These instructions were made for sites that originally created a template set by making a full copy of the default template set¹⁾, instead of using the Create Main Template Set tool within the admin at Design > Template Sets. If you used that tool to create your template set, then you should not need to follow these instructions²⁾, as they were already done for you by the tool.

Again, I want to make it clear that these instructions are not normally needed, as they re-produce something that the software would normally do for you. They are only needed when the steps the software does for you are somehow accidentally bypassed.

1. First, make a backup of your template set so that you have a copy of all the files, in case anything goes wrong during these instructions. You can do that in your admin panel at Design > Template Sets, by clicking on the download button next to the template set. Or just download using FTP. <
2. In your custom template set³⁾, delete the following folders using FTP⁴⁾:
   • system/ <
   • module/ <
   • addon/ <
   • external/js/ (The JS sub-folder only, do not delete the entire external folder) <

<

1. In your custom template set⁵⁾, in the folder external/css/, delete all the files except for theme_styles.css, primary_theme_styles.css⁶⁾, and secondary_theme_styles.css⁷⁾. <
2. In your custom template set⁸⁾, edit the file external/css/theme_styles.css and look at the top of the file. Does the first line have something that looks like this on it?

   /* $Rev:12345$ */

   The number will be different. If it DOES have that line at the top, then replace the line with the below, filling in the "Rev number" in your file for # below:

   @import url('../../../default/external/css/theme_styles.css');
    
   /*
    * Leave first line of this file intact to make software updates easier!
    * 
    * File manually copied using Rev: #
    */

<tip c h>Note: The most important part of what you are adding to the theme_styles.css file, is the first line, the one that starts with "@import…". The lines below that are "CSS Comments", they do not have any affect on the actual "styles" of your website, they are there for information purposes⁹⁾.</tip> <

1. In your custom template set¹⁰⁾, look to see if you have the file external/css/primary_theme_styles.css. If you do, follow step #4 above, but for the primary_theme_styles.css file. In the text you replace, use this instead of what is listed in that step:

   @import url('../../../default/external/css/primary_theme_styles.css');
    
   /*
    * Leave first line of this file intact to make software updates easier!
    * 
    * File manually copied using Rev: #
    */

<

1. In your custom template set¹¹⁾, look to see if you have the file external/css/secondary_theme_styles.css. If you do, follow step #4 above, but for the secondary_theme_styles.css file. In the text you replace, use this instead of what is listed in that step:

   @import url('../../../default/external/css/secondary_theme_styles.css');
    
   /*
    * Leave first line of this file intact to make software updates easier!
    * 
    * File manually copied using Rev: #
    */

<

1. For most sites, you are almost finished! If, however, you know that you have customized one of the files that you deleted in one of the steps above, you have a little more work to do. For each system, module, or addon template you have customized:
   1. Copy the customized template back into your cleaned up custom template set, re-creating the folder structure for the parent folders. Only copy customized templates!¹²⁾ <
   2. If you are following these instructions after an update, check to see if the customized template needs compatibility changes for the version you have updated to. You can find general tips for doing that in Geo Updates & Customized Templates. <
   3. For every software update you perform in the future, you will need to keep your customizations updated. The most likely time you will need to adjust your customized templates, is during a feature release¹³⁾. The linked page has more information about the "best way" to do this.

<

1. In the admin at Design > Template Sets, make sure the template set you have just "cleaned up" is set to be used. Then test it by going to the front side and making sure everything looks correct. Test the main parts: register a test user, place a test listing, view the listing make sure it displays correctly for your site. Don't forget to delete the test listing once you are done with it. Most of the time, no style adjustments are needed, but it is still best to double check¹⁴⁾ <