Taking Over A WordPress Site From…

To ‘inherit’ a site has it’s problems sometimes.
Try to get as much info as you can from the original webmaster.
A bit of info can save you a lot of bother!

Apart from the ‘usual practicalities’ try to find out if, what why and esp. how things have been modified.
Try to get a logfile of the changes made, if available or ask tem to make one?
What issues they feel are in need of taking care of, and their background.

Other things to consider are for instance:
Now that the management of the site is transferred, does it mean…

• the site remains the same for the foreseeable future
• with the new webmaster comes the wish to transform and update the site

If the latter is the case. Get as much info as possible. Then consider the options, including a fresh setup. However as with all of these transitions: Most importantly… Take your time!

On the issues with plugins and such:

1. Use FTP to access your site
   bv. https://filezilla-project.org/download.php
2. rename all plugins by putting a ‘0’ in front of each plugin -folder;
   ../wp-content/plugins
3. Check if the access / ‘normal functioning’ has been restored
4. If so: one-by-one, remove the ‘0’, checking every time to see if the problem re-occurs.
5. when the problem re-occurs, you’ve found the source of the problem; Delete and find a similar plugin that works with your site
6. alternatively: FTP:Delete; Then download and install / activate a NEW version of the problematic plugin and see if this works.

Hmm, ok thanks. I’m going to be changing the theme from what they have.

As for info I need, do I need the hosting logon info? I don’t believe I can access it without.

Would it just be easier, since they have the hosting, to transfer it to me. I.E, I get my own hosting for the site? Or would that be kind of messy?

And for the second post on FTP, I don’t have access to it, I was just given the logon info to wordpress by the client.

It would be sensible to get access to the webhost and the FTP-access, from the webhost/ client.
It would make life much easier on many occasions.
You may keep the webhost or change it if you’re unhappy with the services and / or support they offer.

Make sure you keep the client ‘in the loop’ as you want to keep them both informed and happy ??

Before making any major changes, consult the company and discuss the current site in depth and look at future developments.
On many occasions these discussions start a shift in direction, that will take a while to settle on a new stable course.
So don’t ‘jump the gun’ and make sure you’re in sync.

It may take some time, but that should give you the time to get a feel for the company, wordpress and the new theme etc.

Ok great thanks for the advice ??

I already have the design set up and a theme picked out. I was just trying to install a plugin for child theme.

All of the previous WordPress stuff I did, I was the one in control of the host. I guess you’re always learning something new!

Thanks again for your help.

You don’t have a childtheme yet?

1. Install and activate ‘one click childtheme plugin
2. create the childtheme
3. activate the newly created childtheme
4. Make the changes in the CHILDtheme!
   – copy php files / css-file(s) of the original theme [as required] to the childtheme directory and edit them as required.

I tried, but that was the issue I mentioned earlier where I couldn’t install plugins. I tried multiple ones and it’s giving me directory errors. I’ve contacted the previous web people and they are looking in to fixing it.

Let me know how things develop.