• I currently have Kubrick as the theme on my blog at https://www.isitjustme.com. I’d like to change the theme to Cutlines. I’d like to set a static home page which won’t be a blog – and move the blog to it’s own page. But if I make those changes – will all permalink info be lost to any search engines that already registered/indexed them? If a reader has bookmarked a particular post with the older Kubrick structure – will the link then not work? And will the incoming links from other blogs will be “disconnected? If so, is there a way to update this information so that older posts that readers bookmarked, or that search engines indexed – and incoming links still function?

    I believe (?) that changing themes in general doesn’t change the permalinks etc, but the structure of Cutlines is so different from Kubrick, with it’s home button and different kind of navigation that I thought I ought to find this out before making the change! otherwise, Ouch! And also moving the blog to something other than the landing page seemed like it could present problems I ought to ask about too.

    This is my first post ever so apologies is I’ve muffed any part of the etiquette, and also, many thanks in advance for the help.

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  • This is a fairly long list, but it will ensure you’ll not lose anything and that all links out in the Internet will be gracefully transferred to the new theme and site.

    I don’t think you’ll lose anything when you switch to the new theme, but here’s what to do if you do:
    1. Before the change make a list of every current post and page on the site. This list is literally your insurance.
    2. Swap to the new theme and check several of the old posts and pages, ideally all of them. if you don’t test all of them then at least try typical links in different categories.
    3. If any links are broken then make a list of all of the new post URL’s then switch back to Kubrick.
    4. Next create a text file that will ultimately be added to your .htaccess file. In this text file make an entry for each of the old posts that looks like this:
    redirect 301 /oldPageName/ https://www.YourDomain.com/NewPageName/
    5. Switch to the new theme again then download the .htaccess file in the website root folder. Save it as .htaccess ORIG, then copy its contents into a new .htaccess file.
    6. At the end of the .htaccess text add the 301 redirects that you created.
    7. Upload the updated .htaccess file.
    8. Try each of the URL’s that failed before. You’ll see that they redirect to the new page in an SEO friendly way – meaning the SEO value of the old pages will be transferred to the new pages within a few weeks, maybe months, but it will not be lost for good.

    After this, if all is broken, upload the original .htaccess file, go back to Kubrick and examine the issues one at a time.

    Hope it helps…
    Michael
    [signature moderated Please read the Forum Rules]

    Thread Starter fredrix

    (@fredrix)

    Dear Michael,
    I almost fainted when I read your reply. Thank you so much! I have never had a question answered here before, so I didn’t come back to look after the first few days. I look forward to the day I know enough about WP that I can pass on your generosity by helping someone out here in the form by answering a question. Your incredibly generous and thoughtful reply brings me closer to that goal. Okay. So, now I am off to print out your answer and do what you have advised. I have been avoiding changing the theme – and the Permalink structure! I am in absolute terror that my blog will explode.
    Again, truckloads of gratitude.
    Karen

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