V & C Impressions

Almost Grey Nomads in Australia

Tag: themes

  • WordPress themes

    WordPress themes

    Since starting this of this website, I have been on a search for the perfect theme, with excellent functionality, especially when it comes to showing pictures.
    There are a lot of options out there, free ones (lite) and premium (commercial ).
    A lot of time can be spent searching and customizing WordPress themes. The problem that I am coming across constantly is that some themes don’t work correctly with all plugins. In fact, even plugins can conflict with other plugins.
    Photo gallery plugins are the worst culprits. The theme either has its own gallery implementation which invariably conflicts with the one you have already, or the gallery that comes with the theme doesn’t have the functionality that you want. Also getting your website to look like the demo is usually an exercise in futility, especially if going with the free (lite) version. Something will be missing from the configuration options (need the premium version), or they just don’t work.
    Of course, you don’t realize this until you are about 80% along in your website development, with only a few things to tick off the list, but that is when the fun begins. Plugins clash, theme functionality is missing. Searching the www for answers, get frustrated, change course.
    Here is an article about theme development from WPTavern. It basically says there is a lot of errors in theme development, and the review team can’t keep up. There is a new process getting under way so hopefully, these problem themes can be corrected before being set free.
    I think that if you are trying to set up a WordPress website, generally you have a few ways to go about it.

    • Get the theme and plugins from the same developer usually referred to as premium. quicker and easier.
    • Hire a developer.
    • Go free and learn to edit theme files. cheaper, slower.
    • Use another platform altogether.

    After saying the above statement, I still think WordPress and all it’s associated plugins/themes are awesome. Just be prepared for a learning curve, with a bit of perseverance, you can get a website you are proud of. Still, more work to go on here, that will happen over time.
    For those that are interested, this site is using –

  • New Website Design

    After about a week, I think I have got his website molded into something I am pleased with. It has been a steep learning curve.
     I have been playing around with WordPress websites for years, all the while never being satisfied with the way they look, always something needing to be changed. I suppose it is that never-ending search, a bit like photography, for the perfect website/photograph which doesn’t exist.
    What one person thinks is great another thinks it’s so so.
    So, do I think this website is perfect, of course not. The gallery needs some more work, on the front page and the Gallery page, plus I also need to get more pictures up. There are a few miscellaneous items need fixing up as well, that will happen in due course.
    For those that are interested, here are some details about this website-