Sharepoint 2010 - How to apply custom master page and theme to all subsites?

Question

I have created a sharepoint web site let's call it portal so we get the url:

http://mydevserver/sites/portal/

I have put a lot of effort into creating a custom master page on the above website and also uploaded resources (CSS, images) to the site assets directory that the new master page references and also tweaked the theme.

I have also created a subsite lets call it subsite:

http://mydevserver/sites/portal/subsite

Now the issue is that subsite has not inherited any of the portal styling. It has the out-of the box sharepoint styling and since it is a different site, I don't know how to make it see the portal master page and resources.

Which brings me to me question: Is there an easy and maintainable way to apply my portal theme and masterpage settings to all subsites? How would you go about it?

Thanks!

Answer 1

When you apply the master page, it should also give you the option to "Reset all subsites to inherit this site master page setting". Do that and it should apply correctly.

Similarly go to the Site Theme and make sure you select "Apply the selected theme to this site and reset all subsites to inherit this setting" and it will apply to your subsite too.

Answer 2

Go to http://mydevserver/sites/portal/_catalogs/masterpage/Forms/AllItems.aspx

This is where all the master pages are located. From there, ensure that the desired master page you wish to apply is published in a major version and approved. To publish in a major version simply check in.

Once this is completed, browse to: http://mydevserver/sites/portal/_Layouts/ChangeSiteMasterPage.aspx Like the page name suggests, this is where you can choose the site master page. From here, you may also apply the master page to subsites.

If navigating to the ChangeSiteMasterPage.aspx gives you a Correlation Id 'unexpected error has occurred' message then this most likely means that you need to enable the SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure for the site collection. To enable this, from the site collection root, go to Site Actions > Site Settings > Site Collection Features and activate the SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure

Last, via the site themes go to "Apply the selected theme to this site and reset all subsites to inherit this setting"