Client wants to add custom content to sidebar/other column

[Watson90]

Hi all

So, the problem I’m faced with is I am currently working on a WordPress powered website for a client, the design he’s sent me is a two column layout.

I coded up a static page based on his design on my website for him to look at here: http://stevenwatson.co.uk/construction/communication

As you can see, he stated he wants to be able to add video, pictures text or whatever in the left column but also the right column.

In WordPress I have managed to allow for custom page content in the left column. But what can I do about the right column, how can I make it become editable too!? It’s using the sidebar.php file, but I don’t think I should be using this in all honesty.

This is the actual website up to now: http://communicatingisimportant.com

Thanks in advance everyone!

[Paulie_D]

Wow…something went wrong when I clicked the actual link…I just get a single column…is that right?

EDIT: Ahh…OK.

Ick!

[Watson90]

Hi @Paulie_D

He wants the homepage to be a single column layout, so I have used a custom template, if you click ‘About’ and all of the other pages they use a two column layout.

I don’t suppose you have any ideas do you? I know you don’t _usually_ specialise in WordPress.

I know a few other members such as @TheDoc who may know?

[Watson90]

Hmmm, that sounds like an idea @stevencrader! Thanks, have you ever done something like that before?

Also, will this allow him to see a text editor just like the pages where he can add what he wants?

[Paulie_D]

@Watson90 Speciaize in WP…I can barely even spell it!

What I have learned about it (which is very little) I have gathered from watching Chris’ videos.

I’m an old middle-aged HTML/CSS guy…all these new fangled technologies like JS, jQuery, PHP are pretty much beyond me.

Heck, I’m one step up from table based layouts.

[Watson90]

Haha, yeah I learned a lot from Chris’ Screencasts too when I was starting out with it. Still a newbie when it comes to WordPress, though.

Oh btw @Paulie_D – I didn’t know what ‘Ick’ meant, so I googled it and guess what I found? Lol!

> **Definition of Ick**

_something gross, a feminine way of saying “ew”. usage by men: only recommended if you are a homosexual._

[Paulie_D]

LOL……oh wait

>Now, it is overused to the point where nobody laughs out loud when they say it. In fact, they probably don’t even give a shit about what you just wrote. More accurately, the acronym “lol” should be redefined as “Lack of laughter.”

> Depending on the chatter, its definition may vary. The list of its meanings includes, but is not limited to:
1) “I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this conversation.”
2) “I’m too lazy to read what you just wrote so I’m typing something useless in hopes that you’ll think I’m still paying attention.”
3) “Your statement lacks even the vaguest trace of humor but I’ll pretend I’m amused.”
4) “This is a pointless acronym I’m sticking in my sentence just because it’s become so engraved into my mind that when chatting, I MUST use the meaningless sentence-filler ‘lol.'”

[Watson90]

Haha, touche ;)

[chrisburton]

@Watson90 My site is pretty much like the issue you’re having (see here). I use the main editor to display my main content and then I use a custom metabox to display content (description) for my sidebar. I also use the ‘Attachments’ plugin which you could use if he wants to display images in the sidebar.

So basically in your sidebar, output the h1 of the page there instead of the page.php (I think that’s what it’s using, otherwise index.php). Then, if you need, I can supply you with a custom meta box script which adds a description box (this will go under ‘About’). You should probably download the ‘Attachments’ plugin as well.

For the main content, use the main editor to post the video and the text under it.

[Watson90]

@chrisburton

Wow, that’s great! The website has finally resolved it’s DNS in work so I can inspect closer. In his design, he wants the h1 tag (about, approach, projects etc) to display in the left column though, he then wants to add additional page content to the right sidebar… does this matter, Chris?

[chrisburton]

The left column should be the sidebar, no? If not it might be even easier on the development side.

[Watson90]

Well, I have made the right column the sidebar, but I could switch them around. Do you think that’s best?

[chrisburton]

I’m not sure of the semantics but after looking again, it seems the right is correct for sidebar information. Although, I’m not sure about posting the pages under the video content. It just looks odd and might be confusing. I mean, I wouldn’t add pages with the name of the company like that. It seems unnecessary.

[Watson90]

That embedded YT clip is there just for viewing purposes as I was trying to figure out this problem. It has gone now.

[Watson90]

No, I understand what you mean, they have been appended and prepended with jQuery. He likes it like that and prefers if they’re there, so I am just letting him do what he wants with it. I told him that navigation should really be at the top of the page but he prefers it where it is.

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