How to Import Sample Data To Your WordPress Theme?
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One of the most important steps in testing your WordPress theme for development purposes is filling it with sample data and defining how the template looks and runs with the actual hypothetical content. There are free WordPress themes with demo content. But where do you get WordPress test data?
As it’s a hard task to add this dummy content manually, this process should be automated: you can either use particular plugins for this purpose or add theme unit test data.
Please note, if you’ve purchased a WordPress theme and are looking for a way to import sample content, you should know that the vast majority of WordPress themes come with rather a 1-click demo data import option or at least instructions on how to import sample data manually/with a help of a demo importer plugin (check our Alpenhouse and Emmet Next WordPress themes with sample data to get a better idea of 1-click demo data import).
So, before proceeding with any of these steps, check it out with a theme provider (whether they provide WordPress dummy content), for example, eCommerce dummy data. Most likely, they will help you instantly.
Theme unit test data
It’s a sample content for WordPress theme development packed into XML file. It’s generally used by developers and a WordPress theme review team. This data is very useful as it helps you create a WordPress theme that meets all compatibility needs. You can check your WordPress theme for HTML tags, formatting, widgets, comments, etc.
Here is a short instruction (from WordPress Codex) of how to add theme unit test data:
- Download the theme unit test data
- Go to Tools > Import > WordPress in order to import test data onto your WordPress website.
- Choose a xml file for content import on your computer.
- “Upload and import”.
- Check the “Download and import file attachments” box and click Submit.
You will also need to apply the appropriate WordPress settings.
Theme unit test data includes all up-to-date sample content to test categories, child categories, menu items, pages, comments, images, etc. This instruction can come in handy for both developers with testing purposes and WordPress users who just installed and updated their themes. However, WordPress theme providers might have different instructions and custom XML files for installing sample data.
Free WordPress Plugins To Generate Sample Content
Another popular solution you can use is to install the plugin that will generate WordPress dummy content for your website. There are a couple of tools able to do this job for you:
Lorem shortcode
It generates dummy texts and images for your website. You can also set various needed parameters to apply on the site.
FakePress
This plugin can help you generate the following dummy data: posts, custom post types, tags, categories, comments, features images, etc. With this tool, you can also test your themes and plugins.
There are even more easy-to-use options that can help you generate and import sample data into your WordPress theme (like Dummy Text Generator, etc.).
Some of them allow you to import theme options WordPress
Adding Quick Demo Data Installation Option For Your Users
End theme users will be certainly delighted to see they have an option to import sample content into their themes easily (if you offer this option within your theme). It’s already very popular and is implemented into multiple WordPress themes as one of the steps of the theme installation. There are a couple of reliable plugins that can help you do this and add WordPress example content.
The most popular solution is One click demo import plugin. It imports your demo content, widgets, and theme settings with one click. It helps clone the demo data to a customer’s website. So, on the installation step the customers will be asked whether they want to proceed with the “One Click” import of the demo content and actually install it in one click. More instructions on how to work with this plugin can be found on the official page of the plugin. Check what’s under the hood of this plugin to assess whether it can be suitable for your needs.
Top WordPress Sample Themes
If you are basically looking for a WordPress theme with dummy content, which can be imported without effort, take a look at the next WP themes (some of them are multipurpose, while others focus on one specific niche):
- Getwid Base – a free Gutenberg-optimized WordPress theme with the WordPress theme demo content (Gutenberg blocks). The theme suits well for all website types, whether it’s a blog or an eCommerce shop;
- Edme & Medmix – two Elementor WordPress themes optimized for hourly appointments (one – for education purposes, another – for medical purposes). Both themes come with a complete WordPress scheduler plugin for online bookings;
- Vite Nera & Carni Rosso – two online shop WooCommerce templates for selling groceries, meat & fish or for providing delivery services. Optimized for the Gutenberg editor;
- Booklium – a multipurpose & Gutenberg-ready theme for hotel rentals with a premium Hotel Booking engine included;
- Bimba – a WooCommerce theme for selling handmade crafts, gifts, decor, and more.
Endnote: Install demo data WordPress
More automation in WordPress means saving tons of time and effort for you. Especially if it comes about dummy data. Hopefully, this information will help you follow the right direction in your testings and customizing a WordPress theme!
If you are looking for a WordPress eCommerce theme with sample data, check out Frutta Verde.
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