On the left side of the screen you will see the menu with various options and on the right side you will see website preview. Any settings you change in the Customizer will affect entire website, which means all posts and pages, so we are referring to them as global customization settings.

Each change you make will automatically update website preview (page will be refreshed). When you are satisfied with the result click ‘Save & Publish’ and do not forget to make final preview outside customization frame and logged out of WordPress to see how the site would look like to your visitors.

The important feature of Hotel California is that any global setting can be overridden on any single post or page using setting keys which you will find in squared brackets next to setting names on the following pages.

In angle brackets you will find possible values of setting keys. You will learn more about this overriding soon. Now, let’s explore customization settings.

On General settings panel you will find the following options:

Logo

[logo] <attachment ID>

Here you should select main website logo. It is displayed on pages next to the menu, on preloader screen and on sticky header.

Alternative Logo

[alt_logo] <attachment ID>

Here you should select website alternative logo.

This is usually light version of logo (which is supposed to be used on dark backgrounds). The logic is this:

1. If you do not have Alternative logo defined, main logo will be used in all cases
2. If you have Alternative logo defined, it will be used on top of the page when Content Below Menu and Sticky Header options are activated. This set up will also change the color of menu and widgets to light.

Logo Left Indent (px)

Enter logo indent.

Logo Height (px)

[logo_height] <height in px>

Enter logo height.

Invert Logo/Alternative Logo

[invert_logo] <true/false>

Invert logo and alternative logo; useful as override option on some pages/posts – it will turn your alternative logo into main and main into alternative.

Accent Color

[accent_color] <#hexadecimal color code>

Accent color is used as a color for links, icons, etc. If you define it, the accent color will influence the general color scheme of the site.

Alternate Color 

[alternate_color] <#hexadecimal color code>

Another color which influences general color scheme of the site is alternate color. Alternate color can be assigned as a color for buttons, icons, etc. If you define it, all elements with assigned alternate color will be affected.

Page Background

[page_background] <attachment ID>

Page background image is a static image which serves as a site background if defined.

Hide Headline

[hide_headline] <true/false>

This option enables you to display navigation breadcrumbs at the top of the screen. In most user scenarios this option should be set to true (checked).

Use Dark Skin

[template_skin] <true/false>

This is another option which influences general color scheme of the site. Hotel California features two general skin styles – light and dark. The light skin has white colored background and dark colored main font and other ui elements. On the other hand, dark skin has dark colored background and light colored fonts.

Sidebar

[sidebar] <no_sidebar/left/right>

This option enables you to define if the sidebar will be visible globally or not.
By customizing this option, user can globally enable (place it on the right or left side) or disable sidebar. Sidebar content can be edited under Appearance > Widgets (from main WordPress menu).

You can choose one of three predefined sidebar layouts:

1. No Sidebar – No sidebar is displayed
2. Left – Sidebar is displayed on the left side of main content
3. Right – Sidebar is displayed on the right side of main content.

Use Dash in Widgets

[sidebar_use_dash] <true/false>

This option enables you to define if separator will be used below the widget titles or not. By changing this option, users can globally enable or disable the separator in widgets. Please check this option if you want to use separator in widgets.

Disable Preloader

[disable_preloader] <true/false>

This option enables you to define if the preloading animation will be displayed globally throughout the site or not. By changing this option, users can globally enable or disable the preloader animation.

Preloader Text

[preloader_text] <any text>

This option enables you to define the text on preloading screen. The preloader needs to be enabled in order to see the effect of this option.

Animations Autoplay Interval

[autoplay_interval] <any text>

Hotel California theme features full screen slide layout with numerous transition options (more than 100 of in and out animations). This option enables you to define the length of full screen transitions in milliseconds.

Custom CSS

[custom_css] <custom CSS code>

This option enables you to define global Custom CSS code which will be embedded in the <head> element of all pages throughout the site.

This is the place where you can define your own custom css which will be included on all pages of the site.

Custom JS (Top)

[custom_js_top] <custom JS code>

This option enables you to define global Custom JS code. Enter any JS code you want here and it will be embedded in the <head> element of all pages throughout the site.

This is where you should paste your custom site wise JavaScript, such as Google Analytics script.

Custom JS (Bottom)

[custom_js_bottom] <custom JS code>

This option enables you to define global Custom JS code. Enter any JS code you want here and it will be embedded at the bottom of the pages before the <body> element is closed.

This is where you should paste your custom site wise JavaScript, such as Google Analytics script.

Reset Theme Settings

This is not really a setting, so no override. Reset button will just reset all global settings to default values.

Menu Type

[menu_type] <hLeft/hCenter/hRight/hLeftBelow/hRightBelow/vLeft/vRight>

Hotel California theme features numerous header layouts giving you a great degree of freedom when it comes to customization of your site. The menu type options include:

1. Horizontal Left menu

2. Horizontal Centered menu

3. Horizontal Right menu

4. Horizontal Left Below Logo

5. Horizontal Right Below Logo

6. Vertical Left

7. Vertical Right

Boxed Menu

[boxed_menu] <true/false>

Boxed menu means that the header content (including menu) will be fitted into the page wrap of 1336px.

If the menu is boxed it will be fitted into this width. If it is not boxed, that means that it will be streached across entire viewport.

Content Below Menu

[below_menu] <true/false>

This setting provides another header layout option. If the content flows below menu, the menu will be over the top section of the page.

If this option is set to false, the menu will be above the top section.

Check if you want to show content below menu.

Show Top Widgets in Menu Area

[top_tools_in_menu] <true/false>

Header widgets will be shown in the menu area if this property is set to true.

Otherwise, they will be displayed above menu area.

Check if you want to show widgets in menu area.

Sticky Header

[sticky_header] <true/false>

Sticky header will stay at the top even when you scroll down the page. Make sure to check this option if you want the sticky menu active.

Hide Menu

[hide_menu] <true/false>

Hotel California theme allows you to hide (collapse) the menu. This means that the menu is going to be initially collapsed. The user can always expand it by clicking on the menu icon.

Use Dark Skin in Footer

[footer_dark_skin] <true/false>

This option allows you to define the overall color scheme of the footer area

Available options are:

1. False (Light) – this will set the main footer color scheme to light:

3. True (Dark) – this will set the main footer color scheme to dark:

Custom Footer Text

[custom_text] <any text>

Any text entered here will shown in footer, e.g. copyright notice.

Body Font

[body_font] <no_change/any Google font>

Body text font. Using this setting you can set the main font family that’ll be applied throughout the website.

Note – Hotel California uses Google webfonts.

Heading Font

[heading_font] <no_change/any Google font>

Using this setting you can set the font family for Main Headings.

Heading Supertitle Font

[heading_supertitle_font] <no_change/any Google font>

Using this setting you can set the font family for supertitles in Main Headings

Heading Subtitle Font

[heading_subtitle_font] <no_change/any Google font>

Using this setting you can set the font family for subtitles in Main Headings

Menu Font

[menu_font] <no_change/any Google font>

Using this setting you can set the font family for menus

Ghost Slider

[blog_ghost_slider] <true/false>

This setting allows you to add full screen hero image to the top of each blog post. The image to be displayed is a post’s featured image. Set it to false if you want to take the user straight to the post contents. Please take a look at the example here:

Grid Gallery Columns

[blog_grid_gallery_columns] <3/4/5/6>

Here you can define the number of columns for grid gallery on single posts. In the following example, four columns were set.

You can set the post grid gallery format by choosing Gallery as Post format, add the images to the post in the settings panel and check the Grid Gallery setting.

Grid Gallery Gap

[blog_grid_gallery_gap] <0-10/15/20>

You can define gap between grid gallery items in pixels using this setting. If you choose 0, the images will be “glued” to each other without any gap in between.

Archive Layout

[blog_list_view] <standard/columns/simple>

Hotel California offers three layouts for blog archive pages – standard, columns and simple. Please take a look at the following examples of these layouts:

1. Standard Layout 
2. Columns Layout
3. Simple Layout

This setting will affect layout of the main Blog page, as well as the Archive, Category, and Tag pages.

Single Post Layout

[blog_single_view] <standard/columns>

Hotel California offers two layouts for single blog post pages – standard and columns. Standard layout features post content in one column while columns layout introduces two columns – one for featured image / grid gallery / video, and one for the content itself.

Here is the example of standard layout:

Show Author Name

[blog_author] <true/false>

This option enables you to set whether to display author name under post title or not.

Show Post Date

[blog_date] <true/false>

This option enables you to set whether to display post date under post title or not.

Show Author Avatar in List

[blog_side_info] <true/false>

Defines if you want to display author avatar on the blog archive pages. Please take a look the following examples:

1. Blog archive with avatar
   
2. Blog archive without avatar

Show Author Info in Post

[blog_author_info] <true/false>

Show information about author in single posts (you can add or update the text in Users > Your Profile > Biographical Info from main WordPress menu).

Share on Facebook

[blog_share_facebook] <true/false>

Share on Twitter

[blog_share_twitter] <true/false>

Share on Google Plus

[blog_share_google_plus] <true/false>

Share on LinkedIn

[blog_share_linkedin] <true/false>

Share on VK

[blog_share_vk] <true/false>

Sharing options for single posts. If checked, the share icons will be present in posts.

Use Dash in Headlines

[blog_use_dash] <true/false>

Hotel California offers two types of headlines on blog archive pages and individual post pages. Header with the dash and header without it:

Header with dash:

Header without dash:

Check to use dash separator in headlines.

Sticky Posts in Grid/Tiles

[sticky_in_grid] <true/false>

This option enables you to set if you want to show sticky posts in grid/tiles.

You can make a sticky post by checking the  “Stick this post to the front page” option in the “Publish” section of Post editor.

If checked, the post will be placed at the top of the front page of posts, keeping it there until new posts are published.

Settings Page Slug

[blog_settings_page_slug] <page slug>

Hotel California has a unique way of enabling you to create custom templates for single post pages. You can create a static page, add content to it and set desired global settings overrides. Then you can use it as a template for single post pages.

The field Setting page slug should contain the slug of your page which serves as a template for blog posts. Once you add the slug to this field, all blog posts will inherit settings and shortcodes of the referenced page.                                                    

So, in order to change template elements on blog posts, please locate the page with the slug entered in Settings Page Slug field and edit it.

Ghost Slider

[pf_ghost_slider] <true/false>

This setting allows you to add full screen hero image/slider at the top of each portfolio item. The image to be displayed is a post’s featured image or gallery. Set it to false if you want to take the user straight to the contents of portfolio item.

Grid Gallery Columns

[pf_grid_gallery_columns] <0-10/15/20>

You can set the post grid gallery format by adding the images to the post in the settings panel and check the Grid Gallery setting.

Grid Gallery Gap

[pf_grid_gallery_gap] <0/1/2/3/4/5>

You can define gap between grid gallery items in pixels using this setting. If you choose 0, the images will be “glued” to each other without any gap in between.

Single project view

[pf_single_view] <standard/columns>

Select layout for single project.

Share on Facebook

[pf_share_facebook] <true/false>

Share on Twitter

[pf_share_twitter] <true/false>

Share on Google Plus

[pf_share_google_plus] <true/false>

Share on LinkedIn

[pf_share_linkedin] <true/false>

Share on VK

[pf_share_vk] <true/false>

Sharing options for single portfolio items. If checked, the share icons will be present in posts.

Use Dash in Headlines

[pf_use_dash] <true/false>

Hotel California offers two types of headlines on blog archive pages and individual post pages.

Check to use dash separator in headlines.

Settings Page Slug

[pf_settings_page_slug] <page slug>

Hotel California has a unique way of enabling you to create custom templates for individual portfolio item pages. You can create a static page, add content to it and set desired global settings overrides. Then you can use it as a template for portfolio item pages.

The field Setting page slug should contain the slug of your page which serves as a template for portfolio items. Once you add the slug to this field, all portfolio items will inherit settings and shortcodes of the referenced page.                                                    

So, in order to change template elements on portfolio items, please locate the page with the slug entered in Settings Page Slug field and edit it.

Share on Facebook

[shop_share_facebook] <true/false>

Share on Twitter

[shop_share_twitter] <true/false>

Share on Google Plus

[shop_share_google_plus] <true/false>

Share on LinkedIn

[shop_share_linkedin] <true/false>

Share on VK

[shop_share_vk] <true/false>

Sharing options for single products. If checked, the share icons will be present in products.

Use Dash in Headlines

[shop_use_dash] <true/false>

Hotel California offers two types of headlines on blog archive pages and individual post pages.

Settings Page Slug

[shop_settings_page_slug] <page slug>

Hotel California has a unique way of enabling you to create custom templates for individual product pages. You can create a static page, add content to it and set desired global settings overrides. Then you can use it as a template for individual product pages.

The field Setting page slug should contain the slug of your page which serves as a template for WooCommerce products. Once you add the slug to this field, all shop items will inherit settings and shortcodes of the referenced page.                                                    

So, in order to change template elements on individual product pages, please locate the page with the slug entered in Settings Page Slug field and edit it.

WooCommerce Shortcodes

In order to set Cart, Shop, Recent Product etc. refer to the following link: List of all shortcodes.

Theme’s .pot file is located in /wp-content/themes/hotelcalifornia/languages folder.

Please use PoEdit – https://poedit.net/ to translate the .pot file and create respective .po and .mo files.

Please name .po and .mo files e.g. nl_NL.po and nl_NL.mo (nl_NL is the language code for dutch). For other languages’ codes, please refer to the following link: Internationalization.

In order to place .po and .mo files properly and not have them deleted when you update the theme, upload  them to \wp-content\languages\themes folder. If you don’t have languages folder in your wp-content directory, please proceed and create one. Then create themes folder, and paste the files in it.

Also make sure to translate the theme’s plugin, located in \wp-content\plugins\hotelcalifornia\languages folder.

The steps are the same as for the theme, except the files should be named bt_plugin-nl_NL.po and bt_plugin-nl_NL.mo (with appropriate language code).

For plugin’s .po and .mo files, you should place them in \wp-content\languages\plugins folder.

You can set the site language of your WordPress installation on Settings > General. WordPress will automatically use the right language files if they exist.

1. First of all, make sure that parent theme folder is named: hotelcalifornia. Otherwise rename the folder.
2. You should be able to find the folder hotelcalifornia-child in the package you have downloaded from ThemeForest.
3. Please copy this folder to /wp-content/themes folder on your server.
4. Go to Appearance > Themes in your wp-admin console and activate child theme. Please have in mind that all required plugins need to be activated.

For more info, refer to the article Child Theme.

The best way to start is to install demo content. If you want to install one page demo please refer to the article: Installing Demo Content. You will be able to see how all elements on the single page are set.

1. First of all, navigate to the Bold Page Builder and edit desired section. Insert in required Custom Tab Element ID attribute:

2. Then in Appearance > Menus add a new Custom Link and as a URL insert custom ID atribute with #.

For example: #about

Once the new theme version is available, user who purchased the theme should get an email note from the Envato (ThemeForest).

There are three ways to update the theme:

1) FTP Update

Download newest theme version from ThemeForest Download section. Since you already have the theme installed, you can download just ‘Installable WordPress file only’.

In case you want to use this method, we suggest that you use Filezilla to access your server. Here is the article that explains how Filezilla works.

You need to extract theme file from the zipped folder you downloaded, and upload it to /wp-content/themes folder on your server. You will be prompted to overwrite the existing files. Select ‘Yes’, and the theme will update.

*The example is the zip file from Medicare theme but the process is the same for all themes.

2) Update theme via ZIP file upload

This method is available since WP version 5.5. Please follow these steps:

• From WP dashboard go to Appearance > Themes,
• Click Add New button,
• Click Upload Theme button,
• Click Choose File to select previously downloaded zip archive, then click Install Now,
• Wait for the upload to finish, then click Replace current with uploaded button.

3) Envato Market plugin

Enable automatic theme update with the Envato Market Plugin. Once you install and activate this plugin, every time a new theme version becomes available, you will be able to update it with just one click.

You will need to go to the WordPress Updates page and navigate to the Themes section. The new version will be included in the section just like the themes from the WordPress repository.

* Whichever of these three methods you use for theme update, you will have to update theme plugin (and possibly some other required plugins) as well.

For plugin updates, you will get notification on your dashboard when new version is available.

Please note…

If you made any changes in the source code you’ll need to reapply them to the new version of the theme or they will be lost.

To prevent this, you can use child theme.

All settings in Customize panel and your content will be preserved.