Is there a 'Montezuma For Dummies' type idiot guide somewhere I could read? I don't seem to be getting this concept of physical and virtual templates.

Have given up trying to create a child theme ... just got too confusing, so I'm 'cheating' with a couple of plugins that add custom css and functions over the basic theme's. However physical main and sub templates I'm creating don't seem to get used, but if I copy them to 'virtual' templates I'm using php which isn't in the 60+ 'allowed', so isn't getting recognised / acted on.

I'm determined to get it working because I love the theme, but I'm struggling on what should be a relatively simple site - which I'm using as a 'learning opportunity' - and though I could compromise, I know I won't be able to when I try to apply the theme to more complex ones.

Any help | guidance | suggestions gratefully accepted (except unplug the computer and take it back - you're too stupid to use one)

I'd like a copy of that dummies book also please

Originally Posted by Michael4fm

Is there a 'Montezuma For Dummies' type idiot guide somewhere I could read? I don't seem to be getting this concept of physical and virtual templates.

Change and make new templates from the dashboard, not by editing the files directly.

Have given up trying to create a child theme ... just got too confusing, so I'm 'cheating' with a couple of plugins that add custom css and functions over the basic theme's.

No need for a child theme. Montezuma has enough custom options. I love the Lazyest Stylesheet plugin. It always loads last and overrides anything in the theme. Then I never touch the theme css files.

However physical main and sub templates I'm creating don't seem to get used, but if I copy them to 'virtual' templates I'm using php which isn't in the 60+ 'allowed', so isn't getting recognised / acted on.

Add new templates from the appearance > Montezuma options tabs of the dashboard, or edit the existing ones. In your pages or posts, select which template for the post/ page to use.

I need to use php that isn't in the 'approved' list, so I think I have to do this offline .. or at least not through the MONTEZUMA virtual templates.

First challenge I'm having is with the index.php file ... so not one that a custom one can be specified through post or page entry. I guess I could set up a lot of category and tag templates etc. ... I'll probably do that anyway in the end but sussing out index.php as a starting point seems the logical thing to do.

I've seen you mention the 'Laziest Style Sheet' plugin before. That might even be what gave me the idea! I'll take a look before I get too used to the separate CSS and function plugins I've just started using. Thanks for the tip!

I guess the 'child' thing is to do with being worried about what might happen when MONTEZUMA is updated. As a newcomer to the theme I don't know what I might lose, and I'll probably be doing quite a bit of customising. Don't want to have to redo it all if / when I update the theme.

Originally Posted by Michael4fm

I need to use php that isn't in the 'approved' list,

Me, too.

so I think I have to do this offline .. or at least not through the MONTEZUMA virtual templates.Me, too.

Here's the simple workaround. With Montezuma, you can put a sidebar anywhere, even in the content area. I just put in a sidebar where I want my custom PHP that's not in the approved list, then I use the PHP Code Widget Plugin, and put my code there. It works like a charm. For example, all the random images at the top and bottom of my content area here are made with this method.

I've seen you mention the 'Laziest Style Sheet' plugin before. That might even be what gave me the idea! I'll take a look before I get too used to the separate CSS and function plugins I've just started using. Thanks for the tip!

The thing I especially like about it is that all my custom CSS is in one file.

I guess the 'child' thing is to do with being worried about what might happen when MONTEZUMA is updated. As a newcomer to the theme I don't know what I might lose, and I'll probably be doing quite a bit of customising. Don't want to have to redo it all if / when I update the theme.

That's what's nice about using the dashboard. All your changes remain after an upgrade. Also, if you make new templates, there's nothing that will overwrite it; the new version probably won't add a new template with the same name. So there's no need for making a child version. Of course, backing up is always a good idea.

Originally Posted by jerryc

I just put in a sidebar where I want my custom PHP that's not in the approved list, then I use the PHP Code Widget Plugin, and put my code there.

I suspect you have to be pretty knowledgeable in CSS to do that. I'm afraid I just tweak and re-engineer what's already there ("A little knowledge ...." etc.) Also, once I've completed some learning on simpler sites, I need to apply the theme to http://www.smartshare.s-t-u-f-f.net where there's all sorts of php if statements and use of custom fields ... I'm sure if I play around enough I'll work out how to make custom templates work. Probably no greater effort than learning how to use your work-around properly! Still, thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep it 'up my sleeve' in case I'm not as successful with the templates as I hope I'll be.

I'll mark this thread as 'closed'. Still wouldn't mind a 'MONTEZUMA for DUMMIES' guide though.