Theme Template Overrides #

Requires Junior license or higher.

Theme template overrides let you customize PetMatchPro templates by placing modified copies in your WordPress theme directory. This gives you full control over the HTML structure and layout without modifying the plugin files directly.

Why Use Theme Overrides? #

• Survives plugin updates — Your customizations won't be overwritten when PetMatchPro is updated.
• Full design control — Modify the HTML, add custom fields, or rearrange the layout however you need.
• Theme-specific styling — Create templates that perfectly match your theme's design.

Setting Up Theme Overrides #

1. Create the Override Directory #

In your WordPress theme (or child theme), create the following folder structure:

wp-content/themes/your-theme/petmatchpro/templates/

Then create a sub-folder for your integration partner:

• pp/ for PetPoint
• af/ for AnimalsFirst
• rg/ for RescueGroups

Example for PetPoint:

wp-content/themes/your-theme/petmatchpro/templates/pp/

2. Copy Template Files #

Copy the template files you want to customize from the plugin directory:

wp-content/plugins/petmatchpro/public/templates/pp/

to your theme directory:

wp-content/themes/your-theme/petmatchpro/templates/pp/

Only copy the files you intend to modify. PetMatchPro will use the theme version when it exists and fall back to the plugin version for all other templates.

3. Customize the Templates #

Edit the copied template files in your theme directory. These are PHP files with HTML that you can modify to change the layout, fields, or structure.

Important: Template customization requires HTML, CSS, and PHP knowledge. If you need assistance, contact PetMatchPro support.

4. Select the Theme Template #

After creating your theme override:

1. Go to PetMatchPro > General Options.
2. Find the template dropdown for your method type.
3. Your theme templates will appear with a (theme) suffix — for example, adopt-default (theme).
4. Select the theme template.
5. Click Apply Changes.

How Theme Resolution Works #

When you select a template with the (theme) suffix, PetMatchPro:

1. Strips the “(theme)” suffix from the template name
2. Looks for the template file in your theme's petmatchpro/templates/{partner}/ directory
3. If found, uses the theme version
4. If not found, falls back to the plugin version

Tips #

• Always use a child theme for overrides so your changes survive theme updates.
• Start by copying an existing template and making small changes, then test before making larger modifications.
• PetMatchPro CSS classes all use the pmp- prefix. Maintain these classes in your customized templates to keep existing styles working.
• Clear your site cache after making template changes, especially if using OPcache or LiteSpeed.

Next Steps #

• Search Templates Gallery — See all available search templates
• Detail Templates Gallery — See all available detail templates
• Color Customization — Adjust colors without template overrides
• Styling Conflicts — Resolve CSS conflicts