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 made a mistake with uploading the new version. Just delete file themedrive2.php from the server manually.
hello there
i just wanted to report an error with the new version of the plugin...
i had installed version 2.5.2 and it has offered me the oppertunity to update to 2.6
the only problem is, when i update this plugin, the original 2.5.2 remains in the list even tho 2.6 is downloaded.
if i activate 2.6, i get a fatal error, and if i try to remove either version of the plugin, i have the real annoying "1" next to plugin menu button suggesting that i still have an upgrade to get, even tho all other plugins are up to date. Also if i try to remove one of the versions of the plugin, it deletes both.
i tried removing ALL plugins, and i still get that "1" by plugins.
i dont know if its an error with this plugin in particular, but id really like to get rid of that "1" the by plugin menu.
please can u tell me where in the database i can find the references to your plugin, and also, if i remove the items in my database, will this likely fix my issue?
please reply if you can, it would be greatly appreciated!
btw, the plugin worked well before this
yours sincerely
Pete
Nick you could give the authors a link with ?theme=xxx and they would be able to check the theme.
Anyway I added user levels in latest release of theme test drive (v2.6).
Vladimir - thanks for this great plugin. I want to be able to change the level of user that has access to the test theme so I can have my authors test it out to look for bugs before we roll it out to the public.
Can you tell me how to do that? I assume it would just be a simple edit somewhere in the plugin code.
Thanks!
Nick
Hi, I was trying to use the ?theme=xxx syntax and it wasnt working... took me ages to realize that the theme name is case sensitive! Pls update your instructions to point this out :) (or fix case sensitiveness in a later release). Thx :)
JK.
good plugins .I will use it to edite my theme. thanks!
i think it nees an uninstall or delete theme option
thanks mate
tim
Hello Vladimir,
I've installed your plugin and it sounds great for a blog using only one theme available for the reader.
I'm using a plugin called "theme switcher" and it is absolutely great for the reader to choose it's own theme. But you can imagine that if I upload a theme (that I'm working on), every reader can switch on. And because of that I can't use your plugin.
So my first suggestion is : Is it possible to call a theme that we are working on on a different directory or to forbid unauthorized people ?
My second suggestion is about a directory on our local computer. As you know, it's really tiring to upload each time we've made a modification on a file specially when we are not a programmer.
So as your program is to make an admin to view à theme that no one can imagine on it's own computer, it could be a very great improvment for everyone who likes to personalize themes. This second solution will of course solve the first suggestion.
A 3rd suggestion would be to have a browse button where we can find out the zip file on our local computer...
Thanks for your answer. Best regards !
Yep you were right Vladimir. It's that dang Got Banners plugin. I disabled it and all it fine now. Thanks! I need to find another ad rotators now.
What you describe Josh seems to be a problem with another plugin not theme test drive. gb_add_pages is a function of Got Banners plugin if I am not mistaken. Do you use it?
Hi, I'm using your plugin and I'm getting a Warning when I enable it:
Warning: call_user_func_array() [function.call-user-func-array]: First argument is expected to be a valid callback, 'gb_add_pages' was given in /home/goatlip/public_html/wp-includes/plugin.php on line 311
I'm on WordPress 2.5.1 and it's only when the plugin is activated and enabled. It doesn' cause any errors, just keeps popping up in the admin area whenever I navigate to a new page.
Thanks, love it.
awesome , 10q
It might be a clash with another plugin as TTD works fine on my WordPress. Any other info you have?
Great plugin. Was enjoying it till this morning when I discovered something weird.
I upgraded to the newest version, and while the plugin was enabled, when I went to the write page, I was getting Ajax errors as if I didn't have the right permission. (Auto post save and changing the permalink URL in the post window wouldn't work). I had no idea what was causing the problem. I had 2 blogs on the same host with the exact same WordPress version and plugins.
I then realized that I had your theme switcher running on one blog. I disabled it, and sure enough, the Ajax errors went away. Turned it back on one more time to check, and I had the Ajax errors again.
Just thought I would give a heads up.
I seem to have a similar problem as Denigris. I tested a Live Preview of a theme. I just can't change it to anything. Even after I disable the plugin completely the test theme is still there. I use Firefox 3 RC2 as browser and my WordPress is at 2.50. I don't have WP Cache installed and I disabled the plugin an hour ago. Any idea what went wrong?
I love the concept of this plugin. It's exactly what I have wanted for a long time. I just hope I can fix my little problem ;)
When theme test drive is activated with another theme, that theme's option page will be displayed. It is a feature not a bug.
If the theme does not have an option page then no page will be displayed which is expected behavior.
> Vladimir Actueally i'm coding a theme which have an option page, when both my theme and your plugin are actives on my blog, no more option page, then i desactive your plugin and my option page is back ;) !
I think it's a sort of bug generated by the plugin, it seem like if the plugin made the link dissapear.
I hope i'm clear enough ^^
Bye
Fabien Thomas
When you activate a theme, then options of that theme are displayed and if it has none there will be none to show :)
Hi !
First, thanks for this very usefull plugin, i can't do without anymore !
But i've a question, When theme teste drive is active, the theme option link disapear , is it normal ?
Bye
Fabien Thomas
Perhaps you need to deactivate wp-cache or similar plugin?
Thank you for a very useful plugin. I always appreciate the effort that goes into great programming like this, and most especially when it is realeased open source. You obviously have worked hard.
I have a problem that may simply be incorrect useage on my part. I have great sucess with the instant preview - the preview accessed by clicking the theme link. However, when I use the full test drive by selecting the theme from the drop down box, and clicking "enable" I don't get the expected results. I open a new tab in firefox, and the old theme is still there. I click the "visit site" link, and the the old theme is still in place. Perhaps I could be redirected as to how to properly do this. I am using WP 2.5.1.
Again, thank you for a well thought out, and very useful plug in.
Denigris
So you want to list themes by directory? Why is that? I am just curious ;)
I have a patch for theme-test-drive that will allow you to use the theme directory (i.e. default) instead of the theme name (WordPress Default). The patch also refactors themedrive_get_stylesheet and themedrive_get_template as they were pretty much the same code.
Please let me know where you would like me to e-mail the patch.
I have translated your plug in Russian, you can download it from here. I would be glad to translate and future versions of the plug.
http://www.alexnote.ru/wp-content/uploads/files/theme-test-drive.zip
Thanks you! This plagin is what i search for! Exelent.