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CSS, links and buttons, sidebars and headers..

  1. busymama
    Member

    Hi
    Not even sure if this is in the right place but I have a question and have been searching for the answer. I'm still confused. I've been using blogger and opened a wp.com account today.

    While the template I'm using now has a big enough header, I don't like my *sidebar* at the bottom of the blog. Even if I could live with it at the bottom I can't figure out how to add links and blog buttons. I also would like it to be a tad wider.

    Would upgrading get me what I want? To sum it up I'm like a large customizable header, at least two columns, and the ability to customize the header names in my sidebar as well as add buttons for links. Being able to change the font sizes and colors would be nice, but not essential.

    Is this possible? Do I need to see about getting my own domain? Thanks in advance!

    Kim :o)

  2. drmike
    Member

    Greets:

    The sidebar is at the bottom for that specific theme. Most of the others are not like that.

    Add links in at Dashboard -> Blogroll -> Add links. Make sure you assign them to a category which has Posts made in it.

    Not sure what you mean by blog buttons but this may be it if you're talking about the sidebar. You may also want to try looking at the advanced tab when you either add or edit a link. There's a field for image URL under there.

    Why not try the other themes to see if any of those work for you. An upgrade will allow you to change the setting found in your CSS file.

    Getting your own domain is moot and doesn't have anything to do with editing the CSS. You would have to be hosted elsewhere with the software from wordpress.org if you wanted to edit the php files for your theme though.

    hope this helps,
    -drmike

  3. busymama
    Member

    Hi!
    Thanks for the speedy reply. I guess my biggest problem is this...I want a template with an actual sidebar but with a header large enough to accomodate my picture. Do I have to choose one or the other? If I upgrade will that be possible?

    Also, does that mean (in this template) that I can't load up my blogroll before I write posts? Can I have categories within my blogroll?

  4. drmike
    Member

    Just make a post marked with all of the link categories that you are using saying "Hey, I added some links! Check them out!"

    The categories are shared between the posts and the links. A specific category can be used in both places.

    We actually have a number of themes that have customer headers which you can upload an image to. You can find a list of them (I think it's up to date) along with sizes here. Note the Connections size is wrong. It should be 740 pixels I believe.

    If you upgrade, you can assign the header image to pretty much what you want. I did that with my webcomic. It's wider and taller than the theme normally does. (If you look at teh bottom of the page, you can still see the original image)

    Hope this helps,
    -drmike

  5. timethief
    Member

    Connections header image size is 741 x 143 pixels. :)

  6. busymama
    Member

    So....upgrading will get you something more along the lines of blogger as far as customization goes?

    Thanks! It's all becoming clearer now. I was ready to just say forget it a little while ago!

    Kim :o)

  7. timethief
    Member

    You have two options. The choice you make may depend on the differences between a css customized wordpress.com blog or moving to self hosting or a web host and altering a free wordpress.org template. Hopefully this information below will be useful.

    (1) The please read me first before posting pink sticky at the head of the forum outlines the differences between wordpress.com blogs and wordpress.org blogs which are on different code bases http://wordpress.com/forums/topic.php?id=3700&replies=1

    (2) css upgrade of wordpress.com blog
    http://wordpress.com/blog/2006/08/04/custom-css/ The 15$ is just to alter the appearance of your theme and not the underlying php code. Purchasing the upgrade entitles you to edit CSS on one blog for one year.

    The CSS Editor does not let you edit any particular theme stylesheet; rather, it keeps the theme intact and lets you edit a brand new stylesheet. Because your custom CSS is loaded after the theme's CSS, your style rules can override or add to the existing rules.

    You can use CSS to improve on any existing theme; you can define your own classes for use in posts; you can select the Sandbox theme and build on one of the Minimalist layouts or opt for no stylesheet and do it all yourself.
    http://wordpress.com/products/custom-css/

  8. drmike
    Member

    So....upgrading will get you something more along the lines of blogger as far as customization goes?

    Been a few years since I looked at blogger but I believe so. You get an editor where you can add in or edit the CSS for your current blog. The only thing is that it doesn't preload the current CSS, you add to it.

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