Ikarus Theme Help FAQ
Introduction
I have compiled a FAQ dealing with common & uncommon questions asked by users of the theme Ikarus. While this is information I have gathered for my own benefit I hope you find it useful. There is visual help with some of the items. I want to thank those who have answered questions from others or myself without which I would not have some of the following tips. As this FAQ is on going please feel free to submit your question or answers to be added.
With Wordpress I am learning that its easier to write down how I find a fix or change an item versus trying to start from scratch. Feel free to submit any tips or tricks. Remember clicking on website ads help out website owners, so spare that extra second.
The man behind this theme is Braydon, who as his hobby has produced a masterpiece. I wonder if DaVinci considered his work a hobby? Please visit his site and check out his offerings.
Always remember to save the file(s) you are editing BEFORE making changes in case you wish to revert back to your original settings.
If you find this FAQ useful please submit it using the following buttons placed throughout the FAQ. Submission only takes a few seconds and if you have never used Digg or the others you are missing out on a lot of good items.
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How do I change the amount of featured content items in the header?
The solution is found in your /wordpress/wp-content/plugins/content-gallery/gallery.php file.
In the code below you see the “featured1″. Just copy the whole code as seen below, paste it under the last header in the gallery.php, then change the number to the one you want. You will see that “featured1″ thru “featured5″ come with the Ikarus template. You can also delete the code below for each header, remember it’s best to start deletions from the highest numbered header. You will be able to use your Featured Content Gallery plugin in your Wordpress dashboard as usual.
<div class="imageElement">
<h3><?php echo get_option('featured1-title'); ?></h3>
<p><?php echo get_option('featured1-desc'); ?></p>
<a href="<?php echo get_option('featured1-link'); ?>"
title="Read More" class="open"></a>
<img src="<?php echo get_option('featured1-image'); ?>"
class="full" />
<img src="<?php echo get_option('featured1-image'); ?>"
class="thumbnail" />
</div>
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How do I change the top logo to my own?
To replace the logo you will need to create your own graphic, and upload it into the images folder in the Ikarus theme folder on your server overwriting the old logo.png file. The graphic needs to be named the same if you don’t want to mess with changing it in the code. This is by far the easiest method.
The graphic is named logo.png, if you don’t want to adjust the CSS settings you will want to create your logo exactly the same dimensions as the Ikarus logo.
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How do I implement the custom YouTube video field in the sidebar?
Open/write your post and navigate to bottom of the write panel. There you will find the custom field area as shown.
Enter the value video-code in the field marked Key and copy and paste your YouTube embed code into the Value box. Click on the Add Custom Field > box and your video will be put in place.
Be sure to change the width and height of your video in both locations in the embed code to Height: 250, Width: 370. You may also choose to experiment with other Heights & Widths
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How do I add spacing or frames to my Flickr images?
For the Flickr images to pad properly, go into your dashboard, choose settings, then flickrrss and add li and /li tags in the HTML wrapper area as shown in this image.
Frames around Flickr images. Some may like frames around there images, others may not, below is an example of each type. To make frames, colored or otherwise just go into style.css (Design then choose Theme Editor) and play around with the padding values and color values.
Always remember to save your style.css BEFORE making changes in case you wish to revert back to your original settings.
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How do I remove or add tab(s) to the Videos/Tags/Latest block?
The Videos/Tags/Latest tabs in the sidebar module may be fine for your needs but should you wish to add, edit or remove tags this information is for you.
Go into your Dashboard and choose Design then Theme Editor and click on domtab.php. Once open you will see div’s with moduletable classes aka your Tabs. You can add, edit or remove modules the example below is just me adding a coat of arms image to a tab. Edit the code for what you wish widgets, images, text & more.
<div class="moduletable"> <h3>Coat Of Arms</h3> <div align="center"><img src="http://www. wheresmydrink.com/img/coatoarms.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="290" /></div> </div>
To remove a tab just delete the whole div tag around the desired moduletable section.
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How do I move the Videos/Tags/Latest block above all the widgets?
To move the Videos/Tags/Latest block move above all the widgets just go to your Dashboard, then Design, Theme Editor & edit sidebar.php. Move the following code (located near the bottom) to the top of the page right below advertisement php tag.
<?php include (TEMPLATEPATH . '/domtab.php'); ?>
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How do I have the RSS section display & show subscriber counts?
You will need to install the plugins Feedcount and Feedburner/FeedSmith. Follow the instructions for each and there should be no problems.
You can download V 1.2 here
FeedBurner/FeedSmith Homepage
You can download V 2.3 here
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How do I activate the rotating gallery at the top of the page?
You have to install the content gallery plugin and setup the configuration page for that addon under Settings. Once you have uploaded the plugin you will be able configure it with your own images, text and links or use the static image header that came with Ikarus. This plugin has been updated to v 2.0 and renamed Smooth Gallery, you can download the newest version below.
May 11, 2009 If you have upgraded or plan to upgrade this plugin within Wordpress see my updated fix for issues.
You can find the fix here
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How do I fix the fatal error when activating Popularity Contest plugin?
To fix the error(s) when activating Popularity Contest in Wordpress 2.6, one of which is
‘“Plugin could not be activated because it triggered a fatal error”
I turned to WordPress.org Forums which had an answer.
These are the steps listed in order that you should try to attempt a fix.
- To fix the Fatal Error you need to change line 59 of the popularity-contest.php file from this:
require('../../wp-blog-header.php');
to this:
require('../wp-blog-header.php');
This change should fix the fatal error problem for those who had the plugin installed prior to updating to WordPress 2.5.
- If after the above fix your error_log fills up with warning messages try changing the
“require(’../wp-blog-header.php’);”
for:
@require('../wp-blog-header.php');
If this is your first installation of the Popularity Contest plugin you might also be getting the error:
‘Table ‘database.wp_ak_popularity_options’ doesn’t exist on line: 124‘.
To fix this issue you can choose to create the database manually like Ken McGuire explains using the following solution.
- After making the changes in order to get the plugin to activate you may find the two tables needed in order to run are not created.These can be entered manually (via phpMyAdmin).
To create the tables, you’ll need to run the following SQL queries.
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `PREFIX_ak_popularity` ( `post_id` int(11) NOT NULL, `total` int(11) NOT NULL, `feed_views` int(11) NOT NULL, `home_views` int(11) NOT NULL, `archive_views` int(11) NOT NULL, `category_views` int(11) NOT NULL, `single_views` int(11) NOT NULL, `comments` int(11) NOT NULL, `pingbacks` int(11) NOT NULL, `trackbacks` int(11) NOT NULL, `last_modified` datetime, KEY `post_id` (`post_id`) ) ENGINE=MyISAM; CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `PREFIX_ak_popularity_options` ( `option_name` varchar(50) NOT NULL, `option_value` varchar(50) NOT NULL ) ENGINE=MyISAM;
Note that PREFIX refers to your Wordpress table prefix, in most common cases it is simply wp_ unless you’ve got multiple copies of Wordpress running in the same database.
- A more simple solution you may try can be accomplished by simply editing line 1528 in the popularity-contest.php file with the following code.
if (isset($_GET['activate']) && $_GET['activate'] == 'true') {
for this:
if (isset($_GET['action']) && $_GET['action'] == 'activate') {
Hopefully these fixes will correct your issues. If not continue trying and Google for other information on fixes that may have worked for others.I spent 2 hours going thru various modified versions of this plugin before getting lucky and getting it working. Here’s hoping you get it on the first try.
You can also download an already modified plugin here. It might enable you to skip the above steps. If it doesn’t just uninstall it.
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Comments (77)
I found a fix for the display problems with Ikarus in IE8, though probably a far from ideal fix.
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/199939
It would be better of course to have Ikarus Theme itself fully IE8 compliant, I wouldn’t know where to begin to do that. Though I’m probably going to try anyway.
Thanks a bunch for this FAQ – already solved some of my probs while I dig into this powerful theme – want to use it for the relaunch of one of my sites.
I saw two other folks asking this over at wordpress.org forums and one more here, plus me makes 4, *lol* – so it might be a FAQ as well
Any idea anyone here how to use AdSense or any other script-based ad network in the spots that are currently managed via the Ikarus admin panel?
Currently the only way I see is sifting through the templates one by one, removing the existing ad code and manually inserting tags for Advertising Manager, ProjectWonderful, OIOPublisher, etc.pp.
Ideas highly welcome!
BTW – right after I posted my previous comment, your layout broke, sidebars showing up in one hughe column under the comments. Header, footer, etc. still intact.
Just to let you know – not sure if its an Ikarus bug or something else.
(Firefox latest, on Mac, but that should not matter)
Is there a way to accociate what portion you are looking for, from the blog page to its component .php file (ex. – sidebar to sidebar.php)?
On the home page I am looking to delete (or re-color) the black bar (from the large RH box) which has the Comments tally no. and Posted In. I can’t find the script for the lg. box. which .php file is it in?
Any help would be greatly apprecated.
@mikl Yes that box is the wrong color. Look in the stylesheet.css file you are looking for what should be the only 333333 color in the stylesheet file. Just change it to f8f8f8 and it will match.
@Martin I think it is a bug it does that but not always. I never have located it.
@Scott Thank you for your help. However, I have not found the code you eluded to. I now have another more serious problem with my stylesheet.css, it seems to be corrupted. When I go to ‘admin’ and bring it up to edit, it locks up my IE browser and I have to resort to ‘ctrl’ ‘alt’ ‘delete’ to exit the browser. Ever heard of this problem? Also, I am working in the White version of Ikarus.
@Scott Another thought on the black boxed area. Could this be an image (.gif)? Thanks
@mikl Have you tried downloading the newest Ikarus White and doing a clean install. I took a look at white, never used myself, on your site.
If you view source on your page you will see the class=posted area where it gray boxes the text. In the stylesheet I would say it is the
h3.posted{
font-size: 11px;
color: #666666;
font-style: normal;
font-weight: normal;
line-height: 15px;
background-color: #333333;
padding: 5px;
margin-top: 10px;
border-top:1px solid #292929;
Try changing the 333333 to f8f8f8 see if that works. You can always change it back. Don’t be afraid to expeiriment changing your css you can always revert to original.
@Scott You are the man! I found the culpret, it is called h3.posted (near the bottom).
Thanks again.
Is anybody having problems with comments since upgrading to WordPress 2.8?
I posted about it on wordpress.org http://wordpress.org/support/topic/280464?replies=9
Hello,
anybody knows how to get rid of the “Latest in” area, at the bottom, on the left hand side of the template?
You can see it here on this site : http://drdemo.com
I can’t find anything that will help either in the stylesheet or the files,(ie, index,php)
Beatriz
@Beatriz, just read #5 in the FAQ above. You can add or delete modules.
I would like to center the blog below the header. Does anyone know how this is done or can you point me in the right direction?
Website: http://sciencesphere.net/
Thanks
I finally found the answer to my ‘centering’ problem (one down). Another problem is allowing comments on my post pages. When you go to a post it shows at bottom “Comments For This Post Topic Was Disable By Author.”
I have looked- many IKARUS theme sites and wordpress.org for both IKARUS and WP on comments -with no answer.
Any ideas where to look to find an answer?
Website: http://sciencesphere.net/
Using WP 2.8.4
Thanks
@Scott,
I am interested in adding the Visitor widget (on your wheresmydrink.com) to my blog. Can you give the information of name, where found, etc.?
As listed above, I and others are still having a problem with the comments from Post pages being deactivated by author. I would like to have comments available for my visitors. Is there a definitive answer to this problem?
Thanks
@mlapage,
Just click on the widget or visit http://www.geovisite.com/en/
I have no solution to the comment problem, honestly I have not looked as I never have problems with comments. Check out the authors website via the WP Themes Press link above at top of FAQ or http://www.wpthemespress.com/ikarus-the-greatest-premium-wordpress-theme-ever-created-magazine-blog-list-with-10-color-variations-and-over-2000-options/
@scott,
Thank you for directing me to geovisite.com. I am using two of their widgets.
The comments situation: when a post is selected and one goes to the post page, ‘Leave your comment below’ is not available. A message stating “Comments For This Post Topic Was Disable By Author” is showing. This is not the situation on your website whereismydrink.com.
Here is the code for that message (comments.php):
comment_status) : ?>
Responded In This Article
To This Post Rss Feed Or Leave A <a href="”>Trackback
Comments For This Post Topic Was Disable By Author
The comments.php has several different types of comments, I assume used at different places in different situations.
I assume there is a ‘php code call’ for the ‘disable message’ somewhere, in some file?
My thinking is to find the ‘disable message’ call and revise that php code with the coding for the ‘Leave your comment below’ coding?
The poblem is in finding the ‘disable message’ call code. What would it look like? Which php file would it be in? Any ideas? Anyone?
I’m sorry to ask you all these questions, but you seem to have a good understanding of the IKARUS theme and PHP.
I have worked with HTML and can generally find my way. However, PHP is new to me and I can’t find my way around this theme. The theme designer has a beautiful theme, but I think the coding is difficult to follow and he is not making himself available for all the existing problems.
If this is too time consuming, please let me know and I will stop pestering you about it-I am continuing to look for an answer to this problem.
Website: http://sciencesphere.net/
Thanks
Sorry for the username misspell.
I don’ t know what happened to the comments.php code, here it is again:
comment_status) : ?>
Responded In This Article
To This Post Rss Feed Or Leave A <a href="”>Trackback
Comments For This Post Topic Was Disable By Author
Thanks Again
@scott,
It seems, without knowing ‘HOW or WHY’, I have inadvertantly fixed the Post comment problem.
I was looking in the single.php file and my website and noticed a few lines at the end of my post I thought were not needed (You should look at …).
I did a few ’cause-and-effect’ scenarios and then deleted that portion of the php code. The ‘Disable comments …’ message vanished and the comment box appeared
I don’t like fixing a problem without understanding How or Why. One does not learn anything that way.
But there you are.
I deleted the code in admin navigation php accidently as I was making a change to a plugin menubar. I should have done this in navigation not admin navigation. Do you know where I can go to get that code?
Many Thanks
Jennifer
Just download the theme and pull out what you need from the zip file.
Hello all,
can somebody tell me why I cannot post comments on the site?
1. In the ‘Discussion Settings’ I have them set to “Allow people to post comments on new articles .”
2. The option “Users must be registered and logged in to comment” is unchecked.
3. All posts and pages are set to accept comments.
Yet any time I click on the “leave Comment” option, the “Comments are closed at this time” line appears at the bottom of the page.
Can somebody tell me what am I missing?
Thanks sincerely,
Beatriz
Hi!
Nice theme and feedback.
I implemented the theme on http://www.playforpeace.pk and I am facing a couple of issues.
1st, I want only Play for peace category to appear in the homepage blog. Sports news should appear on the sidebar. Instead all the posts i make are listed on the homepage blog according to date.
2nd, Is there a way i can change the side bar something like this: http://modernselfdefenseacademy.com/
If somebody can give me the php for the frontpage of this site or similar, i would be thankful.
Thanks in advance and Peace!
Hi,
I recently upgraded to MS Win7 and noticed that it came with IE 8. The Ikarus theme is totally off center in this version of IE (I tested several pages using the theme including yours) and there is the same problem.
Any clue on a fix (besides ditching IE — I love Firefox). IE has always been the bane of my web developing existance.
Clues??
Thanks,
Diana
awesome post! i just switched to White and had Comments issues, but just copied and pasted the code from the original theme and pasted into the White’s Comments file, done. works!
feature content gallery does not function for my Ikarus altho i have downloaded the lastet plug in.
I am using articleimg