Fiddling With Mr. Template.
Earlier today I began a post, but I put it on hold in order to take a shot at fiddling with my template. For most of you, what I was trying to do (insert a working button over there on the left) would be a no-brainer. However, for me, it is a major, nerve shattering undertaking. Here’s how Jimbo, the techno-illiterate, approaches such things.
First, I created a copy of the current version of Mr. Template. I printed it, and then tucked the electronic copy safely away in a Word File as a cyber-life preserver. I then took the printed version and planned my moves with the care of a battlefield commander, which included trying to figure out what “div” and “div class side” means. Relying on some HTML information gleaned from the web, I carefully created the code that I was certain would produce the desired result. I wrote the Jimbo Code into a separate Word document. I’m thinking, at this point, my shit is clean.
After staring at the code for a while and comparing it with other examples of similar code in Mr. Template, I was satisfied that I had it right. I took a deep breath and copied my HTML masterpiece into the template.
Of course it didn’t work. What I saw on the site was my code all highlighted as if it were a link. No button. Time to regroup.
I fooled with it a bit more and finally got the button to appear, but the button was not clickable. More regrouping.
After a few more tries, I was faced with the obvious signs of my inadequacy, namely that damned symbol for an image that failed to load. I was running out of time, as I had to leave to hang with the Usual Suspects, so I tried deleting everything I had added.
No good. The site still displayed the failed image icon — public proof of my incompetence. Now, completely out of patience (and out of time), I decided to delete the entire template and paste in the copy of Mr. Template that I had saved earlier. I did that, and when I clicked on “view your site,” I got a blank screen. HOLY CRAP!!!!! This was my worst nightmare.
I tried “rebuilding” my main index. Still a white screen. Oh shit.
I then “rebuilt” the entire site. I was on the edge of my seat while everything slowly “rebuilt.” Fortunately, that seemed to get me back to where I was before I started diddling with the template.
I think I know what I may have done wrong, but it will take a day or so for me to have the nerve and the time to screw around again with Mr. Template.
For those of you who make major changes to your sites with the ease of changing socks, I can only quote Bobby Baccala on the Sopranos when he told Uncle Junior, “I am in ‘ore’ of you.”
Welcome to the wonderful of learning by doing…at a work site it’s called OJT. That’s the way MB has learned her way around the templates, so take heart and persevere. You’ve taken exactly the right approach with the “saving” of what you’ve got that works; the rest is just practice and fiddle around.
GOOD LUCK !!
Comment by MommaBear — March 21, 2004 @ 9:39 pm
I see you have met my cousin “symbol for an image that failed to load.”
Comment by Satanic Red Triangle — March 22, 2004 @ 3:39 am
At least you were smart enough to keep a back up of the original template – some people aren’t that smart (no, it hasn’t happened to me, only to someone I know).
Comment by bogie — March 22, 2004 @ 6:19 am
I know just enough[div class=”oops”] to be dangerous [div class=”blog is gone forever, sorry”] but if I can “help,” let me know.
Craig probably does this stuff in his sleep.
Comment by topdawg — March 22, 2004 @ 7:59 am
I spent most of yesterday doing a lot of work on a web project for a non-profit here in town.
You know how when you have a largish project, you tend to think about it a lot.
To my dismay, I awoke at two this a.m. to find that I had, indeed, been “doing this” in my sleep.
And I’m not trying to say that this is a Good Thing™!
Comment by mtpolitics — March 22, 2004 @ 9:45 am
I’m a former web programmer…I can help if you’d like.
Comment by DarthVOB — March 23, 2004 @ 1:49 pm
To Darth and the others who offered to help, thanks a million. However, now that I know I can fix things if I really screw up, I am determined to figure out how to do this, which is, as I said, clearly a no-brainer for lots of you. I figure that, if I let someone do it, I’ll never learn.
However, it is nice to know that if I finally reach the point where I must admit that I truly am a hopeless knucklehead, there are folks out there who are willing to help a cybersorryass.
Comment by Jim - Parkway Rest Stop — March 23, 2004 @ 11:37 pm
Ah, the infamous Word file of “My Template! Do not accidentally delete, moron!”
Yeah, verily, the rebuild all files wait is a white knuckle event.
Comment by Velociman — March 25, 2004 @ 11:05 pm
No question it will stick better if you work through it for yourself.
My only tip is pay really close attention to both spaces and quotation marks in the link code.
Comment by Light & Dark — March 26, 2004 @ 4:44 pm