Trying to build a page and the slider and other parts won't work right

[genkeeper 0]

Hi, I could use some help constructing my main home page. I'm trying to make it look like this: https://picasaweb.google.com/Genkeeper/August192011?authkey=Gv1sRgCJuayIu2gdD5RA#5642809861978978962 So far I'm having a hard time getting the page to work right: http://archaeoadventures.com/home/ The slider won't show the photo, and is above the side bar when I want it to the left of the right-hand side bar. I can't figure out why it won't work. Also, any ideas how I get the main body to look like I want it to - with the title and then 3 photos + excerpt. Also, is there a way to put the the title of a few other articles then under those excerpts. And then to have another heading with photos, excerpts, etc under it. I could really use any and all help. I've been spending the last few months digging through Platform Pro docs trying to figure out how to configure my page and I'm at my wits end. Thanks! Genevieve

[Rob 547]

Hi, By default, the slider is full width. You'll need to do some styling, photo editing and content clipping to make it work. Read this thread for help on reducing the size and making the sidebar move up next to it. http://www.pagelines.com/forum/discussion/comment/68421#Comment_68421 In "content clipping" you're going to have to reduce the blurb word count to make it fit and we've found that smaller sliders are best served with the text area on the bottom of the slider. The reason - the font reduces in size for the blurb automatically. The soapboxes will prevent the sidebar from moving up. I'd suggest moving them below your content and above any footers. Make sure you allow at least 10 pixels on either side of the slider (20px min) when calculating the best image size. You should use the Layout Editor to guide the width as well. If the main content area is 650px, try to make your image no more than 626px to be safe. As for the reason your images are not showing... are they properly loaded in the Features setup section? Do they show there? Do you have the right set authorized for view? The setting for your content area should probably be blog mode based on your diagram. However, in my own site, I used magazine format and set the number of full width posts to 4. Of course, my site's a bit different. In one section I have over 19,500 posts. One kinda needs to show plenty in such a case. After the 4 full width, I have 26 magazine formatted posts showing. for a total of 30. You appear to have Buddypress setup. That and other plugins have been known to play havoc with some components of all themes. Analyze your needs and determine if you really need it. In my case, I do to create community our of more than 300000 unique visitors monthly. "Also, any ideas how I get the main body to look like I want it to - with the title and then 3 photos + excerpt." do you want 3 photos per post or three posts each with a photo? One image is the function of "Featured Image" (not to be confused with featured slider. This places a square formatted image on the left side of the title and excerpt. "Also, is there a way to put the the title of a few other articles then under those excerpts. " There may be plugins to do this or you could create a hook in functions.php. See the Child Theme information in http://www.pagelines.com/docs/. I think you should take a look at my glossary. It may be closer than you think to what you want. http://www.epicurus.com/Glossary. Hopefully this gives you some better guidance.