Sterling Wordpress Theme Documentation

A Premium WordPress Theme by TrueThemes

Thank You

First and foremost we want to give a huge thank you for purchasing this theme. We truly appreciate your support!

As a TrueThemes customer you now have full access to our amazing support services. We highly encourage you to watch the Training Videos before proceeding any further. The Training Videos are super helpful and will walk you through every single aspect of setting up and using your awesome new theme.

Watch the Training Videos →

1. Theme Installation

Please follow these steps to install your new Wordpress Theme:

  1. Download the ZIP package from Themeforest and Unzip it.
  2. Within the unzipped folder you will see a file named Sterling.zip - this is the actual Wordpress Theme.
  3. Log into your Wordpress Dashboard and click on Appearance > Themes.
  4. Next click on Install Themes then click on Upload.
  5. Click Browse then locate the file named Sterling.zip and click Install Now.
  6. After the theme has installed click on Activate Theme and you are all set! Your new theme is now installed!

Theme Installation

2. Site Options Panel

This theme comes with a very powerful Site Options panel. After the theme is installed you can access this panel by logging into the Wordpress dashboard and clicking on Appearance > Site Options. All options are very self explanitory and are covered in detail in the instructional Training Videos.


Site Options

You can access the Menu control panel by clicking on  Appearance > Menus. Full details are also covered in the Training Videos.

Main Menu, Footer Menu & Top Menu Setup:

  1. Log into your Wordpress dashboard and click on Appearance > Menus.
  2. Enter a Name for your Menu and click on Create Menu.
  3. Add Pages to your menu by checking off the check boxes and hitting Add to Menu
  4. To re-order the pages of your menu items simply drag and drop them into place.
  5. After your menu is completed hit Save Menu.
  6. After Your menu is saved you'll need to choose your navigation from the dropdown list under the 'Theme Locations' section.
  7. Hit save and you are all complete. Your menu is now setup.


Menus

4. Sliders

(As of version 2.1) Sterling comes packaged with 2 amazing Slider Plugins: CU3ER 3D Slider and LayerSlider. Sterling 2.1 also adds the ability to add one of these custom sliders to any or every page on your website.

Full details for using these Sliders are covered in the Training Videos.

Installing the Slider Plugins:

After activtaing the theme you will be presented with a notification box within your Wordpress Dashboard:

Plugin Notification


  1. Click on Begin installing plugins
  2. Hover over each Plugin and click Install
  3. Both Plugins will be automatically activated upon Installation. (the installation process is the same as installing any normal Wordpress Plugin)


Install Plugins

LayerSlider:

After installing the LayerSlider Plugin in Step 1 you will see a new button added to the menu of your Wordpress Dashboard called "LayerSlider WP". This is where you will go to create and manage your Layer Sliders.

Full details for using the Layer Slider is covered in the Training Videos.


LayerSlider Plugin

3D CU3ER:

After installing the 3D CU3ER Plugin in Step 1 you will see a new button added to the menu of your Wordpress Dashboard called "CU3ER". This is where you will go to create and manage your 3D CU3ER Sliders.

Full details for using the 3D CU3ER Slider is covered in the Training Videos.

You can also access the complete documentation for the CU3ER Plugin here: CU3ER Documentation


3D CU3ER Plugin

Add Sliders to any page:

(As of version 2.1) you can now add a custom LayerSlider or 3D CU3ER slider to any or every page on your website. Written instructions and screenshots are outlined below.

** Please note: You will first need to create the slider before adding it to a page. **

Full details for adding a custom slider to any page are also covered in the Training Videos.

  1. Log into your Wordpress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Pages and Edit the page you wish to modify.
  3. In the right hand column you will see a new box labeled "Custom Slider". This is where you will input the details for your Custom Slider.
  4. 3D CU3ER: If you wish to display a 3D CU3ER Slider you will simply input the ID of the slider you created into the "3D CU3ER Slider" field.
  5. LayerSlider: If you wish to display a LayerSlider you will simply input the Shortcode of the slider you created into the "Layer Slider" field.

Add Plugin to any page

5. Blog Setup

Setting up your Blog section is a very straightforward process. It simply entails creating a new page, choosing the proper page template and pointing Wordpress to your new Blog page. Full details are also covered in the Training Videos.

Creating the Blog page:

  1. Log into your Wordpress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Pages > Add New.
  3. Give your Page a title and choose the Blog page template.
  4. Save and rejoice! :)


Blog Setup

Pointing Wordpress to your Blog page:

  1. Log into your Wordpress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Settings > Reading.
  3. Choose the radio button labeled A static page (select below) .
  4. Choose your Homepage for Front Page, and choose your Blog page for Posts Page.
  5. All done. Your Blog is now fully functional.
  6. You can visit the Site Options Panel for further Blog customizing. Appearance > Site Options


Blog Reading Settings

6. Shortcodes

This theme comes with over 100 built-in shortcodes. To insert a Shortcode simply edit the page or post you wish to modify, and click on the Shortcode Manager button located directly in the Wordpress WYSIWYG editor. Instructions are listed within each Shortcode Panel. Full details are also covered in the Training Videos.


Shortcode Manager

Creating Sidebars is an absolute breeze. Simply create the Sidebar, add your Widgets and assign the Sidebar to your chosen page. Full details are also covered in the Training Videos.

  1. Log into your Wordpress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Appearance > Sidebars.
  3. Click on + Add New Sidebar.
  4. Give your Sidebar a name and click OK. (note: the name of the sidebar is never displayed to your end users.)


Add New Sidebar
  1. Log into your Wordpress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Appearance > Widgets.
  3. Locate the Sidebar you just created. It will be located toward the bottom right of your screen.
  4. Drag your desired Widgets into your Sidebar.


Add Widgets to Sidebar
  1. Log into your Wordpress Dashboard.
  2. Click on Pages and edit your desired page. (please note that you must be using either a Left Sidebar or Right Sidebar page template.)
  3. Scroll down and locate the custom meta box labeled Sidebars.
  4. Select your Sidebar from the Dropdown list.
  5. Save your page and rejoice! :)


Choose Desired Sidebar

8. Page Templates

This theme comes with 18 premium Page Templates. Many of them require no special attention. Instructions are listed below for the more complex Page Templates. Full details are also covered in the Training Videos.

FAQ Page Template:

  1. Create a new Page by clicking on Pages > Add New.
  2. Give your new page a name and be sure to select the Full Width Page Template.
  3. To add an FAQ item, click on FAQs > Add New.
  4. Give your FAQ item a title (this title will not be displayed on your website)
  5. Type in the FAQ Question and the FAQ Answer in the provided spaces. All of the lists and scrolling functionality will be automatically generated for you.
  6. Sit back and enjoy!


Add New FAQ
  1. Create a new page by clicking on Pages > Add New.
  2. Choose your desired page template and assign it to the page you just created. (ie: Gallery - 2 Column)
  3. Your Gallery page is now created. You now need to add items to the Gallery page.


Gallery Page Template
  1. Gallery categories are used to filter your gallery items.
  2. Adding a gallery category is very similar to adding a default post category.
  3. Click on Gallery Posts > Categories
  4. Enter a name for your category and click Add New Tag.
  5. Repeat this process for the additional categories you'd like to enter
  1. Click on Gallery Posts > Add New and fill in all of the fields accordingly.
  2. The Thumbnail Image is displayed to the user on the gallery page. Simply click on the Upload File button to add your thumbnail image.
  3. You can choose whether or not you'd like to display the title and description of your gallery items. Simply choose Yes or No accordingly.
  4. The Lightbox Description is displayed within the Lightbox overlay. Simply leave this field blank if you wish not to display a description.
  5. Each gallery post can have up to 5 lightbox items. Simply click on the Upload File button to add an image, or follow the examples below for adding alternate types of content.

Here are example URL's for items to be displayed in the Lightbox overlay.

  1. Image: http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-content/uploads/project1.jpg
  2. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKS08be78os
  3. Flash: http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-content/uploads/design.swf?width=792&height=294
  4. Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/8245346
  5. iFrame: http://www.apple.com?iframe=true&width=850&height=500

9. WooCommerce

This theme is fully compatible with the WooCommerce Plugin. This is a popular E-Commerce plugin that enables you to turn your website into a fully functional E-Commerce shop.

** Please note: We did not develop the WooCommerce Plugin so we are only available to provide support for our Wordpress Theme as it relates to the plugin. **

Sidebars:

  • This theme comes with 2 custom sidebars that are automatically displayed on all WooCommerce Pages.
  • WooCommerce Sidebar ← This Sidebar is displayed on all default WooCommerce Pages.
  • WooCommerce - Cart + Checkout ← This Sidebar is displayed on all WooCommerce Checkout Pages.
  • The sidebars are modified and widgets are added just like any regular sidebar.
    From within the Wordpress Dashboard: Appearance > Widgets


WooCommerce Sidebars

WooCommerce Resources: