How To: Merge Wordpress Themes with PHP Link Directory

DotSauce · 05-06-2007, 10:02 PM

I recently fused a wordpress blog with PHP Link Directory. They now blend seamlessly with the same design. It is fairly simple to do with some modifications to the Default PHPLD template header and footer.

Check out my new RSS directory for an example:
www.RSSbuffet.com "Serving up fresh article and news feeds of all flavors."

Using a Wordpress Theme with PHPLD
We are basically taking the header and footer from the Wordpress theme and wrapping it around the PHPLD content.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/website-development/324993-how-merge-wordpress-themes-php-link.html

Basic Instructions
============
Wordpress Themes vary greatly in arrangement and complexity, this tutorial has been tested on a two column layout with a normal header/footer and body content section. Complex themes may require additional tweaking and hacking.

Step 1. View the source code of your desired Wordpress theme from a browser. (Generally does not work well if you take the code directly from the Wordpress template files because alot of items are dynamically generated.) In your browser select View -> Page Source.

Step 2. Copy everything from the top of the page to just before the DIV where the main content begins (usually the first blog post).

Step 3. Open up the header.tpl file for the Default PHPLD template. Replace everything with the wordpress header code. (Note: You may want to keep certain code from the original header such as meta tags, etc.)

Step 4. Copy the code after the main content
of your Wordpress theme all the way to the end of the source code. This will usually include the sidebar as well.

Step 5. Open up the footer.tpl file of the Default PHPLD template. Replace everything with the Wordpress footer code. Be sure to include your link back to PHPLD if required.

Step 6. Open your PHPLD CSS file and copy/paste important styling such as error text, etc. to your Wordpress CSS stylesheet.

For the most part, if you follow these steps your link directory should now have the exact design as your Wordpress blog theme. You can now link back and forth between the blog and the directory with a seamless design. You will most likely have to tweak your CSS stylesheet to get fonts and forms looking perfect.

The only downside to this is that when you want to edit the header/footer or sidebar you need to make the changes in both your PHPLD and Wordpress template files.

I hope this helps! Please ask questions if you need assistance.

dvduval · 05-07-2007, 06:47 AM

Very nice. Thanks for posting this.

DotSauce · 05-10-2007, 03:28 PM

Quite welcome, anybody tried it yet?

OctaneInv · 05-10-2007, 05:53 PM

Thats awesome, very nice look.

I think I'm going to try this with one of my parked domains.

I will post results when finished.

Haha, well it didn't work so good ... check it out here http://octaneinvesting.com/phpLD/

dvduval · 07-04-2007, 12:15 PM

Sorry it didn't work.
Here are some templates that were made for both wordpress and phpLD
Matching Wordpress and phpLD Themes

05-06-2007, 10:02 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
DotSauce NamePros Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 676 Follow @DotSauce	How To: Merge Wordpress Themes with PHP Link Directory I recently fused a wordpress blog with PHP Link Directory. They now blend seamlessly with the same design. It is fairly simple to do with some modifications to the Default PHPLD template header and footer. Check out my new RSS directory for an example: www.RSSbuffet.com "Serving up fresh article and news feeds of all flavors." Using a Wordpress Theme with PHPLD We are basically taking the header and footer from the Wordpress theme and wrapping it around the PHPLD content. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/website-development/324993-how-merge-wordpress-themes-php-link.html Basic Instructions ============ Wordpress Themes vary greatly in arrangement and complexity, this tutorial has been tested on a two column layout with a normal header/footer and body content section. Complex themes may require additional tweaking and hacking. Step 1. View the source code of your desired Wordpress theme from a browser. (Generally does not work well if you take the code directly from the Wordpress template files because alot of items are dynamically generated.) In your browser select View -> Page Source. Step 2. Copy everything from the top of the page to just before the DIV where the main content begins (usually the first blog post). Step 3. Open up the header.tpl file for the Default PHPLD template. Replace everything with the wordpress header code. (Note: You may want to keep certain code from the original header such as meta tags, etc.) Step 4. Copy the code after the main content of your Wordpress theme all the way to the end of the source code. This will usually include the sidebar as well. Step 5. Open up the footer.tpl file of the Default PHPLD template. Replace everything with the Wordpress footer code. Be sure to include your link back to PHPLD if required. Step 6. Open your PHPLD CSS file and copy/paste important styling such as error text, etc. to your Wordpress CSS stylesheet. For the most part, if you follow these steps your link directory should now have the exact design as your Wordpress blog theme. You can now link back and forth between the blog and the directory with a seamless design. You will most likely have to tweak your CSS stylesheet to get fonts and forms looking perfect. The only downside to this is that when you want to edit the header/footer or sidebar you need to make the changes in both your PHPLD and Wordpress template files. I hope this helps! Please ask questions if you need assistance. __________________ - - - - - - ★ DotSauce Magazine by Mark Fulton ★ - - - - - - What's HOT in domain names, web development and online business!

05-07-2007, 06:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
dvduval NamePros Regular Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 433	Very nice. Thanks for posting this. __________________ PHP Link Directory Script - seo friendly link directory script Template Forums -beautiful templates for phpLD 中国超链接脚本 - phpLD now fully translated to Chinese!

05-10-2007, 03:28 PM	THREAD STARTER #3 (permalink)
DotSauce NamePros Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 676 Follow @DotSauce	Quite welcome, anybody tried it yet? __________________ - - - - - - ★ DotSauce Magazine by Mark Fulton ★ - - - - - - What's HOT in domain names, web development and online business!

05-10-2007, 05:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
OctaneInv Octane Media Works Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 981	Thats awesome, very nice look. I think I'm going to try this with one of my parked domains. I will post results when finished. Haha, well it didn't work so good ... check it out here http://octaneinvesting.com/phpLD/ __________________ shiftyMEDIA Producing Excellence Since 2007 Last edited by OctaneInv; 05-10-2007 at 06:27 PM.

07-04-2007, 12:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
dvduval NamePros Regular Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 433	Sorry it didn't work. Here are some templates that were made for both wordpress and phpLD Matching Wordpress and phpLD Themes __________________ PHP Link Directory Script - seo friendly link directory script Template Forums -beautiful templates for phpLD 中国超链接脚本 - phpLD now fully translated to Chinese!

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