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
269 Comments
I just tested Theme Test Drive on 2.5 release and it seems to be working fine on my installation. Will check this problem further.
Yes, the error with WP2.5 RC2 occurs also with 2.5 release:
Parse error: parse error, unexpected $ in /hsphere/local/home/akafazov/greentech-bg.net/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/theme-test-drive/themedrive.php on line 154
I just install WP 2.5. Theme Test Drive 1.1. work for me perfectly.
I'll check this, as I didn't have time to install 2.5 version yet. Thanks for pointing this out. Any more diagnostics are welcome.
I also use Release Candite 2 (tomorrow maybe RC3) and I also have this problem. Activate is not a problem, but I can't deactivate. So i must deactivate the whole plugin...
Hi,
I use the plugin, it works well but fails to activate in WP 2.5 RC2
Great stuff, thank you !
I stumbled upon your blog and plugin from another site. I will try out the plugin. Thanks.
Ash
very useful, thanks! :)
Your plugin… working great on WP 2.0.11. Thanks you.
Well done! It;s really cool! thanks a lot
благодаря
Отличная работа.
Szerintem ez az egyik legjobb plugin, köszönöm
Csaba
Nice work, I added your site to the links.
So i did. Here it is: http://www.wp-magazin.ch/workstation/ (Download ...)
I translated readme + php file
Pascal, by all means do so :)
Is it possible for me that I translate your amazing plugin in German? It's not a lot of text, but some German people don't speak English very good.
The plugin is located in the Presentation menu. You should update to latest version there were many security fixes since.
I am using 2.3.1 version and I can't find the plugin setting in the options page after I activated it. Help.
Great! I didn't think I would need this plugin but the need did finally arise and I'm so happy I found this.
Please update your link on the WordPress web site as it is currently pointing to: http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/theme-test-drive-plugin rather than the correct URL of: http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/wordpress-plugins/theme-test-drive
But, there are problems if you change the widgets :\
Thanks for this great plugin :D
Thanks you for your plugin...working great on WP 2.3.1