For over a month now, I’ve been working on the set up of my WordPress theme Amazing Grace by VladimirPrelovac. I looked at thousands of free templates, but none suited my needs and tastes. I stumbled upon Amazing Grace while reading another blog poster’s comments. As soon as I saw the theme I knew I could make it work at Paul J Roberts . com
Things I like about Amazing Grace
- Simple lay out
- Mild colors
- Rotating Header Pictures (I customized mine with new pictures
) - Vladimir Prelovac’s support on his blog page
Many “how to” blogs give only basic information on how to set up and admin a WordPress blog. But Vladimir’s is superbly detailed with specific examples of how to set up all aspects of a WordPress blog (SEO, blog speed, tags, etc). He even writes some of his own plug-ins! By far, Vladimir’s blog is one of the best I’ve come across and it helped me set up my own WordPress Blog using his Amazing Grace theme. Check it out and see for yourself and set up your own family or professional web blog today!
Changing the rotating pictures:
BTW, if any of you wish to learn how to change the rotating pictures in the header screen with your own, it’s not too difficult. No one seems to have posted a good how to on this yet. Post a comment showing your interest. I’ll whip up a quick how to and even supply the blank base pic you’ll need to overlay your own pic on top of. You’ll need either Adobe Photoshop or GIMP and also Fotosizer to do the grunt work. Let me know….
Praising Amazing Grace in Vladimir’s forum Here
Paul Roberts
Rotating Picture Templates:
To view each, just click the link. To save, Right Click each and select Save Link As….
Center picture insert needs to be 282 pixels wide and 176 pixels high
Hey Paul,
Great stuff on the AG theme! Have you by chance figured out if the blogroll is able to be ordered in another format than alphabetical? I want certain links in a certain order on my blogroll, but can’t seem to get AG to do it any other way than alphabetical.
Let me know if you get a chance, and thanks!!
Paul
Paul,
Thanks for stopping by!
I use a WordPress plug in called, My Link Order vs.2.7. It worked well with Amazing or Blue Grace 2.7. You could drag any order you wanted in the WP admin section for My Lined Order. But, since I’ve upgraded to Amazing & Blue Grace 3.0, My Link Order still gives me the options of reordering my Blogroll, but the changes don’t stick. I have not found a way to trick it. Not sure what Vladimir did differently with AG 3.0. If you figure it out, drop me a line. If I do, I’ll post it here.
Hi Paul,
I love the Amazing Grace theme too and have used it for my site. I have made a significant amount of modifications though, including changing the heading colors. Now, I want to put in my own pictures (already have them and re-sized for proper fit, but I get stuck on that background that goes with each pic!!), but the examples I have found are just too complicated for my “newbie” brain and I can’t seem to get it! Did you ever write out the simple explanation that you talked about above? If so, I would definitely be interested in getting it! Thanks for any and all help!
Melissa
Melissa,
Well, I did not get any takers on wanting the info..except for yourself. So, I have not written it yet.
I did notice though that you’ve already changed your background and the background color around each of the theme pictures.
Here is how you do this in a nut shell. You take one of the original pictures. (I used Photoshop to do this part.) Now draw a box around the center photo itself, leaving the white photo edges and delete the photo. So now you’re left with no pic in the center. Save it as a template for each of the 9 pics in the rotation.
Now open that empty template and add a layer. Then insert your new pic “on top” of the template. Position it and then “Save As” using the default pic file name. Now repeat for all 9 pics and upload to the server.
The trick for you is that you’ve already modified your colors, so I cannot give you my template. I took your pic and cut out the center and placed a link in the post above. You center picture needs to be 282 pixels wide x 176 pixels high to fit exactly!
Thanks, Paul for your help. I was able to get the blank template and then layer each picture on top. It is a bit tricky as each picture had to be re-sized to 286 X 177; then they fit perfectly only requiring a tiny movement on my end to get them centered! Then I uploaded them and it worked fine!
The next task for me was to rotate more than 9 pictures. It took some doing, but I figured that out too. You’ll need to go to the header.php file; what you’re looking for is this text:
#portrait-bg { background:url(/images/bg-portrait.jpg); }
The (rand()%9); is what you’re looking for…that’s the part that needs to be changed to:
(rand(1,X)) whereby “X” is the number of pictures that you have. I found out the hard way that you must be exact….if you have uploaded 15 pictures to your server, you’ll need to put 15 in there. If you don’t, it will result in “Blank Pictures” that show up.
And lastly, you’ll need to name your pictures “bg-portrait10.jpg”, “bg-portrait11.jpg”, etc, etc. keeping the numbers in order; otherwise the program will not pick them up.
Hope that is all clear and that it helps!
Thanks again for your great help to me!
Melissa
Melissa,
Great to hear you got things working! Glad to be of service too
I would love an explanation of how to do the rotating pictures! I’ve tried and researched and if you can help me out, I’d kiss ya!
I absolutely love this theme and want to continue using it in a custom fashion with the pictures!
codadiva’ last blog post..Ring in 2009!
Codadiva,
Above I’ve made three picture files to use for your picture templates- Amazing Grace, Blue Grace and the third one was for Mellisa’s modified grace theme.
Save the file for your Amazing grace theme and then use photo shop or Gimp to overlay your pictures on top of the blank template. Then make 8 or 9 of them naming them the same as the ones in the theme’s picture folder.
Mellisa and I go over the sizes needed in the comments above. If you need more info, let me know specifically what you need to know.
Thanks.
Hi Paul, I am building my site and came accross your site when trying to fix a problem with my theme, which happens to be the Amazing Grace. what a great theme, so neat and tidy. Your site is great. I am wondering, the information that comes up above the comments box, the “You can use these tags:<a hef…..” does anyone know if you can get rid of that, it looks so ugly?
Peita’ last blog post..Wise Parenting-Part II
Peita,
Glad to help. Log into your Word Press admin. If you’re running WP 2.7, go down to Appearance. There you should see Themes and Editor. Select Editor. Once that loads, on the right hand side you will see Theme Files-Templates. Look for the one labeled Comments (comments-php) and click it. Now you should see the PHP code that controls how the Comments area of each post looks like.
Scroll to the bottom of the page of code. Now count up about 8-10 rows of code and look for this:
< p>< small>You can use these tags: < ?php echo allowed_tags(); ?>< /small>< /p>
Simply delete everything between the < p> and the < /p> and select Update File. ((I like to leave the < p >< /p> so I remember where the code goes if I should ever want to replace it.)) It will just leave a little extra space above the comment box.
Now the ugly stuff is gone! Since you mentioned it, I did it on my site too. Thanks
Thanks Paul, I am glad we both helped each other! Your service is better than my paid for services!!!Very kind of you to help.
Peita’ last blog post..
I have a couple of issues with the Amazing Grace theme. One is that the tags are not showing at the end of the posts.
Secondly I have a lot of formatting problems if I try to do any coding inserts in the html section of the editor. Is there a better editor? Once I save the formatting, if I need to make another change I have to go back and reformat paragraphs etc.
Thanks in advance!
Lori,
Not sure why your tags do not show at the bottom of your posts. I guess I would have several questions to ask to sort it out: Running WP 2.7?, running latest Amazing/blue Grace?, Did you delete the tag script from any of the options in the Theme Editor? Are you entering your tag words in the correct place and adding them to the post and saving? These seem basic questions, but I’ve found out there is often times a simple step being skipped that causes problems.
Also, I looked at your site a little. First, “Pages” do not allow for tags. But “Posts” do. Pages are the tabs at the top of your Grace site (volunteer, sponsor, contact). Posts would go appear in the Category tabs below(doctors, romania, russia). I also noticed you have a lot of formatting on the posts with donations, share, and other items. Are you sure you have not deleted something from the main Theme Template area? Editing the HTML of your Posts or Pages would not alter the Theme Template
Using HTML in a post. Again, I need more specifics. I gather that you using the HTML editor tab in your post and then inputting you code. If you needed to make a change or update to a post, why WP would erase all your original formatting is beyond me. I’ve never experienced that issue before. Then again I only use HTML to set Heading tags and paragraph changes, which I seldom do.
Some food for thought. Let me know what you come up with.
Oh, nice job on sorting out the rotating pictures on your Grace page!
I am running WordPress 2.3.3 Yes I know I know! My version of Amazing Grace is 1.0
I plan on updating them but I had another blog I updated and there were lots of issues and still many problems so I have just hesitated, especially with the formatting of the rotating photos on this one. Did you upgrade? Are the photos in the exact same spot or am I going to have to reformat everything all over again?
I had a partner on this project in the beginning and quite frankly I don’t know if he erased anything or not from the template, however, I cannot find the tag area in there.
I’m only looking for tags to appear in the posts, not the pages. I set up a tag cloud wiget and all of my tags I put on my current post are appearing there, just not at the bottom of the post.
On the HTML formatting I did that directly in the post area, on the html editor, didn’t touch the templates at all. Apparently there may be something glitchy with my installation of the theme from the beginning? I started this as a side project and it sat for a year. Now I really need to use it and I’m having some glitches.
Where would I locate the tag script, in the main theme template? I looked for the code that I saw on the author’s page when people ask how to get rid of tags, couldn’t find that code in there. I could insert it but no idea where.
I am entering the tags in the correct area of the post and saving them. When I go back into edit, there they are. I’ve tried to add tags to other posts to no avail.
Can I add the new versions of Amazing Grace to this version I’m using of WP? I won’t do it until I know that for sure it won’t mess up my rotating pics. That wasn’t easy! hah
got it!!!
Lori Scott’ last blog post..Semipalatinsk Baby Home Windows
Paul,
I’m just getting started w/ WordPress and am using the Amazing Grace theme. How do I download the images to my local disk to modify them? And how do I upload the modified pics?
Thanks,
Tom
.-= Thomas Pacheco´s last blog ..Pre-Launch: FDI International =-.
I am brand new to wordpress. I am currently using the skinpress theme however, the amazing grace theme seems awesome in itself.
.-= Robert Worthington´s last blog ..444 Manitowoc St Reedsville Real Estate for Sale 54230 =-.
Robert,
I like your current theme. Nice, clean and tidy. Though Blue Grace or Amazing Graze is a little softer looking. Depends upon what you want your image to be.
.-= Paul Roberts´s last blog ..Kodak Easyshare Digital Camera M1063 =-.
Hey Paul,
This is driving me nuts. I use Amazing Grace for a site and think I remember the same problem when I started that but don’t remember for sure.
I’m trying to use Blue Grace and the rotating image hangs down over the sidebars and search box. It came like this.
I compared the CSS from my Amazing Grace site with the Blue grace and the only difference I notced in that area was the header margin-bottom on the one that works was 95px and the new Blue grace was 90px. I changed it to where both read 95px but it didn’t change anything.
Other than that I can’t figure out what to do with it. Any help you can give me is appreciated.
Lee
Lee,
I’m not really sure what you are seeing. You say side bar, but then say it “hangs down,” which has me confused. I was just on your sight with FFox and I don’t see any issues with it.
Can you make a screenshot?
Hi Paul,
Thank you so much for your technical skills with the themes. I have done something to my Amazing Grace theme to where my 2 sidebars will not show up on the side of the home page. They are fine on the different blog posts, but on the main page, they are at the bottom.
Please help if you can. Thanks
Anthony
P.S. I used your template to change the pictures on another blog of mine and now it looks sweet! Thank you very much for that.
I need you help and hope you’ll be able to give me some input. Could you figure out so far how to change the link colors in this WP template?
.-= Annett´s last blog ..What is a Spanish Language Learning Aptitude Test? =-.
Annett,
I will have to look in the Theme Editor section and see where this setting is. I’ll post here when I find the answer.
Hi Paul! I love the Blue Grace theme too! I would like to change my link color but can’t figure out how to do it. Can you advise?
.-= Tina´s last blog ..A Power Wheels Tractor That Can Perform On Any Surface =-.
Hey Tina,
Well, I poked around a few weeks ago when someone else asked that question, but I did not find the exact code that controlled that function.
I can’t figure it out either. I’m also having trouble with my title tag. I can’t get the | symbol out of the title tag – I think it got inserted from the All in One SEO Plugin that I’m using. I’ve been told to just edit my HTML in my cPanel but I can’t for the life of me find the HTML file to edit it. Any ideas?
.-= Tina´s last blog ..Push Ride On Toys That Help Your Toddler Walk =-.
Tina,
I believe what you are looking for is in the Appearance-Editor- Main Index Template.
Those are CSS STyle sheets in PHP. I edit mine from time to time with various things. There is a separate sheet for the side bars, main index template and the theme itself.
Be vary careful! I’d copy and paste the text into a notepad and save it. Then edit the text in word press and save. Then check your site. If you mess it up, you can easily copy the original from the notepad, overwrite your you broke and save…back to original.
Sorry, I don’t know exactly what your problem is, so I cannot advise your further.
Hello
I am very interested in learning to place my own photos into amazing grace theme… looking for easy helpful instructions.Thought I had it but, no go. I appreciate if you could help.
Thank You so much
Lenny
.-= Len Ciciarelli´s last blog ..You Cant Get There from Here =-.
Len,
I already included the files there for both and gave some basic instructions in the comments area for another reader.
Paul
I am doing what below says… # 2 is a little confusing… please excuse my ignorance of these things
1.Create images you want to rotate and put them in your images/folder under the names bg-portait1.jpg, bg-portait2.jpg and so on.
2.Open your style.css and remove background reference from #portrait-bg section
3.Enter this code in your header.php just below the stylesheet line (one beginning with link rel=”stylesheet”)
4.
#portrait-bg { background: url(/images/bg-portrait.jpg); }
5.Replace “69″ with your maximum picture number
I have 9 photos I have placed into my image folder on word press all named bg-portait1.jpg, bg-portait2.jpg and so on with the template you gave… I’m doing something wrong… please help if you can
Thanks Lenny
.-= Len Ciciarelli´s last blog ..You Cant Get There from Here =-.
HI Paul,
Thanks for the instructions on how to remove the comment tags. I followed your instructions and it worked great. Now, I hope you know how to remove the Author “Posted By” feature. Before entering a post, you’ll see “To Live Well On”. This is what I want to remove. You can see what I mean from this link…
http://ilovetolivewell.com/?cat=11
Thanks in advance.
PS… your site rocks!
.-= Paul Marshall´s last blog ..Quotes #2 =-.
Paul Marshall,
I”m not remembering off hand how to edit that Posted By feature…hmmm. I know I changed mine in the settings to read my name and date. I’ll have to look and find it and post it back here.
Glad you like the sight and it helped you. That’s why I do all this.
Update: I think this should get you going.
Use the Left Hand menu in WP to see and edit each section:
Under “Profile,” select “Your Profile” (I assume you have a user/Admin profile created.
If your name is not set up in this area, do the following:
Under First and Last Name…enter your own or whatever you want.
And display name publicly as…should match above.
Fill in a nick name too if you want, but I’ve not seen what this affects.
Now the date part:
Under “Settings,” then “General”
Format your date and save.
Now refresh your blog page in another tab and you should see the changes…. it should get rid of your blog title in each post and look like mine. Should….
Hi Paul –
Thanks for sharing about Amazing Grace theme. I have been looking for a different theme that has clean code for a new site, and I like this one. Seriously thinking of going with it.
One thing I would like to add is a drop down menu on the categories for child categories.
Do you have an idea how to do this?
Thanks so much
Jill´s last [type] ..Are You Tired Of Fighting With Fear?
Jill,
Glad my site gave some assistance.
No, I’m not aware how to modify the theme’s code to provide a drop down. Unless there’s a plug in for that through Word Press. Sorry.
Hi all,
Wanted to change the heading color on the Amazing Grace theme.
Currently it is a tan color. I looked in the style.css file but did not see where to change the for this.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cliff
Hi Paul –
Thanks so much for all of your help here.
I notice some have problems with sidebar. I did too when I increased the font size, (I lost the double sidebar – everything went in one straight line) — but then I reduced the body width by 10px and it came right.
But I can’t seem to find how to increase the spacing between paragraphs, which for my taste is way too crowded. Have tried the margin-bottom and padding-bottom under
entrybody
entry
and content —
nothing works.
If anyone has managed to conquer this one, would appreciate some instructions.
Thanks so much.
Jill´s last [type] ..Are You Mastering Something Every Day?
Thanks for the great tips. I used Open Office’s Draw program to do this. Since it is a freeware program, I thought it might be helpful for folks to know it works perfectly.
However, I uploaded my nine pics all properly named bg-portraitX.jpg to my media area, but the theme still pulls the old images. How do I move the pictures into wherever the theme is getting images from?
Thanks.
Jessi,
Simply replace the old images in the folder with your new ones and use the same exact file names….
Dear Paul Roberts,
This past Tuesday, I attempted to add the “add this/share” button onto my blog:
http://www.addthis.com/
During the attempt to add this feature to our blog, my left side bar went away. I still want to add the “add this/share” feature to my blog. First however, I have some minor fixes to make and I can really use your help. The minor fixes are as follows:
The words Categories, Blogroll and Meta are now showing in a Black Font. How do I change the color back to the Green font?
Also, how do I remove the wordpress.org link under Meta?
In addition, do you know how I can put the “add this/share” button onto my blog without having my side bar erased?
Paul, thanks for your time in this matter.
Your friend,
Paul Marshall
Paul Marshall´s last [type] ..Mind The Matter- A DVD To Watch
Hello
I use bluegrace and would love to change the pictures. I don’t know enough to even follow the directions that you gave to Melissa. I don’t understand how to make a template, how do I get the web front pulled up into Gimp? If you have time to give a “for dummies”list of instructions that would be great.
Thanks
Hi Paul
Best help so far but like Martha I’m a “dummy” as well understand some of the things you and Melissa talked about BUT still to complicared can you please help with that”list of instructions” for us
Want to know something else: how to make dropdown subpages if possable?
Thanx
Johan,
Sorry, but it’s been 2 years since I did all mine. I’ve laid it out pretty well already in the comments, but to do an accurate step by step for a newcomer I’d have to rehash the entire process from scratch to sort the details thoroughly.
I’m already working on changing my theme away from Blue Grace, so I don’t have the ability to go back and sort all that out again. Sorry.
Hi Paul,
Please let me know on how to make the menus in the amazing grace theme. I only have one and I want to add more.
Please help me.
Louie Tugas´s last [type] ..Hello world!
You have to use Theme Editor itself in WP admin console. I no longer run AG theme, but I seem to recall in one of the templates you can read the code and it will be labeled right column and left column. YOu can manually add to them with HTML or use the WP widgets to add to those columns.
Cool Design . . Hope to see more coming . Was it done in ThemeDeveloper ?
Jude´s last [type] ..DZine Devil
Thanks a lot Paul,
I was expecting that these menus are categories because when I installed this theme, the Uncategorized appeared as menu. So, I changed that Uncategorized and it worked. But I want to add more of them. I saw other sites using the same theme and they have managed to add extra menus.
I am still looking around on the Theme Editor in WP admin console.
Please, if you have some additional idea, kindly help me.
Sincerely,
Louie
Louie Tugas´s last [type] ..Hello world!
Louie,
I changed my blog back to Blue Grace with my double columns. Is that what you want yours to look like? If so, I pasted alot of code for those widgets and such.
If so, I’ll dig up what file in the editor and where the far right column code is and shoot it at you tomorrow.
Let me know you read this so I can change my theme back to the new version.
Thanks for the reply Paul.
I still prefer the Amazing Grace Theme (tan color)
Hopefully, I could add more menus below my header. Currently, I still have one, that is actually the “Uncategorized”, I just renamed it.
Sincerely,
Louie
Louie Tugas´s last [type] ..Hello world!
Hello Paul,
Just like yours in this site, how did you add these:
Technology Business News Business Articles
These are categories, right?
I think I am falling in love with this Blue Grace theme as well.
It is very pleasing to the eye.
Thanks,
Louie
Louie Tugas´s last [type] ..Hello world!