Site gets corrupted when updating Genesis

[mannsma]

I had an overseas developer work on my site using tapestry and genesis framework. I tried to update WordPress and the whole site went down. I suspect he coded within Genesis and not in the child theme. I have several other issues such as trying to rename the following

Header Right
This is the widget area in the header.

Primary Sidebar

Secondary Sidebar

Twitter Sidebar

Facebook Sidebar

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Its trial and error to figure out where to place my affiliate links or advertisers.

Thanks

http://www.filmlesscafe.com

[Nick]

From the source code, it looks as if your developer has edited the Genesis theme itself to customise the site instead of creating a child theme and making the customisations there. As you suspected, that's why your site gets reverted to the default look if you try to update Genesis – the Genesis update overwrites the Genesis folder, which currently includes all of your theme modifications.

This is a mistake your developer has made – you should ask them to re-implement their customisations as a Genesis child theme or look for another developer to help out if they prove unwilling to make those changes. (A good developer will be able to compare the changes your original team made to the Genesis theme and recreate your theme as a child theme, which would allow you to update Genesis safely in the future.)

The sidebar areas you mention can be renamed, but the names are currently hard-coded into your theme. You should ask your developer to give them more useful names and add a description to each sidebar area. (As well as a title, the sidebar areas can hold a short description to remind you where they will appear on the site.)

[mannsma]

Thank you so much for the information. You are right on with the problem. I have tried to have them correct it but they refuse unless I pay them. Needless to say I will not use them ever. Is there a good source to find an experienced developer for the correction and redo of the site? I wish to add more reader rich features. The ones on Studiopress are just cost prohibitive.

Thanks
Manny

[wp guy]

Genesis Developers

[AnitaC]

Contact them and tell them you will sue them if they don't fix it. It clearly states in the framework and in your code:

/*
	Theme Name: Genesis
	Theme URI: http://www.studiopress.com/themes/genesis
	Description: Genesis is an advanced Framework for WordPress. Please <strong>do not modify</strong> this stylesheet, as it will be overridden in Genesis updates.
	Author: StudioPress
	Author URI: http://www.studiopress.com
	Version: 1.8.0

	License: GNU General Public License v2.0 (or later)
	License URI: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php
*/

 /**
 * WARNING: This file is part of the core Genesis Framework. DO NOT edit
 * this file under any circumstances. Please do all modifications
 * in the form of a child theme.
 * 
 * Move the contents of this file to the child theme. Do not use @import, as
 * the CSS included with Genesis will change in the future.
 */

They were well away of this and edited the file anyway. You should not have to pay them for anything. That's bad business.

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Need help with customization or troubleshooting? Reach out to me.

[wp guy]

It's going to be tough to sue an oversees developer. Hopefully you used a service like PayPal where you can file a dispute.

[AnitaC]

Paypal doesn't refund monies for intangible items such as web development. Web development is considered an intangible good. An intangible good can't be held or shipped in a box (MP3, ringtone). Read the PayPal Seller Protection FAQs about this and/or call PayPal directly.

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Need help with customization or troubleshooting? Reach out to me.

[wp guy]

Partially true. If it was a transaction from PayPal funds they might not receive a refund. However, if they used a credit card through PayPal's payment portal they can win the chargeback via their credit card company and PayPal is forced to reverse the transaction.

Beyond that, file the complaint anyway. After "X" number of complaints PayPal will close their account.

[mannsma]

Thank you all for the info it's been very helpful. I didn't use Paypal but used freelance.com. The developer is in India and they refuse to refund or redo as they state the method they used is correct. I learned a lesson don't outsource to unknow developers. Freelance.com is sticking by them. They claim I should have noticed the problem and contact them within 30 days of the project completion. Well I didn't think I should update Genesis or WordPress till I felt all was working.

I need to try to figure out what to do and forget the developers in India.

[AnitaC]

Well, you will need to start with comparing your files to see what's been changed in the Framework itself. My suggestion would be to set up another demo area. Get all of this worked out first, then move the newly developed CSS and Genesis Framework moved over. If you need assistance, I know he's provided you a link to the "preferred developers" but I would like to throw my own hat in there.

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Need help with customization or troubleshooting? Reach out to me.

[MoodyRiviera]

This story proves that...as usual...you get what you pay for when you hire a developer.

[mannsma]

Anita how can I get in touch with you to discuss the project?

[AnitaC]

You can use the Theme Support tab on my website. Fill that out.

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Need help with customization or troubleshooting? Reach out to me.

[Author]

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