Title: Includeing "general-template.php" in child theme?
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Includeing "general-template.php" in child theme?

 *  [yik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/yik/)
 * (@yik)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/includeing-general-templatephp-in-child-theme/)
 * I’m building a WP website using theme “twenty twelve.”
    I want to modify the 
   look of search box and button. The code is in “wp-includes/general-template.php”
 * I don’t want my changes to be overwritten when I update wp, so I want to put 
   the file in my child theme. I tried simply putting a copy of the file in my child
   theme folder, but it didn’t work. Is there any way to include “general-template.
   php” in child theme? or way to avoid overwriting it when update.
 * Thanks,
 * Yong

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [noahjonah](https://wordpress.org/support/users/noahjonah/)
 * (@noahjonah)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/includeing-general-templatephp-in-child-theme/#post-3759984)
 * This will get you there.
    [http://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-child-theme-question?replies=5](http://wordpress.org/support/topic/basic-child-theme-question?replies=5)
 *  Thread Starter [yik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/yik/)
 * (@yik)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/includeing-general-templatephp-in-child-theme/#post-3759996)
 * Noah,
 * The file “general-template.php” is NOT in “themes” folder. It’s “mysite.com/wp-
   includes/general=template.php” The way your links shows doesn’t work. I tried
   it.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/includeing-general-templatephp-in-child-theme/#post-3759998)
 * You shouldn’t be touching any WordPress core files at all! Use a [child theme](http://codex.wordpress.org/Child_Themes)
   instead.
 *  Thread Starter [yik](https://wordpress.org/support/users/yik/)
 * (@yik)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/includeing-general-templatephp-in-child-theme/#post-3760000)
 * Ok, then What should I do? I need to change the look of search box and button
   and the file is a WP core file. Just give up?
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/includeing-general-templatephp-in-child-theme/#post-3760001)
 * Did you bother reading any of the links that have been posted here?

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Includeing "general-template.php" in child theme?’ is closed to new replies.

 * 5 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * Last activity: [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/includeing-general-templatephp-in-child-theme/#post-3760001)
 * Status: not resolved

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