The easiest way for me to explain the relationship between a parent theme and child theme, at least in Genesis’ case is to relate it to a cell phone. The Genesis parent theme is the cell phone, and the child theme is the case you hold it in. You’ll always use the same phone, but if you want to change the way it looks on the outside, you put a cover on it to make it look different. The same holds true with a child theme – as that is what “decorates” the way your theme looks.