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Update: As of Thesis 1.8, the ability to Import/Export your Thesis Options is built into Thesis. Just go to Thesis > Manage Options.
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When building a Thesis-based site for a client, I develop it on a separate server and move it to the client’s when it’s time to launch. I use a plugin called Thesis Import/Export to move all the changes to the Thesis Options and Design Options to the next site.
Once you’ve made all the changes to your Thesis theme, do the following:
- Go to Plugins > Add New, and search for “Thesis Import/Export”
- Download the plugin and activate it.
- Go to Appearance > Thesis Import/Export, and click “Download Current Layout” under both Thesis Options and Design Options.
- Go to the new WordPress site. Activate Thesis, and leave the default Thesis Options/Design Options settings.
- Search for Plugins > Add New, and search for “Thesis Import/Export.” Download and activate the plugin.
- Browse for both files and upload them.
I also use this to keep a backup of the design changes I’ve made on sites.
Adam C. says
Hi there – for some reason, I can’t get my Thesis Options to “take” on my new server. For example, widgets are default, columns widths and count are default. Nav menus default, etc. This is using the native Import/Export tool to Thesis 1.8.
Any idea why this might be happening? I will say that I just recently updated both the import site and the export site from 1.6 to 1.8. Not sure if that could be causing it?
Again, when I import my settings, either Design, Site, or All, nothing about the target site really changes. Not on thing that I can tell.
Any feedback is appreciated.
Bill Erickson says
Are you using the export file from Thesis 1.6 and importing it into Thesis 1.8? If so, I’d recommend upgrading the original site before migrating (or migrating to a 1.6 site, then upgrading).
If not, then I really don’t know why it’s not working. I personally don’t use the Thesis exporter as I migrate the entire database. You might try using the Thesis support forums to get help.
Adam C. says
Yes, I did update both sites to 1.8 in order to have this functionality. (I don’t think you can even export from 1.6). I’ve been attempting to read up on migrating an entire database, but my eyes glaze over pretty quickly. I’ll take a look at your link, though. Thanks!
Adam C. says
Say, do you have experience upgrading a server from PHP4 to PHP5? That’s actually the ultimate goal of all this. I was told the reason a Plugin I purchased (WP eStore) isn’t working right is bc I’m on PHP4, not 5. So, the whole effort to get another hosting account and attempt to recreate my sites is in an attempt to test an Upgrade from PHP 4 to 5. I can get Go Daddy to pull that trigger for me, but I can’t afford to lose functionality in my clients’ sites. (I’m not a real developer – I just know more than my buddies, so I can charge them to build and maintain WP sites).