So, I thought I would give more details about some simple changes that one could implement on their site/Thesis theme. Also be advised that this could also be used on other themes as well, I’m sure it should work but you have to see how your theme handles it.
This will be part of a series whereby I will note a few simple and quick changes that one could implement in a few minutes.
The reason for the post is to help those and myself when questions are asked about making simple changes to their theme. I have decided to answer those questions as simple as possible and keep it direct.
1. Change colour of all widget headers
Widget header change all colour
This is a simple css styling and will change all the widget headers on your site. You could use the individual widget colours as well at the same time.
Adding one line of css code to your customs.css file can make a huge diiference. This will at least make your widget headers different to what the default is.
Have a look at the image to the right, I have highlighted the change.
2. Change colour of individual widget headers
All widgets have a class that gets referrenced, all we simply do is referrence that same class id and add one line to the custom.css file. You can of course change the colours and font size to your sites layout if you want.
You will have to look at your source code to see the class being referrenced. You will see the id being referrenced as id=top-commentators.
The styles changed the colour of my top commentators and recent comments header brown and green. I have also changed the font colour to white, any colour will do here.
Example of changing header colours of widgets
3. Change space between widgets
If you think the default space between widgets is to big for you, you can change it to be less or even more if you desire that effect. This is very simple and should not take you to long to find the desirable space size. This is just a small hack where you set the margin-bottom.
I am curious to know what you have set yours to. I know some users like big spaces as to not clutter everything to close. Let me know by leaving it as part of your comment.
4. Change colour of Comments Bracket
You can change the colour of the comments bracket. This can one way to make your Thesis theme as unique as possible. Please refer to download file for CSS styling code.
5. Replaces “0 Comments” with “Be the first to comment”
Replace the default wording of Thesis with your own. I think anything can go here, but do try and keep it simple and direct. Also note that this also removes the brakets. This is the only function in the file.
6. Remove {0 Comments} Entirely
Place one line of PHP code in custom_functions.php and you will remove the entire link. the hook is ‘thesis_hook_after_post’.
7. Hide “Comments on this entry are closed.” Message
If you don’t wish to allow any comments on all of your Pages, then you can go to the Thesis Options panel, and under Display Options, expand the “Comments” section, then check the option for Disable comments on all pages. This will have the added effect of removing the “Comments on this entry are closed.” message from all of your Pages.
Note: This setting applies only to Pages, not to Posts.
Download:
Thesis Tutorial - Sidebar Widgets and Comments
The download was made available on 25 November 2009 and is in zip format. The file size is 891 bytes and has currently been downloaded 386 times.
I have edited this post and put the CSS and PHP in a text file. Download the zipped file and get it working on your site in less than 10 minutes.
Final Thought
This is my first part of my series of Thesis tricks one can do to make your theme unique. There will be more posts explaining more changes, be sure to check back.
How were the changes for you? Did you do some of them and has it made a difference to your themes look?
The title has changed as I thought it was better suited.
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Article by George Serradinho
I am the proud owner of Serradinho.com and have made this my second home. I'm into blogging, downloads, WordPress and the internet in general. I also love meeting and helping others and learning new techniques.
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{ 49 comments }
I always thing that the best and the easiest way to modify anything is to change its color.
Clear CSS tips for changing the colors of widgets.
Tech-Freak Stuff´s last blog ..Useful Tips for Writing Good Blog Comments
@Tech-Freak Stuff – thanks man, I had so many queries recently that I had to publish this post earlier than I expected. I had scheduled it for next week, but moved it forward.
Hey George Great post and I’m glad to see you have taken care of SEO part while changing the comment entries by adding a nofollow attribute will be watching more of your upcoming tutorials.
@Thesis customization Service – thanks man, doing a bit of everything to get things right.
Yet another (several) good tutorial for Thesis. I would just like to add that I recommend people to use Open Hooks instead of adding add_action and remove_action in their function-file. It gets easier to keep track of everything by doing so.
Stefan´s last blog ..Monthly Roundup – August 2009
@Stefan – I don’t agree with you as if you have many functions after the post then it can also becomes a problem with rearranging them.
Lets say I have 6 functions that must be rearrange after the post. All I do is move the call to the function and that’s it. If you use Open Hook, then you have to do a lot more.
That’s just my opinion
The 5th trick looks interesting to me and I am eager in doing it but I am not using Thesis theme so will look on the web for any tutorial on how it’s done..
Typhoon´s last blog ..The importance of cloaking affiliate links & how to do it
@Typhoon – let me know if you come right, would be nice to know how others are doing it on other themes.
Thanks George… Thanks for the tips concerned with comments quite useful for me…
Compute Live´s last blog ..What is Yahoo Meme?
Yeah, one think I hate about Thesis theme blogs, they are all look the same!
Michael Aulia´s last blog ..Opera 10 is out – with Turbo
@Michael – would you say my blog looks like many others? If you do say that, it would be nice to mention a few so that I can check.
You mention that many Thesis sites look the same, I can also say that you are using a theme which many others are also using. I have seen numerous themes used by many sites and it’s the webmasters decision to make it as unique as possible.
I would bet that I can customize a Thesis theme quicker than you can change your theme to make it unique. Thesis puts the control of the theme in the webmasters hands as they can change it with a few clicks here and there.
I don’t agree with you Michael, you can see many people using Thesis, but people who don’t know how to customize it will be having the same theme. But there is tons of tutorials out there that teach you how to customize your thesis theme, so most of them know how to customize and make their thesis theme unique. I don’t see most of the Thesis themes have the same design.
Cheers,
Lee
@Lee Ka Hoong – I agree with you there, we could also say the same with Michael’s theme, I’m sure there are others who are using the same.
I really dont think they all look the same…I think they are only structured in the same way
Compute Live´s last blog ..Nokia X-series : Nokia X6 and X3 unveiled
@Compute Live – you are correct, anyone can make their site unique, they just have to try.
Well if you do less customizations, then they are all look the same
Michael Aulia´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Google Chrome
@Michael – I agree with your statement, but thats why you have to do some kind of customizing to make your theme unique.
Hey George,
It seems that your are experimenting on Thesis.
Really great tips.Find more on thesis.
Surender Sharma´s last blog ..Effective Ways to Find New Blog Readers for your Blog
@Surender – I have a few more lined up for others to read about. I have 4 lined up and 1 in the making.
Great tutorial Serradinho! I’ve replied your email regarding the Recent comment issue. Also, thanks for the tutorial #1,2,3 that you’ve taught me in the email. Thank you very much!
Regards,
Lee
Lee Ka Hoong´s last blog ..Professional Web Graphic Banner Design
@Lee Ka Hoong – no problem man, having a look at it now for you , will respond to email soon
George, these are great! Very clear and straightforward yet will make a nice impact. Thanks for the post!
christie´s last blog ..Google Wave Sandbox – I have a login!
@Christie – thanks a lot, means a lot to me hearing that.
“Hide “Comments on this entry are closed.” Message”
Just what I was looking for, thanks
Might also be needing the possiblity of removing “0 comments” or change the wording, so thanks for that one too.
Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..August 2009: Blog Summary & Income Report (My Second Month Of Blogging)
@Klaus – no problem, seems I have helped a bit out.
Learnt a ton today Serradinho. I am presently working on customising my thesis theme on my local server. Once, it turns out beautiful, then I will pull it and place it on my blog for the world to notice.
I am going slow in the mean time as time crunch is eating my blogging up. Thanks for sharing the material with us and helping us in tweaking the theme a lot more than what it offers.
@Suneel – glad to be of help, tune in again as I have more Thesis posts coming out. They will help you a lot
It seems that you are among the best Thesis themes user. Just keep up a good work George.
steppinout´s last blog ..Webhosting Guide For Beginners – Part 3
@steppinout – I’m not the best, I just try and understand and see what can be done. I like playing around with CSS and PHP.
You always give great tutorials on customizing Thesis. I’ll definitely come by here first if I ever decide to buy Thesis
Michael Aulia´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Google Chrome
@Michael – thanks man, I like playing around with it and see what can be done.
Terrific instructions, I’ve just started working with Thesis and was trying to figure out how to change font colors in widgets. Your tutorial showed me exactly what to do. Is there a tutorial for how to display our social media buttons on the side, like you have them on your site. I love the idea of getting them off the main area, but I’m so new to thesis, I wouldn’t have a clue for where to start. Thanks for the tutorial. Great stuff.
@Sharon – have a look at this post, Thesis Tutorial – Floating Icons – Find out how I did it, it will explain how I did it.
Can you help me on how to change “comments” and “13 comments… read them below or add one” into other language, i mean the code that can help this out. Thanks
Tinh´s last blog ..Các Ngân Hàng Việt Nam Cho Phép Verified PayPal
@Tinh – just sent you an email, have a look and let me know.
Thanks, replied via email and hope you help me once more.
Oh, how can I change word “Reply” into other language “Cancel Reply” too. Thanks much
Tinh´s last blog ..Các Ngân Hàng Việt Nam Cho Phép Verified PayPal
@Tinh – I have replied to you. I suggest you change the ones I have given and then check for other details which you want to change.
George I finally got Thesis and all though it’s driving me crazy and it looks like I have to re-design my entire background and header image I LOVE IT!
I also purchased it through your code
Anyway I have spent the entire day reading your Thesis Tips and they are a HUGE help, thank you George.
Extreme John´s last blog ..Why Does Facebook Hate Me?
@Extreme John – thanks for the love, let me know if you need some help. I would be honoured to help you
Nice Post , Easy and Under stable I only wanted to ask How Can I Add Some Description OR More Sidebars in Thesis Footer.
@Rishi – go to asnio.com and do a search for ‘mod footer’. He has all the details for you to add widgets to footer.
Thanx for the tutorial george. It will help me a lot. Btw i have won thesis theme from wpwebhost contest. I will catch you later when i am free.
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@Ricky – well done on the win, let me know if you need help or assistance.
I will contact you when I get my license code
Ricky´s last blog ..Make FireFox Secure Using KeyScrambler FireFox Plugin
You r awesome Thesis theme designer and envy on u for that… Thanks for the tips
Rajesh Kanuri @ TechCats´s last blog ..Happy Blogging Year 2010 – 2010 Blogging Resolutions
I want to change the font size & style of comments…. by default its is same as that of the body in customised in Design Options…
Is it posssible…. I just can’t find the right class or id to change is the css…
Debajyoti Das´s last blog ..Search and Download Torrents with Most Seeds Instantly
@Debajyoti Das – yes, it is very possible. Go to a page/post that has a comment and then view the source code, look for the comment via a search. Look at the class/id that is being used. Let me know if you still need help.
Tried but not working because… of some “format_text” which is defined for the enitire body…
Can you posts a code which can Add in custom .css
I am trying for verdana 10px.
Debajyoti Das´s last blog ..Search and Download Torrents with Most Seeds Instantly
@Debajyoti Das – will try and see what I can do.
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