Importing a custom theme into an existing Google Site

[paulslater3]

I created a Google Site for my company's intranet. Our marketing team has a separate Marketing Google Site where they added a new custom theme. Is there a way I can take that custom theme and copy it over to my intranet Google Site? I don't see a way to do that, all I see is I can create a new custom theme. Would be much easier to copy a theme from the Marketing Google Site over to the Intranet Google Site. Any help would be appreciated.

[Penelope]

I don't know if there is a way to do this now but back in November 2021 it was said that copying themes to another Google Site wasn't possible: https://support.google.com/sites/thread/135308592?hl=en. However that must have been for only personal accounts because I see in the documentation at https://support.google.com/a/answer/166430?hl=en that Classic Google Sites on certain Workspace domains could save a page as a theme which allowed others to use it in the domain. Domains that was available on "Supported editions for this feature: Business Standard and Plus; Enterprise; Education Fundamentals, Standard, Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Plus; Nonprofits; G Suite Basic and Business; Essentials." 

[paulslater3]

@Penelope Greatly appreciate the feedback. I'm using the new Google Sites and am (I believe) am using the Enterprise version of Workspace at my company. I guess I will just manually add all the colors/images to my Google Site. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something since it would be a lot easier to copy the them over to a new Site... again, greatly appreciate the help!

[Penelope]

@paulslater3 you are welcome. And I just remembered I know someone who loves Google Sites and knows I believe both classic and the new so I will ask them to be sure (someone being a Google Sites product expert for Google). 

I will let you know if I hear anything back since definitely what you want to do would be a lot easier than manually doing everything. 

[paulslater3]

thanks!

[Penelope]

Hey @paulslater3 ,

Bad news so that feature is not available in the New Google Sites (so copying/transferring Themes) however they did suggest you ask your admin (or if you are the admin) to make a suggestion to one on one Google Workspace support. They do hope the feature themselves gets released.
He did suggest another idea. He said you could set up a template Site of sorts and then just copy that site. He specifically said " if they plan on creating multiple Sites and want the same theme in each, probably the easiest thing to do is set the theme up in an empty 'template' Site and then copy that Site each time they want to create a new Site rather than using the 'Create Site' option. I believe that should work." 

[paulslater3]

@Penelope Really appreciate the additional follow up. And that's too bad, oh well.

I did set it up as a template. I"m not the admin, but our admin approved it so anyone within our organization can use this as a template with all the correct branding/colors. Thank you again for all the help!!

[Penelope]

Hey @paulslater3 , glad at least you could set it up as a template and have the admin approve it (and awesome the admin was willing to work with you on that too!). 
You are so welcome and sorry this didn't turn out the way you would have liked and hoped. Have an awesome day!

[Charlotte]

Hey @paulslater3, I know this is many months later however I came across an article recently that made me think of this conversation and maybe it would have some future use for you. The article is https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/05/use-existing-custom-themes-for-new-sites.html which is about importing existing custom themes into new Google Sites. It rolls out this month and looks to be finalized roll out in June. 

[paulslater3]

I did come across this, but really appreciate you forwarding along to me. Maybe Google is listening to us.. haha.

[Charlotte]

Sometimes they do listen even if it takes months to implement or other times they go another route. I personally don't always understand their logic concerning a few things. You are very welcome. 

[login]

I guess we still can't create themes by adding custom CSS codes for free accounts, like Blogger, right?
Also, the new google sites will be accepted by many HTML site owners, though a little more customization and more net speed.

https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2022/05/use-existing-custom-themes-for-new-sites.html

[Charlotte]

Hi, the answer to your question, @login , is a correct/yes so you can not create themes by adding custom CSS codes for free accounts.