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Trouble formatting text in text widget

  1. tamingthesat
    Member

    I’m attempting to create a business blog using the Vigilance theme. In the sidebar, I want to include text that explains the purpose of the blog and the way visitors can use it to ask questions. This is the procedure I’m using, some of it based on advice previously given in this forum:

    - I write the text in MS Word 2007, then copy the .docx file to WordPress’ Write Post editor, using the “Paste from Word” feature in the Kitchen Sink menu.

    - I format the text in Visual Editor, making use of the Kitchen Sink options.

    - I switch to HTML mode, copy the coded text, paste that into the text widget, and save.

    My problem: When I look at the blog, the formatting of the text in the sidebar is erratic. Some paragraphs are adequate size, others much smaller. All the headings are too small. Bullets have disappeared.

    What am I doing wrong?

    My thanks to any kind soul who can help this blog newbie.

    Taming the SAT (aka Jack)

    The blog I need help with is tamingthesat.wordpress.com.

  2. panaghiotisadam
    Member

    Formatting in the visual editor then transferring to text widget isn't a good method, for various reasons (the editor tools are limited, some html codes work in posts but not in text widgets or vv, etc.). As for the bullets, when you write the code for a list in a text widget, the result will be what the designer of the theme had decided for list items (in Vigilance, as you saw, it's divider lines instead of bullets). To use text widgets effectively, you need to learn some html. If you click on my username, you'll find several posts that might be of use to you.

    For starters, replace the content of your widget with the version I'm pasting below, then tell me if and what you'd like to change or add.

    <div style="font-size:140%;padding-top:30px;">
<p style="text-align:center;font-weight:bold;color:#993300;">GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS</p>
<p>After 28 years of preparing students for taking the test, we know the SAT Reasoning Test inside and out. This blog deals with what we know best:  the test itself. We’re here to answer your questions about what the SAT is like, how to prepare for it, how to take it, how to assess your performance afterwards.</p>
<p style="font-weight:bold;color:#993300;">Ask your questions</p>
<p>• Above each post (left-hand column) is a button labeled LEAVE A COMMENT. Clicking the button opens the comments text box. That’s where you type your question.
<p>• Don’t worry if your question doesn’t relate to the specific subject of the post below it. That doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>• Try to make your question as clear as you can. That will help us provide exactly the information you want.</p>
<p style="font-weight:bold;">So ask your questions. Fire away!</p>
<p style="font-weight:bold;color:#993300;">Read questions and answers already posted</p>
<p>To help you find previous Q&As, we’ve organized them into categories. Click on one of the categories to see all the posts it currently includes. You’ll find the links below.</p>
</div>

  3. raincoaster
    Member

    But the erratic changes that appear to be happening in this case are probably not the result of using the visual editor, but more likely to relate to the Word aspect.

    I would suggest, as a starting point, to paste as plain text rather than Paste From Word.

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