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Change the theme of your CMS Made Simple site

This guide shows how to switch the look of your CMS Made Simple site by choosing a different design.

CMS and Apps2 min read18 steps

What is a theme?

CMS Made Simple is a program for building websites. A theme is the look of the site: its colours, fonts and layout. It is like the outfit your site wears. You can change the outfit without changing the words and pictures inside.

In CMS Made Simple 2.x, a theme is called a design. A design is a bundle of templates and stylesheets. A template is the layout of a page. A stylesheet holds the colours and fonts. These steps are for version 2.x.

Warning: Changing the design can change how your whole site looks. Take a backup of your files and database first. Try a new design on a copy of your site, if you can.

Step 1: Get a new design

  1. Log in to the admin area. Its address is often your site name followed by /admin.
  2. Click Extensions in the top menu.
  3. Click Module Manager.
  4. Look for a design or theme to install, or import one you downloaded. Many sites offer ready-made designs, which come as an XML file.
  5. Click Design Manager under Layout to import it. Use the Import Design button.
  6. Choose the file and click Submit.

Step 2: Use the new design on a page

  1. Go to Content, then Pages.
  2. Click the page you want to change.
  3. Open the Design tab, or the tab named Options. Look for the lists named Design and Template.
  4. Choose the new design and a template that belongs to it.
  5. Click Submit.

Step 3: Make it the default

  1. Click Layout, then Design Manager.
  2. Click Templates.
  3. Find the template of your new design. Click the icon that sets it as the default template.
  4. New pages will now use it.

To apply a template to many pages at once, go to Content, Pages. Tick the pages and pick Set template from the bulk action list.

Check your site

  1. Open your site in a private window.
  2. Click through several pages.
  3. If the site looks broken, set the old design back using the same steps.

Version 1.x calls this area Layout, then Themes, and the steps are similar. Older versions are common on old sites. Newer versions work in a similar way.

Quick recap

  • A theme (design) controls how your site looks.
  • Import a design in Layout, Design Manager.
  • Choose it for your pages, or make its template the default.
  • Back up first and test the site afterwards.