Blessing | Responsive WordPress Theme for Church Websites

    Introduction
    ==========

    Welcome! First of all we want to thank you for purchasing our product, Blessing | Responsive WordPress Theme for Church Websites

    Blessing is responsive website WordPress Theme for church, charity and prayer group institutions and build with latest WordPress and Visual Composer. Blessing is responsive with almost all devices screen size supported. This template equipped with awesome features like Revolution Slider, touch & swipe carousel, countdown timer and much more features. Get ‘Blessing’ now!

    In the following sections we will explain how to set up and use Blessing theme the easiest way possible. If you cannot locate your answer here, sign up for our support forum and our supporters will help you.

    -----------------------------

    Files included in package
    =========================

    The download package (.zip) that you get from ThemeForest contains the following files and folder:

    - `blessing.zip`: main theme file that need to be uploaded to your hosting to install Blessing theme.
    - `blessing-child.zip`: basic child theme of Blessing theme. It is created for people who want to customize code of Blessing theme.
    - `data_export/demo-content.xml`: this file contains all sample content which will help you to have a first look of how we use Blessing theme.
    - `data_export/customizer.dat`: theme option backup file. You'll need this to restore the default theme options that setup for demo website.
    - `data_export/contact-form.html`: copy and paste form demo to contact form7.
    - `data_export/widgets.wie`: widget demo content file, [import widget demo](https://wordpress.org/plugins/widget-importer-exporter/)
    - `Documentation`: documetation folder that contains documentation files.
    - `Plugins`: this folder contains plugins that Blessing theme recommends.
    	- `ot_sermons.zip`: plugin file for sermons management.
    	- `ot_composer.zip`: plugin file for shortcode management.

    ------------------------------

    Installation
    =========

    - Do you want  custom theme, Starting At Only $50 contact us now <a href ="mailto:contact@oceantheme.net">**contact@oceantheme.net**</a>
    - System Required: [https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/](https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/)
    - Recommended PHP Configuration Limits:
    	<ul>
    	<li>max_execution_time: 180</li>
    	<li>memory_limit: 128M</li>
    	<li>post_max_size: 32M</li>
    	<li>upload_max_filesize: 32M</li>
    	</ul>

    Install theme
    -------------

    After you download the package from ThemeForest, unzip it. You'll see a file `blessing.zip`, which is the main file that needed to upload and install.

    You can either choose to upload and installl the theme using **WordPress theme install** or use **FTP** function.

    **Install theme using WordPress install function**

    - Go to `Appearance > Themes` and click **Add New**
    - Select **Upload**
    - Click **Browse** and select the `blessing.zip` file
    - Click **Install Now**
    - When upload and installation progresses are completed, click **Activate**, or go to `Appearance > Themes` and activate **blessing** theme

    **Upload and install using FTP**

    If you get any fail when install theme by Wordpress install function, we recommend to use FTP:

    - Unzip `blessing.zip`, you'll get a folder `blessing`
    - Use a FTP client like [FileZilla](http://filezilla-project.org/) and upload that folder to `wp-content/themes` folder on your host
    - Set the `Transfer Type` to `Binary` by expanding `Transfers > File Types`
    ![setup ftp](images/setup-ftp.png)
    - Go to `Appearance > Themes` and activate **blessing** theme

    Install plugins
    ----------------

    After installing blessing, you'll see a notification in the top of the page that says the theme needs some plugins to function properly.

    blessing theme **requires** following plugins:

    - [Meta Box](http://wordpress.org/plugins/meta-box/): plugin for creating meta boxes for posts, pages,... It is free and available on WordPress.org
    - [WPBakery Visual Composer](http://codecanyon.net/item/visual-composer-page-builder-for-wordpress/242431): premium plugin for page builder. It is the most popular plugin on Codecanyon.
    - [Kirki Toolkit](https://wordpress.org/plugins/kirki/): Using Kirki theme developers can create rich experiences for the WordPress Customizer using best coding practices.
    - OT Visual Composer: This is Child of WPBakery Visual Composer, require install plugin WPBakery Visual Composer and it's include all custom shortcode of Blessing theme.

    blessing theme **recommends** following plugins:

    - [Slider Revolution](https://codecanyon.net/item/slider-revolution-responsive-wordpress-plugin/2751380): premium plugin for Slider. It is the most popular plugin on Codecanyon.
    - [Contact Form 7](https://wordpress.org/plugins/contact-form-7/): plugin for creating contact forms. It is free and available on WordPress.org
    - [The Events Calendar](https://wordpress.org/plugins/the-events-calendar/): Create an events calendar and manage it with ease. The Events Calendar plugin provides professional-level quality and features backed by a team you can trust.
    - One Click Demo Import: Import demo content for your website with just one click.
    - OT Sermons: Sermons plugin allows you to create a page containing the information about your sermon.

    Blessing is working perfectly with these plugins. It automatically adds more styles to them to make the design match the theme.

    To install these plugins:

    - Go to `Appearance > Install Plugins`
    - You'll be redirect to a page where all needed plugins are listed. Just click on **Install** below each plugin's name
    - After installing, if it's required to activate the plugin, just activate

    Method 1: One Click Import demo content
    -----------------------------

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHMg0w70WOw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    Method 2: Import demo content by manual
    -------------------

    - Do you want  custom theme, Starting At Only $50 contact us now <a href ="mailto:contact@oceantheme.net">**contact@oceantheme.net**</a>

    If you are new to WordPress and have problems with setting up the theme you might want to import the demo content file that comes with the theme. The following actions will import some dummy posts and pages from the live preview:

    - Go to `Tools > Import`
    - Select **WordPress** from the list
    - If you haven't installed the **WordPress import plugin**, a popup window will appears and ask you to install it. Just click **Install Now**. When the installation progress is completed, click **Activate Plugin & Run Importer**. If you have installed this plugin, skip to next step.
    - Click **Browse** and select `demo-content.xml` file from the download package
    - Click **Upload file and import**
    - When you are asked to import author, you can create new author or import to existing author. You also should check the checkbox **Download and import file attachments**.

    ![import](images/import-data.png)

    ![install plugin importer](images/install-plugin-importer.png)

    ![select demo content](images/select-import-data.png)

    After completing all above steps, go to `Posts`, `Pages`, `Portfolios`, `Team`... to see imported data.

    Import Customizer by manual
    -------------------

    Following these steps to import customize:

    - Installed [Customizer Export/Import](https://wordpress.org/plugins/customizer-export-import/): The Customizer Export/Import plugin allows you to export or import your WordPress customizer settings from directly within the customizer interface! If your theme makes use of the WordPress customizer for its settings, this plugin is for you!
    - Go to `Appearance > Customize > Export/Import`

    ![import theme option](images/import-customize.png)
    ![import theme option](images/import-customize-2.png)

    - **[1]**: Click to **Export/Import**
    - **[2]**: Browse file 'customizer.dat' in data_export/customizer.dat
    - **[3]**: Click to `import`

    Setup homepage and blog page
    -------------------------------------

    After install demo content, you'll see a page 8 Homepage pages, as you see on our demo. You can use one of theme as the homepage of the website. To set it as homepage, please go to `Settings \ Reading`, under **Front page displays**, please chose **A static page (select below)** and select a homepage version (eg: Homepage Slider Dark) for **Front page** and select **Blog** page for **Posts page**.

    ![setup front page](images/setup-front-page.png)

    Setup Menu
    --------------

    Although the theme is working now and it shows menu, but because we haven't created a menu for primary location, the theme will display all pages by default. But displaying pages instead of one page sections is a bad idea, because blessing is one page theme.

    ###Edit imported menu (recommend)

    When you import demo data, WordPress automatically create a menu for you, named `**Main menu**.

    - Go to `Appearance > Menus`
    - Select **Main Menu** and click **Select** button to edit it.
    - Scroll to bottom of page and check **Main Menu** for **_Theme location_**
    - Click **Save Menu**
    ---------------

    - **Main Menu**

    ![edit menu](images/edit-primary-menu.png)

    ###Create New Menu

    Following these steps to create a menu:

    - Go to `Appearance > Menus`
    - Click the **create a new menu** link to create new menu.
    - For normal menu item: Select items from the left meta boxes and click **Add to Menu**
    - On the right, feel free to drag and drop menu items to organize them
    - When you're done moving menu items, check **Main Menu** for **Theme locations** at the bottom of the page
    - Click **Save Menu**

    ![edit menu](images/create-menu.png)

    **1**: Click to create a new menu.

    **2**: Enter menu name. Ex: Main menu.

    **3**: Select page to create.

    **4**: Display menu.

    **5**: Tick menu.

    ------------------------------

    Create Your Home Page
    ====================

    blessing uses page template and meta box to create home page, so the first step is just creating a page using `Home Page` template (or you can edit exists page that has been imported via sample content file).

    ![select-page-template](images/page-template.png)

    blessing theme comes with Visual Composer plugin. This plugin allows you to forget about shortcodes and create most complex layouts within minutes without writing a single line of code!

    ###Visual Composer Basics

    It has very simple and intuitive interface, but before getting started, you may find it useful to get accustomed with its documentation:

    [Visual Composer Documentation](https://wpbakery.atlassian.net/wiki/display/VC/Visual+Composer+Pagebuilder+for+WordPress?title=Visual_Composer)

    In blessing theme, we also create some new Elements and add some new parameters to exists elements of Visual Composer. It will help you a lot to build your One Page easier. Following we will go through some popular elements of Visual Composer and all of new elements that blessing theme brings to you.

    ###Row

    This is the most popular you can't live without when using Visual Composer. In blessing theme, we use it as a section of One Page. So, when you edit a row, there is new parameters you will see beside the defaults:

    **_General tab_**:

    - **CSS Animation**: Select type of animation for element to be animated when it "enters" the browsers viewport (Note: works only in modern browsers).
    - **Disable Row**: If checked the row won't be visible on the public side of your website. You can switch it back any time.
    - **Row ID**: Enter row ID (Note: make sure it is unique and valid according to [w3c specification](http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_global_id.asp)).
    - **Disable row**: If checked the row won't be visible on the public side of your website. You can switch it back any time.
    - **Extra class name**: Style particular content element differently - add a class name and refer to it in custom CSS.
    - **Setup Full width For Row?**: Select Full width for row : yes or not, Default: No fullwidth

    **_Design options tab_**:

    - **Css box**: It hepl you to change margin, border and padding.
    - **Overlay**: This option allows to place an additional layer above the row's background.
    - **Border color**: Select a border color for row.
    - **Border style**: Select a border style for row, ex: solid, dotted, dashed, etc...
    - **Background**: Select a background color for row.
    - **Set background image**: Select a image conformity with content.
    - **Box controls**: select this option will you to simplify controls.

    ###Column

    As Row, column is also the most popular element in Visual Composer, they are always be together. In blessing theme, we add new tab called "**Animation**" when you edit a column. This tab contains options allow you to set up animation for that column when it appear on screen for the first time. This tab contains following options:

    **_General_**

    - **Element ID**: Enter element ID (Note: make sure it is unique and valid according to [w3c specification](https://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_global_id.asp)).
    - **Extra class name**: Style particular content element differently - add a class name and refer to it in custom CSS.
    - **Animate Column**: Select Animate , Default: None

    **_Design options_**:

    - **Css**: It hepl you to change margin, border and padding.
    - **Overlay**: This option allows to place an additional layer above the row's background.
    - **Border**: Select a color for border.
    - **Background **: Select a color for background.
    - **set image**: Select a image conformity with content.
    - **Box controls**: select this option will you to simplify controls.

    **_Responsive options_**:

    - **Width**: Select column width.
    - **Responsiveness **: Adjust column for different screen sizes. Control width, offset and visibility settings.

    ###How to using blessing shortcode:
    ![edit menu](images/blessing-shortcode.png)

    ###OT Upcoming Events

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-upcoming-events.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-upcoming-events-front.png)

    This element is used to present a carousel of upcoming events. It contains following options:

    - **Title**: Add title.
    - **Sub Title**: Add sub title.
    - **Number Show**: Enter number post to show of Upcoming Events on front-page.

    ###OT Upcoming Events 2

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-upcoming-events2.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-upcoming-events-front2.png)

    This element is used to present a carousel of upcoming events. It contains following options:

    - **Title**: Add title.
    - **Number Show**: Enter number post to show of Upcoming Events on front-page.

    ###OT Upcoming Envents Grid

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-upcoming-events-grid.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-upcoming-events-grid-front.png)

    This element is used to present a carousel of upcoming events. It contains following options:

    - **Title**: Add title.
    - **Number Show**: Enter number post to show of Upcoming Events on front-page.

    ###OT Events Count Down

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-events-count-down.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-events-count-down-front.png)

    This element is used to present a count down of upcoming events. It contains following options:

    - **Title**: Add title.
    - **Time Count Down**: Enter time count down with date format: m/d/Y h:i:s, ex: 12/10/2018 12:00:00

    ###OT Sermons List

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-sermons-list.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-sermons-list-front.png)

    This element is used to present a listed of sermons post. It contains following options:

    - **Number Per Page**: Enter number post to show of Sermons post on front-page.

    ###OT Latest Blog

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-latest-blog.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-latest-blog-front.png)

    This element is used to present a carousel of blog post. It contains following options:

    - **Title**: Add Title.
    - **Sub Title**: Add Sub Title.
    - **Number Show**: Number post.
    - **Number Excerpt**: Limit Post Excerpt Length.

    ###OT Testimonials

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-testimonials.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-testimonials-front.png)

    This element is used to present a carousel of testimonials. It contains following options:

    - **Title**: Add Title.
    - **Sub Title**: Add Sub Title.
    - **Number Show**: Number post.
    - **Number Excerpt**: Limit Post Excerpt Length.

    ###OT Image Gallery

    - **Backend**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-image-gallery.png)

    - **Caption Image Size**:
    - Image size: 300x610 -> long-pic
    - Image size: 1200x590 -> wide-pic
    - Image size: 800x800 -> small-pic
    </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-image-gallery-backend-detail.png)

    - **FrontEnd**: </br>
    ![edit menu](images/ot-image-gallery-front.png)

    This element is used to present a carousel of testimonials. It contains following options:

    - **Gallery Image**: Upload Unlimited Image Gallery and add title, alt, add image caption(image size: long-pic, small-pic, wide-pic) for each image.

    ------------------------------

    WordPress Live Customize
    =============

    Blessing theme comes with unique, creative and easy-to-use Customize page. You can easy change all theme options in one place!

    - In your WordPress admin page and go to `Appearance > Customize`

    ###Setting Favicon
    - `Appearance > Customize > General > Site Identity` <br>
    ![favicon-frontend](images/favicon-browsers.png) <br>
    ![favicon-backend](images/favicon-upload.png)

    ###Setting Logo
    - `Appearance > Customize > Header > Logo` <br>
    ![logo](images/upload-logo.png)

    ###Setting Header Social
    - `Appearance > Customize > Header > Social` <br>
    ![header-social](images/setting-social.png)

    ###Setting Header Styling
    - **Background color for header static**
    - **Background color for header scroll down page**
    - **Border color for header scroll down page**
    - **Menu item color for header static**
    - **Menu item color for header scroll down page**
    - **Menu item color when hover or active**
    - `Appearance > Customize > Header > Styling` <br>
    ![header-styling](images/setting-header-styling.png)

    ###Setting blog
    - `Appearance > Customize > Blog` <br>
    ![blog-setting](images/blog-setting.png)

    ###Setting Footer
    - `Appearance > Customize > Footer` <br>
    ![footer-setting](images/footer-setting.png)

    ###Setting styling
    - **unlimited color**
    - **body font**
    - `Appearance > Customize > Styling` <br>
    ![styling](images/styling-setting.png)

    ###Setting preload
    - `Appearance > Customize > Preload` <br>
    ![preload-setting](images/preload-setting.png)<br>
    ![preload-frontend](images/preload-frontend.png)

    ###Setting styling
    - **On/Off Animation for box, section, content when scroll down page**
    - **Using your Google Maps API Key**: [Get API Key](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/javascript/get-api-key)
    - `Appearance > Customize > Miscellaneous ` <br>
    ![styling](images/miscellaneous-setting.png)

    ###Setting Typography
    - **The first, you need to installation and active Easy Google Fonts plugin for your website**: [Easy Google Fonts](https://wordpress.org/plugins/easy-google-fonts/)
    - `Appearance > Customize > Typography ` <br>
    ![Typography](images/typography-setting.png)

    All options have full description so you can know what you are doing. Just click and save!

    ------------------------------

    Post Format
    ===========

    [Post Formats](http://codex.wordpress.org/Post_Formats) is theme feature which is a piece of meta information that can be used by a theme to customize its presentation of a post.

    In short, with a theme that supports Post Formats, a blogger can change how each post looks by choosing a Post Format from a radio-button list.

    Blessing theme supports the following post formats:

    - `gallery` - A gallery of images, which will be displayed in a responsive image slider, powered by Flexslider.
    - `image` - A single image, which will be shown above post title.
    - `video` - A single video, which can be any video from Youtube, Video or other video websites. Support URL or embed code. The video will be displayed above post title.
    - `audio` - An audio file, which can be any video from Youtube, Video or other video websites. Support URL or embed code. The video will be displayed using a powerful HTML5 audio player provided by Wordpress as default player.

    Using post format in blessing lets you differentiate post from each other and make the blog page / single page looks more beautiful.

    [Go to blog page](http://demo.oceantheme.net/blessing/blog/) to see how post formats look.

    When you edit a post, select a format you want to apply to that post on the **Format** meta box on the right:

    ![formats](images/post-format-box.png)

    When you choose a format, a corresponding meta box will appear **below** the content editor, here's the list of them:

    ![formats](images/post-formats.png)

    All you need to do is just enter **all** information in the fields in these meta boxes. This information will be used to decorate the post. For example: gallery post format will uses uploaded images to show a slider above post title, a video post will display a video player above post title, etc.

    ------------------------------

    Translation
    =========

    ###Tell WordPress which language file to use.

    If you don’t use WordPress in your native language so far, you have to tell WordPress which language to use to activate the theme translation.

    You can do this by editing the wp-config.php file (the file is located in the main directory of your WordPress files) and defining the WPLANG constant. You have to set your language code there, for example fr_FR for French translation.

    ust add the line below to your wp-config.php or change it if it already exists:

    `define ('WPLANG', 'it_IT');`

    ###First Method: Using Loco Translate Plugin

    The easiest way to translate your theme locally is by using the [Loco Translate](https://wordpress.org/plugins/loco-translate/) plugin. After you have installed and activated the plugin,
    simply go to `Loco Translate > Themes > Blessing > New language`. <br>
    ![loco-translate-theme](images/translate-theme.png)

    ###Second Mothod: Using Poedit

    Poedit is a common program which you can use to translate the theme. It’s available for free on [poedit.net](http://www.poedit.net/).

    After you have installed Poedit, you can open it and select `File > New Catalog from POT file`. Then select the .pot file from the theme you wish to translate which you can find in the `/languages/` folder of theme.

    Then go through every line of text and translate it to your native language. Afterwards you can save the catalog with your language code (for example `en_US.po`). Normally Poedit automatically creates the .mo file and saves it, too.

    The last step you have to do is to upload your created language files to the language folder of your theme using FTP.

    ------------------------------

    Child Theme
    ===========

    Fastlat is fully child theme compatible. We have attached a basic child theme to the download package which contains the minimum of required files. If you are planing any code customisations we highly recommend to do this inside the child theme! Learn more about child themes [here](http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes)

    Need Helps
    =========

    If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact us! To grant best support we set up a support forum at [https://oceantheme.ticksy.com/](https://oceantheme.ticksy.com/). Channeling all requests at one place keeps and makes it simple, easier and even more effective for every customers to get quick help. All issues, requests and questions can be discussed and answered at one place. Please note, you will only get access to our forums with a valid purchase key!