This tutorial assumes you’ve already logged in to Drupal
1) Click the Administer link
Now let’s learn how to manage themes
Themes are an easy way to change the look and feel of your Drupal site
2) Click the Themes link here
3) Click here to enable a new theme…
4) … then click here to make this new theme the default theme
5) When finished, click Save configuration
That’s it! As you can see by the look of the website, our theme has changed
Let’s change our default theme back to the way it was
That’s all there is to it!
This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to manage themes in Drupal
How to Manage Themes in Drupal
Managing themes in Drupal allows you to customize the appearance of your website. This guide will walk you through the steps required to install, enable, configure, and customize themes in Drupal.
Steps to Manage Themes in Drupal
Step 1: Log in to Your Drupal Admin Panel
- Access the Drupal site: Open your browser and go to the Drupal site where you want to manage themes.
- Log in: Click on the Log in link usually located at the top right corner of the page. Enter your username and password, then click Log in.
Step 2: Navigate to the Appearance Page
After logging in, navigate to the Appearance page:
- Click on Manage in the top menu.
- In the submenu, click on Appearance.
Step 3: Install a New Theme
To install a new theme, follow these steps:
- On the Appearance page, click on the Install new theme button.
- Enter the URL of the theme archive file (usually a .tar.gz or .zip file) or upload it from your computer.
- Click on Install to upload and install the theme.
Step 4: Enable a Theme
- On the Appearance page, find the theme you want to enable in the list of available themes.
- Click on the Enable button next to the theme’s name.
- To make the theme your default theme, click on Set as default.
Step 5: Configure a Theme
Many themes offer configuration options that allow you to customize their appearance:
- On the Appearance page, find the theme you want to configure.
- Click on the Settings link next to the theme’s name.
- Adjust the available settings as needed. These settings might include layout options, color schemes, logo and favicon settings, etc.
- Click on Save configuration to apply your changes.
Step 6: Customize the Theme
To further customize your theme, you can modify the theme’s CSS or template files:
- Navigate to the
themes
directory of your Drupal installation (e.g.,/path/to/drupal/themes
). - Find the directory of the theme you want to customize.
- Edit the CSS files located in the
css
directory to change the styles. - Edit the template files (usually with a .twig extension) located in the
templates
directory to modify the HTML structure. - Clear the cache by going to Configuration > Performance and clicking on Clear all caches to see your changes.
Additional Tips
- Backup Your Site: Before making significant changes to your themes, always make a backup of your site, including the database and files.
- Use a Sub-theme: If you plan to make extensive customizations, consider creating a sub-theme. This allows you to make changes without affecting the original theme, making it easier to update the parent theme in the future.
- Responsive Design: Ensure your theme is responsive and looks good on different devices. Test your site on various screen sizes to ensure a consistent user experience.
- Theme Documentation: Refer to the theme’s documentation for specific instructions on customization and configuration options.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can effectively manage themes in Drupal, allowing you to customize the appearance of your website to match your preferences and needs. Regularly updating and customizing your themes will help maintain a fresh and engaging look for your Drupal site.