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?
- Preparation is Key: Setting Up Your Local Environment
- Step 1: Understanding the Understrap SCSS File Structure
- Step 2: Creating a New SCSS File for Customization
- Step 3: Importing the Custom SCSS File into main.scss
- Step 4: Writing Custom SCSS Code
- Step 5: Compiling SCSS Files
- Step 6: Refreshing Your Website
- Common Issues and Troubleshooting
- Conclusion
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:
Node.js
andnpm
(Node Package Manager)Understrap WordPress theme
installed on your local server (e.g.,XAMPP
,MAMP
, orLocal by Flywheel
)- A
code editor
of your choice (e.g.,Visual Studio Code
,Sublime Text
, orAtom
)
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.
Here are 5 Questions and Answers about “How to customize understrap WordPress theme SCSS on local”:
Frequently Asked Question
Get ready to unleash your creativity and take your Understrap WordPress theme to the next level by customizing its SCSS on your local machine!
What are the prerequisites to customize Understrap WordPress theme SCSS on local?
To customize Understrap WordPress theme SCSS on local, you’ll need to have Node.js, npm (Node Package Manager), and a code editor (like Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text) installed on your machine. Additionally, make sure you have a local WordPress installation with Understrap theme activated.
How do I install Node.js and npm on my local machine?
Easy peasy! Head to the Node.js official website (https://nodejs.org) and download the recommended version for your operating system. Follow the installation instructions, and you’ll have Node.js and npm up and running in no time!
What is the role of `gulp` in customizing Understrap WordPress theme SCSS?
Gulp is a task runner that helps you automate repetitive tasks, like compiling SCSS to CSS. In the context of Understrap, `gulp` is used to compile and minify your custom SCSS code, making it ready for production.
How do I compile my custom SCSS code using `gulp`?
In your terminal, navigate to your Understrap theme directory and run the command `gulp scss`. This will compile your custom SCSS code and generate the corresponding CSS files. You can also use `gulp watch` to continuously compile your SCSS code as you make changes.
Where do I add my custom SCSS code in the Understrap theme?
Create a new file called `custom.scss` in the `sass` directory of your Understrap theme (usually located at `wp-content/themes/understrap/sass`). Add your custom SCSS code to this file, and `gulp` will take care of compiling it for you.