The "Correct" Way to Child Theme?

[Gr8_Eight]

Hi,
I've done a lot of reading and I'm a bit confused and I'm hoping to get some direction.

1) The official genesis docs say that for initial setup, I should take the style.css that comes with the child theme, copy it in its entirety to to style.css in my child theme folder, and then make changes/additions there.

2) However, I've seen a bunch of tutorials for Genesis (not from studiopress) that want to to run a genesis child theme in the same way I'd do it for any other WP theme - with a custom style.css along with an @import directive so I can just override whatever new styles I need. Personally I find this a much cleaner and faster way to code.

That being said, which is the way to go? Is there a disadvantage to approach #2?

Thanks!!!

[Brad Dalton]

To create a child theme or to modify a child themes CSS?

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Tutorials for StudioPress Themes.

[Gr8_Eight]

Well, both I guess.
Thanks!
And sorry for so basic a question but I want to get the fundamentals squared away!

[sethbahookey]

I'd like to add to this as well. I just purchased my copy of Genesis today and it's great so far! Challenge I'm having is that I upload the Genesis theme in my WP. Then I create a folder for my child theme, copy over the whole CSS file (btw gr8_eight - I was told that's the best way to do it so that if the core updates you won't lose any of your edits where you might if you @import), and then I make my changes to the top of the file with Template name. When I go and visit the site. All the formatting is gone.

The sidebar appears right underneath the main content area and so on. What gives? It's the exact same CSS file so why is it changing styles like that? Thanks!

[workky]

I think, i dont know, but you have to copy over the functions file as well. I just use the Genesis sample theme that you can download from studio press when you buy genesis.

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life’s tough, it’s a lot tougher if you’re stupid
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[Gr8_Eight]

The thing that I don't like about copying over all the CSS is that it's a huge # of lines to go through. I'd much prefer to have 20 lines of CSS that I added myself so I can quickly make my changes.

Is there any technical issue with using a genesis child theme's style.css file in the same way one would make a child theme for a non-genesis WP site? I.e -- just overriding what I need to change?

I guess I don't understand the rationale behind copying over the entire CSS file, and then making my changes here and there among all of that code.

Thanks!

[workky]

I know what you are trying to do, but i don't know if you can do that with Genesis. I'm thinking you might just run Genesis framework and then use something like they have with jet pack that lets you just add custom css while still preserving the genesis framework. Heck, i don't know. I always just use the sample theme and modify it using google developer tools and an FTP to modify the stylesheet and upload it

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life’s tough, it’s a lot tougher if you’re stupid
My Website

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