Columns layout instead of sidebars?

[micha1451]

Hi,

the sole use of columns would be simpler and more uniform than the additional use of sidebars and depending widgets.
I have not really understand the differences of both options.

Now I have a “wild mix” of different layout styles, I do not like truly.
In my opinion, the layout of columns is carried out much faster.
I know: Usually you should think about this before you start designing your website.  X_X

Are there any informations about this topic?

Thanks in advance – and regards
Michael

http://www.mgaleris.de

[scrambler]

This is the core WordPress structure, I believe you could argue for or against it. But You would need to qualify “Now I have a “wild mix” of different layout styles, I do not like truly.” for us to be able to understand what your problem is.

The purpose of sidebars (the way I understand it) is to provide locations for content that is common to all pages. Widgets are an easy way to populate sidebars, and allows the creation of automated content (latest posts, pages, menu, calendar etc…)

It is up to you to keep the same sidebar layout for all pages, or to use different layout on different pages. But by definition Sidebars are a way to keep a consistent layout across pages if that is what is needed.

I am not sure what you are referring to when you mention columns. If they are the one you can create using for example weaver column classes, it is up to you to use these if you need to create columns in your content. You don’t have to use them if you don’t want to.

So I am really not sure I understand what you mean, and you would need to elaborate for us to help further

[micha1451]

Hi scrambler,

thanks for your reply!

Your answer make things clearer to me:
“The purpose of sidebars (the way I understand it) is to provide locations for content that is common to all pages.
Widgets are an easy way to populate sidebars, and allows the creation of automated content (latest posts,
pages, menu, calendar etc…)”

That the crux of all!

WordPress is a blog and not a platform to present web-galleries, even if I want to see it in this way  🙂

I have created now about 50 pages, but only one blog

Therefore I need almost no “automated content”, I need almost text, photos and clips. I use the sidebars for additional informations –
but these are also also text, photos and clips… 

For my different sidebar contents I`ve created more than 40 Extra Widget Areas.
This is confusing, if you have to work inside the widget admin area.

The usage of columns is clearly the better way to realize my web galleries (inside wordpress).

If I startet with wordpress/weaver Xtreme some weeks ago, I knew nothing about all this topics.
But the nice thing about WordPress is, that you are not forced to work in one prescribed way.

Up from now, I will mainly use columns for my web gallery content (using additionally your excel tool).
In my (less) blogs I will also use sidebar widgets.

So it will be no “wild mix”, but a “controlled mix” of both options…

regards
Michael

[scrambler]

If you find yourself creating a per page widget area for every page, then your know sidebars are not the right tool for what you want to do.

To organize content that is page specifics, you are right that using columns or widgets created manually is the way to go.

For just a few columns, you can use the prebuilt weaver classes as explained here

http://forum.weavertheme.com/discussion/11220/weaver-xtreme-tips-and-tutorial-part-5

Fo more advanced configuration, my column or widget generator is a solution.

If you are not at ease with HTML and CSS, you can also use a more interactive tool like the Page builder plugin from Site Origin, that has drag and drop functionality.

[micha1451]

Your column generator is a great and very helpful tool!
But in tradition of my old dreamweaver website I prefer a fixed layout instead a dynamic/responsive one…
… accepting the disadvantages.

So I have to change your code to fixed widthes instead of %
Easy to do in theme options/ custom css rules.

Additionally to your tool I use the Codepress “Column Shortcodes” in the editor.

regards
Michael

[Weaver]

Using fixed widths is a VERY BAD IDEA! It makes you site totally unresponsive, and it will look terrible on mobile devices. These days, visits from phones and mobile devices are approaching, if not exceeding the majority of visits, so it is critical to keep your site looking good for phones.

[Weaver]

@micha1451:

You might solve your problems by using a plugin like: https://wordpress.org/plugins/siteorigin-panels/

You can get the columnar layout you want, and the result is repsonsive.

[micha1451]

Hi weaver,

thanks for your advice!

Accidentally I’ve got problems with the fixed columns today.
So I switched to responsive, this works well now.

I will check “siteorigin-panels”, may be its more useful than “Column shortcodes”.
I just need to be careful not to use too many plugins 🙂

regards Michael

[Author]

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