A multi-layout, multi-column, multi-style highly customizable Magazine and Blog WordPress theme
FreshMag is a multi-layout, multi-column, multi-style highly customizable Magazine and Blog WordPress theme which features some rare options, its theme options page has about 82+ options that surely makes this theme extremely customizable.
This document should be enough for you install, setup, and customize the theme. Yet, if you get stuck at something, please post a support request on this section. Unlike the previous theme, this documentation is online and not packed with the theme, as it may requires updates.
Theme Release: FreshMag
Official Support Forum: FreshMag - WPVulpe Forum
Official Support Email: contact [@] wpvulpe.com
Installing
Plug-ins
Adding Featured / Image-Slide Posts
FAQs & Troubleshooting
Features:
- Premium, Flexible, Neutral design that can be used by any niche centred site.
- jQuery featured. [+]
- Options Page.
- Compliant with WordPress version 2.7, 2.8, 2.8.1, and 2.8.2. I didn't test on prior to v2.7, it may or may not work on earlier versions. Yes, it works with v2.8, I know there are get_category bug with that version and many themes are broken for it. I added a version detection and a FIX that makes every function to work like a charm on v2.8 as well as on other versions.
- Multi-Layout - Magazine or Blog. [+]
- Multi-Post-Styling - named as recent and mini posts. [+]
- Multi-Column Sidebar - 1 or 2 column (2 or 3 column). [+]
- Columnized Footer - 3 column. [+]
- Widgetized Sidebars (as three - Top, left, and right) and Footer (all three) columns. [+]
- Multi-Level dropdown (vertical) navigation menu. [J] [+]
- Tested on major browsers like - FireFox, IE, Chrome, Opera, Safari, SeaMonkey and a few more, on different resolutions.
- SEO Optimized.
- Image Gallery, fetch post from specified category. [J] [+]
- Featured Content, two styles. fetch post from specified category. [J] [+]
- Featured Video, fetch the video from either options page or specified category. [+]
- Auto fetch image from post, or custom value can also be used. [+]
- Image/Text logo (.PSD is packed) with fade in-out effect. [J] [+]
- Up to Eight 125x125 ad blocks, one 480x60 ad block, and post advert shortcode. Each option can either be replaced by own html, think AdSense. [+]
- Post Advert shortcode - user can specify a shortcode that can be used inside any post to call the specified post advert. Default is [ad]. [+]
- Paginated.
- Paginated Categories in post style.
- Slide tabs. [J] [+]
- Proper threaded/nested comments.
- Auto Image-Resizer.
- Text Resizer.
- Breadcrumbs. [+]
- "About Me" on sidebar. [+]
- Author page, useful for multi-author sites. [+]
- "About author" on posts' pages. [+]
- Related Posts - Related/Random/Most Popular Posts. [+]
- Most Commented. [+]
- Recently Updated - lists the most recent modified posts. [+]
- Recent posts. [+]
- Recent comments with Gravatars. [+]
- Popular posts. [+]
- Global Translation. [+]
- Gravatars ready.
- FeedBurner Email Subscription, automatically installs as widget [FreshMag (FeedBurner)]. [+]
- Twitter ready, also, automatically installs as widget [FreshMag (Twitter)]. [+]
- FlickR ready, and is in fade in-out slide. [J][+]
- Sociable ready.
- Flash Tag Cloud.
- A complete newbie-friendly documentation, option page FAQs, and theme support via email and forum.
[+] = configurable from theme's option panel.
[J] = JQuery effects.
[m] = Mostly everything is inbuilt and does NOT require any plugin to function. And if there's any required, the plugin would be modified exclusively for the theme and packed.
Options Page:
General
- Settings
- Header
- Layout
Featured/Slide
- Image-Gallery Slide
- Featured Content
- Featured Video
Navigation
- Navigation
- Top Navigation
Footer
- Footer
Ad Management
- 468x60 Advert
- 125x125 Advert
- Post Advert
Installing
The FreshMag is easy to install, just like any other theme. To install this theme:
- Download the FreshMag
- Extract the /FreshMag/ folder from the archive
- Open the /plugins/ folder.
- Upload all the plugin to your /wp-contents/plugins/ directory. These are slightly modified version from the original, please upload them regardless if they're already been used on your blog. You may 'update' the plugins later if packed plugins are out-dated.
- Open the /themes/ folder.
- Upload the /FreshMag/ folder (that is inside FreshMag/themes/FreshMag) to your /wp-contents/themes/ directory
- Activate the theme in the Dashboard › Appearance menu
- Activate all the plugins in Dashboard › Plugins menu (activate one by one, if you see "white blank page" or any similar kind of problem).
- Either via FTP or Webhost Control Panel, make sure to CMOD 777 the cache folder /wpcontent/themes/FreshMag/cache/ and .../temp/.
- Done; continue on "Theme Options".
Plugins
- FlickRSS: Use the default settings: photos using small images.
- WP-Cumulus: Use the default settings: 330x235px. Color of tags: #65635a, Background Color: #ebe8e3, Use Transparent Mode.
- Global Translator: Use the default settings. Flags bar layout: Enclose the flags inside a DIV (for CSS customization).
- Sociable.
- WP-Related Posts.
- Popularity-contest.
Theme Options
A quick explanation:
Configure FreshMag Theme:
General
Settings
AJAX - If disabled, no javascript effect will load at all (improves website load time). This will override other related options you'd set, and automatically disable some of theme's features.
NoScript Note - If enabled, visitors who have javascript disabled, will see notification on the top area. If AJAX is disabled, this setting will be disabled irrespective to what you set.
About - "About" on sidebar (after sidebar tabbed slide, before sponsor ads).
About Image - Image will be resized (& cropped) to 287x100px.
About Text - self-explained
FeedBurner ID - It will be used for Email subscription. Remember to Activate the "Email Subscription" option on your feedburner account. This is also installed and available as widget: FeedBurner (FreshMag).
Twitter Username - It will be used to fetch latest updates from your twitter account. Example: "twitter" (without quotation mark). FreshMag's Twitter (by default on footer) is also installed and available as a widget: "Twitter (FreshMag)".
Twitter updates - How many twitter updates to display?
Header
Logo - Text (blog title) or Image (entered in next option)
Logo Image - enter the full URL to the logo image. You must have "image" selected in previous option.
Fade effect - Fade in-out hover effect works for both Text and Image type logo.
Layout
Layout:
Structure - Magazine or Blog? Hover on the image on right for a rough idea what this is about.
Magazine:
Recent Posts on frontpage - How many recent posts to display with different styling on frontpage?
Mini-Posts on Frontpage - How many mini-posts to display on frontpage?
All posts on Frontpage styled as - If you do no want to have different styling for recent posts and mini-post style, you can select either style for all posts on frontpage.
Featured Content Position - Magazine layout by default creates a separate block for Featured Content and Video, if you'd like to position the featured-content like the blog layout (as shown in the image, next section "Blog") please select "Blog Layout style". Keep in mind, this will force Featured Video to be disabled.
Blog:
Featured Content - If enabled, this will make the fade in-out effect featured content display above your content, besides sidebar, unlike magazine-style which makes a separate block for it. Look at the image on right.
Post-Page:
About Author - Display "about author" on every post page.
Related Posts - Display "Related Posts" on every post page.
Sidebar:
Sidebar Columns - How many columns do you want in sidebar? Two Columns are default. If you want to use widgets and have One Column selected, use Top Sidebar section to add them.
Sidebar Tabbed Slide - Sliding tab on sidebar which contains recent entries, popular, and recent comments.
Sidebar Tabs Recent Entries - How many recent entries to display?
Recent Comments - How many recent comments to display?
Recent Comments Gravatar - Show comments with Globally Recognized Avatars (Gravatar)?
Featured/Slide
Image-Gallery Slide
Image-Gallery - Display image-gallery slide on magazine layout?
Image-Gallery Category - Select the category that you would like fetch the posts from.
Number of posts to display - Select the numbers of posts you would like to display on Image-Gallery.
On Single Page - Do you want image-gallery to appear on single post pages?
Display Post Title - Do you want the post title to display on over images? It's the dark transparent block similar to featured content.
Featured Content
Featured Content - Display featured-content slide on magazine layout? If using blog layout, this options can be enabled/disabled from General » Layout » Blog.
Featured Content Category - Select the category that you would like fetch the posts from, to have displayed on the featured content.
Number of posts to display - Select the numbers of posts you would like to display on Featured-Content.
On Single Page - Do you want featured-content to appear on single post pages?
Featured Video
Featured Video Category - Select the category that you would like fetch the video from. If selected and enabled, keep in mind the post must only contain the embed code.
Video size must be 320x250 (WidthxHeight).
Embed Code - Will override the category-fetched selection. Video size must be 320x250 (WidthxHeight).
Navigation
Navigation:
Breadcrumbs - Breadcrumbs are those little navigation bar that tells your location on the website like, "Home » Category » My Post Title". These are added on single post, pages, search, and a few more places.
Navigation bar:
Navigation Bar - Navigation bar (after header, before content area).
Navigation - Categories or Pages on navigation bar?
Depth - Select 0 to make all sub-categories/pages to display, select 1 to make only Top-Level categories/pages (no sub-cat/page) to appear. Default is 3, which restricts the dropdown menu to level 3 sub-categories/pages. If AJAX is disabled, the depth of categories and pages will automatically restricts to Top-Level categories/pages (1).
Order By - Sort the list alphabetically (name), count of posts (count), or by ID (ID). By posts count (count) is not available for pages, instead it will be replaced by menu_order which means you can order the page list from Write » Pages WordPress admin panel.
Order Links - Sort order of the list, either ascending (lowest to highest) or descending (highest to lowest).
Exclude - Input the Category/Page ID that to be excluded from navigation bar (separated by comma: (",") without quotation mark).
Top Navigation
Top Navigation bar - Page navigation on top (the first element, before header).
Order By - Sort the list alphabetically (post_title), menu order (menu_order), or by ID (ID). Menu Order lets you order the page list from Write » Pages WordPress admin panel.
Order Links - Sort order of the list, either ascending (lowest to highest) or descending (highest to lowest).
Exclude - Input the Page ID that to be excluded from top navigation bar (separated by comma: (",") without quotation mark).
Footer
Footer - Columnized Footer. This will not affect the bottom footer that has page navigation, copyright information & theme by link.
Recent Updates - How many of recent updates (recently updated content) to list?
Most Commented - How many of most commented entries to list?
WordPress Icon - Do you want to display WordPress icon on bottom footer?
Display this line? - Optional: You can add something to this line in the next three fields.
[field1] © [field2] 2009, FreshMag. [field3]
Example: Copyright in first, 2008- in second, and All Rights Reserved. in third field.
Before </body> - You're sometime required, for whatsoever reason, to add some HTML code just before the </body> closing tag, an example of such requirement (or better said need) is by a tracker code like Google Analytics (If added to WebSite Header or somewhere else besides just before </body>, it can make your site unavailable if something goes wrong with Analytics [which is uncommon, but possibility still exists]). Use this option, and save your time and system resource.
Advertisement
480x60 Advert
Top 480x60 Advertisement - 480x60 advertisement on right-side of header.
480x60 Advert Image - URL to 480x60 banner image.
480x60 Advert URL - URL to 480x60 banner destination.
480x60 Advert HTML - Use this if you want to add your own HTML code instead of banner on top advert. Keep in mind, if this field is filled, it will override the previous 480x60 banner settings. A good idea would be using 480x60 AdSense ad block.
125x125 Advert
125x125 Advertisement - 125x125 ad blocks on sidebar.
Numbers of total advertisement - How many 125x125 ad blocks on sidebar? Scroll down if you wish to use HTML instead.
Advertise Here - The destination URL for Advertise-Here tags on 125x125 adblocks. It could be URL to a page or mailto:email@domain.com.
Heading - Heading for 125x125 ad block area. Example: "Sponsors". Leave this field empty to make heading not appear at all.
125x125 Ad #1 Image - URL to 125x125 banner image.
125x125 Ad #1 URL - URL to 125x125 banner destination.
125x125 Ad #2 Image - URL to 125x125 banner image.
125x125 Ad #2 URL - URL to 125x125 banner destination.
[and so on... up to eight blocks]
125x125 Advert HTML - Use this if you want to add your own HTML code instead of 125x125 banners on sidebar. Keep in mind, if this field is filled, it will override the previous 125x125 banners' settings. A good idea would be using 300x250 AdSense ad block.
Post Advert
Post Advert - Advert which can be called [added] with a simple shortcode (specified below) in any post or page.
Shortcode - Input what you want as shortcode, without square brackets ([]). Default is [ad], if used in posts or pages it will display your set advert.
Styling - Do you want use the current ("Advertisment" tag and borders) styling around the post advert?
Post Advert Image - URL to post advert image.
Post Advert URL - URL to post advert destination.
Post Advert HTML - Use this if you want to add your own HTML code instead of banner. Keep in mind, if this field is filled, it will override the previous post advert banner settings. A good idea would be using 480x60, 336x280, or 300x250 AdSense ad block.
Adding Featured / Image-Slide Posts
Make sure you've already selected the category and number of entries on the administration panel (theme options).
- Select the appropriate category, the same you specified in theme's option for featured or slide posts.
- Type your content.
- Upload your image and copy the URL. You don't need to resize the image, will be done by itself.
- Scroll down to Custom Fields, enter the "Name" as "thumbnail" and paste the image location URL as "Value". Once done, click on "Add Custom Field". This is must for Featured-Content, though is optional for Image-Gallery as it will itself fetch the first image from your post, if, however, a custom value is entered for the post, it will override the fetched image.
- Done
FAQs & Troubleshooting
I installed the FreshMag theme but the Options page just doesn't work, all I see are some links General, Navigation etc.
Make sure you upload the /FreshMag/ that is inside /FreshMag/themes/ (FreshMag > themes > FreshMag) folder to your /wp-content/themes/ web directory. Your theme URL should look like this:
yourblog/wp-content/themes/FreshMag/index.php, header.php etc.
In other words: Do NOT upload /FreshMag/ that contains /plugins/ and /themes/ folder to your /wp-content/themes/ web directory.
Click here for further information about this.
But I can actually see the "tabs", not just links, it just won't work... how can I fix this now?
This is a not-so-common issue. It's likely caused by a conflict with Plug-in or hosting. Try disabling all the plug-ins, if that doesn't sort out the issue then use non-js version of the Options page.
A temporary quick-fix is to use non-javascript (non-tab) style of options page.
- Open /FreshMag/includes/ folder
- There's a file called theme_options.php - Rename it to theme_options_backup.php.
- Now, in the same directory, there's another file called theme_options_nojv.php - Rename it to theme_options.php
- Options page should be working now.
Note, as it's a non-javascript version of options page, it is NOT tab-based and little messy (long way to scroll).
I followed the instruction, but when I activate the theme, my site and wp-admin all goes blank white page?
Please read this thread.
Why do I see two category selection for Image-Gallery and Featured Content? What am I supposed to enter?
You must be on version WordPress version 2.8. There are some get_category bug in that version, so I had to add detection and a different fix for version 2.8 users. You have to input the category name, leave the selection as it is. Everything else is as same for all version users, and explained in description.
I followed your step-by-step-on-the-walk guide on how to setup custom field for featured/image-gallery post thumbnail, but it still won't work?
More than likely it's the permission problem. Make sure to CMOD [permission] 777 the /wp-content/themes/FreshMag/cache/ and .../temp/.
How do I add images to Featured Content, Image Gallery, and general posts?
Theme will pull the first image from your post by itself, for general posts and image gallery. For featured content, you will have to specify a custom value named as "Thumbnail" and value should be the URL to the image. The same custom value can be used to specify images for image gallery or general posts, this will override automatic fetch of first image from post. Also, images will be cropped and resized automatically.
Do I need to enter the custom values for all posts?
No, theme will get the first image from your posts by itself.
Image-Gallery's images don't supposed to have post title over them, how can I remove those dark transparent blocks from this theme?
That's half-true. Go to FreshMag Options > Featured/Slide > Image-Gallery. Disable the "Display Post Title" option.
I don't want the Twitter or FeedBurner in footer, how can I move it to the sidebar?
Twitter and FeedBurner are automatically installed as widget, you just need to go to Widget and find Twitter (FreshMag) or FeedBurner (FreshMag). I would say the Top Sidebar area would be the perfect place for them besides footer.
I use AdSense and it doesn't support some of the languages by Global Translator, should I deactivate them?
Please read this thread.
Hey, is the Footer Widgetized?
Yes, just like the sidebars (Top Sidebar, Left Sidebar, Right Sidebar) the footer is as well columnized and widgetized so you could customize it as you wish. Go to Widgets, the areas are Left Footer, Centre Footer, and Right Footer.
The left and right sidebar looks too congested, Can I change the number of columns of sidebar?
Yes, go to FreshMag Options > General > Layout > Scroll to "Sidebar" and select the columns from Sidebar Columns option. If selected one, it's the Top Sidebar in widgets that you'd need to customize (if you wish to).
I've installed and configured the theme, however the tag cloud appears to be simple, not Flash like showed on the preview?
It appears you have not installed the WP-Cumulus, which is packed with the theme. Settings are given the Plugin section of documentation.
How do I turn on the nested/threaded comment?
Dashboard > Settings > Discussion. On "Other comment settings", select Enable threaded (nested) comments <> levels deep. Save Changes.
What are those footer links? Can I remove them?
No, you have to keep those links in your footer. They are, not necessarily my own websites, collaborative links that supports the theme. It doesn't clash with the design visually, neither effects your stand in SE.
I've a question that isn't listed here, or the solution doesn't work, and if you don't help me the sky will fall on you.
That'd hurt. Post your question in the Official Support Forum's Section for FreshMag or drop me an e-mail. Either way, I'll try to sort out your problem as quick as possible.
License
Copyright © 2009, FreshMag, is licensed under the ohyeasure license. Actually the following license:
By using this program, you submit an agreement to the following terms and conditions.
This program is free software; you can use it for any personal or commercial project, non-profit or for-profit, as long as it's not being redistributed or resold in any way; neither as is or based on.
The Author, outbound links in the footer must stay intact for you to able to use this program; removal or altering will result in the voilation of terms.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
