Theme Test Drive WordPress plugin allows you to safely test drive any theme on your blog as administrator, while visitors still use the default one. It happens completely transparently and they will not even notice you run a different theme for yourself. Best part is you can even set the testing theme options (if it has them) in the Admin panel while you are testing the theme.
Since version 2.0 Theme Test Drive features instant theme preview using a website thumbnail service.
You can also preview any theme by adding "?theme=xxx" to your blog URL. For example http://www.myblog.com/?theme=Default (theme name is case-sensitive!)
For all questions about the plugin please visit my WordPress forums.
Download
Installation & Usage
- Upload the plugin folder to your /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
- Go to the Plugins page and activate the plugin.
- Use the Options page to set the theme you want to test drive.
The selected theme will be visible only to blog administrator. Other visitors of the site will always see the default theme.
Note: if you use WP-Cache plugin, you might need to disable it (or setup to exclude pages)
Changelog
v2.6: Added user access level
v2.0:
- Instant theme preview using a live thumbnail preview
- Added "?theme=xxx" to your URL's to preview the desired theme. Example http://www.myblog.com/?theme=Default
Nov 29th, 2007 v1.0
* Initial release
Visit my other interesting WordPress Plugins or my WordPress theme Amazing Grace.
If you are looking for WordPress consulting services feel free to contact me
278 Comments
thanks...
This is a great plugin, however what would make it even more great would be the ability to pick users instead of just the admin. So 2 people can work on 2 separate themes at the same time.
For instance Joe is working on the default wp template, Dan is working on a custom one, the main page then shows a template you chose to be displayed, possibly a placeholder.
very useful! thanks!
Simply awesome. In the past, I've always worked with a local backup copy of my site to test out theme changes. This makes it soooooo much easier to test changes, though.
For those above having problems, there's a good chance either a WordPress caching system (like WP-Cache or something else if there are other such tools) or your browser's cache is feeding you the old version. At the very least, clear your browser cache and try again if you aren't seeing the change.
I dont use WP cache... :(
?
This plugin really useful. I will use it in the futures. Since my blog design is update now. All the content have to stop writting because of this.
Are you using some kind of caching system, perhaps WP-Cache? If so turn it off. That should do the trick.
I have the same problem as intruduced here. The plugin dosen't work. I'm using ver. 2.3.1 of wordpress.
I press view site at the upper part of my admin page and I get the normal theme.
what can I do ?
thanks ,
shlomo
thank u for the plugin.. .i have always wanted such a plugin as most of the time, because of my ignorance bout programming n curiosity i do tend to play too much with my themes...
thanks again.
cheers
Vaibhav
Wowww thank you ... :), it will be very useful for my next website :). greatt...
Great plugin and much needed.
Thanks.
ARTEgami: The version is developed on 2.3 so it definitely should be running. If you are viewing your site as an administrator you should see the chosen theme. If you still have problems contact me with more details and we'll try to figure it out.
Hi,
Which WordPress version do I suppose to be using?.
Because I'm running the 2.3 version, and although it says "Theme Test Drive Enabled for administrator with name of the them."
I am not able to see the theme that I was testing
Thanks for your time
This plugin is the BEST! Thank you so much!
Just tried it. Totally awesome! Thanks, Vlad!
Great plugin! Thanks heaps +++
Super!
This is a great idea, I have been waiting a long time for something like this. I agree the experimentation is not something the viewers need to see. Thanks
Thank you for creating this plugin. It is most definitely appreciated.
Brilliant...
Thank you so very much. I've been driving my readers crazy with theme experimentation. What a nice holiday gift.
Tortuca
http://garlinggauge.com
Thank you! This is the plugin I've been waiting for!
I just released a plugin last week that performs this same functionality. My plugin is called User Level Themes and can be downloaded from the WordPress Extend website. I thought at first you may have ripped off my plugin but your looks nothing like mine so I guess that we both must have tackled this need at the same time! I'm glad to see that others are interested in this capability.
Works great! This is a very useful plugin. Thanks.
Brilliant! Thank you.