New to the community? Start here

Customisation doesn't work on Magazine, Social, Nelo, Triden & Dixi premium themes

Hi, I have been unsuccessfully trying to use the design customisation features on the premium themes. I first tried with Dixi/Nelo/Triden on one WPMU fresh install (WPMU only). A week later I had the full WPMU/BuddyPress installed and tried BP-Social and BP-Magazine with no more success.

– I am using WPMU 2.9.1.1, BuddyPress 1.1.3 and bbPress 1.0.2

– Fresh install from last week – no content yet

– checked that above themes are in wp-content/themes (no sub/sub folders, no bb-themes etc)

– tested on both main blog and sub-blog

– checked that page source indicates link to theme-options.php <link rel=”stylesheet” href=”http://blognovis.com/wp-content/themes/bp-social/theme-options.php

– disabled all plugins

More details on the issue:

– On the Nelo/Triden/Dixi themes I could change the pictures/texts from the CMS, only the design (fonts/colors) didn’t work.

– On BP Social/Magazine though, none of the CMS features work (slideshow on Magazine, even if saved as ‘enabled’, doesn’t work; video embedding on Social doesn’t work); worse even, depending on what I attempt to change, the site comes up as a skeleton (header/footer only, no body content).

– I never get any error msg and can always ‘save’ changes – the saved changes just don’t show

I am keen to find a resolution as even if I could hard code the design changes for my main blog, I cannot do that for my blog users who need to be able to use the design custom with no intervention from me on their sub blogs.

Thanks in advance for your help. The site is live at http://blognovis.com

Julie

(PS I am following similar threads but none of the offered resolutions seemed to work for me)

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:24:32
  • Tammie
    • WordPress Wizard

    @sistak: Hmmm first up I see you’ve got the right path (that is the usual problem with theme options) as seeing everything under themes/bp-social. Now my next idea would be to make sure you’ve set things up under appearances > theme optons as those are where you set all themes up. If that doesn’t sort it make sure you’ve got the main style not default set under preset – depending on the theme you may or may not have this option. After that it’s going to be a case of removing all plugins apart from buddypress and seeing if things resolve doing that. If you could try those things and update me please.

  • sistak
    • Design Lord, Child of Thor

    Thanks @tlister, based on your feedback I have

    – deactivated all plugins (incl. BuddyPress)

    – emptied the mu-plugins, plugins and themes folders

    – downloaded WPMU-Nelo latest version from the WPMU premium forum

    – uploaded WPMU-Nelo in wp-content/themes

    – set WPMU-Nelo as theme on my main blog

    – changed the Theme Options to ‘custom homepage’ and ‘recent blog’ and added a text in ‘Profile About you’ -> works (saved and visible)

    – changed background and font colors -> doesn’t work (saved but not visible; no error msg)

    Thanks to let me know if I missed anything or what I can try next.

    Ultimately I want to use BuddyPress and the Magazine theme, but for now it appears to have exactly the same issue with the custom design, so I guess it might be easier to continue troubleshooting with BuddyPress deactivated – once we get WPMU Nelo working, I will try to reactivate BuddyPress and test the BuddyPress themes.

    Thanks for your help,

    Julie

  • Tammie
    • WordPress Wizard

    @sistak: Hmm once you do have it up perhaps using BuddyPress 1.2 could be the option as Magazine is updated for that now if you get the latest file. I’m unaware of any issue in 1.1 that would cause what happened with you but it could have been a bad install / configuration of BuddyPress – how I’m unsure.

    You say you’re getting the same though on Nelo. What is the install path for it and what version of WP mu are you using?

  • sistak
    • Design Lord, Child of Thor

    @tlister: I am using WPMU 2.9.1.1, BuddyPress 1.1.3 and bbPress 1.0.2 and the Nelo I’ve downloaded today from the premium forum. It’s all set in wp-content/themes/Nelo as well and the changes on header and text do come through, not the design (I don’t see, in the Nelo files, where the design variables are – I can find the text/images ones but not the font/bg colors…:wink:

    @Aaron, not sure I understand – if you mean opening the theme-options.php in my editor, it only contains the design variables such as:

    h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {

    font-family: <?php echo $tn_buddysocial_headline_font; ?> !important;

    }

    I had also checked the site on a reset browser but the only visible customization is, as above, the text and custom header (as set from the theme options dashboard).

    And I am testing on a WPMU install that has had no customization at all since installed by incsub, so nothing fancy should get in the way..

  • sistak
    • Design Lord, Child of Thor

    @Aaron, I can confirm that there’s a font.php file in the nelo folder, but you were right on the permissions – the font.php file was read-only.

    – I then set the whole themes folder and files to 777 – unfortunately that didn’t help.

    – I went on to check the htaccess file, which appears to be a .dist file that my txt editors wont handle.. Any help on this, or any standard htaccess file I can download and use to test?

    Thanks,

    Julie

  • sistak
    • Design Lord, Child of Thor

    Also, I ran a search on my DB and the values seem to be stored correctly in the Options:

    option_name option_value autoload

    tn_wpmu_bg_colour #FF2667 yes

    The option is saved but not output..

    As for the htaccess, it has not been reconfigured after it has been installed by incsub last week so I’d be grateful for support/fix. Thanks,

    Julie

  • sistak
    • Design Lord, Child of Thor

    OK thanks, I’ve looked at the .htaccess (there’s a .htaccess-wpmu as well with identical content) but not sure what I need to edit or change. I’ve attached the document for you to have a look.

    Also, based on the README file and your previous tip, I realise that maybe my Apache has not been configured on installation for AllowOverride – but i don’t know where to look. Can you help?

    Apache

    ======

    Apache must be configured so that mod_rewrite works.

    1. Make sure a line like the following appears in your httpd.conf

    LoadModule rewrite_module /usr/lib/apache2/modules/mod_rewrite.so

    2. In the <Directory> directive of your virtual host, look for this line

    “AllowOverride None” and change it to “AllowOverride FileInfo Options”

    3. In the <VirtualHost> section of the config file for your host there will be a line defining the hostname. You need to add the following if you want virtual hosts to work properly:

    “ServerAlias *.domain.tld”

    Replace domain.tld with whatever your one is, and remove the quotes.

  • sistak
    • Design Lord, Child of Thor

    Update: my hosting provider confirmed that Apache is configured as per README file. The only thing that’s left is to check the .htaccess – here attached to the previous post.

    Thanks to let me know if there’s anything I need to change in this document.

    Julie

  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    this link

    http://blognovis.com/wp-content/themes/wpmu-nelo/fonts.php

    (check if this file existed in nelo theme)

    should be readable, where now it direct to 404 page.

    try couple of this step..

    1. if nelo theme had 404.php, delete or rename it.

    2. delete (backup 1st) htaccess and reset and save permalink to default and check the link again. the htaccess should be recreate.

    3. disable all plugins.

    it think your server php.ini restrict some file view like .php extension…in rare cases

    the bp social/magazine problem should be solved once you solved the nelo issue..

    also you can test the nelo theme in single wp install and see if the problem still happen…

    maybe some wpmu install file corrupt or defected..

    update here again ok

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    I have just started with the Dixi theme and am unable to upload a custom header. I have created a jpg exactly of the dimensions specified (1000 x 150 px) so as not invoke cropping.

    After clicking on “upload,” I am presented with a blank screen and the opportunity to crop the portion of the image I wish to use. No uploaded image shows, and no options to save whatever is not there.

    What do I do now?

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    @Richie_KS

    Did a chmod to 777 for wp-content/blogs.dir/ and all subfolders. Didn’t help

    I downloaded within the past 7 days. Will do a new install and report back.

    Any other guidance, suggestions, hints, tips or tricks?

    edit #1 … Unzipped folder shows wpmu-dixi_2.1.2 and 2.1.3, so I presume I am using the old. Am uploading as I type, and will return.

    edit #2 … Installed 2.1.3 by overwriting existing version. Didn’t help. Cleared cache in browser. Didn’t help. Other options?

  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    try upload and crop an image that is not an actual 1000×150 size.

    did you reactivate the theme in siteadmin-> themes…that might clear and update

    the tpl cache?

    also using wordpress default theme or any theme that had custom header..see if the custom header also not working?

    update here again ok.

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    @Richie_KS

    (1) Used multiple sizes, no change in result

    (2) Did do a reactivation, both in siteadmin -> themes and in appearance -> themes

    (3) Tried three magazine style themes

    Am attaching screen shots of typical attempt.

    edit … Apologies for the duplicate posting. Trying to upload and got that temporarily unavailable page.

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    Creeating a new post … edit link not showing.

    I am finding that the custom header feature or theme customizing feature problem may be theme specific. Nelo works fine, Triden and a non-supported theme do not. Thinking that it may be the theme implementation of custom-header.php, but I’m sucha a newbie, what do I know. LOL

    Kirk

  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    hi kirk

    i think i had something to do with your core installation…since the header image did not pass thro on custom-header functions().

    try reupload wpmu 2.9.1.1 fresh files and go http://sitename.com/wp-admin/upgrade.php

    to make sure everything ok.

    if you didn’t made any core changes in wpmu files…i would suggest delete all the files except

    wp-content and reupload all just to be sure all files are fresh and no corrupt file during upgrade.

    cheers

    ps

    @kirk

    please reply/update on your original thread rather than this one:slight_smile:

  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    Will uploading all the root files cause the script to reinstall? Will reinstall delete the test blogs I’ve created?

    yes..it will replace any corrupt install files..in your case the custom-header maybe…

    no..sub blog shouldn’t be effected on upgrade or updates main site wpmu files.

    cheers

  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    i see…could you list the version of the nelo/triden/dixi..check style.css

    also did you made any changes to triden and dixi functions.php prior before reupload

    the wpmu files.

    since nelo used the same functions header as triden and dixi..it should be working.

    maybe reactivate site-admin themes and reactivate themes appearence..to update

    the template cache.

    cheers

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    Hi Richie,

    (1) No changes made to code … I’m not good at that and do as little as possible. Probably none in MU themes for a goodly while.

    (2) Speaking of code, I did a search for “add_custom_image_header” in the themes and see an empty “else” behind the second find in both triden and dixi, but not in nelo. Am not sure if that is important or not. Your advice?

    (3) Versions …

    Triden 2.1.1 … shows 2.1 online in style.css

    Nelo 2.1.1 … shows 2.1 online in style.css

    Dixi 2.1.3 … shows 2.1.3 online in style.css

    Are we having fun yet?

  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    mm..i see..i see

    try update the triden to 2.1.2 (the newest version in download)

    will see if the problem fixed there before check on other tpl…of coz take the necessary

    to reactivate themes in site admin…reset theme option also might do..etc

    @ else code

    that shouldn’t effected the custom header..it just a conditional called in theme

    option for default on/off header.

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    I hope I counted right. uploading the file. Got this error whenever I tried to activate the theme, or any other action …

    Parse error: syntax error, unexpected $end in /home/kirkward/public_html/wp-content/themes/wpmu-triden/functions.php on line 1570

    Restored the original functions.php and all was corrected, with Trident as the active theme. Appears to have gotten stuck in the midst of activating the theme.

    Here is the functions.php file as text.

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    Thanks Richie,

    I think we’re making progress, but I’m getting an error message that there is not enough space, ##KB needed. Not sure what this means, but it varies according to the jpg.

    I tested with a gif, and again did not see an image when the crop image button appeared.

    See you tomorrow.

    Kirk

  • Tammie
    • WordPress Wizard

    @all involved: we’ve gone through things today with the server in live support. My idea currently is that it is php.ini. The problem is it uploads, then it says it needs more space on the cropping therefore it’s running out of memory somewhere. We’ve checked all settings and all do seem correct to get this working. I have asked Kirk to upload his php.ini or have it available on request so updating this thread for those able to assist.

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    I have just noticed that my WPMU dashboard says 1 Meg storage allowed, 97% used, which could be affecting the uploads, but I cannot find the setting to change this. My server package is set to “unlimited” (unless of course I try to use an unlimited amount, I am sure).

    Where would this setting be. I cannot find the edit button, link or page. Tried under Site Admin -> Blogs. Didn’t see it.

    Edit … I cleared all the unattached (all) uploaded images and that cleared the upload problem, but the problem with the Custom Header page continues.

    So summary ….

    (1) I need to know where to increase the storage space allowed.

    (2) Problem persists with Custom Header page not displaying uploads and not attaching them to the theme.

  • Richie_KS
    • HummingBird

    (1) I need to know where to increase the storage space allowed.

    it is under Site Admin -> Options -> Blog upload space

    (2) Problem persists with Custom Header page not displaying uploads and not attaching them to the theme.

    is this happen in all theme with custom header or particular theme only?

    you might want to check you Upload File Types also under options

    jpg jpeg png gif mp3 mov avi wmv midi mid pdf

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    @Richie_KS

    …1) I need to know where to increase the storage space allowed.

    >>>it is under Site Admin -> Options -> Blog upload space

    Thanks. I had searched on the interweb and I honestly thought the forum I read said look under site admin -> blogs In the meantime, in the live support yesterday, Tammie instructed me where to look and I had set that to a larger size, but still have just learned how to remove unattached files to free space.

    … 2) Problem persists with Custom Header page not displaying uploads and not attaching them to the theme.

    >>> is this happen in all theme with custom header or particular theme only?

    >>> you might want to check you Upload File Types also under options

    >>> jpg jpeg png gif mp3 mov avi wmv midi mid pdf

    It is happening in Triden and Dixi themes, as well as non-wpmu themes, when I try to use the Custom Header link.. It works on Nelo and edu-clean which both appear to have a different screen and possibly method.

    I left the allowed file types as they were when I installed wpmu. The list you show is the list in my system. I have tested only with jpg, png and gif, but they all failed and followed the same pattern in the msWord doc I previously gave the link for.

    I did look in the blogs.dir folder on my server to find that all the files I had uploaded were there, and they appeared in the media library as unattached. My current thinking is that the script or function that calls custom-header.php may have errors. I would appreciate any more suggestions you can offer.

    @Sue_Waters

    Thanks for the link. I tried to print the manual to pdf from here, but the page headers wrapped and overwrote, so the reading was a pain and a distraction. The pdf in your link is much easier for me to read. I will do a first read through that this afternoon and evening.

    Thanks to all for the help.

    Need to rest now after working on building a grandbaby bedroom since daughter and hubby moved home and are wearing old codeger grandpa out. Getting hard to even type responses here. Whew.

    Chat with you later,

    Kirk

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    Damn, damn, damn!

    I must apologize for taking so much time and space in this thread.

    I have discovered that the hosting company I have placed my wpmu site on had security settings on the account. They have whitelisted my account and the Custom Header function is working.

    I apologize again. I most likely had not stated my question to them properly when I was asking their technical support team. Is there a red face icon here?

  • Kirk Ward
    • Syntax Hero

    so all working fine with the custom header now right?

    Hi Richie …

    I decided to test with a non-wpmu theme that I had on another host. I tested to make sure the feature worked in a regulaar wp install and then tested it in a wpmu environment.

    When it did not work, I then presented that data to Hostgator, where the standard tech support elevated it to a sytem admin who released the security settings and the custom header function worked flawlessly with the non-wpmu theme.

    I will now re-test with Triden and Dixi, but my expectations are that there will not be any problems.

    First though, I think I may go get inebriated and relax. Old codgers have stiff bones this early in the day anyway, and a week of piddling with this had me as tense as a Marine in Marjah.