> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.rh-webdesign.com/theme-manager/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.rh-webdesign.com/theme-manager/en/getting-started/themes-and-sales-channels.md).

# Themes & Sales Channels

See at a glance which theme runs in which sales channel and whether it works with the Theme - Manager, and assign themes.

The start view **Manage Themes** shows you which theme runs in which of your sales channels and whether the Theme - Manager works with it. From here you assign a different theme to a sales channel or open the editing view of a theme.

You find the view in the administration under **Content › Theme - Settings › Dashboard**. It opens there automatically. From any setting, you return to it via **Manage Themes** at the top left.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7795c9b471d9e1656cedfb1ae727d7fce89df07f%2Fthemes-hero.webp?alt=media" alt="Start view Manage Themes with the assigned themes"><figcaption><p>The start view with your sales channels and their themes – here all sales channels use the default Shopware theme.</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}
There is no save button in this view: when you assign a theme, the Theme - Manager applies and compiles it immediately.
{% endhint %}

## Which themes are compatible

The Theme - Manager works with these themes:

* the default Shopware theme – in the administration it is called **Shopware default theme**,
* selected themes by RH-Webdesign that are built on the Theme - Manager,
* duplicates of these themes, which you create in Shopware under **Content › Themes**,
* your own themes that you build with the theme skeleton of the Theme - Manager – see **Create Your Own Theme**.

All other themes are **not compatible** – even if they are built on the default Shopware theme. In a sales channel with such a theme, the features of the Theme - Manager have no effect; the shop looks the way the theme dictates.

You do not have to find out yourself whether a theme belongs to this group: the Theme - Manager marks every theme as **Compatible** or **Not compatible** – on the cards under **Assigned themes** and in the **Select theme** window.

{% hint style="info" %}
Besides the default Shopware theme, the images on this page show two examples: the compatible example theme **Theme - Example** and the incompatible **Sample Theme** from another vendor.
{% endhint %}

## Manage Themes and the status dot

The entry **Manage Themes** sits at the top of the dashboard's sidebar. The coloured dot next to it summarises how well your themes fit the Theme - Manager. If you move the mouse over it, a short text explains the state.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ec95159eb7260ae94c991e1e4d07f4bf116d939f%2Fthemes-status.webp?alt=media" alt="Manage Themes switch with a yellow status dot and explanation" width="560"><figcaption><p>Yellow: one of four sales channels uses a theme that is not compatible – in the example the “Partner Shop” with the Sample Theme (see <strong>Card with an incompatible theme</strong>).</p></figcaption></figure>

<table><thead><tr><th width="287">Function</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Manage Themes (1)</td><td>Opens this start view.</td></tr><tr><td>Status dot (2)</td><td><strong>Green</strong>: All themes assigned to your sales channels are compatible.<br><strong>Yellow</strong>: Only some are compatible, for example “3 of 4 assigned themes are compatible.”<br><strong>Red</strong>: The extension “Shopware Store” is not installed or not active, no sales channel has a theme assigned, or none of the assigned themes is compatible.<br><strong>Grey</strong>: The check is still running.</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Assigned themes

The **Assigned themes** area has a card of its own for every sales channel that has a theme, sorted by the name of the sales channel. If there are more than two, you page through them with the arrows.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4f27b31374bd8918822fcc7a0adfd0023f409f42%2Fthemes-zugewiesen.webp?alt=media" alt="Assigned themes area with two cards and arrows"><figcaption><p>Four sales channels with a theme – two cards are visible, the arrows page on.</p></figcaption></figure>

<table><thead><tr><th width="287">Function</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Count (1)</td><td>This many sales channels have a theme.</td></tr><tr><td>Arrows (2)</td><td>Page between the cards. They appear from three sales channels onwards.</td></tr></tbody></table>

### A card at a glance

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e1939a254a05f5dbf92167393ae12d0ef654ffa1%2Fthemes-karte.webp?alt=media" alt="Card of a sales channel with theme preview, badge and buttons"><figcaption><p>The card of the sales channel “B2B Shop” with the default Shopware theme.</p></figcaption></figure>

<table><thead><tr><th width="287">Function</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Preview (1)</td><td>The preview image of the theme.</td></tr><tr><td>Sales channel (2)</td><td>The sales channel this card is about.</td></tr><tr><td>Theme (3)</td><td>The name of the assigned theme.</td></tr><tr><td>Vendor (4)</td><td>Who developed the theme.</td></tr><tr><td>Compatible (5)</td><td>The theme works with the Theme - Manager – see <strong>Which themes are compatible</strong>.</td></tr><tr><td>Edit theme (6)</td><td>Opens the editing view of the theme for this sales channel – see <strong>Editing a Theme</strong>. The button only exists for compatible themes.</td></tr><tr><td>Change theme (7)</td><td>Assigns a different theme to the sales channel – see <strong>Changing a theme</strong>.</td></tr></tbody></table>

If a sales channel uses a copy of a theme, the badge **Duplicate** appears next to **Compatible**. A duplicate has its own theme settings, for example different colours – this way the same look can appear differently in several sales channels. Whether a duplicate is compatible depends on the theme it was copied from. How to create a duplicate is explained on the page **Editing a Theme**.

### Card with an incompatible theme

If a sales channel uses a theme that does not work with the Theme - Manager, the card shows the badge **Not compatible** (1) and a faded preview. Only **Change theme** (2) is available then.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-800a3aa9581f0ad3c804c43dd8dc83fe000d1c5f%2Fthemes-karte-nicht-kompatibel.webp?alt=media" alt="Card with an incompatible theme" width="560"><figcaption><p>The Sample Theme from another vendor in the sales channel “Partner Shop”.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Changing a theme

This is how you assign a different theme to a sales channel:

1. On the card of the sales channel, click **Change theme**. The **Select theme** window opens, with the current theme already selected.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f05ccb91c888b1420794f0191120c5180ecb63e7%2Fthemes-theme-auswaehlen.webp?alt=media" alt="Select theme window with compatibility badges" width="700"><figcaption><p>The “Select theme” window: under every theme it says whether it is compatible.</p></figcaption></figure>

<table><thead><tr><th width="287">Function</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Search (1)</td><td>Finds a theme by its name.</td></tr><tr><td>Current theme (2)</td><td>The theme the sales channel currently uses is selected – here the default Shopware theme.</td></tr><tr><td>Compatible (3)</td><td>This theme works with the Theme - Manager.</td></tr><tr><td>Not compatible (4)</td><td>With this theme, the features of the Theme - Manager have no effect.</td></tr><tr><td>Change theme (5)</td><td>Applies the selected theme. If you have not chosen a different theme, the window closes without any change.</td></tr></tbody></table>

2. Click the preview of the theme you want – in the example **Theme - Example** – and then **Change theme** (5).
3. Confirm the prompt with **Change theme** (1).

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7fcdee0f73c1f15e5212ae3005404343069efab5%2Fthemes-theme-aendern-bestaetigen.webp?alt=media" alt="Change theme prompt" width="500"><figcaption><p>The prompt before the change.</p></figcaption></figure>

4. The Theme - Manager assigns the theme and compiles it. While that takes place, the card shows “Assigning and compiling theme …”. Afterwards you see the new theme on the card – and in the shop.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-a66a67aa275114a88cf2da9f0d6ef426503d5f40%2Fthemes-karte-zuweisung.webp?alt=media" alt="Card during assignment" width="560"><figcaption><p>While the theme is being assigned, the card is locked.</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
You can also assign a theme the usual way in Shopware: under **Sales Channels**, select your sales channel, **Theme** tab. The “Select theme” window there shows no compatibility badges – those only exist in the Theme - Manager.
{% endhint %}

## Additions in Shopware

The Theme - Manager adds to two places in Shopware so that you can get straight to editing from there.

### Sales Channel › Theme

Open **Sales Channels**, select your sales channel and switch to the **Theme** tab. For a compatible theme, **Edit theme** (1) opens the editing view in the Theme - Manager. For all other themes, the button opens Shopware's theme page as usual.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-39d1b001f0e8c2a8628850b49fc1eec2648d50a4%2Fthemes-shopware-verkaufskanal.webp?alt=media" alt="Theme assignment in the sales channel"><figcaption><p>The “Theme assignment” card in the “Theme” tab of the sales channel “Storefront” with the default Shopware theme.</p></figcaption></figure>

### Content › Themes

If you open a theme by RH-Webdesign under **Content › Themes**, **Advanced Settings** (1) additionally appears at the top right. The button opens the editing view in the Theme - Manager – for the first sales channel to which the theme is assigned. If the theme is not yet assigned to any sales channel, it opens **Manage Themes**. The button is missing for the default Shopware theme and for duplicates; you edit those through their card under **Manage Themes**.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-47b1ecbb675e1fcff52ecaf3b19cf95399bef514%2Fthemes-shopware-theme-detail.webp?alt=media" alt="Advanced Settings button in Shopware&#x27;s theme view"><figcaption><p>Shopware's theme view with the “Advanced Settings” button – here for the example theme.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Deactivating or uninstalling the Theme - Manager

The Theme - Manager and the themes by RH-Webdesign are independent extensions. You can deactivate or uninstall the Theme - Manager at any time under **Extensions › My extensions** – even if themes by RH-Webdesign are still assigned to your sales channels. In that case, a notice window first shows you which sales channels are affected and what changes there.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4f2b9df4247d5512db7aadb7004cf21f256e4f70%2Fthemes-hinweis-deaktivieren.webp?alt=media" alt="Notice window Theme - Manager is still in use" width="600"><figcaption><p>The notice window on deactivation – here the example theme is assigned to the sales channel “Storefront”. When uninstalling, Shopware first asks whether the data of the extension should be removed; after that the same window appears with the button “Uninstall Theme - Manager”.</p></figcaption></figure>

<table><thead><tr><th width="287">Function</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Theme (1)</td><td>Every theme by RH-Webdesign that is assigned to a sales channel – duplicates included.</td></tr><tr><td>Assigned sales channels (2)</td><td>The sales channels that use this theme. They keep their theme.</td></tr><tr><td>Cancel (3)</td><td>Closes the window. Nothing changes, the Theme - Manager stays active.</td></tr><tr><td>Deactivate Theme - Manager (4)</td><td>Deactivates the Theme - Manager. Shopware recompiles the assigned themes, clears the cache and reloads the administration. When uninstalling, the button is called <strong>Uninstall Theme - Manager</strong>.</td></tr></tbody></table>

If none of your sales channels uses a theme by RH-Webdesign – for example because the default Shopware theme runs everywhere – the window does not appear.

### What changes in the shop

The sales channels stay online and keep their theme. Without the Theme - Manager, the storefront shows Shopware's base layout with the colours and the logo from the theme's settings. The theme's own design and all features of the Theme - Manager are missing – in the example below, for instance, the product badges “Bestseller”, “New in”, “Sustainable” and “Cheaper in a bundle”.

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2b5e5b01a1d43ed61e4e3a6db119beab9e10b71d%2Fthemes-beispiel-mit-theme-manager.webp?alt=media" alt="Home page with the example theme and the Theme - Manager active"><figcaption><p>The example theme with the Theme - Manager active.</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="https://3517456628-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FmlPb6ICG6kHEJhGjJ5wl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f95d7d0f457f44bf89dc075aa6700cea44a848c8%2Fthemes-beispiel-ohne-theme-manager.webp?alt=media" alt="Home page with the example theme without the Theme - Manager"><figcaption><p>The same page after deactivation: Shopware's base layout with the theme's logo and colour, without the product badges of the Theme - Manager.</p></figcaption></figure>

In the administration, the settings of the themes by RH-Webdesign under **Content › Themes** are locked as long as the Theme - Manager is missing. These themes can only be assigned again once it is active – see **Theme - Manager and themes by RH-Webdesign** on the page **Installation & Activation**.

{% hint style="success" %}
If you activate the Theme - Manager again, Shopware automatically recompiles the assigned themes – with their full design and your saved settings. You do not have to reassign anything. After an uninstall, you install and activate it as usual; your settings are still there if you left **Remove all app data permanently** switched off when uninstalling.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
You deactivate or uninstall a theme by RH-Webdesign independently of the Theme - Manager. As with any theme, however, Shopware only allows this once it is no longer assigned to any sales channel – first assign a different theme as described under **Changing a theme**, for example the default Shopware theme.
{% endhint %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/64SwUU9MGsC3wk2B33Y2" %}
[Installation & Activation](/theme-manager/en/getting-started/installation.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## Further reading

{% content-ref url="/pages/ehaQpph7n9qWAw7yCxEy" %}
[Editing a Theme](/theme-manager/en/getting-started/editing-a-theme.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/Gzdxdnu6wf1J33zGM8aY" %}
[Working with Settings](/theme-manager/en/getting-started/working-with-settings.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/VXdodI5kiN9In8nZpgXK" %}
[Theme Inheritance](/theme-manager/en/features/developer/theme-inheritance.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}