How do I edit a Wordpress theme to look the way I want?

Mike Murphy · 11-19-2009, 09:43 AM

I've installed Church Theme on my blog at immikemurphy.com after seeing a couple of guys that I know using it.

One is marklyford.com and the other is using Chrome Theme bradgosse.com but I don't get how to move the different widgets around so I can put things where I want them.

On the first site, I gather that he's added a text module on the top right and then put HTML in to get his smiling mug and opt in box.

Wordpress is supposed to be easy and flexible so I must just be making it harder than it is.

I could just outsource having this done but $$ are tight and it would be nice to know this info anyway.

Thanks
Mike

James Williams · 11-19-2009, 10:25 AM

You have gone to the admin-appearance-widgets area and tried moving things around? yoursite.com/wp-admin/widgets.php ?

Mike Murphy · 11-19-2009, 08:52 PM

Yep. I've added in one of each widget to see where it winds up and deleted them all to see what's left behind. Looks like what I don't get is how to relocated some of them.

Say you have two columns side by side at the top and one big one below and you want to reverse the two so the two columns are under the single large one....that's where I'm not getting it.

Aristocratic · 11-20-2009, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Murphy

Yep. I've added in one of each widget to see where it winds up and deleted them all to see what's left behind. Looks like what I don't get is how to relocated some of them.

Say you have two columns side by side at the top and one big one below and you want to reverse the two so the two columns are under the single large one....that's where I'm not getting it.

Got to your sidebar.php file and find this:

PHP Code:

 
    <?php include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_left.php");?>
    
    <?php include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_right.php");?>

Cut it.

Go up to the top some to where you see this code:

PHP Code:

 
    </div>
    
    <ul id="sidebarwidgeted">
    
    <?php if ( function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') && dynamic_sidebar(1) ) : else : ?>

It's right below the area that you are supposed to put your adsense block in.

Now paste the bit of code that you cut earlier right after the /div code:

PHP Code:

 
    </div>
       <?php include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_left.php");?>
   
    <?php include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_right.php");?>
    <ul id="sidebarwidgeted">
    
    <?php if ( function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') && dynamic_sidebar(1) ) : else : ?>

Save. Now you will have the side by side sidebars on top of the large sidebar.

edited to add: the theme already starts with the large one on top and the two little below so I assumed you were asking for the reverse when you were asking for help; if you want a different change, let me know.

11-19-2009, 09:43 AM	#1
Mike Murphy Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada. Posts: 615 Thanks: 68 Thanked 60 Times in 44 Posts Social Networking	How do I edit a Wordpress theme to look the way I want? I've installed Church Theme on my blog at immikemurphy.com after seeing a couple of guys that I know using it. One is marklyford.com and the other is using Chrome Theme bradgosse.com but I don't get how to move the different widgets around so I can put things where I want them. On the first site, I gather that he's added a text module on the top right and then put HTML in to get his smiling mug and opt in box. Wordpress is supposed to be easy and flexible so I must just be making it harder than it is. I could just outsource having this done but $$ are tight and it would be nice to know this info anyway. Thanks Mike
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11-19-2009, 10:25 AM	#2
James Williams James Williams War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 78 Thanks: 16 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How do I edit a Wordpress theme to look the way I want? You have gone to the admin-appearance-widgets area and tried moving things around? yoursite.com/wp-admin/widgets.php ?
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11-19-2009, 08:52 PM	#3
Mike Murphy Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada. Posts: 615 Thanks: 68 Thanked 60 Times in 44 Posts Social Networking	Re: How do I edit a Wordpress theme to look the way I want? Yep. I've added in one of each widget to see where it winds up and deleted them all to see what's left behind. Looks like what I don't get is how to relocated some of them. Say you have two columns side by side at the top and one big one below and you want to reverse the two so the two columns are under the single large one....that's where I'm not getting it.
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