How Do I Change Sidebar Widths and Fonts?

[Dan Nickerson]

In the current version of Socrates we don't have an option to control the sidebar widths or optional sidebar fonts.

However, you can manually control them by editing a file via FTP or your webhost's file manager.

Locate this folder.

/public_html/wp-content/themes/socrates/css/

Find the sidebar style that you are using.

If split sidebar it would be StyleBothSides.css and the code will look like this..

@charset "utf-8";

/* CSS Document */


/* ------------------------------------- Content -------------------------------------------------------------- */


.im-sidebar { position:relative; padding:0px 20px; width:140px; float:left;border-right:0px double #e2e2e2; height:100%; margin-bottom:5px; font-size:80%;}
.im-sidebar2 { position:relative; padding:0px -6px 5px 11px; float:right; width:200px;}
.im-mainContent { padding:0px 10px 0px 10px; border-left:3px double #e2e2e2; border-right:3px double #e2e2e2; width:563px; position:relative; float:left;}

#socratescontainer {padding-left:140px; padding-right:200px; position:relative;}

.im-sidebar ul { width:140px; list-style:none; left:-12px; position:relative; overflow:hidden;}
.im-sidebar2 ul { width:185px; list-style:none; left:-12px; position:relative}
.sidebar li { margin:0px 0px 10px;}
.im-sidebar li li { position:relative; margin:1px 0px 2px 10px;}
.im-sidebar2 li li { position:relative; margin:1px 0px 2px 20px;}

Adjust the bolded fields as needed.

We will work on making these optional in Version 3.0

[glennf]

What values do you use for the bold fields (i.e. how do you calculate them?)

If I'm using the 150px left sidebar do I change styleLeftSide150.css?

You forgot to tell about changing the font size.

[Dan Nickerson]

I used the split sidebar as an example, a similar change would apply to the left only sidebar.


And I bolded the font size red to emphasize where to change the font in the example

As far as values, you increase them to suit your needs. If you want to change 160 to 180, you just replace the 160 with 180.

If you want to slightly increase the font size you can change it from 70%, to 80,90 or even 100%

Here's the left css

@charset "utf-8";
/* CSS Document */


/* ------------------------------------- Content -------------------------------------------------------------- */
.im-mainContent { padding:0px 10px 0px 10px; border-left:3px double #e2e2e2; width:772px; float:right; left:-5px; }
.im-sidebar { padding:0px 5px 5px 15px; float:left; width:160px; border-right:3px double #e2e2e2; height:100%; margin-bottom:5px; font-size:70%}
.im-sidebar2 { display:none;}

.sidebar ul { width:140px; list-style:none; left:-12px; position:relative; overflow:hidden;}
.sidebar li { margin:0px 0px 10px;}
.sidebar li li { position:relative; list-style:circle; margin:0px 0px 0px 30px;}

[glennf]

.sidebar ul { width:140px; list-style:none; left:-12px; position:relative; overflow:hidden;}

What value do you use here for width?

[lynnth]

For the width of lists within the sidebar, 20 less than the width of the sidebar is a good starting point. You can then tweak from there if you are not happy with the look.

[planetsurf]

Hi Guys

I have just bought SocratesTheme and installed on a new domain, things worked fine, but the website come with "pages" "archives" and "categories" already installed in the widgets. When I go into the widget area in admin, I can place the widget I would like to have on y site. But there are shown below the body on the site.

Any idea how to work around this?

Best regards

David

[wally]

I used the split sidebar as an example, a similar change would apply to the left only sidebar.


And I bolded the font size red to emphasize where to change the font in the example

As far as values, you increase them to suit your needs. If you want to change 160 to 180, you just replace the 160 with 180.

If you want to slightly increase the font size you can change it from 70%, to 80,90 or even 100%

Here's the left css

I don't know what version you are using, but my version don't have any code to increase the font size. I'm in the trial period, and so far everything works very well.

However, if it's going to take me 45 minutes of time to
1) Wait for your slow website. I suggest you check it.
2) Go through a series of questions, all with different solutions.
3) None of the work for me and I'm in the file manager on my server.
4) The font wouldn't be a problem if you didn't have to use a microscope to see it to begin with.
5) Maybe make the default size readable or a clear and Accurate way to get to the CSS file and change it.

So, I guess I will just won't buy it.

[Dan Nickerson]

Wally,

1. I'm not aware of any slowness. I'll look into it.
2. I assume you mean forum posts. I'm only aware of the one solution.
3. You might have a caching plugin enabled so you can't see changes.
4. It does look like we have a font issue with the 150px single sidebars.. almost no one uses them.. but they can be improved. I will fix in next update.
5. This is the accurate way to fix. Are you fixing the right file in the css folder?

So, I guess I will just won't buy it.

That's fine.. we appreciate you trying it and wish you success.

[wally]

I was not trying to be negative, I was dealing and talking about real issues.

Overall, it's a good product.

I use 4 browsers, so I can let you know exactly that caching is not the issue.

As I build dozens of wordpress themes and sites for folks, I will say that you got a good product. I will buy it to work on it and use my own fixes to optimize it.

The main issue I've had from the theme/product is trying to discover all the codes involved in the design and development of Socrates.

Don't worry about my issues, I will figure them out on my own...and I will buy it as it is worth the cost as is.

Cheers,
Wally

[ugain98]

So not in the Editor on WP but in the webhost file is where these changes should take place?