Proper way to use 'default" Genesis Theme

[mikemdg]

Normally I will use a child theme when developing sites, and recall reading an article saying to modify the child themes only and not the Genesis Framework files. My question is, what is the "proper" way to use the Genesis Framework default theme?

I have a site that I want to use the default theme, so I only have the (genesis) folder in themes, normally I'd have (xyztheme) and do the editing there and not touch anything in the (genesis) folder.

Is there anything wrong with just modifying the (genesis) folder pages if I want to customize that theme? Or am I better to make a copy of it and use that as the child theme? Just curious what the correct or recommended way to do this would be?

Thanks!

[Robodashy]

Hi Mike.

The only problem I can see is the usual one - any changes to the Genesis Theme on update will over-write the changes you've made.

One thing you could do is download the Genesis "Sample" child theme, strip everything you don't need out and customise from there (or create your own, either way).

I've used the above method myself as a quick way of ensuring that all my modifications are saved.

Another thing you can do (which I've also tried) is use the Genesis Extender plugin by CobaltApps, as this has a custom CSS area where you can enter your own code which won't be over-written (On top of all the other awesomeness the plugin can do).

That's my 2 cents worth. Good luck 🙂

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The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away.
– Tom Waits, “Step Right Up”

[Summer]

Never modify the core framework files in the genesis folder. The Sample Theme is the default child theme for Genesis, so the files in genesis-sample are what you want to play with.

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WordPress / Genesis Site Design & Troubleshooting: A Touch of Summer | @SummerWebDesign
Slice of SciFi | Writers, After Dark

[mikemdg]

Okay, that sounds like what I was thinking, using the "Sample" theme as the child theme and just kind of building it from that. It's pretty stripped down at the start anyway!

Thanks for the answers and appreciate the insights!

[Author]

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