How to migrate forum from old theme to new theme

[voxxdebates]

I found a new theme template that I love but Im afraid to switch and lose info or crash my forum altogether. Is it as simple as just switching themes and the program with convert every thing? Or will customization etc be lost during migration. Im terrified because Im a tech noob..coding illiterate.

[voxxdebates]

Help...bump...anyone

[Brian]

Hi, voxxdebates.

You can have multiple themes on a forum, so if you need to back up an existing theme you can always go to Themes > Theme Manager, click on the Create New/Import Theme button, then choose to make a new theme that's a copy of your existing theme.

Once that's done you can edit the original to your heart's content without having to worry about losing what you previously had saved. You may also want to consider exporting a copy to your PC as well in case you accidentally delete the copy that exists on the forum. You can export a theme to a file on your PC via its settings.

[Scott]

voxxdebates, to add to what Brian stated above, you can have multiple themes on a forum each giving the forum a unique look. Any customization to a theme (colors, css, layout templates) stay with that theme.

Categories, boards, threads, posts are static to the forum and will not disappear from one theme to the next. How they are displayed may change based on the theme selected.

To see an example of this, on this forum go to Profile > Edit Profile, Settings tab, then under the Forum Theme drop down select a theme, click Save Account Settings at the bottom of the window then explore the forum. Go back and repeat for the other themes available. This will give you a sense of what "changes" from one them to another.

[voxxdebates]

So I can do a trial run...see how it looks and go back to the original if needs be without it crashing or glitching the original?

[Scott]

Mar 5, 2018 11:35:17 GMT -8 voxxdebates said:

So I can do a trial run...see how it looks and go back to the original if needs be without it crashing or glitching the original?

Yup

[voxxdebates]

I tried changing it...it didnt change...even when I made it default. What is the exact process to change? (without losing original)

[Scott]

voxxdebates, if the theme is available you would need to use the same process I mentioned above of going to your profile > edit profile and change it on the settings tab.

What is the forum url?

[voxxdebates]

Www.tradcath.proboards.com

[Scott]

voxxdebates, are you trying to change the theme for you to see it or for all guests/members?

[voxxdebates]

Yes for the forum members.

[Scott]

voxxdebates, go to Admin > Themes > Theme Manager. Hover over the name of the theme you want as default and the words "made default" will appear to the right of the name. Click on those words.

If you have more than one theme available, then members would need to switch to that theme in the profile. If you make other themes unavailable (the check box on the LEFT of the theme name), then members will only see the remaining default theme.

Guest will always only see the theme set as the default.

[voxxdebates]

Mar 7, 2018 11:27:07 GMT -8 Scott said:

voxxdebates , go to Admin > Themes > Theme Manager. Hover over the name of the theme you want as default and the words "made default" will appear to the right of the name. Click on those words.

If you have more than one theme available, then members would need to switch to that theme in the profile. If you make other themes unavailable (the check box on the LEFT of the theme name), then members will only see the remaining default theme.

Guest will always only see the theme set as the default

I was afraid that if I made the original "unavailable" I wouldnt be able to restore it if the new theme proved unpopular with the members.

[Scott]

voxxdebates, there's nothing really to "restore" so long as you are ticking the checkbox to the LEFT of the theme name and not deleting the theme. You can check the box to make it available again.

Think of changing themes, like changing clothes. You make look different, but you are still you with arms, legs, etc. Themes just stylize the information affecting the way it displays. If you don't like a pair of shoes you put on, you change change the shoes. Your feet don't become unavailable just by changing shoes.

You can have multiple themes available on the forum, and in fact some members like the idea of a choice to personalize their experience.

If you haven't already, you can make another forum and use it for testing purposes. A lot of admins do this so they can try out things and play with settings before implementing them on the 'live' forum. You should consider this so to get more familiar with the forum settings and customizing.

[voxxdebates]

Thanks Scott...proboards ROCK! Best customer service ever ever ever