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
273 Comments
Great stuff. Thanks!
That's first time I hear of that problem Jason. I would try upgrading to latest wordpress which is a piece of cake if you try Automatic upgrade plugin.
Hi,
I tried out your plugin on my wife's blog as she wanted me to work on a redesign. Upon activating the plugin, though, the plugin page, the Options page, and the main blog page all went blank. I had to FTP into the site and delete the plugin to restore the site. (Since the plugin page wasn't coming up, I couldn't just deactivate the plugin.) She's running WordPress 2.2.2. Any ideas?
Thanks,
-Jason
Great idea, great plug-in! Thank you!
Thank's for the plugin. This will make everything much easier and faster.
Thanks man it is really appreciated, it works like a charm.
You got it! :)
Wow, I love this plugin and am using it to edit as I convert one of my blogs to your Amazing Grace theme. Thanks so much for both of these. This may seem obvious to more experienced users, but I will throw it out there anyway. I am assuming that when I am ready to go public with the conversion all I have to do is disable the test drive plugin and select Amazing Grace as my new theme? Can it really be that simple?
I dunno Josh, I suggest you try the theme on a newer wordpress install and if it works there it's the wordpress. Then you can either upgrade your old wordpress which I suggest anyways look here http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/7-tips-to-insure-your-blog-against-web-tsunami or you can contact me directly and we'll try to debug the problem.
Hello,
I am trying to use theme test drive on password-protected website that is running an older version of wordpress2.02. The plugin is Not working. When I view the test theme as the administrator some of the new styles are applied, but the site looks messed up. Is this because Im using the older version of wordpress?
I would give you the link to the site, but since it is not a public website I can't...
Please help:)
非常好的wp插件，非常感谢你提供。不过你的中文版页面好像有点问题哦，麻烦检查下，thank you
Thanks! I was looking for something like this and it is what I need when I'm banging around my themes... I don't want things to look broken when I'm updating/deleting bits and pieces! Woot!!!
Thanks for the cheers, keep 'em coming :)
This is awesome, thank you so much. I've been testing on localhost, but then I have to import data, upgrade wordpress, etc. etc. Your plugin makes things so much easier, and it's even helpful for getting rid of themes that I don't want that are taking up space on my server. Thank you again!!
Great idea. Great plugin.
Thanks a lot.
Wonderful! Thanks!
Yax, what level you give me in D&D? :)
You are da man! This plug-in is awesome!
Thank you for this plugin!
Nice idea!
This was a decent idea. Big up!
Thank you very much for this plugin. I am re-styling my site, which is quite active and needed a way to develop a new theme 'behind the scenes'.
Excellent :)
Extra.
Thank you.
I just have to create my own theme now ;)
Muchas gracias! Lo voy a probar ahora!
Nice! Thank you so much. Hugs from Brazil.
Great plugin.
It works nicely for me on WP 2.3.2. I run the new WP Super Cache plugin, and that doesn't seem to cause any problems.
I mentioned your plugin on my blog.