Temp use of IP adr, can't upload themes

IP address works fine, and in some cases (like yours where the domain doesn’t point to the server yet) it’s preferable to use the IP address.

I’d suggest double-checking the login details that you have for FTP. Most times that I’ve seen that error, it’s been that the login details have been wrong.

If you can’t get it to work that way you can always manually upload the themes files and then activate it from your admin area.

Thanks… by putting in the host as just the IP address xx.xx.xxx.xxx it went one step further, but now gives the error, Unable to locate WordPress Content directory (wp-content) … so it looks like it’s now accessing my server. I installed wp in a subdirectory, but I updated the index.php file with the path. I would think that wp would look in that file and use that path… why can’t it find the wp-content?

Did you enter the sub-directory in when you entered the FTP details? I haven’t had to do that for a while (my hosting allows me to update automatically) but I do remember that there was another field where you could enter the root folder for the installation if it wasn’t in the main FTP directory.

for the ftp detail in trying to upload the theme, I tried using xx.xx.xxx.xxx/thisplace where thisplace is the name of my subdirectory also tried xx.xx.xxx.xxx/thisplace/ however, I updated the index.php file and it contains the path.

btw, thanks for the suggestion of uploading it manually… that worked fine, so I’m in business… I don’t think I’ll worry about the automatic install of themes as long as I can do it this way… next time, perhaps I won’t be using a site with an IP address… hmmm yet that’s going to keep coming up since people are wanting their sites redone in wp…

OK, thats the problem. The hostname is ONLY the IP address (123.123.123.123), adn the sub-directory is ONLY the folders without the IP address (thisplace). Putting them both together won’t work. There’s no such hostname as 123/123/123/123/thisplace as hostnames can’t contain folders, and a folder of 123.123.123.123/thisplace won’t work because it’s searching for a folder of /123.123.123.123/thisplace/ inside the root level of your web hostings file structure.

The index.php file that you’re uisng won’t have any effect on the path that the FTP system takes, so that isn’t something ot be concerned about for this issue.

(I added a paragraph to last post… hope you saw it) … I had tried it with just the IP address. The error then is that it cannot locate the wp-content …. I had taken the tutorial’s advice out of lynda.com and placed the wp in a subdirectory, but I can see that presents challenges. (he said it was better for security)… well, at least I can upload it manually, your suggestion worked for that.

Thanks catacaustic. It works fine for me to upload manually and you suggested it. Much appreciated.