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UVM Wordpress User Guide

Direct migration to the new WordPress theme (single site)

By Susan Mason Lazarev

Migrating to the new UVM Catamount WordPress theme can be as fast as applying the new theme to your site. However, there are a few things you want to take a look at when migrating.

This guide walks you through the steps to successfully adopt the new theme on your existing WordPress website.

Watch the full video tutorial

Susy to replace this video with a tutorial showing the simplified migration.

Overview: What to expect

During migration, you will:

  • Apply the Catamount theme
  • Rebuild navigation and layouts that used Atomic Blocks

Step 1: Capture your existing navigation

Before starting, take a screenshot of your current navigation so you can rebuild it later.

How:

  • Open your current site
  • Click the menu button to expand navigation
  • Take a screenshot

Mac: Command + Shift + 4
Windows: Print Screen

Classic menu navigation in the 2019 WordPress theme.

💡 You’ll use this as your reference when rebuilding navigation later.

Step 2: Export your site content so you have a backup

Next, export all content from your existing site.

  1. Go to your Dashboard
  2. Navigate to Tools → Export
  3. Select All Content
  4. Click Download Export File

✔️ This downloads an XML file to your computer. Just save it in case you inadvertently delete pages or posts.

Step 3: Activate the Catamount theme

Once the theme is available:

  1. Go to Dashboard → Appearance → Themes
  2. Locate Catamount
  3. Click Activate

Step 4: Verify the new theme

After activation:

  • View your site

You’ll notice:

  • New green header
  • Updated typography
  • New footer design

✔️ This confirms the new theme is active.

Step 5: Rebuild your navigation

Navigation will not carry over from the old site.

This is because:

  • Old system = Classic menus
  • New system = Block-based navigation

👉 You must rebuild it manually.

QR code for a tutorial about rebuilding the site navigation using WordPress blocks.
QR code for a tutorial about rebuilding the site navigation using WordPress blocks.

📌 Follow the dedicated navigation tutorial to complete this step.

Step 6: Fix layouts (especially Atomic Blocks)

If your site used:

  • Accordions
  • Multi-column layouts
  • Atomic Blocks (AB Blocks)

⚠️ These are no longer supported

You’ll need to:

  • Rebuild layouts using modern blocks
  • Adjust designs case-by-case
Atomic Blocks will need to be replaced by native WordPress Blocks.

💡 There’s no one-size solution—review each page individually.

Step 7: Launch your new site

When everything looks correct:

  1. Contact ETS
  2. Provide:
    • Your old site URL
    • Your new site URL

They will:

  • Point your domain to the new site

Step 8: Enable search indexing

After launch:

  1. Go to Settings → Reading
  2. Ensure Search engine visibility is enabled
Make sure the checkbox “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” next to “Search Engine Visibility” is unchecked if you want your site to be crawled and indexed by search engines.

✔️ This allows search engines to index your new site.

Final thoughts

Migrating to the Catamount theme requires a few manual steps, but:

✔️ It’s a one-time process
✔️ It gives you a modern, flexible site
✔️ Most steps are quick and straightforward

Need help?

If you run into issues at any stage:

  • Attend WordPress help hours
  • Get guidance on layouts, navigation, or content

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