3 Columns : Ms Moto : Left and Right Sidebars : The Blogger Guide

Article Series: 3 Column Step by Step Guides

Here are the steps to convert a default two column Ms Moto template in to a three column template with sidebars on the left and right hand side of the main post area.

(If you really want to understand what's happening here, read the article series Three Column Templates Explained.)

1) Add a new CSS id selector for the 2nd sidebar wrapper.

Go to Layout -> Edit HTML
Locate the #sidebar section (Do a Find using your browser)
Copy that full section and paste above the existing sidebar section (it doesn't have to above) and rename it to #left-sidebar
Change the float: $endSide to float:$startSide (See the code snippet below)

#left-sidebar {
width: 226px;
float: $startSide;
color: $sidebarTextColor;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for ... IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long ... */
}

#sidebar {
width: 226px;
float: $endSide;
color: $sidebarTextColor;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for ... IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long ... */
}

2) Introduce a new div element, as a child of the content-wrapper, to be the placeholder for the 2nd sidebar

Locate the <div id='main-wrapper'> element.
Copy the code shown in red, above that section (this has to be above)

3) Expand the width of the parent wrappers to accommodate the new sidebar

Locate the CSS section called #outer-wrapper
Change its width property to 918 pixels

#outer-wrapper {
margin: 0 auto;
border: 0;
width: 918px;
...
}

4) Do necessary adjustments to margins, padding etc

Locate the #main section
Insert a left margin of 14 pixels.

#main {
width: 400px;
margin-$startSide:14px;
float: $startSide;
...
}

5) Modify and expand the background images as necessary.

Add a template variable to define the image host location as explained here. (This step will open up in a separate window. Return to the next bullet point after that)
Locate the following CSS sections.
Replace the URL of the background images to thes one shown in red below.

body {
...
background: #d7b url($imageHost/msmoto_outerwrap_w.gif) top center repeat-y;
...
}

#outer-wrapper {
...
background: #ffffff url($imageHost/moto_innerwrap_w.gif) top right repeat-y;
...
}

6) Modify the CSS rules for the wire frame layouts editor.

Locate the section that starts with "/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */"
Replace that entire section with the following code.

/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */

body#layout #outer-wrapper {
padding-top: 0;
width:720px;
}
body#layout #header,
body#layout #content-wrapper,
body#layout #footer {
padding: 0;
width:720px;
}

body#layout #main {
width:400px;
}

body#layout #sidebar,
body#layout #left-sidebar {
width:150px;
}

]]></b:skin>

Save the template. Switch to Page Elements view and enjoy your 3 column template! (The new sidebar might not be visible until you add some gadgets to it)

Note: You are free to use the images provided by me. But if you change your template according to this tutorial and use those images, please add the following code shown in red, right to the end of your template, in the place shown. It will simply link to this blog.

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<a href="http://www.bloggerguide.lk/2008/02/3-columns-step-by-step-guides.html">Three Column Modification</a> courtesy of <a href="http://www.bloggerguide.lk">The Blogger Guide</a>

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