Child Theme Creator by Orbisius Plugin

This plugin allows you to quickly create child themes from any theme that you have currently installed on your site/blog.
It also creates rtl.css if exists in the parent theme.

Did you find this plugin helpful? Please consider writing a review

** Live Demo**

Child Theme Creator Features

• Since v1.4 store your snippets, license keys in Orbisius cloud library. Access them with a click of a button.
• Create a theme with a click of a button
• Uses the recommended approach for loading css (since v.1.3.4)
• Never forget what files to copy and what to skip when creating child themes.
• Copies parent theme’s options (since v.1.3)
• Easy to use interface
• When moving through the themes the currently looked one will have a nice background & border
• Create unlimited child themes from a parent theme. The plugin will add Child 01, Child 02 etc.
• Edit theme files with our two theme editors.
• Automatically creates rtl.css if it exists in the parent theme
• The plugin uses minified css/js to make sure it loads quicker.
• Copy files from one theme to another (Since v1.5.2)

This plugin allows you to quickly edit theme files from Appearance > Orbisius Theme Editor (entry added by the same plugin)
It features two editors and you can pick snippets from one theme and paste into another.

Theme Editor Features

• Edit two theme files at the same time
• Ajax -> No page refresh
• Easy to use interface
• Supports WordPress Multisite
• Create a New File (+ checks if the file exists)
• Delete file
• Respects the DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT constant, which if set to true will disable the Theme editor
• Since (v1.1.3) PHP syntax check
• Since (v1.1.3) Send selected theme and parent theme (if any) to yourself or a colleague.
• Since (v1.1.3) Implemented theme files to be listed recursively (i.e. all files from the selected theme)
• Since (v1.1.9) Both editors have the same buttons (in older versions only the left editor had all of the buttons).
• Since (v1.2.2) Can create a blank functions.php file (Thanks Tobias Kaupat for the suggestion)
• Since (v1.3.5)* Users can create new files in non-existing folders e.g. headers/header-two.php

Important Reasons to Create Child Themes

• Keep your changes when the parent theme is updated.
• Reduce duplicated code i.e. you need to copy and customize only the files that need to be customized
• Child Themes are often very small in size and can easily be shared and used for another project.
• Lots of cool and professional people do it
• … and a lot more

Pro Addon is Now Available

We’ve just released the
Pro Addon which improves on the current functionality.

Important

We have noticed that some child themes created by this plugin do not work as expected.
This is not a bug in this plugin but could be caused by theme authors using custom theme frameworks and/or do not using WordPress’ recommended functions for themes that support child themes.
Please check with the created of the theme first to see if their theme supports child themes.

We have launched a FREE service that allows you to setup a test/sandbox WordPress site in seconds. No technical knowledge is required.
Join today and test themes and plugins before you actually put them on your live site. For more info go to:
https://qsandbox.com

Usage : To create a child theme go to

Go to Admin > Appearance > Orbisius Child Theme Creator then click on the theme you like and the child theme will be created for you.

Usage : To edit themes files go to

Go to Admin > Appearance > Orbisius Theme Editor then click on the theme you like and the child theme will be created for you.

Demo

Premium

Do you want to be able to preview themes from within the 2 editors?
Get this Orbisius Theme Switcher plugin

Support

Support is handled on our site: https://orbisius.com/
Please do NOT use the WordPress forums or other places to seek support.

Author

Do you need an amazing plugin created especially for your needs? Contact me.
Svetoslav Marinov (Slavi) | Custom Web and Mobile Programming by Orbisius.com

Hire Us

Do you need any WordPress work done? e.g. WordPress tweaks, new plugin development or existing plugin improvements.

Do you need a trusted WordPress Developer to hire?

1. Unzip the package, and upload orbisius-child-theme-creator to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory
2. Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress

1. 

   Plugin page after installation

2. 

   Orbisius Child Theme Creator in Appearance > Orbisius Child Theme Creator - before creating a child theme

3. 

   Orbisius Child Theme Creator in Appearance > Orbisius Child Theme Creator - after creating a child theme

4. 

   Orbisius Theme Editor in Action from Admin > Appearance > Orbisius Theme Editor

1.5.4

• Tested with WP 5.9
• Fixed some https links
• Fix: file get contents do not receive LOCK_EX flag
• Fix: the .min files weren’t loaded

1.5.3

• Update code to ensure that parent theme css is loaded first and then child theme’s css file next.
• Added priority to the enqueued style so the child theme can override the parent theme’s css styles
• Using last modified time for the parent and child themes’ css files so the browsers load the files as soon as they are updated
• Removed some social sharing widgets
• Added an option for index.html file to be generated to prevent file listing when child theme folder is directly accessed.

1.5.2

• Copy files from one theme to another
• Simplified settings page
• Tested with WP 5.5
• Fixes and improvements

1.5.1

• Updated links to be https
• Tested with WP 5.4

1.5.0

• changed Edit & Activaate links to look like buttons.
• Tested with WP 5.2

1.4.9

• Tested with WP 5.1
• Refactored syntax check. Don’t create a temp file if exec functions are not available

1.4.8

• Fixed missing image for themes that provide screenshots in other than .png format. Thanks Nick Greaves for reporting this.

1.4.7

• Made a fix so the plugin doesn’t crash WP 4.2 installs wp_scripts (Thanks Leila for reporting this)
• Tested with latest WordPress

1.4.6

• Changed the on mouse over effect to a nicer yellow.
• Tested with latest WordPress

1.4.5

• Fixed one more section that was crashing sites running php v5.2. Why no upgrade people???

1.4.4

• Made the plugin more compatible with php v5.2. Why those hosting companies don’t upgrade?
• The child theme’s folder is based on its name (if supplied)

1.4.3

• Removed some of the info about other plugins
• Using old way of defining arrays e.g. array() and not [] because some hosts still run old php 🙁
• Added a notice that the initial message upon plugin activation will disappear in 24h
• Moved the feedback box higher

1.4.2

• Corrected links to the cloud library api.
• Reduced the Promo messages in the Editor.

1.4.1

• The previous version got released prematurely. So sorry!

1.4.0

• Added Orbisius cloud library where people can store snippets, license keys etc.
• Tested with WP 4.8
• Got rid of some duplicated functions.
• Reduced the height of the 2x editors (from 22 rows to 16)
• Tests, improvements and lots of cool stuff.
• Drank lots of coffee, danced bachata, kizomba & salsa 😉

1.3.9

• Minor fixes and improvements to the UI
• Tested with WP 4.7.4

1.3.8

• Now it’s easier to switch to a child theme … there’s an Activate button under each child theme.
• Reduced the default option (= SELECT THEME =) in the dropdown so it doesn’t push the buttons down on smaller displays.
• Removed some top links in the creator
• Improved how messages are shown using WP classes and not custom ones.
• Removed some centering in css
• Tested with WP 4.7.3

1.3.7

• Tested with WP 4.7.2
• Corrected some links within the plugin. They were pointing to a wrong site because of an additiona .com to the domain name.
• Fixes

1.3.6

• Corrected some links from club.orbisius.com -> orbisius.com

1.3.5

• Changed twitter non-ssl links to protocol relative URLs.
• Added LOCK_SH for the file read operation
• Added a flag to tell if the content editors are ‘dirty’ i.e. their content was modified.
• Added a border to the content box if modified.
• Warn the user if there’s unsaved content in either of the editors. The browser won’t display the actual message I’ve provided which is stupid.
• TODO: check php syntax before saving for php files – remove button to check syntax?
• Users now can create new files in non-existing folders e.g. headers/header-two.php
• When the admin creates a new file we’ll scroll to the element so he/she can start typing
• Tested with WP 4.7

1.3.4

• Uses the recommended approach for loading css (since v.1.3.4)
• Fixes, updated FAQ
• Removed a notice about depricated function: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/depricated-functions-3/
• Removed some snippets that contained some 3rd party tracking info e.g. twitter’s via or some user id to the addthis widget.

1.3.3

• Tested with WP 4.6
• TODO: when saving return JSON and show an error on invalid syntax.

1.3.2

• Added locking when saving files.
• Syntax check is performed only for php files. Saving other files should be quicker now.
• Perform a syntax check before saving to avoid crashing good people’s WordPress. Changes are saved in a file with the same name but there’s suffix added to it error
• Listing error files as well as sass, scss (if any)
• Tested with WP 4.5

1.3.1

• For some reason WordPress.org didn’t register the 1.3.0 release or the stable tag didn’t get set to 1.3.0 on time.

1.3.0

• Happy new year!
• Copying parent theme’s options (if any).
• Tested with WP 4.4.

1.2.9

• Added a link in the plugin’s settings page to point to Appearance → Orbisius Child Theme Creator ( to save 1-2 seconds to the user 🙂 )
• Removed the Free test from qSandbox as there is no longer a free plan.
• Tested with WP 4.3.1

1.2.8

• Improved security even more. Thanks Mika!

1.2.7

• Improved security.

1.2.6

• Fixed a wrong check for the Pro version.
• Tested with latest WP
• Added a call to action to ask users for write a review.

1.2.5

• Fixes
• Improvements
• Made some fixes so the Pro addon shines even more.

1.2.4

• Made the plugin more extendable (js).
• Added another Save button near the theme and file dropdowns (for lazy people).
• Added links to the Pro addon.
• Added a nice global wait for all ajax calls.
• Added an error message to be displayed when we’re doing ajax and the user is not authenticated.

1.2.3

• Tested with WP 4.1

1.2.2

• Added: Create a blank functions.php file option (Thanks Tobias Kaupat for the suggestion).
• Added a link to edit theme after the child theme is created.
• Changed the UI. Parent and Child Themes are nicely separated.
• Added a sidebar in the screen where child themes are created
• Fixed some wrong call to action (left from another plugin).

1.2.1

• Fixed: A notice in the settings
• Fixed a typo
• Tested with WP 4.0.1

1.2.0

• Fixed: BUG – Deleting a file from Theme 1 deletes files from Theme 2. Ref: https://orbisius.com/forums/topic/bug-deleting-a-file-from-theme-1-deletes-files-from-theme-2/
• Fixes: CSS so the themes are showing up as 3 per row like they used to be.
• Added a link to a larger version of the theme’s screenshot.
• Tested with WP 4

1.1.9

• Added the buttons under the 2nd editor
• Hid the plugin from the Tools menu
• Integrated with Orbisius Theme Switcher

1.1.8

• Tested with WP 3.8.1

1.1.7

• Added Plugin’s links to the admin nav bar.
• Added site preview button in the theme editor

1.1.6

• Added settings link in the Plugin listing.

1.1.5

• Added an option if the email couldn’t be sent to offer the download links.
• Unsuccessful zip creation was showing as Sent.

1.1.4

• Minor tweaks after v1.1.3

1.1.3

• Updated CSS to add some top-margin above the update/save changed buttons
• Added php syntax check
• Added Send button so you can email the selected theme and parent theme (if any) to yourself or a colleague.
• Implemented theme files to be listed recursively (i.e. all files from the selected theme)
• Fixed JS error on Settings page.
• Added uninstall.php file to clean after itself
• Added a check and the notice that shows up on the plugins page won’t show up after 24h
• Added Edit Themes link to the Plugin’s -> Action links
• Improved and better organized the plugin’s settings page

1.1.2

• Reduced the height of the editors (to 22 rows) so the save/delete buttons are visible
• Restricted the width of the dropdowns in the theme editor so they don’t push the editor and the buttons down.
• Tweaked the position of the New File button and the new form that appears.
• Tested with WP 3.8

1.1.1

• Fix: The version 1.1.0 wasn’t released properly.

1.1.0

• Added a new feature to Customize title, description etc of the new child theme

1.0.9

• Fixed: JS errors are cause errors with other plugins
• Loads plugin’s JS/CSS files only on child theme creator pages (admin area)

1.0.8

• Tested with WP 3.7.1
• Added New File and Delete operations for Theme Editor #1 (left)
• Respects the DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT constant, which if set to true will disable the Theme editor
• Added a quick fix to use file modification time for the css and js assets.

1.0.7

• Added: Theme Editor
• • New File, checks for existing file are made on typing.
• • Delete File

1.0.6

• Tested with WP 3.7
• Loading current theme in the left editor if there is no theme selected yet.
• Reduced the font size of the links in the top right corner of Child Theme Creator and Theme Editor
• Separated Parent themes from Child ones
• Hid the advanced section. Was confusing and scaring people. If you really want to copy functions pass &orb_show_copy_functions parameter to the Child Plugin page.

1.0.5

• Tested under WordPress Multisite environment
• Added menus in WordPress Multisite environment
• Added an option for network wide theme activation (which is mutually exclusive with make theme active).
• Added double editor for easy theme editing.
• Added Orbisius: Edit to the theme list
• Show a notice in the plugins area to let the user know how to work with the plugin. On multisite the message is shown only on the network site.
• Aded minimized versions for main css and js

1.0.4

• Tested with wp 3.6.1
• Added a link in the Appearance
• Added header.php to the copied file list
• Added a checkbox in case the user wants to switch to the newly created theme
• Added a checkbox in case the user wants to copy the functions.php from the parent theme
• Removed parent theme’s license from the copied list
• Removed the Create Child Theme From themes that are child themes already
• Skipping hidden files (files starting with a dot)
• Copying admin/ from the parent theme if it exists
• Added some security checks if the user actually has permission to install themes
• Fixed some notices

1.0.3

• Tested with wp 3.6
• Added settings page in case users want to check it.
• Added a few notices about https://qsandbox.com

1.0.2

• Tested with wp 3.5.2

1.0.1

• Added links to video demo

1.0.0

• Initial release