For the 3rd answer in my 30 Days of WordPress extravaganza, we are taking a look at Robert’s question about customizing your WordPress installation package at the time of installation.
Robert Asks
How can I customize the blogs created by WordPress 3.0 so that when they install they have the theme, plugins and settings all the way I want them so I don’t have to change each new blog by hand?
The Answer:
I’m sure there are millions of ways to do this, but what I would suggest doing is making a file and database combo that is an exact snapshot of the customized site you want to create. Then, after you install WordPress, you can import the database of the customized site and upload the edited theme files (or whatever files you want.) Literally ANY change you want to make to WordPress can be held in a files/database combination.
Although I’ve never done exactly what you are looking to do, I suspect the steps would be about like this…
- Make a working version of the customized site you want to have an easy-install package for.
- Use a tool like Bei Fen to grab a snapshot of your files and database of that site.
- Now install a fresh installation of WordPress, install the Bei Fen plugin and upload the files and database you made in Step 2.
- Bug check the site and see what the problems are. You may have to go back to step 1 and clean up the files and database from your ‘Stamp’ WordPress blog to make sure there are no references to absolute URLs or anything like that.
If you (or anyone else for that matter) tries this or has suggestions for how to improve this, please leave them in the comments below.
Note for Thesis Theme users: Thesis Theme has a plugin called Thesis Import/Export that makes the process of ‘stamping out’ Thesis changes very simple and quick. If you use Thesis much and ever need to save or move your Thesis designs, I’d really suggest this plugin.
Best,
Brad
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