Before installing the 5 Star Hotel child theme, we must install the Divi theme and any optional 3rd-party plugins you wish to use that utilize our demo content (currently HBook and Divi Testimonial Slider plugins). To be clear, any 3rd-party plugins are completely optional, yet if you want your website to look exactly like the online demo, the aforementioned plugins must be installed/activated prior to demo content import in a future step.
Step 1 - Install Divi
The first thing we must install is the Divi theme by Elegant Themes. If you haven't already, you can purchase the Divi theme here. To install Divi:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme > Choose File > select the Divi theme ZIP file you've downloaded from Elegant Themes > click "Install Now" > wait for the upload and install process > click "Activate".
Next, we'll enter the Divi theme API Key activation code. This allows for theme updates in future. To do this:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Divi > Theme Options > Updates > enter Username and API Key > click "Save Changes".
Next, we'll ensure the "Classic Editor" is enabled in Divi. This gives us the traditional WordPress TinyMCE Editor (rather than the new Gutenberg Editor). This is not a requirement, but a recommendation since certain plugins work best with the Classic Editor. To do this:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Divi > Theme Options > Builder > Advanced tab >Enable Classic Editor: Enabled > click "Save Changes".
Next, we'll ensure your hosting environment is setup optimally for Divi. If the values here are correct, this makes the 5 Star Hotel child theme install process much more likely to succeed. To do this:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Divi > Support Center > Ensure "System Status" informs "all system checks have passed". If so, proceed to the next step. If not, please review the recommendations Divi Support Center provides you and contact your host to meet these recommendations.
FYI, Cloudways hosting provides an optimal Divi environment out-of-the-box. Click here to setup a Cloudways account including a Free Trial.
Step 2 - Install Divi Testimonial Slider
This is a completely optional step. As mentioned previously, if you want your website to look exactly like the online demo, you should install and activate this plugin prior to 5 Star Hotel demo content import. If you haven't already, you can purchase the Divi Testimonial Slider plugin here. To install this plugin:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin > Choose File > select the Divi Testimonial Slider ZIP file you've downloaded from B3Multimedia > click "Install Now" > wait for the upload and install process > click "Activate Plugin".
Next, you will be redirected to the Admin Plugins section. A dialogue will appear stating: "The Testimonials Slider API Key has not been activated, so the plugin is inactive! Click here to activate Testimonials Slider." Click the link provided in this dialogue. It will take you to the plugin's API Key Activation screen, where you can insert your API Key. Once entered, click "Save Changes".
Step 3 - Install HBook Hotel Booking System
This is a completely optional step. As mentioned previously, if you want your website to look exactly like the online demo, you should install and activate this plugin prior to 5 Star Hotel demo content import. If you haven't already, you can purchase the HBook Hotel Booking System plugin here. To install this plugin:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin > Choose File > select the HBook Hotel Booking System ZIP file you've downloaded from HotelWP > click "Install Now" > wait for the upload and install process > click "Activate Plugin".
Next, you must activate HBook by entering your license code. This is required for the plugin to work. To do this:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > HBook > License > Enter your purchase code > click the "Verify purchase code" button.
Step 4 - Install 5 Star Hotel
We will now install the child theme. If you haven't already, you can purchase the 5 Star Hotel child theme here. To install 5 Star Hotel:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme > Choose File > select the 5 Star Hotel ZIP file you've downloaded from MAGI Web Design > click "Install Now" > wait for the upload and install process (it's a big file, so will take a while to upload!) > click "Activate".
Next, we'll ensure you have access to our Support Portal should you have technical issues during your support window. To do this:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Five Star Hotel Child Theme > Support > copy the link provided to our Support Portal for future reference.
Next, we'll import the child theme demo content. This is a quick and easy process, which makes your website look and function like our online demo. To do this:
Navigate to: Admin Menu > Five Star Hotel Child Theme > Easy Demo Import > ensure all fields are checked > click the "Import Demo Content" button.
Important Note: If you do not wish to use recommended 3rd party plugins and have not installed them, uncheck the boxes next to those items, as you will not need to import those plugins' demo content.
"Importing Demo Content" will now begin its process. Wait on this screen until ALL items are imported (checkmark appears next to item). DO NOT NAVIGATE AWAY from this page until "Import Process Completed" notification appears.
In the next article, we're going to cover important caching steps, to ensure your new website with fresh demo content loads correctly.