Tutorials For Beginner

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Tips to Add Column on New Blogger Layout

Because of so many questions about, “How do we add column on the blog?” Finally, I decide to spent a little of my time to write this article. Actually, adding a new column to our blog doesn’t so hard. But still, we need bit knowledge to do that.

In this chance, I will explain to you about, “how to make a column without images help.” As usual, I will just use template Minima, you know that, this is official template which provide by Blogger and don’t use any picture.

Based on standardizations from Blogger Template, we will know that, a template must have three main elements. That is:

  • Header Element
  • Outer Element
  • Footer Element

For Outer, it’s divided again into:

  • Main Element. This is the element where we can save posting. So, any posting that we send to our blog will be shown here.
  • Sidebar Element. This is the elements to save any blog tools either accessory that we want, in order to decorate our blog.

From dissatisfaction from ‘only one sidebar’, if somehow we want to add some additional sidebar, we need to add it manually. I’ll clear it for you. I’ll show you an original template code from template Minima (New Template/XML)

 



<html xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml' xmlns:b='http://www.google.com/2005/gml/b' xmlns:data='http://www.google.com/2005/gml/data' xmlns:expr='http://www.google.com/2005/gml/expr'>
<head>
<b:include data='blog' name='all-head-content'/>
<title><data:blog.pageTitle/></title>
<b:skin><![CDATA[/*
-----------------------------------------------
Blogger Template Style
Name: Minima
Designer: Douglas Bowman
URL: www.stopdesign.com
Date: 26 Feb 2004
Updated by: Blogger Team
----------------------------------------------- */

/* Variable definitions
====================
<Variable name="bgcolor" description="Page Background Color"
type="color" default="#fff" value="#ffffff">
<Variable name="textcolor" description="Text Color"
type="color" default="#333" value="#333333">
<Variable name="linkcolor" description="Link Color"
type="color" default="#58a" value="#5588aa">
<Variable name="pagetitlecolor" description="Blog Title Color"
type="color" default="#666" value="#666666">
<Variable name="descriptioncolor" description="Blog Description Color"
type="color" default="#999" value="#999999">
<Variable name="titlecolor" description="Post Title Color"
type="color" default="#c60" value="#cc6600">
<Variable name="bordercolor" description="Border Color"
type="color" default="#ccc" value="#cccccc">
<Variable name="sidebarcolor" description="Sidebar Title Color"
type="color" default="#999" value="#999999">
<Variable name="sidebartextcolor" description="Sidebar Text Color"
type="color" default="#666" value="#666666">
<Variable name="visitedlinkcolor" description="Visited Link Color"
type="color" default="#999" value="#999999">
<Variable name="bodyfont" description="Text Font"
type="font" default="normal normal 100% Georgia, Serif" value="normal normal 100% Georgia, Serif">
<Variable name="headerfont" description="Sidebar Title Font"
type="font"
default="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif" value="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif">
<Variable name="pagetitlefont" description="Blog Title Font"
type="font"
default="normal normal 200% Georgia, Serif" value="normal normal 200% Georgia, Serif">
<Variable name="descriptionfont" description="Blog Description Font"
type="font"
default="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, Sans-serif" value="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, Sans-serif">
<Variable name="postfooterfont" description="Post Footer Font"
type="font"
default="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, Sans-serif" value="normal normal 78% 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, Sans-serif">
*/

/* Use this with templates/template-twocol.html */

body {
background:$bgcolor;
margin:0;
color:$textcolor;
font:x-small Georgia Serif;
font-size/* */:/**/small;
font-size: /**/small;
text-align: center;
}
a:link {
color:$linkcolor;
text-decoration:none;
}
a:visited {
color:$visitedlinkcolor;
text-decoration:none;
}
a:hover {
color:$titlecolor;
text-decoration:underline;
}
a img {
border-width:0;
}

/* Header
--------------------------------------- */

#header-wrapper {
width:660px;
margin:0 auto 10px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
}

#header-inner {
background-position: center;
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}

#header {
margin: 5px;
border: 1px solid $bordercolor;
text-align: center;
color:$pagetitlecolor;
}

#header h1 {
margin:5px 5px 0;
padding:15px 20px .25em;
line-height:1.2em;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.2em;
font: $pagetitlefont;
}

#header a {
color:$pagetitlecolor;
text-decoration:none;
}

#header a:hover {
color:$pagetitlecolor;
}

#header .description {
margin:0 5px 5px;
padding:0 20px 15px;
max-width:700px;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.2em;
line-height: 1.4em;
font: $descriptionfont;
color: $descriptioncolor;
}

#header img {
margin-left: auto;
margin-right: auto;
}

/* Outer-Wrapper
------------------------------------------ */
#outer-wrapper {
width: 660px;
margin:0 auto;
padding:10px;
text-align:left;
font: $bodyfont;
}

#main-wrapper {
width: 410px;
float: left;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#sidebar-wrapper {
width: 220px;
float: right;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

/* Headings
------------------------------------------- */

h2 {
margin:1.5em 0 .75em;
font:$headerfont;
line-height: 1.4em;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.2em;
color:$sidebarcolor;
}

/* Posts
------------------------------------------ */
h2.date-header {
margin:1.5em 0 .5em;
}

.post {
margin:.5em 0 1.5em;
border-bottom:1px dotted $bordercolor;
padding-bottom:1.5em;
}
.post h3 {
margin:.25em 0 0;
padding:0 0 4px;
font-size:140%;
font-weight:normal;
line-height:1.4em;
color:$titlecolor;
}

.post h3 a, .post h3 a:visited, .post h3 strong {
display:block;
text-decoration:none;
color:$titlecolor;
font-weight:normal;
}

.post h3 strong, .post h3 a:hover {
color:$textcolor;
}

.post p {
margin:0 0 .75em;
line-height:1.6em;
}

.post-footer {
margin: .75em 0;
color:$sidebarcolor;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.1em;
font: $postfooterfont;
line-height: 1.4em;
}

.comment-link {
margin-left:.6em;
}
.post img {
padding:4px;
border:1px solid $bordercolor;
}
.post blockquote {
margin:1em 20px;
}
.post blockquote p {
margin:.75em 0;
}

/* Comments
-------------------------------------------- */
#comments h4 {
margin:1em 0;
font-weight: bold;
line-height: 1.4em;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.2em;
color: $sidebarcolor;
}

#comments-block {
margin:1em 0 1.5em;
line-height:1.6em;
}
#comments-block .comment-author {
margin:.5em 0;
}
#comments-block .comment-body {
margin:.25em 0 0;
}
#comments-block .comment-footer {
margin:-.25em 0 2em;
line-height: 1.4em;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.1em;
}
#comments-block .comment-body p {
margin:0 0 .75em;
}
.deleted-comment {
font-style:italic;
color:gray;
}

#blog-pager-newer-link {
float: left;
}

#blog-pager-older-link {
float: right;
}

#blog-pager {
text-align: center;
}

.feed-links {
clear: both;
line-height: 2.5em;
}

/* Sidebar Content
------------------------------------------ */
.sidebar {
color: $sidebartextcolor;
line-height: 1.5em;
}

.sidebar ul {
list-style:none;
margin:0 0 0;
padding:0 0 0;
}
.sidebar li {
margin:0;
padding:0 0 .25em 15px;
text-indent:-15px;
line-height:1.5em;
}

.sidebar .widget, .main .widget {
border-bottom:1px dotted $bordercolor;
margin:0 0 1.5em;
padding:0 0 1.5em;
}

.main .Blog {
border-bottom-width: 0;
}

/* Profile
------------------------------------------- */
.profile-img {
float: left;
margin: 0 5px 5px 0;
padding: 4px;
border: 1px solid $bordercolor;
}

.profile-data {
margin:0;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.1em;
font: $postfooterfont;
color: $sidebarcolor;
font-weight: bold;
line-height: 1.6em;
}

.profile-datablock {
margin:.5em 0 .5em;
}

.profile-textblock {
margin: 0.5em 0;
line-height: 1.6em;
}

.profile-link {
font: $postfooterfont;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: .1em;
}

/* Footer
-------------------------------------------- */
#footer {
width:660px;
clear:both;
margin:0 auto;
padding-top:15px;
line-height: 1.6em;
text-transform:uppercase;
letter-spacing:.1em;
text-align: center;
}

/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */
body#layout #header {
margin-left: 0px;
margin-right: 0px;
}
]]></b:skin>

</head>

<body>
<div id='outer-wrapper'><div id='wrap2'>

<!-- skip links for text browsers -->
<span id='skiplinks' style='display:none;'>
<a href='#main'>skip to main </a> |
<a href='#sidebar'>skip to sidebar</a>
</span>

<div id='header-wrapper'>
<b:section class='header' id='header' maxwidgets='1' showaddelement='no'>
<b:widget id='Header1' locked='true' title='3 kolom (Header)' type='Header'/>
</b:section>
</div>

<div id='content-wrapper'>

<div id='crosscol-wrapper' style='text-align:center'>
<b:section class='crosscol' id='crosscol' showaddelement='no'/>
</div>

<div id='main-wrapper'>
<b:section class='main' id='main' showaddelement='no'>
<b:widget id='Blog1' locked='true' title='Posting Blog' type='Blog'/>
</b:section>
</div>

<div id='sidebar-wrapper'>
<b:section class='sidebar' id='sidebar' preferred='yes'/>
</div>

<!-- spacer for skins that want sidebar and main to be the same height-->
<div class='clear'>&#160;</div>

</div> <!-- end content-wrapper -->

<div id='footer-wrapper'>
<b:section class='footer' id='footer'/>
</div>

</div>
</div> <!-- end outer-wrapper -->

</body>
</html>




From the code that I show to you, the one that we need to keep track of are some codes around Outer-Wrapper:

 

/* Outer-Wrapper
------------------------------------------ */
#outer-wrapper {
width: 660px;
margin:0 auto;
padding:10px;
text-align:left;
font: $bodyfont;
}
#main-wrapper {
width: 410px;
float: left;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}
#sidebar-wrapper {
width: 220px;
float: right;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

 

Like what I’ve told you before, that Outer-Wrapper is a place to save main-wrapper and sidebar-wrapper. So, if you want to add a new column, or in other words, new sidebar, then something that we need to do first is adding column width from Outer-Wrapper itself.

 

Then, “How could we add a new column?” The first thing that you need to think about is, “how much longer width of my new column?” Okay, to make this thing clearer, I will take an example, width that we going to work for is 180 pixel, so we do need to change width of Outer-Wrapper, so we can estimate that width of our Outer-Wrapper is: 410 pixel + 220 pixel + 180 pixel + 20 pixel = 830 pixel. For some spaces, let’s give it plus 10 pixels, so we got 840 pixel widths for our sidebar. To add new side bar code, please look at the example below.

 

#newsidebar-wrapper {
width: 180px;
float: right;
padding-left:10px;
word-wrap: break-word;
overflow: hidden;
}

 

Then, if we add the code, it will be like this.

 

/* Outer-Wrapper
------------------------------------------ */
#outer-wrapper {
width: 840px;
margin:0 auto;
padding:10px;
text-align:left;
font: $bodyfont;
}
#main-wrapper {
width: 410px;
float: left;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}
#sidebar-wrapper {
width: 220px;
float: right;
padding-left:10px; word-wrap: break-word;

overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */

}

#newsidebar-wrapper {
width: 180px;
float: right;
padding-left:10px;
word-wrap: break-word;
overflow: hidden;
}

 

That is the first step that we do. The second step is to make code that will be placed in body. As example on template that I just write, code id for sidebar are like this:

 

Our next duty is placing code for new id sidebar that we going to do. The code would be like this.





 

Then, after we mix it, just save new sidebar code under original sidebar code. The code would be like this.





 

Our new column already created. Want to make it more interesting? Then we should change the header width and footer width, with exactly same pixel as the Outer-Wrapper that is 840 pixels.

 

Still doesn’t get it?

 

In order to understand what I told you clearly, just give it a try. Make a new blog for the experiment (don’t use your main blog to this experiment!). Choose the usual Minima template. Are you ready? Let’s keep moving!

  • login in on Blogger
  • Click Layout
  • Click Edit HTML tab.
  • Just keep in mind! Never give a tick in white little box beside sentence Expand Widget Template. Once again, don’t give it a tick, or you will see pretty annoying widget codes.
  • Find out code like this:






  • Change value 660px with 840px, so the code will be like this.






  • Find the code below





  • Change value 660px with 840px, so the code will be like this.





  • Find the code below :







  • Copy and paste this code exactly below the previous code :



  • Find the code below  :




  • Change value 660px with 840px, so the code will be like this.






  • Find the code below  :





  • Copy and paste this code exactly below the previous code :




  • Click Save Template button
  • Well, it’s done!

 

To see the result, just click Page Element, does it already work and become 3 columns or not. If it’s already done, feel free to fill up that side bar with anything you want to, and see the real result.

 

Steps that I mention to you before was just basic methods. To add other variations, you will need more knowledge and creativity. For make sure of you about what I explained to you, here, you can see the example. click here!

 

Good luck!

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    41 Comments:

    Anonymous said...

    Wow.... this tutorial is so cool!!! I never expect an Indonesian would speak English this clearly...

    And you explain it so clearly... thank you very much... Two thumbs, man!!

    rohman on July 31, 2008 9:03 PM said...

    Thank you

    marewa on August 9, 2008 10:48 PM said...

    thanks for all information on this blog

    culinaries on August 10, 2008 10:42 PM said...

    thanks banyak guru

    ANTOWN on August 12, 2008 5:44 AM said...

    Mas, saya sudah coba tapi blom bisa nih :)
    pinginnya sih nambah kolom di sebelah kanan gitu. gimana ya?

    bisa balas di blog saya? makasih ya sebelumnya

    Antown on August 12, 2008 5:45 AM said...

    :D

    Houtz Family on September 23, 2008 10:53 AM said...

    so i thought i had it and then i tried to get fancy and add 2 extra sidebars instead of one but one starts down low and i don't know how i messed it up. any advice? www.houtzfamilyjournal.blogspot.com
    thank you!

    Houtz Family on September 23, 2008 11:04 AM said...

    oh no! i think i made 4 side bars instead of 3 and one starts low and one is off line but i can't tell what i did wrong! ugh.

    Rohman on September 23, 2008 5:10 PM said...

    @Houtz family : to fix this, you can try it, change the value of the width, example ;


    #sidebar-wrapper {
    width: 220px;
    float: right;
    padding-left:10px; word-wrap: break-word;
    overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */

    }


    Change with this :


    #sidebar-wrapper {
    width: 200px;
    float: right;
    padding-left:10px; word-wrap: break-word;

    overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */

    }



    you can make several column. however, you must changing the width of #outer-wrapper

    .................... on October 5, 2008 6:30 PM said...

    WOW ty very much you just saved me from ruining my html code to find it out

    burumun on October 7, 2008 10:33 AM said...

    Thanks so much for this! I'm having a lil problem though. I want my main-wrapper to be in the middle but I haven't managed to do that yet ... help?

    btw, orang Indo juga ya?

    Kang Rohman on October 7, 2008 6:31 PM said...

    @burumun : please read this post

    Godelieve on October 16, 2008 7:56 PM said...

    Thanks a lot for these instructions!!

    umair on October 26, 2008 1:10 AM said...

    hello sir,
    please tell me how can i add a column in my blog and how can i add read more link in my post please send me ur id for send my blog tempulate xml file if possible please ediat my blog code

    my id is aliwaqas90@yahoo.com

    http://file5download.blogspot.com

    Houtz Family on December 16, 2008 12:16 PM said...

    thanks again for your help. i still don't know why one of my columns starts low. any ideas?

    HoutzFamilyJournal.blogspot.com

    Scripttips on December 25, 2008 1:31 AM said...

    thanks for writing this topic very clearly. My question is the place of sidebar. I didn't understand how we can define the sidebar's place. For example some templates have mainbar in the middle and sidebars are left and right side of it. Some have left mainbar and sidebars are in the right together. Which code can i use to get them.

    Tassy on December 30, 2008 3:37 AM said...

    Thanks for this information.I wanted to add a colum on the left. I am a bit familiar with html and I have tried adding the letter 'left' before 'newsidebar'...but it is still not working. If anyone can help me, please email me on craftytassy@gmail.com.Any help will be much appreicated.I have also tried to upload the free template for 3 column white minima but when i tried to upload it into blogger, it says it doesnt support XML file. Please help me.
    Thanks and Happy holidays to all of you!
    Tassy
    http://www.tassycrafty.blogspot.com

    ashish said...

    can you plz add on colum to right of this template
    http://solipsus-template.blogspot.com/
    xml download link below
    http://www.4shared.com/file/93541147/9966e945/Solipsus.html

    and plz mail me at shish.ashish@gmail.com

    nr on April 24, 2009 5:52 PM said...

    Thank you for sharing. You will see that the good will always be with you.

    hobert on April 30, 2009 8:09 PM said...

    Thanks for your information..
    I'd like to try it now.
    I'll ask you again if something I don't understant or make it done.

    Best Regard,
    Hobert Noya

    Anonymous said...

    Thanks this was some great advice!

    Anonymous said...

    why my newsidebar at the bottom of my post?can u help me on this?i already have left sidebar and want to add the right sidebar.

    gomel on May 10, 2009 3:46 PM said...

    ni bisa dipake buat blog2 oyang uda diganti template nya dari luar kan?

    gomel on May 25, 2009 8:40 AM said...

    ahhhh.. it's not working for me. bisa dipake buat template yang udah diubah2 ga sih?

    noy on June 5, 2009 3:11 PM said...

    kang, how if i want to make the blog post in the middle?? I'v already tried the tutorial n it works perfectly :) thx.., however, the post column is on the left..is there anything dat i could do to change it..thx kang..

    noy on June 7, 2009 1:32 AM said...

    AWSOME!!

    Anonymous said...

    Question: how would i get an side bar on the other side of my the middle column where my posts go? this one went between my right one and post one but i want it all the way to the left of the page...

    Elyssa Marcus on June 10, 2009 8:51 AM said...

    oh wait it says in the other thing.. Sorry!
    thanks a bunch!

    PornFreeHere on June 23, 2009 3:23 PM said...

    thank you so much

    Gladys Kock on August 20, 2009 5:39 AM said...

    Thanks so much for this valuable information as I always want to add additional column to accomodate my blog tools. It works like charm with your detailed explanation! Thanks!
    http://gladyskockhomeculinary.blogspot.com/

    Roschelle on September 12, 2009 10:46 PM said...

    Wow! I wish I was brave enough to tackle this although I don't think it would work because my existing blog has borders. I would definitely love more space

    Vikas on October 15, 2009 5:21 AM said...

    Can you help me to place 3rd sidebar by changing width of content. not template

    1wickedwitch2 on October 22, 2009 11:06 PM said...

    Hi- Thank You for all of your useful information. I have a problem with the column that I just added. It is showing in my layout that I can add a gadget but when I add the gadget it throws it to the bottom of the right sidebar. Any help on how to fix it?

    Ahsan on November 14, 2009 12:47 PM said...

    wow...........nice way to teach

    Anonymous said...

    hi friends

    i have some problem in my templates, there is no outer wrapper and inner wrapper, but instead of that in my blog,below code are there


    /* BODY */

    #body{
    width:114%;
    background:url(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0vKyxg80gxY/SvStTG-WKuI/AAAAAAAAAWI/iZzvaIJr3AY/s1600/bgr_body.png) repeat-y right;
    overflow:hidden;
    }

    #body_left{
    width:900px;
    float:left;

    }

    #body_right{
    width:284px;
    float:right;
    }




    and how can i add third left column ??????

    pls help me

    my email add is dweapons@gmail.com

    and my blog is dweaponsclub.blogspot.com

    Busted Mind on December 23, 2009 4:25 AM said...

    thanks for this nice info! appreciated a lot

    bathmate on December 24, 2009 3:40 PM said...

    Thank you for your nice posting.
    it is really helpful to us.
    such a nice topics.

    Bathmate

    LiFe SuX on December 24, 2009 6:36 PM said...

    Thank you so much I have added a new side bar. My blog is a photo blog I want to add a thumbnail or small picture of recent photo post. I help me out

    Anonymous said...

    Thnx....For the great tutorial for begineers....it help me alot....thnx

    sweetbayag on February 27, 2010 11:23 PM said...

    dornst work on my blog

    http://filipinahotties.blogspot.com

    pls help

    DESAR LANOD on March 7, 2010 10:03 AM said...

    hi annonymous, i think you should copy the

    #body_right{
    width:284px;
    float:right;
    }
    and paste it below it's self.
    hope i'm right


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