It doesn’t take a lot to install and set up your new WP-Vybe WordPress theme. Read on, and you’ll have it knocked out in a snap.

Step 1 – Unzip the File

The file you downloaded can be unzipped with any standard unzip program (if you don’t have one already installed on your computer, Stuffit Expander is a popular option for PC or MAC users). When you unzip the file, you’ll end up with a folder named “wp-vybe.” Within it are all the theme files along with the end user license agreement (please take a moment to read over the license agreement).

Step 2 – Upload the Theme Files to Your WordPress Site

Option 1

If you are using WordPress 2.8 and above, you are able to install the ZIP file of the theme directly from the Dashboard. This simplifies things since you don’t need to use FTP:

1. When viewing the WordPress Dashboard, go to Appearance -> Themes
2. Click “Install Themes” (big tab at top)
3. Click “Upload”
4. Click ‘Choose File’ then navigate to where you downloaded the theme ZIP file; click ‘Open’
5. Click ‘Install Now’
6. When done installing, click “Activate”
7. That’s it!

Option 2

For this step, you’ll need an FTP (file transfer protocol) program. An FTP program allows you to transfer files between your computer and your web hosting account. There are several available, but I use SmartFTP. You’ll want to upload your theme folder to the /wp-content/themes folder in your WordPress installation.

Step 3 – Activate WP-Vybe

Login to your WordPress control panel, and click the Appearance link on the left. On the next page you’ll see all your available themes. Simply click on the WP-Vybe screenshot, then click the Activate link in the upper right-hand corner of the pop-up screen.

Step 4 – Set Up Your Featured Articles Section

If you don’t already have a “Featured” category, you’ll need to create one. Click the Manage tab, then Categories on the sub-navigation bar. Create a new category named “Featured”. Also, be sure the category slug is “featured”.

For the Featured Articles function to work correctly, you may also need to modify your permalink structure. To do that, go to Settings -> Permalinks. Just be sure that any option other than the default permalink structure is selected.

Finally, the only thing left to do is to place some of your posts/articles in the Featured category. By default, the theme is set up to display your 5 most recent Featured Articles in the featured article box on your home page. You can change that number on the WP-Vybe Theme Settings page if you like.

Step 5 – Install and Activate Plugins Supported by WP-Vybe

WP-Vybe has built-in support for the following plugins:

Recently Popular – Your Most Popular Posts will appear at the top of the right sidebar in the tabbed navigation box as seen on this site. In WP-Vybe the plugin is configured to look at the past two weeks but this can be changed by modifying the plugin code in side-tabs.php:

<?php get_recently_popular(2, ‘WEEK’, 5, 0, 2); ?>

The first number within the parentheses is the interval length and the word following it is for the interval type (HOUR, DAY, WEEK, or MONTH). See the plugin’s page here for more details.

WP-Print – If you install and activate WP-Print, a printer icon will appear at the top of each Single post page. See this post for an example. If you don’t install it, the theme will function just fine without it; you just won’t give your readers the option to print out your posts. Note: Be sure to Update Permalinks AFTER you activate the plugin as mentioned on the “Installation” page for the plugin here.

Get the Image – This is a sweet, little plugin from the very brilliant Justin Tadlock. It will make it easier for you to include post thumbnails and featured photos for all your posts without using custom fields. More on that in another tutorial. Again, if you decide not to use it, the theme will function fine without it.

Be sure you download the latest version of each plugin and upload them to your wp-content/plugins folder. Then activate them. The theme will do the rest.

Step 6 – Add Some Content to Your Sidebars

Go to Appearance -> Widgets and drag some content into your sidebars. Be sure to click the ‘Save Changes’ button when you’re done.

Step 7 – Be Sure to Visit the WP-Vybe Theme Settings Page

The link for this page is available under Appearance. I’ve given you a whole slew of optional settings for the theme, so feel free to change a few of them, and see what sort of site you can create for yourself.

Step 8 – Custom Menus – Very Important

In WordPress 3.0 and above you are able to take advantage of the custom menu feature. Here is a short screencast to show you how it works.

Please note that you must set up the custom menus as instructed in the video. Otherwise, you will have a duplicate page navigation bar as the category bar (if part of the theme).

Optional Step 9 – Make Your Featured Articles Scroll Automatically

See this comment.

“Listed below are 46 different freeware categories with my selection of the best products in each category. The list is ordered by program function rather than merit so you’ll get the most out of it by browsing it at leisure. The pathologically impatient can consult the index.”

We will, however, forgive him in advance for choosing Internet Explorer over Firefox.