Title: child theme problem
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# child theme problem

 *  Resolved [Bperth](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bperth/)
 * (@bperth)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-problem-4/)
 * Version 3.6 Theme = attitude
    I’ve created a child theme (attitude-child) and
   placed a basic style.css file in the /var/www/wp-content/themes/attitude-child
   directory. I then changed to the child theme using the web interface. It worked
   as expected. However, if I copy the functions.php file from the parent theme 
   directory into the child directory, the site fails (white screen in browser).
   I’ve checked permissions/chown etc. What am I doing wrong? Thanks

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-problem-4/#post-4070611)
 * > if I copy the functions.php file from the parent theme directory into the child
   > directory
 * That’s where you are going wrong. The child theme’s functions.php file should
   only contain customised functions – not a complete copy of the parent’s. Start
   by just uploading a blank functions.php file to the child theme that contains
   only an opening `<?php` line.
 *  Thread Starter [Bperth](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bperth/)
 * (@bperth)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-problem-4/#post-4070659)
 * Thanks for your reply esmi,
 * How can I change the behaviour of a function in the parent theme’s functions.
   php?
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-problem-4/#post-4070697)
 * That very much depends upon the parent theme’s function and whether it is enclosed
   in an `if ( ! function_exists( 'function_name' ) )` conditional or perhaps adds
   a filter that can be used in a child theme. Contacting the theme’s author by 
   posting in [http://wordpress.org/support/theme/attitude](http://wordpress.org/support/theme/attitude)
   might help. As would posting a copy of the function you want to change.
 *  Thread Starter [Bperth](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bperth/)
 * (@bperth)
 * [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-problem-4/#post-4070753)
 * Thanks esmi,
    I’ve changed to twentythirteen which appears to behave as your 
   if statement suggests. It seems to me that a theme without this behaviour greatly
   undermines the purpose of child themes. Then again I’m only a newbie, maybe I’m
   missing something. Thanks again

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘child theme problem’ is closed to new replies.

 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Bperth](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bperth/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-problem-4/#post-4070753)
 * Status: resolved

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