Minimum theme – custom blog page problem

[leannemorrison]

Hi, I have used a custom home page for my site (as I didn't want the features of the widgetised home page), and just realised that my custom blog page http://www.launcestonhairdresser.com.au/news is all wierd now. It appears that things are hard coded into it so it looks like the original homepage template with featured image/widgetised areas. Is there any way I can just have a good old fashioned plain blog page (with widgets down the side) that has a list of the new posts on it? Sorry, I just don't want anything fancy.

I would really appreciate any help - preferably with idiot proof instructions 🙂

Thanks in advance, Leanne

http://www.launcestonhairdresser.com.au

[David Chu]

Hi,
If I'm following you, from the outside it just looks like you need to edit your News page and get rid of the Featured Image.

Dave

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Dave Chu · Custom WordPress Developer – likes collaborating with Designers

[leannemorrison]

Hi David, thanks for your reply.

The issue is that I have not set a featured image, or done anything to the page. The layout for some reason is like the homepage that comes with the template. I cant get rid of the featured image (i.e. same image that is on my custom homepage) or get the posts to stop displaying in a 3 column wide widget with [read more...].

I simply want a plain page with all my posts (full text) running down the page, and spreading right across the page.
I have made a page "News", selected the Blog template at the side of the page, set it up in Settings as the Blog page,

This is really frustrating. Is it possible that the layout is hard coded into one of the files such as the archive-portfolio.php? The intital layout of the template is to have the blog on the homepage.

Many thanks - all advice will be very much appreciated
Cheers
Leanne

[David Chu]

Leanne,
Ah! I think what you just said above might have solved it. I was able to replicate your situation, I'm pretty sure.

It is true that a good approach is to choose a "bloggish" page and choose the Blog template for it, that's perfect. Then I designated my page as the Post page in Settings (I'm pretty sure that's what you did, right?). And boom, I got a monster photo at the top of the page that I didn't want! So I think the key is to "un-select" News as the Post page. Just choosing the Blog template should suffice for making your Bloggy page.

I'm hoping that will fix you up!

I have on occasion set a "Post page" in settings, but am often underwhelmed with the results, even if there's no mystery photo. With some themes you sort of have to do that, because they may not have a "Blog" template. I believe every Genesis theme does.

And yes, the various templates will indeed have "special" things in them that are hard-coded, maybe to display a sidebar or more often just set to grab a bunch of Posts or other items. And even I sometimes have to examine a theme for awhile to see where the bones are buried. Theme developers are often creative, so it's always possible to do something fancy that isn't in other themes. And maybe we can't figure it out easily without a README. 🙂

Dave

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Dave Chu · Custom WordPress Developer – likes collaborating with Designers

[leannemorrison]

5 Gold stars to you Dave! That was the problem exactly! I also emailed Studiopress Support, and they emailed back with the same answer. Such an easy fix, but the answer was not written down anywhere that I could find. First time I have come across it, but as always a lesson learned is one that you will never forget 🙂

Hope this post helps others out in the future 🙂

Thanks so much again - you have no idea how relieved I am!
Cheers
Leanne

[David Chu]

Leanne,
Delighted! Your site looks great, and I'd drop in if it weren't such a long walk from me. 🙂

Cheers, Dave

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Dave Chu · Custom WordPress Developer – likes collaborating with Designers

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