If you’re using a BP 1.1 child theme, you can just put the file in your child theme directory
Done. What do I do for php files within directories, such as bp-xprofile? (Do I recreate that directory in my child theme or somehow call a custom .php file?
Child themes are just that – themes. If you want to change something that isn’t a theme, you will have to see if you can create a code plugin or bp-custom.php or last resort, hack the core.
@wordpressfan, yes go ahead and copy the files over from the parent theme into your child theme, and modify from there. Anything in your child theme will override the files from the parent.
Great. It is a simultaneous hacking and learning process for buddypress themes.
If you don’t want to learn it, there are professionals willing to get paid to speed the process and ease your pain.
Learning is half the fun. I’m looking forward to new buddypress child themes appearing.