Unlock the Power of Understrap: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Customize Understrap WordPress Theme SCSS on Local

Are you tired of using the default Understrap WordPress theme settings? Do you want to give your website a personalized touch without compromising its performance? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of customizing Understrap WordPress theme SCSS on your local machine.

What is SCSS and Why Do I Need to Customize It?

SCSS (Sassy CSS) is a CSS preprocessor that allows you to write more efficient and modular CSS code. Understrap, being a modern WordPress theme, uses SCSS to style its components. Customizing SCSS files gives you unparalleled control over your website’s design and layout. By modifying SCSS files, you can:

• Change colors, fonts, and typography
• Modify layout and grid systems
• Add custom CSS classes and IDs
• Optimize your website’s loading speed

Preparation is Key: Setting Up Your Local Environment

Before we dive into customizing SCSS files, make sure you have the following tools installed on your local machine:

1. Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager)
2. Understrap WordPress theme installed on your local server (e.g., XAMPP, MAMP, or Local by Flywheel)
3. A code editor of your choice (e.g., Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Atom)

Step 1: Understanding the Understrap SCSS File Structure

Understrap’s SCSS files are organized into a modular structure, making it easy to find and modify specific components. Familiarize yourself with the following directories and files:

Understrap/
 Assets/
  SCSS/
   _base/
    _colors.scss
    _fonts.scss
    _mixins.scss
    ...
   _components/
    _buttons.scss
    _cards.scss
    _navbars.scss
    ...
   _layout/
    _header.scss
    _footer.scss
    _sidebar.scss
    ...
   _utils/
    _functions.scss
    _variables.scss
    ...
  main.scss
 RTL/
  vendor/
...

Step 2: Creating a New SCSS File for Customization

Create a new SCSS file in the _custom directory (you can create this directory if it doesn’t exist). Name it something like _custom-styles.scss. This file will contain all your custom SCSS code.

Understrap/
Assets/
  SCSS/
   _custom/
    _custom-styles.scss
    ...
   ...
  main.scss
  ...

Step 3: Importing the Custom SCSS File into main.scss

Open the main.scss file and add the following line at the end:

@import "_custom/_custom-styles";

This imports your custom SCSS file into the main SCSS file, allowing you to override or add new styles.

Step 4: Writing Custom SCSS Code

Now, it’s time to write your custom SCSS code in the _custom-styles.scss file. Let’s say you want to change the primary color of your website:

$primary-color: #3498db; // Replace with your desired color

.custom-button {
  background-color: $primary-color;
  color: #ffffff;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 5px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

This code defines a new primary color variable and creates a custom button style using that color.

Step 5: Compiling SCSS Files

Understrap uses gulp to compile SCSS files into CSS. Run the following command in your terminal:

gulp

This compiles your SCSS files, including your custom code, into CSS files.

Step 6: Refreshing Your Website

After compiling your SCSS files, refresh your website by reloading the page or clearing your browser cache. You should see the changes you made to the primary color and button style.

Before	After

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Encountering issues while customizing Understrap’s SCSS files? Here are some common problems and solutions:

• Error: “File not found” or “gulp not recognized”? Make sure you have Node.js, npm, and gulp installed, and you’re running the command in the correct directory.
• Changes not reflected on the website? Try clearing your browser cache, disabling caching plugins, or checking for conflicting CSS styles.
• SCSS syntax errors? Check your code for syntax errors, and make sure you’re using the correct syntax and indentation.

Conclusion

Customizing Understrap’s SCSS files on your local machine is a straightforward process that requires some basic knowledge of SCSS and Node.js. By following this guide, you’ve taken the first step in unleashing the full potential of Understrap. Remember to experiment, test, and push the limits of what’s possible with SCSS customization.

Stay tuned for more tutorials and guides on customizing Understrap and WordPress development. Happy coding!

Note: This guide is for educational purposes only. Make sure to backup your files and test your changes in a development environment before deploying them to your production website.

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Get ready to unleash your creativity and take your Understrap WordPress theme to the next level by customizing its SCSS on your local machine!