If, like me, you download themes or templates for future reference or while deciding on a theme for a new blog or planned update, keeping track of them can be difficult. I always create a separate folder for each theme I download and make sure there is an image of the theme in there too. It is a quick easy reminder of what the theme looks like. Rather than using the little thumbnail images that are often included in a theme I save a copy of an image from the download site or do a screenshot of a demo page. I save this image as folder.jpg which, on windows XP, gives you a good preview of the image when looking at the folder in thumbnail view - This is not so useful in Vista which hides most of the image.
When you download a theme, add on (or any other software for that matter) where extra instructions are needed (for installation or usage) create your own text file and copy and paste the information from the site into this. Give this a distinct name so you know it is your own file. (I used to call all mine sue.txt but this was a real problem when I had to restore all my files from a disastrous reformat. I had hundreds of files called sue.txt and had no idea where most of them belonged.) After this I started adding the name of the application too. I only tend to do this when I may forget where I downloaded the files from - otherwise it is as easy just to go back to the site for instructions.. To quickly create a file In Windows - right click in a blank space in the explorer file window, click on "New" and then on text file (or Word or Excel etc depending on what you want to record). Name your file. Open it and copy and paste the information you need to record then press Save and you are done. It may be enough just to add the url of the site to go to for the instructions.
I use the Firefox Download Status Bar extension. A bar at the bottom of your browser window shows the files that have been downloaded. You can open files from here (to view images, unzip, install etc) and right clicking gives you the option to go to its containing folder. This makes it easy to quickly go to the folder where you installed a download to do what you need to do with it and to create a text file as mentioned above.
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I am constantly collecting themes, I really need to start organizing them! Right now I’ve got one folder with them all and boy is it a mess!
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I never knew about the folder.jpg image and how it related to folders. I usually organize my themes / templates a little bit differently however I can think of a zillion other uses for this. Organization has never been my strong suit. Thanks for the tip.
These are some pretty handy tips. Lucky I already use them, probably because I’m such a gift to mankind and all.
I have thousands of themes for different CMS’s, websites, etc.
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Even I find the Download status bar in firefox very handy. Gives you a good picture of just how much work is at hand!
Rest of the tips are quite handy too.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I think the latest wordpress install allows you to try out themes in the admin section without switching your whole site.
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Thats a cool tip. My number of themes is growing and soon I won’t know where is what
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i used to use that download extension too.
much easier than having to refer to a separate window. thanks for reminding me. i should reinstall that soon.
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That was really a very nice tip. Thanks a lot and keep it up.
Great tip. I currently have this problem: a folder with may wordpress themes. I end up having to install them all just to remember how they looked. Nice tip!
Louise, you are correct: the latest wordpress install allows you to try out themes in the admin section without switching your whole site. Of course, it still requires you to FTP all the themes to the blog. I like this idea of saving an image of the theme so you don’t even have to go through the FTP process.
Oh? there is so many interesting facts about what I had never heard! Thank’s!
Oh, I didn’t know this one before, Luckily I keep everything in one folder, but this will certainly help me organize my folders even better.
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I agree, this is an easy method in organizing files so that one will be able to retrieve it anytime they need it.
Great articles & A nice site?.