Three column format not showing up.

[Susan]

My options when creating a post are only for 1 or 2 columns. I should have three. In Suffusion Options I chose as default the left and right sidebar. But in my trial posts there is only a right sidebar with a bunch of stuff in it that I already opted to eliminate (archives, blog links, recent posts.) I would like to use the right sidebar differently.

I've tried reducing the width of the main center column and fiddling with the widths of the sidebars too in fixed-width format. But nothing changes. The widths do not change at all.

What am I doing wrong, please? I've only just started trying to figure this all out and know very little.

I've noticed in the Appearance Editor CSS page it says the all the page templates with columns are deprecated.

Thanks. Susan

[drake]

The URL of your site can help us to help you.
Anyway... at Suffusion Options -> Layouts -> Default Sidebars Layouts -> How many sidebars select 2 (Two), and below set one sidebar to the left, one to the right.

These setting will make your pages/posts to use as default 1L1R Sidebar.

But... if you set below for Blog/FrontPage 1R Sidebar, your homepage will have only one sidebar (while the rest of site will still use the default). The same for categories views, tags and so on...

Also, when you write a post or a page, you can set another layout than default just for that post/page... only not on the right panel, where the layouts are deprecated because was moved below the edit area at Additional Options for Suffusion.

Finally, for getting rid of the default widgets in the sidebar you can select "Hide default widgets if nothing is added in the widget control panel" at Suffusion Options -> Sidebars -> Sidebar 1. If the widgets are still showed after that go at Appearance -> Widgets and effectively take out the widgets from Sidebar 1. Anyway, when you add a widget which you need it, the default widgets will dissapear and only the intended widget will stay on sidebar.

[Susan]

Thanks for the reply. Here is the url for my in-the-process website. Not much there yet. http://www.eatinginparadise.com/

I have tried several times all the things you mention but I will check again the Blog/Frontpage angle and also for writing pages/posts options. And also I will redo the sidebar widgets options.

Thanks for your help. Looking forward to learning more about Suffusion. I chose it because I wanted a magazine format with several columns and it came so highly praised. Also the people are so nice.

Regards,

Susan

p.s. I'll be back.
p.p.s And sorry I didn't notice that I should have sent you my url when requesting help.

[drake]

It's ok. Now, I can see your site... Is settled with 3 columns - a main column with 2 sidebars, one on the left, one on the right. The only thing which missing - you don't have anything in sidebars. For adding something there you need to go at Appearance -> Widgets... and add WIDGETS (even those who getting rid of them)...

But... if you need 3 columns of text... a magazine layout, with excerpts, categories, flowing in 3 columns (regardless of sidebars, which can exist or not) you need to:
1. Create a static page (Dashboard -> Pages -> Add New) - just give it a name, even "Home", and select from the Templates drop-down from Page Attributes right panel - Magazine
2. At Settings -> Reading set a static page as Frontpage and select the page created at first step.
3. At Suffusion Options -> Templates -> Magazine format your new Magazine homepage as you wish.

Also, for obtaining 3 columns layouts for categories/tags and so... at Suffusion Options -> Layouts -> Categories (Tags and so...) can choose a Tile layout which can be formatted to have 3 columns, below, at Suffusion Options -> Layouts -> Layout: Excerpt / List / Tile / Mosaic / Full.

[Susan]

Thank you, Drake. I'll try all that. Those were exactly the issues I was wondering about -- putting text or excerpts (i.e. showing recent articles, news excerpts) in the sidebars. But what about not being able to change the width of the main column and sidebars? What am I doing wrong?

Susan

[drake]

For changing the width of main elements at Suffusion Options -> Layouts -> Default Sidebar Layout -> Widths, you need to choose "Custom sizes and margins" at the first option and a "Fixed Width" at the second, then at Fixed Width Settings - "Custom width, but constructed from individual components (defined below)", and below set your sizes for Main Column and Sidebars.

If you use a particular layout for a particular page/view the same adjustments need to be made for that layout.

Btw, in WordPress usually the sidebars are used for widgets, not for posts. At Appearance -> Widgets you have a widget for "Recent Posts", another for "Query Posts", another for "Featured Content" and many, many others. Just drag those widgets in the sidebar and you will have the latest posts presented in many ways.

[Susan]

Thank you again, Drake. I'll keep trying.

S.