Title: Comment template changes overriden after upgrade Last modified: August 19, 2016 --- # Comment template changes overriden after upgrade * Resolved [matthewpaul](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matthewpaul/) * (@matthewpaul) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/) * I’ve made some changes to the comment-template PHP file, but every time I upgrade WordPress, the comment-template file gets overridden by the upgrade. * These are just basic changes to effect the styling of the comments, but it ends up being a pain having to make them after every upgrade. Is there any way to avoid having to re-edit this file after each upgrade? Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) * [henkholland](https://wordpress.org/support/users/henkholland/) * (@henkholland) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324425) * Hi, * Would that be `comments.php` in the default or classic theme-folder? Copy the complete folder to a new one and give it a new name like mytheme; select that theme under Appearance and only modify in there! (allthough I am not sure whether an automatic upgrade overwrites the standard default and classic theme folders in wp-content, better be safe than sorry). * If you are referring to a file in, say, wp-admin: yes that is standard behaviour, so you better never modify any of thes core files (been there, done that). Ofcourse you can backup your modified file but simply re-uploading it after the upgrade could break things when there are more changes in the said file. * Thread Starter [matthewpaul](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matthewpaul/) * (@matthewpaul) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324533) * No, comment-template.php is located in wp-includes folder. The changes I make can only be made in comment-template.php, not the comments file. I keep a backup and modify a couple lines after each time I upgrade, rather than replace the whole file so there’s no issue. * They’re minor changes, but I was hoping there was a way to avoid having to make them after every upgrade. * [s_ha_dum](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apljdi/) * (@apljdi) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324538) * > Is there any way to avoid having to re-edit this file after each upgrade? * Yes. Don’t hack the core files. Core files will be over-written every time you upgrade. * Depending upon what you want to do you may not have to hack comment-template. php. If you explain what you are trying to accomplish maybe someone can help you avoid the core hack. * If you do have to hack the core files you will have to recreate the changes every time. I just recently started using [git](http://git-scm.com/) to make that process less painful. * Thread Starter [matthewpaul](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matthewpaul/) * (@matthewpaul) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324544) * I want to add a “/” between the comment author and the date so the output looks like: * > Joe / December 29, 2009 at 10:00 pm > This is my comment. * Can this be done without modifying comments-template? * [Mark / t31os](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t31os_/) * (@t31os_) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324550) * Yes it can.. * You can manage what’s shown in comment output by adjusting (If they exist) or creating (If they don’t) comment template files.. * Like with categories, themes also support comment templates.. * If you need control over an area the template file can’t cover, ie. it’s inside what’s output by wp_list_comments, then all you need to do is define a callback function for it.. i can give you an example if you like, but if you’re PHP capable, the following page should help… * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Tags/wp_list_comments](http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Tags/wp_list_comments) Further reading regarding using a callback function. [Google results](http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wp_list_comments+callback&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a) * [s_ha_dum](https://wordpress.org/support/users/apljdi/) * (@apljdi) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324569) * [@matthewpaul](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matthewpaul/), * Looks like the ‘callback’ function is what you need. I’ve done something similar so I have examples too. * Thread Starter [matthewpaul](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matthewpaul/) * (@matthewpaul) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324586) * Thanks, t310s_ and apljdi. I used the example in the Codex link and worked off that. * [Mark / t31os](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t31os_/) * (@t31os_) * [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324587) * Happy you got it sorted mate.. 😉 * Post back if you have problems.. 🙂 Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) The topic ‘Comment template changes overriden after upgrade’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [comment template](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/comment-template/) * [Comments](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/comments/) * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 8 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [Mark / t31os](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t31os_/) * Last activity: [16 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/comment-template/#post-1324587) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics