Title: Theme Checker Plugin issues&#8230;.
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Theme Checker Plugin issues….

 *  [Adam](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cscottrun/)
 * (@cscottrun)
 * [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/)
 * **Long read ahead…**
 * So I am developing a responsive dynamic developer oriented theme framework with
   API’s geared towards creating responsive and beautiful child themes. How ever
   upon running the theme checker I get some very odd and stupid errors. Most of
   which I am like “Why do I need this? what’s the reason behind it’s ‘logic’?”
 * So I turn to the community to help me figure some of these out, so that my theme
   is not rejected by the theme repo people who go over themes with a fine tooth
   comb looking for any kind of error.
 * >  WARNING: Found wrong tag, remove responsive from your style.css header.
   >  WARNING:
   > Found wrong tag, remove functionality from your style.css header. WARNING: 
   > Found wrong tag, remove framework from your style.css header. WARNING: Found
   > wrong tag, remove aisis from your style.css header. WARNING: Found wrong tag,
   > remove Balan from your style.css header. WARNING: Found wrong tag, remove Aisis
   > from your style.css header. WARNING: Found wrong tag, remove Adam from your
   > style.css header. WARNING: Found wrong tag, remove Adam Balan from your style.
   > css header.
 * How are these wrong tags? I am lost. How is a tag wrong?
 * > WARNING: fwrite was found in the file Class-Aisis-File-Handling.php possible
   > file operations.
   >  Line 146: fwrite($fp, $contents); WARNING: fopen was found
   > in the file Class-Aisis-File-Handling.php possible file operations. Line 56:
   > $fp = fopen($filename, ‘x+’); Line 145: $fp = fopen($dir.$filename, ‘w’); WARNING:
   > file_get_contents was found in the file Class-Aisis-File-Handling.php possible
   > file operations. Line 132: return $this->file_contents = file_get_contents(
   > CUSTOM . $filename); WARNING: fclose was found in the file Class-Aisis-File-
   > Handling.php possible file operations. Line 57: fclose($fp); Line 147: fclose(
   > $fp); WARNING: dwsync.xml Dreamweaver project file found.
 * obviously there are going to be file options, I have custome css, php and js 
   editors built in which require the use of PHP file operation. I have checks in
   place to make sure you have permission to write to your files on your server.
 * Is there a better way to deal with this?
 * Also: **WARNING: dwsync.xml Dreamweaver project file found.** – Im sorry, why
   do you care?
 * One thing that really baffels me is:
 * > REQUIRED: .wp-caption css class is needed in your theme css.
   >  REQUIRED: .wp-
   > caption-text css class is needed in your theme css. REQUIRED: .sticky css class
   > is needed in your theme css. REQUIRED: .gallery-caption css class is needed
   > in your theme css. REQUIRED: .bypostauthor css class is needed in your theme
   > css. REQUIRED: .aligncenter css class is needed in your theme css.
 * Why? What’s your reason? I don’t want to…..Do I have to, obviously, but why?
 * So these are just some of the issues, there were lots of warnings and lots of
   required….some of the issues I understand, other are like “are you kidding me…”
 * So I assume I will be punted to the curve for the warnings and “required” deff
   the required, but what about the recommended or the infos?
 * The communities help and feed back is appreciated.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/#post-2811703)
 * > How are these wrong tags?
 * First – bear in mind that the Theme Checker plugin is geared towards developers
   who wish to submit a theme to the WPORG Theme Repository. So there is a strict
   list of allowed tags. You cannot just throw in a few of your own.
 * > fwrite was found in the file
 * That’s totally banned in the Theme Repo. Why do you need to write to a file anyway?
 * > Dreamweaver project file
 * You can only include theme specific files.
 * > One thing that really baffels me is
 * All required under the [Theme Review Guidelines](http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Review).
   You did read that page., didn’t you?
 * > So I assume I will be punted to the curve
 * It’s safe to say that your theme will be instantly rejected if you try to submit
   it. If you do want to submit it, you need to do some homework on what is, and
   isn’t allowed, first.
 *  Thread Starter [Adam](https://wordpress.org/support/users/cscottrun/)
 * (@cscottrun)
 * [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/#post-2811718)
 * > First – bear in mind that the Theme Checker plugin is geared towards developers
   > who wish to submit a theme to the WPORG Theme Repository. So there is a strict
   > list of allowed tags. You cannot just throw in a few of your own.
 * That’s retarded. But I guess, I understand. Where are these “tags” I can use?
 * > That’s totally banned in the Theme Repo. Why do you need to write to a file
   > anyway?
 * I already explained that – Because you have a custom css, php and js editor built
   into the themes options page in which you can edit the custom css, php and js
   file right from inside the theme, this requires opening, writing to, (possibly)
   creating said files which are: custom-css.css, custom-functions.php and custom-
   js.js
 * I do not want the user using the functions.php file because of how the theme 
   framework works. Most theme frameworks come with a custom-functions.php for the
   user to use instead.
 * So I assume I have to strip this functionality out if I want the theme to be 
   used in the wordpress theme repo?
 * > > Dreamweaver project file
   > You can only include theme specific files.
 * Im sorry what? How is that a theme specific file?
 * > All required under the Theme Review Guidelines. You did read that page., didn’t
   > you?
 * I skimmed it. I wont lie there. I will check out that page, But i find it ridiculous
   that they are REQUIRED css classes.
 * My “rage” comes from the fact that I am building a theme framework similar to
   others such as thesis, woo themes and what not, with the difference of being 
   in the WordPress repo because I am no where as famous as these people.
 * Any thoughts, suggestions, flaming remarks? There are some things I wont budge
   on, which are used in a lot of popular themes and that’s the whole writing to
   files when using the php, css or js editor.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/#post-2811765)
 * > That’s retarded.
 * Um… that’s perhaps a little harsh. The original scripts were built to assist 
   with auto-checking of themes submitted to the Repository prior to the manual 
   review. These were then bundled into a plugin as a service to theme developers.
   Personally I find the plugin extremely helpful and I use it on bespoke themes
   for clients to check that I haven’t missed anything. Coding all of your themes
   to WPORG standards has to be a Good Thing(tm), in my opinion but I can appreciate
   that theme frameworks may a little different. That said, Suffusion – which is
   also a framework – has passed all of the checks multiple times.
 * > Because you have a custom css, php and js editor built into the themes options
   > page
 * So why not store these in the db and generate them on the fly?
 * > So I assume I have to strip this functionality out if I want the theme to be
   > used in the wordpress theme repo?
 * You’d need to discuss that with the Theme Review Team. They have a dedicated 
   site at [http://make.wordpress.org/themes/](http://make.wordpress.org/themes/)
   and a mailing list at [http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers](http://lists.wordpress.org/mailman/listinfo/theme-reviewers)
   I’m sure they’ll happily deal with any queries that you may have and are open
   to the possibility of “special case submissions”, You have to keep in mind that
   the plugin is just dumb (but useful) software. 🙂
 * > How is that a theme specific file?
 * Um… that’s the point. A Dreamweaver project file isn’t theme-specific (ie not
   needed to actually use the theme). That’s what the plugin is trying to tell you
   so that you remember to remove it before zipping the theme up and submitting 
   it. FWIW, I tend to keep all of these files in a theme sub-folder called something
   like “source-files”. I then routinely remove this sub-folder from any archive
   that is to be submitted or downloaded.
 * > But i find it ridiculous that they are REQUIRED css classes.
 * Sorry but at the end of the day – them’s the rules. There is logic at work here.
   The main aim (as I understand it) to to try and provide a consistent, high-quality,
   user experience from theme to theme. In order to do this, themes have to have
   taken specific, core-generated, classes into account. Doesn’t mean that you have
   to do anything funky with them. Just ensure that they are part of the theme’s
   stylesheet and are dealt with appropriately on the site’s front end. The [Theme Unit Test data](http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Unit_Test)
   can be very helpful in this respect.
 * > Any thoughts, suggestions, flaming remarks?
 * No flames. And I do understand your frustration. When the theme review system
   was first revealed about 2 years ago, I think it would be fair to say that I 
   didn’t exactly like it either. I was seriously concerned that it would constrain
   designs and designers. But, over time, I’ve come to see that it has had a very
   definite positive effect on the overall standard of themes in the Theme Repo.
   If you get a theme accepted, you really have achieved a high level of theme design.
   So, all in all, I’m now very pro the review system – even if it does sometimes
   mean that one of my theme updates gets rejected because I forgot something. That’s
   my fault – not theirs.
 * I also hang out on the theme review mailing list and it really is a good place
   to learn new techniques and keep up-to-date. The team are _extremely_ hard-working
   but open to ideas and ways to improve the system.
 * I know this is a really bitter pill to swallow when you have put so much time&
   effort into your theme (BTDT) but please do not give up now. Read the Guidelines.
   Use the Unit Test data. Talk to the team. We’d all like to see your theme in 
   the Repo.
 *  [Sayontan Sinha](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sayontan/)
 * (@sayontan)
 * [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/#post-2811768)
 * The list of theme tags can be found here: [http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/about/](http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/about/).
   Basically these tags go into the [tag and filter interface](http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/tag-filter/)
   that the theme search uses, hence there is tighter control around those.
 * Regarding writing files, the recommended method is to use the [WP_FileSystem API](http://ottopress.com/2011/tutorial-using-the-wp_filesystem/).
   All repository-hosted themes must use this functionality if they want to write
   out files. It isn’t difficult, and it adds a layer of security around your theme.
 *  [Chip Bennett](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chipbennett/)
 * (@chipbennett)
 * [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/#post-2811770)
 * > > First – bear in mind that the Theme Checker plugin is geared towards developers
   > > who wish to submit a theme to the WPORG Theme Repository. So there is a strict
   > > list of allowed tags. You cannot just throw in a few of your own.
   > That’s retarded. But I guess, I understand. Where are these “tags” I can use?
 * At first glance, one may think so. However, consider things from the end-user’s
   perspective. Unless we maintain a whitelist of tags, then tags quickly become
   utterly useless. (For cross reference: try doing a tag search here in the forum.)
   [The list of valid tags may be found here](http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/tag-filter/).
 * > > That’s totally banned in the Theme Repo. Why do you need to write to a file
   > > anyway?
   > I already explained that – Because you have a custom css, php and js editor
   > built into the themes options page in which you can edit the custom css, php
   > and js file right from inside the theme, this requires opening, writing to,(
   > possibly) creating said files which are: custom-css.css, custom-functions.php
   > and custom-js.js
   > I do not want the user using the functions.php file because of how the theme
   > framework works. Most theme frameworks come with a custom-functions.php for
   > the user to use instead.
 * There is absolutely no need to write/read files for this functionality. Store
   the user-generated data, properly sanitized, in your options array, and print
   them out, properly escaped, via callback, hooked into an appropriate action hook.
 * If you have any questions regarding how to implement, just ask on the theme-reviewers
   mail-list.
 * > So I assume I have to strip this functionality out if I want the theme to be
   > used in the wordpress theme repo?
 * Certainly not. It just has to be implemented properly.
 * > > > Dreamweaver project file
   > > You can only include theme specific files.
   > Im sorry what? How is that a theme specific file?
 * It’s not. And that’s the point. You need to remove development files from the
   Theme package before you upload it to the repository.
 * > > All required under the Theme Review Guidelines. You did read that page., 
   > > didn’t you?
   > I skimmed it. I wont lie there. I will check out that page, But i find it ridiculous
   > that they are REQUIRED css classes.
 * WordPress generates those classes. We must ensure that the Theme developer, at
   a minimum, considered and accounted for the use cases in which the classes are
   generated. Your Theme will be used to display image galleries, and pictures with
   captions. So yes: you need to have considered how those elements will be presented(
   styled) by your Theme.
 * > My “rage” comes from the fact that I am building a theme framework similar 
   > to others such as thesis, woo themes and what not, with the difference of being
   > in the WordPress repo because I am no where as famous as these people.
 * I promise you that we show no favoritism. If any of those Themes were to be submitted
   to the repository, they would undergo exactly the same scrutiny.
 * > Any thoughts, suggestions, flaming remarks? There are some things I wont budge
   > on, which are used in a lot of popular themes and that’s the whole writing 
   > to files when using the php, css or js editor.
 * You’re welcome not to budge on some things. However, anything that is listed 
   as **required** in the Theme Review guidelines are things that the Theme Review
   Team _also_ will not budge on, without extraordinarily compelling justification.
 *  [Sayontan Sinha](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sayontan/)
 * (@sayontan)
 * [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/#post-2811774)
 * > Because you have a custom css, php and js editor built into the themes options
   > page in which you can edit the custom css, php and js file right from inside
   > the theme
 * By the way, don’t know if you realized, but there are huge security risks with
   allowing your users to define custom PHP via the theme options. Think of multi-
   site installations, where an unscrupulous user could define his own PHP functions
   to retrieve information from other accounts by means of direct SQL queries.
 * So if you wish to provide such a capability, you have to be really careful.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

The topic ‘Theme Checker Plugin issues….’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [checker](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/checker/)
 * [development](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/development/)
 * [repo](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/repo/)
 * [theme checker](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/theme-checker/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 6 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [Sayontan Sinha](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sayontan/)
 * Last activity: [13 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/theme-checker-plugin-issues/#post-2811774)
 * Status: not resolved

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