theme not working, how to swap default theme using ftp

  • I have a blank screen in the admin area.

    Just before the error, I changed functions.php in the theme area (autofocus theme).
    wp-content/themes/autofocus/functions.php
    obviously there was an error that causes the blank screen in admin.
    (seems foolish that admin uses the same theme just because of this problem)

    I only have access to FTP. Its a yahoo.com website
    In FTP, I renamed autofocus to autofocus.backup.

    But, the theme DID NOT revert to default. According to postings, it *should* revert back to the default theme. Perhaps there is a cache.?!

    Is it possible to set the default theme via FTP.
    Is the active theme set to a special directory?
    How is the theme set. Obviously somewhere…in a file somewhere somehow.

    Thanks

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Thread Starter adrianboston

    (@adrianboston)

    i have seen hundreds of similar ‘broken theme’ errors resulting in inability to see not only the blog but also the admin control panel. seems like the most common problem in WP.

    this error points to a fundamental problem with WP.
    that themes is even in an folder called ‘wp-content’ is a problem.

    themes are formal, decorative, ornamental, designed, a look n feel.
    the form should be separated from the content. form vs content is one goal of xml.

    a screw up in the form should never effect the content. yet, it seems that hundreds of users get blank pages in their blog and admin panel. some need to re-install WP. some have redo all their postings. whoa. what a pain just over a broken theme.

    the directory, wp-content should contain only website content. the dir should contain only uploads and cache. not fracking themes, or plugins, or upgrade.

    second, why have an effect on the admin panel. the binding of form with content might account for the foolish error of effecting the admin control panel with themes. who cares about themes on a control panel. why have any fricking theme on a control panel. again, very foolish.

    and,,,regarding the subject of content, why oh why use a DBMS for fracking xml and images. xml needs no DBMS since its already data aware. and images are best placed in a director. just stuff ALL CONTENT in wp-content. NO fracking DBMS. and then do away with wp-content/cache, since it is cached,,, in a filesystem. doh

    ok, so thats all the ranting for now. i was very impressed with WP, but now im less so. however, nice looking themes.

    Thread Starter adrianboston

    (@adrianboston)

    in the interest of preventing hours of wasted hours by fellow humans

    here is one solution.

    1. use a ftp client
    2. delete the offending theme in wp-content/themes
    – do not rename the theme. rename seems to cause trouble.
    – do not need to delete or rename wp-content/plugins. in fact, you may cause trouble if you do delete or rename plugins.
    3. check your blog. you should see your blog main page with the default theme. click on a posting. if you get a timeout on a posting. then your permalinks do not work.
    4. goto your blog/wp-admin control panel
    5. change Settings | Permalinks to default
    6. re-check your blog. this time you will not be using a Permalink so you will see the ?p=

    if you still get a problem then you may have had both a theme and plugin problem
    7. time to rename wp-content/plugins to wp-content/plugins_dammit
    8. now check the wp-admin control panel. for missing plugins.
    9. download the missing ones.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
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