Child Theme Installation

What is a Child Theme? #

The Digishift theme includes a child theme. A child theme is a separate theme that inherits all the functionality and styling of the main parent theme (Digishift) while allowing you to make modifications safely.

Why Using a Child Theme is Essential #

It is strongly recommended to use the included child theme for any customizations for the following reasons:

• Preserves Customizations: Any changes made directly to the main theme’s files will be overwritten and lost when you update the theme to get new features and security patches. Customizations made in the child theme remain intact after updates.
• Safe and Secure: Modifying the parent theme’s core files can break your site and make it vulnerable. The child theme acts as a safe layer for all your changes.
• Easy to Use: The Digishift child theme (digishift-child.zip) is pre-configured and ready to use. You do not need to create it from scratch.

How to Install the Child Theme #

1. Navigate: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes.
2. Click: Click the “Add New” button at the top, then click “Upload Theme”.
3. Upload: Click “Choose File” and select the digishift-child.zip file from your computer.
4. Install: Click “Install Now”.
5. Activate: After installation, click “Activate” to make the Digishift Child Theme your active theme. You can confirm it is active in Appearance > Themes.

How to Customize with the Child Theme #

The primary way to customize is by adding your own CSS code.

1. Navigate: Go to Appearance > Editor (also known as the Theme File Editor).
2. Ensure the “Digishift Child” theme is selected in the right-hand sidebar.
3. Select File: On the right side, select the style.css file from the list of theme files.
4. Add Code: Add your custom CSS code to the bottom of the existing code in the editor.
5. Save: Click the “Update File” button to save your changes.

Pro Tip: For more advanced customizations (like modifying template files), it is safer to use a code editor on your computer and access your site via FTP to add files to the child theme folder, rather than using the built-in WordPress editor.