I just did the major blog revamp for this site and so glad that everything went smoothly.
WordPress Database Upgrade:
I upgraded to WordPress 2.3.3. My previous WordPress install version was 2.2.1 installed last July 2007. Ever since I experienced WordPress database error due to auto-upgrading through Fantastico, I’ve been careful in upgrading my database. So this time, I’ve taken several measures to avoid those upgrade errors.
- Backed up my database. Sadly, I was one of those WordPress users who always forget to back up during upgrade.
- Uninstalled the plugins and checked plugin incompatibilities before upgrade. The errors I’ve experienced during the previous upgrade were due to plugin incompatibilities. It is, thus, highly recommended to check for the plugin compatibility, do upgrades, or look for alternative plugins if there are compatibility issues.
Layout Change:
I’ve been looking for a nice layout for this site, but some of the good ones are only available with premium purchase. Unfortunately, with my current online income status, I couldn’t afford to buy a copy. After an exhausting theme-hunting, I finally found this theme (Timeline Digest) from Dezzain.
Category Deletion:
This blog was thought initially as a personal log with mix of everything – health, technology, internet, blogging, politics, etc. So I flooded the posts with several possible related categories. It’s unfortunate that I learned the power of tags very late. I installed the Batch Categories plugin to help me do this tedious task.
The next things to do:
1. Edit the ProjectWonderful ads on my sidebar to 2×2 to fit on the width. Currently, I couldn’t do it because there are active bids.
2. Re-arrange the categories alphabetically. I am not so well-versed with php codes so I am still figuring out how to. Perhaps you can help me do it.
3. Make a blog header. I am currently using Paint.NET since I ditched my pirated version of Adobe Photoshop CS 3. I am still acquainting myself to the former so it may take some time and tutorial reading to finally come up with a presentable header. Or anyone who wants to offer? :p