2014 WordCamp Miami - Troubleshooting Common WordPress Issues

Troubleshoo*ng WordPress Common Issues, Customiza/on, Import/Export

2014 WordCamp Miami Presented by: Gabriela Levit

[email protected] @JacarandaTech hCp://JacarandaTech.com

Troubleshoo/ng Common WordPress Issues I 2014 WordCamp Miami I May 9-‐11, 2014 I Gabriela Levit I JacarandaTech.com

Before We Start


•  Taking notes is op/onal -‐ I will post the slides

•  Please ask ques/ons. Chances are others have the same ques/on as you.

•  If you think of a ques/on aTer the presenta/on, please feel free to contact me any /me.

•  Feedback: Please let me know how I did or any sugges/ons.

Topics Covered


! General Troubleshoo/ng Tips ! Fixing Common WordPress Issues ! Customiza/on

! Import/Export Tools ! Resources

General Troubleshoo/ng Tips


! Take a deep breath

! Write down the exact error message, what you changed & theme/plugin name

Fixing Common WordPress Issues


Syntax Errors – OTen when you copy & paste code from another site.

Eg. Parse error: syntax error … /wp-‐content/plugins/newplugin/newplugin.php on line 145

Syntax Errors


Error message tells you which file has an error & the line number:

! If you just copied & pasted, access file via FTP & remove the code

Understanding Syntax Errors


Common Syntax Error Causes:

! Missing or extra php tags

! Missing or extra semi-‐colons or curly braces

Properly Pas/ng Code Snippets


! Remove open/close tags from code snippet before pas/ng into exis/ng code

! Don’t place open/close PHP tags inside other open/close tags.



PHP code much be enclosed by open/close tags.



This is correct too.



Incorrect

Blank Screen


A.k.a. “White Screen of Death”

Possible Causes: ! Syntax errors in your theme or plugin

! WordPress Out of Memory

! Web Site Host Issue

Diagnosing Blank Screen Issues


All your domains/sites with current hos/ng company or just one?

! If all your sites, issue likely with your host

! Otherwise, likely an issue with your theme or a plugin

Diagnosing Blank Screen Issues


Only a single post or page? ! Definitely an issue with your site

Fixing Blank Screen Issues


Out of memory? ! Increase WordPress PHP limit



Didn’t help or memory limit already high?

! Rename plugins folder to disable all plugins



If that fixed it: !  Re-‐ac/vate plugins one at a /me un/l you figure out which one is causing the problem



Disabling plugins didn’t fix it? !  Switch to a default theme



If that fixed it, you theme’s fuc/ons.php likely the cause:

!  Remove extra spaces at the boCom

! Replace poorly wriCen code

500 Internal Server Error


! Something is wrong but the server can’t iden/fy the issue.

! Not necessarily related to WordPress



Possible Causes:

! Theme or Plugin Code ! Corrupt .htaccess File (controls permalinks)

! PHP memory limits



Troubleshoo/ng (part 1):

Check for corrupt .htaccess file:

1.  Rename & refresh site to see if that fixes

2.  If it did: Click on Sehngs > Permalinks to generate a new .htaccess



Troubleshoo/ng (part 2):

! If re-‐genera/ng .htaccess file didn’t work, follow same steps as for fixing

blank screen issues.

Customiza/on: Widgets


! Content Added To The Sidebars ! Drag & Drop Interface ! Widget Types: Category Lists, Tag Clouds, Social Media Feeds, Naviga/on, Search



New Widget Customizer -‐ Step 1



New Widget Customizer – Step 2

Customiza/on: Menus


WordPress Supports Mul/ple Menus

! Loca/ons Controlled by the Theme

! Doesn’t Require Code ! Menu items can include Pages, Posts, Categories, Tags, Etc.

Crea/ng Menus


Tools: Import/Export Content


! To/From WordPress Web Sites

! Download & Ac/vate Plugin First ! Can import from Blogger, Movable Type and Others

! Choose Pages, Posts & Custom Types



Step 1 – Install Importer Plugin





Step 2 – Import/Export Content

Resources


Official WordPress Documenta*on hCp://codex.wordpress.org/

Tutorials & Reference hCp://www.wpbeginner.com/ hCp://code.tutsplus.com/series/wp101-‐basix-‐training-‐-‐wp-‐20968

FTP Clients FileZilla: hCps://filezilla-‐project.org/ CuteFTP (Windows): hCp://www.cuteTp.com/ Transmit (Mac): hCps://panic.com/transmit/

Ques/ons & Answers


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Thank You! ☺


! All the 2014 WordCamp Miami Organizers & Volunteers for your effort

! 2014 WordCamp Miami ACendees

! MaC Mullenweg, co-‐founder of WordPress, and all the WordPress Contributors

Internet

2014 WordCamp Miami - Troubleshooting Common WordPress Issues