Course Description/Summary:

There are a number of tools available in a standard WordPress installation which allow a large degree of customization.

WordPress users, however, also have the option of taking their WordPress package to the next level of customization by creating their own custom theme.

Participants in this workshop will be introduced to the WordPress theme development process, and will develop the understanding necessary to take their own interface and design ideas, and implement them in their WordPress development.

This workshop will focus on the latest stable version of WordPress 2.8.

For more information on WordPress, visit http://www.wordpress.org.

Who this class is for:

-      People who have a WordPress blog and are looking to break out of using pre-made designs and themes.
-      Web Designers with an understanding of HTML and CSS who are looking for more powerful tools to offer their clients.

Course Outline:

-       WordPress: is it a Blog? Or is it a Website?
-       The anatomy of a WordPress theme
-       Using Template pages
-       Using Template tags
-       Using Conditional tags
-       Controlling where and how your content appears throughout your WordPress site
-       Creating static website pages through WordPress
-       Reverse-enigneering WordPress HTML structures
-       WordPress CSS best practices
-       Completely controlling the look of your WordPress content

Experience Level:

- Some familiarity with HTML and CSS
- Access to an environment capable of hosting a WordPress installation
- Either a hosting package with PHP5 and MySQL Database access or
- A personal computer capable of running server / database software (such as WAMP, LAMP, or XAMPP)
- Participants should have ability to use an FTP program
- A text editor program is needed (ie. Notepad) or script / code editor (ie. Dreamweaver / Notepad++ / PSPad / jEdit, etc.)