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[mysant Friend mysantJoin date: July 2008Posts: 2Downloads:0Uploads:0]

#139418

Is there a way to add a true left column (at the left of ja_news)? I ‘ve searched the forum but couldn’t find a solution. If there is one, please direct me to the solution, or else i would ge glad if you give me one!

Thank you in advance

[cgc0202 Friend cgc0202Join date: August 2007Posts: 2244Downloads:0Uploads:3 Thanks: 206 Thanked: 262 times in 1 posts]

#297300

<em>@mysant 119260 wrote:</em><blockquote>Is there a way to add a true left column (at the left of ja_news)? I ‘ve searched the forum but couldn’t find a solution. If there is one, please direct me to the solution, or else i would ge glad if you give me one!

Thank you in advance</blockquote>

We just discussed this in another thread that I started but went further to make the left column collapsible

How do I make a new position collapsible?

Both Menalto and Scotty provided alternative ways of doing it. You really do not have to collapse the left column, if it is permanent to your site structure. It adds complexity to the script and can be tricky if you do not know what you are doing. In fact, I would suggest to forget about collapsibility first. Just focus on including a left column. Then you succeed

The process itself on how to set up a new “left column position”
Use FTP to access your site files and directories

1. Go to the templates directory

=> templates =>ja_teline_ii => index.php (be sure to make a copy before revising the index.php)

2. Find the appropriate set of CSS tags where boundary of the Head (below the magazine menu) and Body Content meets. (see some of the new CSS tags codes given in the link above, as example)
3. Create the appropriate new CSS tags needed and include them in the appropriate section in the template.css

=> templates =>ja_teline_ii => css => templates.css

4. add the new “module position” name in the templateDetails.xml

=> templates =>ja_teline_ii => templateDetails.xml

It should be noted that the left column position suggested in the cited link is a left position in the “Body” only — the Header and the Footer remains full width.

Caution: You will get a funny layout if you forgot to add the CSS tags in the template.css (see procedure above). Thus, it is important that you make (and download) a copy of all the files that you plan to modify.

Note: The new left position module” may not appear (if you made it collapsible) until you place something in it.

If you did everything correctly, when you try to move one of the modules to the new left position, the “position dropdown menu” should include the name of the new “module position” that you included in the templateDetails.xml. (see procedure above)

Cornelio

Very important caution: Do not attempt to add new position unless you have some basic understanding about CSS tags

[cgc0202 Friend cgc0202Join date: August 2007Posts: 2244Downloads:0Uploads:3 Thanks: 206 Thanked: 262 times in 1 posts]

#297310

Note that the outline provided above applies for any position you want to create in your page — in the header, body or footer. What is important is that you are quite familiar with the general layout of the page itself.

More specifically, you need to know where each of the sections — Header, Body and Footer — begins and ends, more specially their boundaries. Please refer to the page source of the index.php (provided by Menalto) in the previous thread

How do I make a new position collapsible?
http://www.joomlart.com/forums/topic/how-do-i-make-a-new-position-collapsible/

where the proposed left column should be placed. The insertion site where the left column was included has some flexibility I experimented with it, with structure stability and collapsibility in mind.

A stable layout design will wrap each section properly, usually by a CSS tag, e.g.,

#iblab_contentwrap
{
=> specify properties of the wrap here (including width, margin, padding, etc.
}

Since a wrap may be used elsewhere, it is best to separate specifications of the properties of text either using an existing CSS tag (better strategy to minimize bloat of the CSS file) or a new one. See example in the other post where I created a new one, to make sure that the size of the text is smaller (90%) of the standard size, etc.

When I get a chance I will share more some techniques I use to avoid mistakes. I cannot emphasize enough that you must be familiar with the basics of CSS before you attempt modifying the layout.

Just imagine remodelling your house. If you don ot have a long term plan, you might destroy your beautiful house, or even wreck it completely.

That is why it is good to make a copy before a modification. You can always begin anew, in case you make a mistake. This will give you the courage to experiment.

Cornelio

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