Updating theme and losing all custom setting questions

[JennyLon]

I am not sure to update our theme or not here's the situation....

Someone made custom changes to our original current lifestyle theme version 1.0 things like content area wider, and side bars and all the aforementioned borders their colors and width and menu drop down style and look. They did the coding within the actual style sheet etc and possible sometimes php file maybe as well

That said no doubt not the best correct way of doing such changes and wanted to know FIRSTLY WHAT one SHOULD have done really when doing such things...?

NOW SECONDLY, if I was to upgrade to lifestyle 2.0 latest etc, trouble is, everything will look different since we did a test view using v2.0 and the content words and images within the side bars all got totally jumbled and haywire......argghh!

hence my second question to you please is:
IF, we did want to upgrade to lifestyle 2.00 What is the BEST way to go about doing it and where should such custom coding to have wider content side bars look etc be applied to in a way where any future upgrades won't create the same problem - we have 4 sites all done using same Lifestyle version 1.0 right now and feel upgrading to any future versions we should perhaps be actually doing so as to get also latest plugins that may only work with later themes etc and So as to keep everything future proof so to speak.... or is it no big deal?

I am not good with code but willing to make site and file back ups and copy code once I know WHERE to add it in what specific place or plugin you have that may aid and how to use etc. would be much welcomed in feedback on this upgrading themes and how best to do things )-:

many thanks

Jenny

[Robin]

Jenny,

This post by Chris Cree and discussion on G+ should point you in a direction as to how to handle custom css edits in the future:

https://plus.google.com/+ChrisCree/posts/TcS6LZMWPTU

As mentioned in the thread, installing the Jetpack plugin and using the custom css edit module is another option for
keeping your edits out of the original child theme.

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[JennyLon]

Hi Robin firstly thanks for replying however still none the wise to my SECOND question IF, we did want to upgrade to lifestyle 2.00 What is the BEST way to go about doing it etc ...and the things in that I mentioned please read....

So far as Custom CSS ooops Sorry Robin , that link you shared went way above me its code talk these folk on the link were all saying and his code thing you put in went right over my head!
(add the code he gave to your child theme's functions.php file.
Hmmmm well where exactly would that in that be placed at the bottom at the top ..etc HE NEVER SAID!)

PLus know idea HOW to go about and create a custom.css file with all of your customizations ... let alone with all the customizations in them that were done to our lifestyle theme version 1.0 site at the time and finding each and everyone that made the site it now looks and then how to go about pasting each code we did find in the exact right order into a custom .css file
(yes I know one can do the firebug show element tool thing - but it is still a matter for me personally knowing which exact code to choose and lay them all out into a custom css. file

Oh well....

[Robin]

Jenny, sorry that info was not as helpful to you as you would like. Unfortunately, the process of customizing your theme does start with using the Firebug tool and placing custom css edits in one of those methods if you choose not to edit the original theme as someone did to your theme.

If you are unable or do not wish to contact the person who customized your theme, perhaps you should hire a developer to do the process for your 4 sites since your skills are limited.

Most, but not all, changes to the functions.php are done at the bottom.

Without seeing your site and knowing specifically what you are changing, I have no other suggestions to offer to you.

Best Regards.

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Need help customizing your website? Let me know at RKW Media.

I’m taking up The Challenge by answering some of the Unanswered Posts.

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