9 Simple Steps for Downloading Thesis (4 of 4 in the Blog Setup Series)

Having decided my WordPress site would use the Thesis theme, I followed the welcome email link to the Thesis Theme Download Area.

Step 1 – Download Thesis [version x.x] now

First thing I do is download the software to my computer.  In my case I am downloading version 1.6.

It comes as a zip file which I save to my desktop.

Step 2 – Review installation instructions

Promised that the new version of Thesis was going to transform my life into “party time”, I reviewed the instructions for first-time installers.

I didn’t make it past the first point.

“1. Upload the new Thesis 1.6 folder to your /wp-content/themes folder.”

Uh, do I have a /wp-content/themes folder already?  A quick search in my Mac “Finder” came up blank.  Hmmm. Am I supposed to create this folder before starting?

After much aggravated Googling I finally realize that the wp-content/themes folder is in fact located on my web hosting server, thanks to wonderful instructions by Thesis Theme Tools.

Step 3 – Log into my Host Gator account and go to File Manager

1. On my Host Gator control panel there is a section called “Files”.  In that section is an icon labeled “File Manager”. I click on it.

2. A dialogue box appears asking me to select a directory.   I select the last option, Document root for… and select my web site from the drop-down. (Nothing to select – there is only one option.) I click Go.

3. I sort the list by clicking on the header. I scan down – hey, there’s the wp-content folder!

4. I open that folder.  There’s a folder called “themes”.  I am in the right place!!!

5. I click on the Upload icon in the top menu bar.

Step 4 – Upload the thesis folder to my themes folder

Using the Browse… button, I selected the zip file I downloaded in Step 1. It begins uploading automatically.

Step 5 – Extract the zip file

A dialogue box will open explaining that it will extract the files to the “themes” folder.  Perfect.

After extracting, the thesis folder will appear in your directory.

Open the directory and you’ll see a list of files and folders:

Step 6 – Rename the folder called “custom-sample” folder

Right-click on the folder called “custom-sample” and select Rename.

Delete “-sample” and Rename File.

Step 7 – Change permissions in the layout.css file

The layout.css file is found in your newly renamed “custom” folder from step 5.

Click on the “custom” folder and then highlight layout.css.

Right click and select “Change Permissions.”

Change your permissions by checking the boxes so the permission equals 666.

Step 8 – Allow Thesis to auto-crop thumbnail images

I’m not entirely sure what this means, except that if there’s an occasion for Thesis to create a really small “thumbnail” version of any of my images, it will be allowed to do so.

This is an optional step, but highly recommended.  Who am I to argue.

I select the “cache” folder (if you’re doing this immediately after Step 6, it should be on your screen), right click and select Change Permissions.

I change it to 775 by checking boxes:

Step 9 – Log into WordPress dashboard and activate Thesis

An exciting moment – did all my server-side efforts work?

I log into to my WordPress backend (I had to find the link from my WordPress welcome email.)

I click on Appearance on the left side of the screen.  Wow, there it is! And there’s even a button that says “Activate”.

Whoa!  In just a couple of seconds my whole screen changed:

The encouraging yellow box telling me Thesis is ready to rock also suggests I check out my site now. Well, ok!

Whoa. How’d they find that picture of me running on the beach with my friends?

Tagged as: 666, 775, Activate, Dialog box, File Manager, Installation, Instructions, Menu bar, Permission, Themes, Thesis, Uploading and downloading, Web hosting service, WordPress, WordPress.org, wp-content, Zip file