[Resolved] Advice For Rebuilding Existing Toolset site
This support ticket is created 4 years ago. There's a good chance that you are reading advice that it now obsolete.
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I have an older artist portfolio site that I created with Toolset and Divi which has been problematic: jayzerbe.com
I would like to create a new artist portfolio website using Toolset, Astra Theme, and Elementor Pro and I am hoping that you can tell me if this is possible and help me with a recommendation on how to begin.
1. I would like to create a searchable portfolio template that I can use for new artist portfolio websites.
2. I would like any suggestions possible on how I can rebuild the jayzerbe.com site from the current Divi theme -to- Astra theme and Elementor Pro. I do not suspect that it will be easy but if it is possible, I would appreciate any suggestions on how to get started.
I need to develop a more efficient performing, front-end user friendly site that I can duplicate.
My recommendation would be to give Toolset Blocks a try rather than shifting from a dependency on Divi to a dependency on Elementor.
Elementor and Toolset work okay together, but the integration is pretty basic.
Take a little time to try and make something with Toolset Blocks to get a feel for it, and don't forget that if you go down the route of using Blocks, one of the advantages is that blocks are a core part of WordPress, and you are not limited to the blocks offered by Toolset, you can also mix in blocks from other providers like Kadence, Atomic Blocks, Stackable blocks etc. so that you can include "fancy" features such as this separator block from Stackable in templates you make with Toolset: hidden link
One advantage using Elementor Pro would have is that you can customise headers and footers with it, but even then you might find it easier in terms of integration with Toolset to use Elementor templates for the header and footer and maybe some content that has nothing to do with Toolset, and use Toolset templates just for the content where it makes sense.
This is very encouraging information. I'm anxious to give it a try. Thank you for sharing it.
Following the Toolset Blocks method, since I will not use Divi for the rebuild -OR- new art portfolio website installations, and the fact that Elementor is a plugin, does it matter what Theme I activate for the website?
Not necessarily, but we have a small list of recommended themes that have a layer of integration with Toolset (similar to Divi, although without the same problems relating to the Divi builder) whereby if you create a template in Toolset you have access to theme options (such as whether to display the sidebar etc.).
Hello Charles! I wonder if Nigel's reply answers your questions, if yes, please mark this ticket as resolved and open a new ticket for any other question or request you may have.
The support reply arrived 4 hours before your message and being over-night in my time zone, I had not read it.
I have a license renewal in less than a month, which will be my third. I will not renew unless I am confident in my use of your application for the intended projects.
I opened a support ticket titled "Advice For Rebuilding Existing Toolset site" where I intended to ask a series of questions related to the topic defined by the title. I have received great feedback so far and was looking forward, but the issue from my position has not been resolved.
However, for support rules, we are able to handle only one issue at a time. This helps us to bring you a better service and also helps other users to find all the information here exposed. Your question is rather generic. I suggest we open a new ticket for any specific requirement or use case, so, other users can benefit from it.
I am setting this ticket as waiting for your reply. Which will keep the ticket open for 3 weeks. You will receive email notifications before the automatic closure.
I understand. I can see how the ticket title can seem open ended.
Over the past few years, I have had good and not so good interaction with Toolset support agents and I inherently try to stay with agents whose feedback and instruction I can better identify with, which is extremely important to me as the client.
There are three Toolset agents who have provided outstanding support in my opinion and I would never object to waiting for either.
Is there a way to funnel my support requests to specific agents?
If I wanted to rebuild this current site, which is currently using Divi, to Astra, how might I begin, or is this even possible?
There are 1752 product files, a media library with 2864 image files, etc. and I would like to retain these files, but switch themes.
I uploaded and test activated the Astra theme, hoping that I would recognize something that I could begin working with, but instead the pages are littered with unrecognizable code.
I would appreciate any advise and possible direction you con with this project. I would be happy to break it into multiple tickets but this is the general immediate objective.
I created a staging site at staging.jayzerbe.com with the Astra theme uploaded but not yet activated but I'm not sure which direction to go. Is there any assistance you can provide?
Switching themes will not affect the database contents(products and images data) or the uploaded files(images).
As you have done, I will recommend working on a staging site before implementing these changes on the live site.
I uploaded and test activated the Astra theme, hoping that I would recognize something that I could begin working with, but instead the pages are littered with unrecognizable code.
I think that the Divi theme uses several shortcodes for its design, once you switch the theme to something else, these shortcodes will appear on every element (page/post/etc.) that was created using Divi.
So, I'll suggest that you switch the theme on your staging site, get back here, and let us know what pages/URLs have been broken after the theme's switch and we'll do our best to help you complete the transition.
Thank you. I will do as you say and update the ticket.
Question: The current site has a single custom post type "Products" which I converted to "Artwork".
There are a total of 5 different types of art on the site, with custom fields such as size material, etc. for each item. The problem is, the general search results shows all 5 types of art in the order they were last added.
Would we be better off declaring each of the 5 types of art as 5 individual custom post types, so their initial search results would display accordingly?
Would it be possible to add the additional post types to the staging site and configure as needed?
Thank you?
New threads created by Jamal and linked to this one are listed below:
I decided to cancel the automatic renewal for my Toolset account. I have since discovered a couple of other solutions I would like to try for my custom post type needs, before I consider renewing.
You seem more interested in keeping an orderly support bank than helping me with my issue. I have a few really great support agents who have done an outstanding job but instead of allowing me to wait to link to someone in my project history, is a HUGE aggravating experience for me, with your cold start approach to support.
I'm going to try to find more friendly technical support on this topic with another provider.
