Wordpress theme updates

How to Update the WordPress Theme (news.streetsupport.net)

This page explains how to make updates to the PHP-based WordPress theme used on the Street Support Network blog site, hosted at http://news.streetsupport.net/.

⚠️ This theme runs live PHP with no dev environment. Proceed with caution and make backups where necessary.

Accessing the Theme Files

1. Log in to 34SP

   • Go to https://account.34sp.com/
   • Use the credentials provided in the credentials file

2. Find FTP Details

   • Once logged in, locate the FTP settings panel
   • You may need to generate a new FTP password each time
   • Do not add yourself as a new FTP user. Instead, regenerate the password for the existing one

3. Use an FTP Client

   • Recommended: FileZilla (https://filezilla-project.org/)
   • Connect using the provided credentials
   • Navigate to the WordPress theme directory (e.g. /wp-content/themes/blog-theme/)

Editing the Theme

1. Download the PHP File

   • Typical files to edit include:
     • header.php (includes the navigation menu)
     • nav.php (sometimes contains the location dropdown directly)
   • Always make a backup copy before overwriting

2. Make Your Edits Locally

   • You can use a fork of the blog-theme GitHub repository to edit the files
   • Check for inconsistencies between local and live versions, as the live server may contain updates not pushed to GitHub

3. Upload Updated File via FTP

   • Overwrite the relevant file on the live server
   • Changes will go live immediately without a build step

Preview and Caching

• PHP changes take effect instantly, but the site may be cached
• If your update does not appear right away, allow some time or do a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R)

Additional Notes

• The [email protected] WordPress account can be used to add other users via the WordPress admin panel
• Do not use this account to publish blog posts
• The theme uses standard PHP and WordPress structure. For changes beyond minor edits, consult a developer
• For blog content instructions, see the separate Blog Posts and WordPress Handover Guide (blog-posts-and-wordpress.md)

Combined Authority Locations in Navigation

If you're updating the locations dropdown (e.g. to add or remove Greater Manchester or West Midlands):

• This is managed manually in the PHP (header.php or nav.php)
• There is no dynamic location list from the WordPress database
• Review and update carefully, and preview changes on multiple screen sizes