The Template files

Okay, so imagine scrolling through various templates, trying to change the flavor of your blog. Then, all of the sudden, you come across a beloved template that has EVERYTHING you need! It shines, it sparkles, it dazzles!!! You click the download button, and then......then..... then what? Well, I'm here to show you how to do it :)

I had to do a lot of research to figure this out, because I got frustrated not knowing how to change my template, but my dream template was staring in my face, mocking me because, yes it was saved on the computer, but no, I can't get upload it to my blog!

Okay, so here's what you do first:

1) Find the template you like. I found this template on btemplates.com

2) Download the template

3) Next, you have to make sure you remember where your file was saved. Usually it is saved under downloads, but I like to take the file, copy it from the downloads folder, and put it in my documents.

4) After that, click the "Downloads" folder. Once in the folder, find your template, then open it.

Now, depending on what kind of folder it is, you might need to find and download one of two extractors. An extractor takes a folder that was condensed and pulls out the files so you can see them. The reason these folders are condensed, is so they don't take up so much room. 

These folders will either end with ".zip" or "win.rar," so all you have to do is a simple google search for zip or win.rar extractors  Mine is a zip, but it doesn't matter, because the file you are looking for is the same. Once you have your program downloaded, just right click the folder of your template, click "Extract all files" and a window should pop up. The file you want to pay special attention to ends in "xml" because this file holds the goodies to your new template! Take that file and save it to your documents. 

Now onward to the blog!

Go to your blog, and go to your template menu. It should look like this. Once you get to this page, click on the "Backup/Restore" button on the right hand, upper part of the screen.

A small window will pop up. Make sure to click "Download full template." This saves your current template as an "xml" file under downloads, along with all of it's settings, so that you can pull it up and use it again in the future. 

Almost there! Next, click "Choose File." This will take you into the computer, so you can pull up your desired template's xml file. If you saved it under documents, go there. If you saved it somewhere else, go there. Open the folder, double click the "xml" file, and voila!

Click "Upload"

And that's it!  Your dream template is a reality! Now go check it out! Make the changes you like! Have fun, happy blogging!