Josicus
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Yup, I bought this plugin a few days ago as well. Yet, I need to play some with it though, but I can allready see the benefits CSS wise.
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Monty
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Sebastian,
I'm using Artisteer 4.1 . I have some existing 4.1 templates that I would want to use Microthemer on. Is there a step by step on how to both Install and
Use Microthemer on an existing Artisteer theme?
Thanks,
Monty
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Abland
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Hi, Monty,
Sebastian has some good video tutorials on his site:
http://themeover.com/installing-microthemer/
I found spending the bit of time watching the tutorials made it much easier putting the plugin to work.
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Monty
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Abland,
Thank you! I will watch them tonight.
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Abland
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Hi,
There's been a pre-release of version 2 - official release should be soon. The visual editor has been enhanced and is quite impressive.
Quote Sebastian:the 50% off coupon works again: 2qGnart50T4
worth reminding about Sebastian's offer
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Sebastian
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Hi everyone,
This is just to confirm that the much improved version 2 of Microthemer has now been officially released. The 50% off coupon (2qGnart50T4 ) is still valid and you can now download a Free Trial if you'd rather test it first.
http://themeover.com/microthemer/
Many Thanks,
Sebastian
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Abland
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Hi, Sebastian,
That's great to see the official release. I've been very impressed with the ease and flexibility of the beta release and see this as a must have development tool.
Great job! 
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Sebastian
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Glad to hear it Abland!
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MikeC
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I guess the one question (or maybe a criticism) I have about Microthemer is why not have it save the changes to a theme as a child theme instead of dealing with the Microloader?
Maybe I don't really understand the way it works or there's something technical about Microthemer that prevents it from working this way.
What I would love is to install my theme and get Microthemer to create a child theme based on my changes. To me that would be perfect.
I'm still on the fence about buying it. It seems like a great application and certainly not expensive. My hesitation is really about the workflow. This new version inches me closer to buying it. I guess I need a little more pushing.
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Nick
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I agree with MikeC.
I got very close in buying it, and them I discovered that it does not play nice with MP6. MP6 might be included in WP 3.6, or probably with WP 3.7. It means that sooner or later, you won't be able to use the microthemer at all, until it gets fixed.
So I'm in a wait and see mode, even though is not that expensive. May be my needs are different. I make premium themes, starting the process with Artisteer for distribution, and not to create my own web sites. So this would be nice to have, but not much help for what I'm selling.
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Abland
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Hi, MikeC,
Quote MikeC:I'm still on the fence about buying it. It seems like a great application and certainly not expensive. My hesitation is really about the workflow.
I prefer the way Microthemer creates themes because my workflow uses child themes already, and Microthemer edits those child themes.
In Artisteer, and with follow up tweaks, I build a core framework theme with as many features as I would need. Then I use in a multisite where each sub blog uses a single child theme of the core framework.
Microthemer then edits the child theme specific to each sub blog.
Theme upgrades are only to the core framework, and only one microtheme is required for each sub blog.
-----------------------------------
Hi, Nick,
Quote Nick:I got very close in buying it, and them I discovered that it does not play nice with MP6. MP6 might be included in WP 3.6, or probably with WP 3.7.
MP6 has troubles with a few popular plugins, like TinyMCE Advanced (a must have on my sites). I'd think the closer they get to implementing in the core many bugs will be worked out.
Out of curiosity, did you try in Microthemer Preferences to load WP jQuery instead of plugin's?
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Nick
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I don't remember Abland, I might have. Ultimately I disabled MP6.
You have a nice multisite setup btw... I only use ms to show off my themes.
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MikeC
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@ Abland,
I appreciate the response. Again, I like the work you're doing. Keep it up!
Personally, the whole Microloader vs. creating/editing a WP child theme directly is a stumbling block for me. Maybe I just don't get it.
If you have a video that explains it in more detail, that would be great.
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MikeC
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@ Abland
Ops...I thought you were the guy behind Microthemer but I guess you're not. Sorry about the confusion. LOL.
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Abland
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Quote MikeC:Ops...I thought you were the guy behind Microthemer but I guess you're not. Sorry about the confusion. LOL.
Hi, MikeC,
LOL - I'd like to be the guy behind it . I was looking for this developer method a while back and came across Microthemer from this first post by Sebastian. I purchased the developer license with the half off coupon and use it in conjunction with a modified Templateer in multisites as a premium theme offering.
I feel okay promoting both, as well as the Artisteer plugin system, because I believe I'm getting the high end of the usage spectrum. I don't affiliate on Microthemer so I can avoid self-promotion (I'm not good at that, anyways,  and why I need to invest in marketers).
The free trial is a plus to the latest release, and there's a growing forum on the themeover.com website, so that's likely the best way to see the mileage you can get, and find answers to using it. The microtheme model makes no change to the theme or child theme being developed, and can be exported and imported to new sites with all settings and styles intact.
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Nick
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I don't know why I waited this long. I just bought a developer's license, and waiting an answer from Sebastian, if I can embed it with my themes, or can only use it on actual web sites. The price is reasonable, and worst scenario, I will use it for customer's web sites only, although it will be a total waste on them. I explain for hours how to edit their sites, and they still call me for the smallest edits, like changing their address and phone number !!!
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Nick
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Ok, after buying it, and using it for an hour or so:
1. You have to activate the plugin for each site, so embedding it in a theme is impossible, and also Sebastian just emailed me that it is not permitted.
2. All is not lost yet, not only this ill be used for my clients sites, but it will replace, or assist firebug and other similar tools. It shows you all the css edits, so you can copy paste the changes in your theme's css file for sites that don;t have the microthemer.
Very impressive.
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Abland
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Hi, Nick,
In the visual editor try the double click on any area to create a new edit region. Very slick. And the free microloader can be installed for sites without microthemer itself. And the tutorials are part of the plugin itself so clients can watch videos on using the editor.
My "promo" is that everyone seems to have a cousin who did a website. With this product on my base framework, that cousin can turn out quite a nice site, after all  .
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Nick
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I saw that you created a "blank" Artisteer theme (thank you for that). It took me 20 seconds to realize that I don't really need that, to use the plugin. All it did was to give me a nice head start in creating the selectors. And then I realized that there are 30 million more that I can add to it, and that is a good thing, and bad. Good, because you're not limited with what you can edit, bad, because you can go overboard, and not only confuse the customers with the unlimited number of things you can edit, but also probably slowing the site down.
Finally, 2 months ago, I spent many days, turning Artisteer themes to be truly woocommerce compatible. Not only with the php file, but controlling and overtaking the css code that it generates. There is also a blank woocommerce plugin as well, so I wasted all that time for nothing. It's ok, though, I learned a lot.
I am using this for 3-4 hours, and even though for 3-4 minutes was confusing a bit, not only how it works, but how your changes are applied to your themes, now I have a good idea with the whole in general. By Monday, I will be an expert.
Again, how the hell did I ignore it the first time this was introduced? I know, I thought it would be too difficult to implement with Artisteer themes. All the "blank" themes were confusing, but you don't need them. You better use them to save you tons of time though.
Watching the videos help too, although I watched only 2-3 of them so far. The ! (important) button is good to know about it too, as this is necessary in some cases.
In the end though, this will / is a very important tool, but highly doubtful if any of my end users will be able to use it effectively. It's easy and intuitive enough for me... and for $45 for developer's license, it's a freaking steal.
It's a great css teaching tool too, and I will be using this more, at the expense of firebug.
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MikeC
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@ Abland
I don't see a growing forum. All the interesting threads are either several months old or your threads.
The thing is, Microthemer doesn't directly do what I want. I get your point: you're saying that it doesn't touch a theme or it's child but I want it to directly edit the child. That's the point of having a child theme in Wordpress.
My biggest problem with Microthemer is the strategy: the author is trying to create a "Premium Micro Theme" marketplace where people can buy and sell their Microthemes. Well, let's be honest...no one's doing that. The respective forum is completely empty...not one post and the most of the useful micro themes are free anyway. I know it's officially in "beta" but to me, beta is code for "no interest."
If the author decided to change Microthemer to be a standard Wordpress child theme creation/editing tool, he'd have a blow out winner on his hands because I don't think anyone else is doing this...correct me if I'm wrong.
Yeah, it's cheap even at full price but I'm getting a little tired of buying stuff that start off interesting and then fades. You know, like Artisteer and Templateer. 
@ Nick
So, just to clarify, you can take the css code generated by Microthemer, drop it back into a child theme's css and it'll work fine ? Once I do that, I won't need Microthemer or the Microloader on the site? Anything else I should know?
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Abland
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Hi, MikeC,
I completely understand. My position is I've decided to make WordPress development my bread and butter, and the Artisteer plugin system, Templateer, and Microthemer all work together for me where I've really discovered the value to be had.
Of the three, Microthemer is the one that took the least amount of modification for my purposes.
I used to work at plumbing years ago and the basin wrench was a real plus to my work and I shared that benefit with other plumbers who didn't have one just because it was a benefit. Whether they buy it or not, or continue plumbing, is up to them entirely.
In all fairness to the developer - beta was a pre release of version 2 for current clients and now the official release is version 2.2.2 - no beta. The forum isn't big yet, but it is indeed growing. For the marketplace, it might catch on or it might not. I give points for trying .
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Nick
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I had the same reservations just like MikeC. It was not clear how this works. Because it costs peanuts, I tooks a chance and bought it, and I am amazed. So let me explain.
Let's for get all the micro themes and the plugins, etc... Let's start from the basics.
1. Microthemer can edit any theme. Period. you have to spend some time in creating all the editable regions though. In some cases your changes will not work, unless to press the ! (important) button which is next to each editable value. You can literally create hundreds of editable regions.
2, Now, in order fot you to save time, there are some free themes you can download. I use 2 of them. One is the blank Artisteer 4, and the other is the blank woocommerce. This will save you hours of time in creating the editable regions. They contain many regions to edit, but no settings. Just load them up and you are ready to go. In my case because I need both of them at the same time, I load the blank Artisteer first, and then the blank woocommerce. Be careful, you don't want to overwrite with the woocommerce theme, but nerge them.
So, 1. Load blank Artisteer load and overwrite, 2. Blank woocommerce and merge.
Now my microthere is setup with many Artisteer and woocommerce editable areas. All I have to do, edit those areas with my values, ie: colors, dimensions, gradients, etc... plus I can add more editable areas as well.
3. Now, at any time, I can save my settings. I do recommend saving them as new theme names, and not overwriting the blank ones, so at any given time, you can start fresh without have to delete the themes and installing fresh ones.
4. You can export any of the micro themes with all the settings you edited to be used in other web site which uses the same Artisteer (or not) theme. The other web site, does not have to have microthemer, if you don't want to. You can use microloader, a free plugin at the wp plugin depository. Just install and activate your exported micro themes. I will use this to quickly create different colors for each theme. I know, what you are going to say at this point. Why not use Artisteer, to generate different themes for the colors.
Because:
1. Having 1 theme with a way to switch to different colors is more professional, than having different themes, one for each color.
2. I forgot...
5. Finally, if you don't want to use the microloader for sites that use the same Artisteer theme, and you want to include the changes you made with microthemer in another web site: Microthemer has a CSS button, which lists very nicely all the css entries it creates for you. It is very nicely commented code too. If you don't want to use a microthemer or microloader in a new web site that uses the same theme, simply copy the generated css code, and paste it in the CSS text box in the Templateer's control panel, or if you are not using the Templateer to generate your theme (why?), then simply open up your stlyle.css file, and paste the code at the bottom.
I think I covered the basics, things will become very clear within minutes once you start using this. I would recommend this plugin to anyone who has some basic knowledge of general web design. Just like Artisteer, easy for non coders to use it, but in the hands of a professional, it can be lethal. Just like Artisteer, this will shave off hours if not days of dev. time. Irt will definitely replace firebug.
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MikeC
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@ Nick,
Great! Thanks for that. You're definitely inching me forward.
What would be super helpful is if the creator of Microthemer actually created a video and shows us the process that you described.
The one thing I'm not clear about is the creation editable regions. Is that unique for each theme you create or do you just create one for Artisteer, one for WooCommerce, etc.?
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MikeC
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@ Nick,
Thanks again. I'm understanding more and more of how it might fit into my workflow.
The bottom line is: I have to get it installed and give it a try.
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Nick
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Yes, and if you still have questions (you won't), you have their forums, and you have me here.
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MikeC
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@ Nick
Thanks. I've downloaded the trial version and will give it a spin when I have more time.
@ Abland
Noticed you contributed to the Microthemer code with multisites functionality...congrats.
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Abland
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Hi,
Quote Sebastian:the 50% off coupon works again: 2qGnart50T4
I re-activated it recently following a customer request. I'd forgotten that I'd advertised it here, but I see no harm in that and will keep it active until the end of August this year.
Thanks for your interest in Microthemer everyone!
Sebastian
The latest release has added styling for various devices. I just wanted folks here to be reminded of the coupon code that's active for a few more days.
I'm not an affiliate for Microthemer but I am very impressed by it
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MikeC
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Funny, I still haven't had a chance to try it but with Artisteer going down the drain, I'm going to bit the bullet this weekend and give it a shot.
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James
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I just posted about it this morning. Must have seen it on the originally.
I like that it lets you export the changed theme to use on another website.
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Joel
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Hello Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone has the discount code for Microthemer Standard and Developer? Thank you in advance. -Joel
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