Hi Airycat,

Have a look at the [url=http://forums.b2evolution.net/viewtopic.php?t=14515]HOWTO[/url] I wrote. If you can be more specific like with a link to the site or the name of the skin we can help you further.

Good luck

Afwas' howto page is really good on a lot of levels. In the process of playing there you'll learn all sorts of cool stuff.

Airycat wrote:

... The problem is that when I save, the entire page loses it's format and runs all together so I can no longer find anything. I've been very careful not to delete anything and replace only the exact space for the image change. I don't understand why it's doing this. ...

What is the editor that you are making your changes with? Actually more to the point, what source are you using in what editor? It sort of sounds like you're copying your "view source" and tweaking it in notepad and have figured out you have to go through whatever 'wp' is. But that'd be crazy.

Basically though don't use a word processor like Microsoft Word for example. And don't start with your "view source" after visiting your web. Much better to start with the actual files that make your web - specifically "style.css" in your /skins/yourskin/ folder. And edit with a semi-smart editor that is made for file work. Technically notepad is good but google notepad++ and you'll get some cool features that make it easier to see what you're doing. I personally like HTML Kit which is free and does really neato cool stuff for showing you what's up.

Airycat wrote:

... Is it the CSS or the php that determines how many columns (ie. 1 or 2 sidebars) on the page? ...

Mostly the CSS. The php builds the page by picking appropriate bits out of your database based on exactly which page is being built. All it is really doing though is writing the html your visitors browsers will try to display. So the php needs to make some DIVs if you want to have sidebars. Your CSS then tells the browser "if you have a div called sidebar then make it be X width and put it on the left". It's a bit more complicated than that, but mostly the css does positioning IF the php gave it the elements to position.

Thank you both! I will be reading the HOWTO this week (maybe today).

Once I copied the file from my wp (word processor - Lotus, in this case) it behaved and I had no more problems with it. Normally, I edit files by right clicking and choosing "edit." It works with the html files.

I knew about WYSIWYG editors and don't care for them, but I didn't know there were things such as HTML Kit and notepad++. I actually downloaded both and will be playing with them to see which I like.

I persevered last night and got the page (http://airynothing.net/Blogs/blog6.php) mostly done. It still needs tweaking, especially font colors, but over all, I'm happy with it.

Thanks so much for your help.
~Faith