Recipes Docs

Updating to version 4

Updating from earlier versions (3.x.x) to version 4.x.x. brings many notable changes to the theme and the plugin. All the changes aim to make the theme more compatible and future-proof with new features of WordPress.

First of all you should check the changelog which you can find in the theme folder and at https://mytheme.io/recipes/wp-content/themes/recipes/changelog.txt

Many changes are related to how the theme options are set. When you update the theme and the plugin most of the settings are automatically migrated. However, you should check your options after the update.

11.1 Homepage is now built with widgets #

Important! After the update your homepage is empty. This is because the homepage is now fully built with widgets. You must build your homepage again!

Previously homepage was a hard-coded page template which did not give you much room from customization. Now, as the homepage is fully widgetized, you can customize your homepage just like you want.

In addition, there are several new widgets available which you can use on your homepage.

Important! When you insert the Hero Image widget on the homepage, please note that you can find the search suggestions and the title for search suggestions in the post editor when you edit your homepage. The content of the post was previously used as the title. So, you can just copy the values from the post editor to the widget settings.

11.2 Theme Options Location changed #

Options for the theme can now be accessed at Recipes Options at the bottom of the dashboard sidebar. When you update the theme, you should check that the settings you have been using are successfully moved to the new location.

11.3 Changing colors #

Previously colors of the theme were customized at the theme options. Now the colors are customized at Appearance → Customize → Colors. The Customizer allows you to change colors with a live preview. Please check that your color settings have been correctly moved to the new location at the Customizer.

11.4 Advertisement options moved to widgets #

Previously advertisement options were set at the theme options. Now there are new widget areas available which allow you to insert advertisement to same places.

If you were using theme options to insert advertisement, don't worry, your advertisement codes are retained. All you have to do is copy them to widgets.

You can find you ad codes by going to a hidden page at the dashboard. To access to that page, you have to type the URL in the address bar: domain.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=rcps_options_ads

To insert ads as widgets go to Appearance → Widgets. Insert a Custom HTML widget to the widget area of your choice. The widgets areas which are located in the same locations as the previous locations for advertisement are:

Now, when you have added a widget to the widget area, copy the ad code found on the hidden page to the widget text field and click Save.

Please note that editing the options at the hidden page has no effect. They are just preserved that you can easily copy your ad codes to widgets.

11.5 Custom CSS text field moved to Customizer #

Previously there was a Custom CSS field at the theme options where you could add custom CSS styles to the theme. Now the theme uses the standard WordPress way to add custom CSS with the Customizer at Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS. Please check that your custom CSS is properly moved from the theme options to the customizer.

11.6 Logo option moved to the customizer #

The option to upload and select logo has been moved to Appearance → Customize → Site Identity. Please check that your logo is automatically set after the update. If not, please select the image which you want to use as the logo.

11.7 Background settings moved to the Customizer #

Previously you could choose one of the bundled background images at the theme options. Now the settings for the background have been moved to Appearance → Customize → Background Image.

When you update the theme, background settings are set to defaults. So, please check your settings at the Customizer.

You will find the background images inside the archive you can download from ThemeForest. Make sure you choose the option All files & documentation when downloading the item at https://themeforest.net/downloads.

To use one of the bundled background images, upload it at Background Image settings at the Customizer.

If you are using one of the dark backgrounds, you should set the background color to #292726 so the background image blends nicely to the overall background color. If you decide to use one of the light backgrounds, the background color is white, #ffffff.

The background you are using also affects which setting you must select as the overall theme color at Appearance → Customizer → Colors → Theme. If you are using a light background select Light and vice versa.

Social links were previously inserted with the theme options. Now they are inserted as a menu at Appearance → Customize → Menus.

After updating the theme your social links set at the theme options will be automatically converted into a menu. All you have to do is set the display locations for the menu.

To set the location choose Social from the list of menus at Appearance → Customize → Menus. Now set the menu location as Header Social Links and/or Footer Social Links.

You should also check that the links in the menu have been correctly converted from the theme options you were using before.

Previously you had to use a custom URL to insert a link to all recipes in a menu. Now you can insert a link to all recipes much easier. Here are the details.

If you were using a custom URL to insert a link to all recipes, please replace the link.