Customize Thesis Like A Pro

These lessons build on the “Start Building Your Website Here” video tutorials but don’t assume that you have watched them.  If you already have Thesis activated on a WordPress site and are comfortable with the basics of WordPress then this is a great place to start.

Before you begin

1. Have a hosting account with a domain name and WordPress 3.0 installed
2. Have a copy of  Thesis 1.8 installed on the site and activated.

Lesson 1 – Managing the File Structure

1. Understanding the Default WordPress and Thesis File Structure
2. Create a Local “Mirror” Copy of Your Site’s File Structure
3. Configure Filezilla for Synchronized Browsing
4. Create a Local Copy of Thesis Customization Files
5. Prepare the Site for Customization

Lesson 2 – Introduction to Customizing Thesis Using CSS

1. Overview of CSS
2. The CSS Files Thesis Uses
3. Best Practices Rule #1 – Use Thesis Design Options when Possible
4. Best Practices Rule #2 – Write the Minimum Code Necessary
5. Best Practices Rule #3 – Use .custom Before All Modifications to Thesis CSS
6. Best Practices Rule #4 – Use Descriptive and Unique Names for Your Custom CSS Selectors
7. Best Practices Rule #5 – Never (almost) use display:none;
8. Best Practices Rule #6 – Always Edit Your Local Copy, Never Edit a Live File

Lesson 3 – Tools of the Trade

1. Install Netbeans
2. Tour Netbeans Functionality
3. Install and Tour MeasureIt Fuctionality
4. Install and Tour CollorZilla Functionality
5. Install Firebug and Web Developer
6. Tour Firebug and Web Developer Functionality
7. Use Firebug and Web Developer together
8. Workflow Case Study – Styling a Submit Button

Lesson 4 – Customizing Backgrounds With Images and Color

1. Adding a tileable background image
2. Add additional background images to page elements
3. Adding a fixed background image
4. Add background color to various page elements

Lesson 5 – Thesis Custom Classes

1. Understanding Thesis Custom Classes
2. Case Study – Vary Header Image Using Automatic Custom Classes
3. Case Study – Vary Header Image Using Your Own Custom Classes

Lesson 6 – Inheritance and Specificity in Thesis

1. CSS Inheritance and Thesis
2. CSS Specificity and Thesis
3. CSS Specificity and the Thesis Custom Body Class System
4. The Structure of the Thesis Navigation Menu
5. Specificity and Inheritance in the Thesis Navigation Menu
6. Specificity in the Structure of the Thesis Navigation Menu
7. Classes Thesis Applies to the Navigation Menu
8. Examples of Styling Elements of the Thesis Navigation Menu

Lesson 7 – Thesis Page Frameworks

1. Understanding the Two Types of Page Frameworks
2. The Thesis Page Framework
3. The Thesis Full-Width Framework

Lesson 8 – Styling Inputs in Thesis

1. How Thesis Styles Input Fields
2. Styling input[type="text"]
3. Styling input[type="radio"]
4. Styling input[type="submit"]
5. Styling input[type="button"]
6. Styling text-area
7. Styling select

Lesson 9 – Introduction to Customizing Thesis Using PHP

1. Overview of PHP and custom_functions.php
2. Understanding Thesis Hooks
3. Remove an Action from a Thesis Hook
4. Add an Action to a Thesis Hook
5. Add a Custom Image Banner using PHP
6. Display Different Banners on Different Pages

Lesson 10 – Introduction to Custom Sidebars

1. HTML Structure of a Thesis Sidebar
2. Register the New Sidebar
3. Build the Dynamic Sidebar
4. Hook the Sidebar to the Appropriate Pages

Lesson 11 – Introduction to Custom Templates

1. Understanding the Structure of a Custom Template in Thesis
2. Creating a Basic Custom Template
3. Adding Thesis Functionality to the Custom Template
4. Add the Thesis Post Box
5. Add a Sidebar Above the Content
6. Create a 2 Column Template in a 3 Column Layout
7. Create a 3 Column Template in a 2 Column Layout

Lesson 12 – Introduction to Thesis Filters

1. Understanding Thesis Filters
2. Change the Default “Add Comment” Text
3. Change the Default “Comments” Text
4. Remove Post of Page Heading
5. Remove Sidebar on Specific Posts

Lesson 13 – Introduction to Thesis Custom Loop API

Lesson 14 – Creating Custom Secondary Loops

Lesson 15 – Using the Thesis Feature Box

Lesson 16 – Using Multiple WordPress 3.0 Menus

Lesson 17 – Creating and Using Custom Post Meta