Me and WordPress Don't Get Along.....

[NeutronTech]

Let me start off by making it clear, that I am not a web developer in any way shape or form. I really want to update my website and have installed Wordpress in a sub directory on my Host Gator server. I downloaded a theme and dropped it in.

Now, I constantly see threads about how easy WP is, but I'm having a heck of a time trying to get my head around it. I can create pages, install plugins, install themes, create a static front page, and I can even make out enough code to modify templates.

Where I am having a problem is actually adding content to my pages I create. I realize I just have to type the code in the box and publish it. But do I really have to hard code all of my pages? I know some of the older html, but I have no clue on modern web languages. My current site was created in Kompozer, and I have modified some of the code as needed, but most of the site was just a matter of typing and formatting.

It seems like WP is a crap ton more work than what I have done already, and even with the extra work the results aren't any better than what I was able to do before. Everyone else I see that uses WP ends up with very nice pages, that were claimed to be built with relative ease.

What the heck am I missing? Or is this just an area that I'm not any good at?

 

[cmonova]

Confusing me on the "hard code all of the pages"...If you have the content you can copy and paste it in and click on "publish" so not sure what hard coding you have to do. You say you can create pages, install plugins, etc so not really sure what you are not understanding. I'd be glad to help if I knew what you meant a little better.

 

[16k_zx81]

Yeah Im not getting it.

What are you having to 'hard code'?

If you want flashy elements (buttons, jquery, flash lightboxes, funky bullet lists, dropcaps, blockquotes, etc), just a matter of using a Pro Theme

What theme are you using, and what, specifically, are you having difficulty doing with it?

Maybe post some screenshots of where you are at, and information on what you are trying to achieve. Happy to help but need more info.

[edit] sent a PM offering to lend a hand.

 

[Martyn]

It sounds like you are on the HTML tab instead of the wysiwyg one. Also there is a plugin to give you more control called FCKeditor.

 

[16k_zx81]

It sounds like you are on the HTML tab instead of the wysiwyg one. Also there is a plugin to give you more control called FCKeditor.

Good pickup, Martyn. I reckon thats a great suggestion. I use TinyMCE Advanced, which is also really good.

Definitely worth adding some sort of an enhancement to the WYSIWYG editor - makes life a lot easier (especially if you're a 'front-end' person, like me)

 

[NeutronTech]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm just making it more difficult than it has to be. I'm looking for a pro theme now over at ThemeForest, thanks to 16k's recommendation. I also wasn't aware of a WYSIWYG editor, so thanks for that tip too.

 

[ubuzz]

It sounds like you are on the HTML tab instead of the wysiwyg one. Also there is a plugin to give you more control called FCKeditor.

That looks like a nice editor plugin for WP. I'm going to go download and give it a try.

 

[4ycr]

It sounds like you are on the HTML tab instead of the wysiwyg one. Also there is a plugin to give you more control called FCKeditor.

I also use this plugin and find it very useful

 

[BM-Networking]

If you want flashy elements (buttons, jquery, flash lightboxes, funky bullet lists, dropcaps, blockquotes, etc), just a matter of using a Pro Theme

Theres a nice little plugin that will give you all the flashy web2.0 elements called "Shortcodes Ultimate"

 

[Benchtech]

It sounds like you are on the HTML tab instead of the wysiwyg one. Also there is a plugin to give you more control called FCKeditor.

Thanks for the heads works great. Picked up the ultimate shortcodes too.

 

[NeutronTech]

This has all been helpful, thanks!