<div>
Can't say for sure based on a screenshot but check Appearance | Widgets and see if the contents of the home page are actually all widgets. &nbsp;This is a fairly common approach in WordPress.<br />
<br />
If you can't do what you are supposed to do with simple widget manipulation, then you have to figure out which theme template file is setting the home page. &nbsp;The visual editor will not come into play in either situation.
</div>


Can't say for sure based on a screenshot but check Appearance | Widgets and see if the contents of the home page are actually all widgets.  This is a fairly common approach in WordPress.

If you can't do what you are supposed to do with simple widget manipulation, then you have to figure out which theme template file is setting the home page.  The visual editor will not come into play in either situation.

<div>
Jason,<br />
<br />
I found how they did it. See attached, note &quot;FrontPage Template Page Template&quot;. I have opened that in the editor, it's all straightforward html / php. I see how to do what I want to do.<br />
<br />
But is there a way to do it and TEST it before I make it live (in case I screw up)?<br />
<br />
Thanks,<br />
<br />
Richard<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2015/11_w47/1029521/front_page_template.jpg" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="front page template (149 KB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>front_page_template.jpg</a>
</div>


Jason,

I found how they did it. See attached, note "FrontPage Template Page Template". I have opened that in the editor, it's all straightforward html / php. I see how to do what I want to do.

But is there a way to do it and TEST it before I make it live (in case I screw up)?

Thanks,

Richard
front_page_template.jpg [https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2015/11_w47/1029521/front_page_template.jpg]

front_page_template.jpg

<div>
Jason,<br />
<br />
What I decided was close to what you said.
</div>


Jason,

What I decided was close to what you said.

<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I have inherited a WordPress site that seems to have been built with a custom theme.<br />
<br />
I have been asked to make changes to the main page. When viewed in WordPress edit mode, it is empty.<br />
<br />
So I'm guessing I have to modify the Theme itself?<br />
<br />
See attached.<br />
<br />
How do I modify the Theme? And what are the consequences on the other pages?<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2015/11_w47/1026461/existing_site_theme.jpg" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="existing site theme (221 KB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>existing_site_theme.jpg</a>
</div>
</div>


existing_site_theme.jpg

I have inherited a WordPress site that seems to have been built with a custom theme.

I have been asked to make changes to the main page. When viewed in WordPress edit mode, it is empty.

So I'm guessing I have to modify the Theme itself?

See attached.

How do I modify the Theme? And what are the consequences on the other pages?

Thanks

WordPress - Custom Theme?

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL for creating websites and blogs. Features include a plugin architecture, a template system and strong management, customization and search systems; through its dynamic presentation of content, webmasters have the flexibility to create websites easily.