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[Resolved] Toolset Starter Theme discontinued. Do we have to worry?

This support ticket is created 6 years, 4 months ago. There's a good chance that you are reading advice that it now obsolete.

This is the technical support forum for Toolset - a suite of plugins for developing WordPress sites without writing PHP.

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This topic contains 4 replies, has 3 voices.

Last updated by Beda 6 years, 2 months ago.

Assisted by: Beda.

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#903889

Hi,
we just discovered that the Starter Theme is discontinued. Since we've build some websites with it we have some questions:
Will there be no more updates in the future (even for security reasons)?
Which are the reasons for this decision?
Are there issues we should know?
We are currently developing two websites with this theme (and one is almost finished), are we running a risk keeping this theme?

Thanks,
Nicola

#903910

Hi Nicola

You are right, the Toolset Starter Theme is deprecated.

Let me answer your questions in detail, and provide solutions for you (and others).

1. We are not pushing any more updates to the Theme since it's not available anymore. If you have Security issues due to the Theme, please report this to us. The solution though might include changing the theme if there would be an issue with the Starter Theme's Security.

2. The reasons are (among others):
- Toolset's main purpose and "goal" is and was not the Theme development per-se, but the Plugin development, specifically plugins with which you can customize any site (or theme).
- Toolset Starter was produced for the sole purpose to be a starter plate, fully (and restrictively) integrated with Toolset Layouts - this is what made it "special".
- Toolset Starter does not comply with Toolset Content Layouts that we added later, and it features complex CSS cascading that confused several users.
- The coming changes to Gutenberg make themes like the Starter Theme even more "obsolete"
- Nowadays you can use Toolset Layouts or other components freely on all themes you want, as long as they use the_content() function, or are Custom Types Ready as here:
https://toolset.com/documentation/recommended-themes/
- Finally, the numbers of installs showed us that this theme was not what the users wanted majorly anymore.

3. Nothing you do not probably know of already:
- https://toolset.com/forums/topic/cred-form-css-styling-issue/
- as said above, it's not compatible with Content Layouts

4. I foresee no imminent issues if you keep it unless WordPress's API changes drastically.
But it's better, if you can, to switch.

And now, I would like to provide a few solutions.

1. Use any Theme that uses the_content() as a render function.

The Toolset will work out of the box. You will design only the post body area with Toolset (and include in there what you like, using Toolset).
The rest (sidebar, header, etc) is handled by The Theme you choose.

2. Use any Custom Type Ready Theme:
https://toolset.com/documentation/recommended-themes/

This is the same as #1 above, but now you can as well control the Theme settings that are relevant to what you display directly within Toolset Layouts or Content Templates, and those settings will then influence the Theme settings for that specific content displayed with the layout or content template

3. If you require to design the entire template with Toolset Layouts as it's used from Toolset Starter, then custom PHP integration is required.
I made an example base theme here:
https://github.com/TukuToi/MinimaX1/

This is the most minimal possible version of a WordPress Theme, enqueuing Bootstrap and dynamically integrating Toolset.
This means you can if you want, but don't have to, use Toolset Layouts to design the templates.
The Theme is very well commented in the code, it has (until now) convinced the users who were requiring a more "custom" possibility to use Toolset, and needed to switch from the Starter Theme.
Most's reply - after having a look at the theme - was that this was a good start for them to finally created their own, fully custom "Toolset" Theme.

Note that this is my personal creation, you are free to use it, but we do not support it here in the forum.

I do not know enough about your projects, but I assume, #2 is the way you could try to approach.

These themes that are linked there are extremely welcomed by many Website users and masters worldwide, and you can achieve great designs with them

Please let me know if I left open any doubt.

#903999

Thank you Beda for your very detailed answer. I understand that making themes is not your your main purpose, anyway if you release one your customers are legitimate to consider it the best choice to pair with your set of plugins. Probably we'll follow your instructions and choose another theme.

Thanks,
Nicola

#1083086

"3. If you require to design the entire template with Toolset Layouts as it's used from Toolset Starter, then custom PHP integration is required.
I made an example base theme here:
hidden link"

Would you mind sharing the hidden link, please?

I have a huge investment in Toolset Starter across all of my clients websites. None of the recommended themes come close to what was achievable with Toolset Starter without large amounts of customisation.

#1084401

I think the links are visible now.

This ticket is now closed. If you're a Toolset client and need related help, please open a new support ticket.