WordPress MU

http://www.racedaynetwork.com

OK, I am sorry I need help here, I am severely frustrated trying to learn this. Please use the link above for reference.

All I am simply trying to do is create a three column layout. I am not worried about the content right now--I will worry about that later.

I have the column on left (top left on this example). This is named sidebar2.php, and references for positioning in style.css are labeled as such.

I have the column in the middle (middle on example, below sidebar2.php), which is the content, I want in the middle column.

I have sidebar.php as the sidebar on the right (which is below the content, to the right.

I cannot for the life of me get them to appear right. Can someone please help me with this, I am so darn used to just using tables, that I can't get a grip on this--and when I do use tables--it completely screws up the css.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!

Are you trying to do your layout entirely by CSS?

If so this link might help:
http://glish.com/css/7.asp

It details a three-column layout entirely based on css

I really, really like this one:

http://css.maxdesign.com.au/floatutorial/tutorial0915.htm

Um, I also have a rather plain 3 column theme done, which you are welcome to tweak as much as you like.
http://www.atypicalife.net/blog/3cols.zip
Yes, based on the above tutorial, but all WP-ified. Should work for MU.

See it in action:
http://atypicalife.net/blog/index.php?wptheme=Just+3+columns

Go for a walk, take a break. :) Then come back to it.

There is also this one from some of the people developing CSS

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/holygrail/

I want to thank you all for your hyper-quick responses!!! I will look through everything here and see if I can conquer this once and for all!!! I don't usually LIKE to ask for help (I guess noone really does)--but I reached a point that I read some stuff--didn't work, tried some stuff on my own, didn't work...and just through browsing your suggestions, I already see things that will help. THANKS!!!!

Thanks for taking the time, I appreciate it.

OK, I tried the examples given, and I STILL can't get it to work.

If someone is willing, here are my css and page.php files. Please take a look and let me know what I am screwing up. THANKS!!!!

http://www.racedaynetwork.com/page.zip

download won't work. htaccess isn't letting it thru.

Can you plunk the zip somewhere else, like on another server, or pastebin the files?

http://www.racedaynews.com/page.zip

Sorry, wrong url

Okay, you really, really need to read this:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Stepping_Into_Templates

The short version is you need to have an index.php in there at the very least. That link above will help you create the theme you want, and more importantly understand how it works.

Basically I should stop messing with page.php and work with index.php...and call the files from it right?

(I am reading it, just figuring I would take a shot at what you are saying)

Yep. :) You could have style.css and index.php and have it work, but page.php = not work so good without at least an index page.

When WP sees a page.php in the template, that is what they use to display the Pages, not the index. It always looks for that (index.php) first.

Just rename page.php to index.php and see what happens. And in the index, where it is calling files, it expects those files to be there in the theme folder. IE: if you don't have a sidebar.php, don't call it.

okay, I also uploaded your theme to a test blog I half to check it out, and have your problem is working off the default Kubrick theme. I know many like it, but as far as theme development goes, it sucks.

I had a link above to a zip of a 3 column theme that is very plain ie; mostly white and grey. All you have to do is add images and change borders and colors in the stylesheet. Most of the work is done there for you and it would save you a bunch of headaches. :)

Andrea-I can't thank you enough.

I will take a little break for now, and come back later tonight/tomorrow and try some more. Thanks again for your time and efforts!

Its hard to teach an old dog new tricks...lol

No problem. :) And I'm not such a young pup anymore myself. Young at heart though. :D

(also living in a house full of computer geeks help)

Good thread for some read up. Need to brush up my CSS and start converting those tables too. Lucky you andrea, with a home full of computer geeks. If I am not wrong you havean SQL geek too? lol..

PS: Old dogs can learn new tricks with the help of other dogs. :)))

andrea
Re.: WP-ifying[*] (CSS)

You mention that the 3-col zip (for which many thanks btw!) has been WP-ified?

I understand the concept;) but can I ask clarification in one specific regard; are there specific things to watch out for [and change] to WP-ify? Or is it more that you worked with the base-CSS, adding the included php files - thereby WP-fying?

Many thanks

[*]new verb: WP-ify; WP is the new collective, you will be assimilated, resistance is futile.
;)

"Or is it more that you worked with the base-CSS, adding the included php files - thereby WP-fying?"

Yep, as in the 3 column tutorial I mentioned above, I used to create a theme for Wordpress, thus WP-ifying (as in wordpress-ifying) it. See? Easy.

So now all your base are belonging to us. :D

(And we've even raised little geeks-in-training. Be afraid.)

And yup, the SQL geek is also the network geek and the programming geek. I'm the CSS/HTML/web geek. We've also got a graphic geek, a gamer geek, a food geek, and the afore-mentioned geek in training.

I am beginning to think I am just not meant to get this to work--I have followed all three tutorials, and though I to get something representative of a table (sometimes), I still am not getting the desired results. Why is it impossible to use tables???

I do like this article though, which I think is telling me I am not alone in my frustration...at this stage. Just thought I would share

http://www.htmldog.com/ptg/archives/000049.php

Well, if it's too much, then by all means use tables for the short term. But it would still be good to slowly work on a table-less version down the road. :)

I am working on a table version right now. One question if I may ask, when I do put these items in tables, why does it ignore the CSS formatting, I mean, like for the font sizes and everything? It shouldn't.

Dont get me wrong, I have used CSS for fonts and colors and such but never a table. I will get it...but I am just going to have to gradually work it in...I think if I spoonfeed myself a little at a time, I will get it...just too much at one time, doesn't work for me I guess.

Well, you could use CSS for fonts and colors, and use tables for layout. :)