Need Help Customizing a Wrapper with Blogger

[Beth Swann]

I've just spent several hours pouring over the internet and reading all the information I can find but I still can't find my answer.

I'm trying to customize my blog. And as you can see, the main wrapper or outer wrapper (not sure which is which) is too narrow. I've adjusted the width in the HTML both directions and nothing is helping.

I did create a custom wrapper so maybe that's my problem. However, I've done a regular sized wrapper in Photoshop and a HUGE one and neither one seem to change the width once it's linked up in blogger.

I'm thinking I need specific dimensions for the wrapper but I'm at a complete loss.

Can any of you experts help a girl out? TIA!

[LoriC777]

What blogger template are you using? I normally use minima or minima lefty, and then I have a background that I have set up to those dimensions. If that is the one you are using, let me know and I can tell you the dimensions.. :-)

[LoriC777]

also I would recommend saving your header as a .png file so you don't have the white background around it. It would just be the image.. :-)

[MandaT]

They've changed the Layout/customization...

I just redid my photo blog the other day & I believe I used a 1600x1800 72px, whatever they suggested in the new designer thing.

I did apply a blog in a box to my Scrap blog & I need to go in & set it up manually in the new designer because there are parts that are wonky, it used the minema & that isn't a style that isn't offered anymore, at least not that I could find.

ETA: It looks like your wrappers are 720px, but your header section is only spaced for 700px, you can change that if you go into the html:

[hmlentz]

Great question! I use to have a totally custom blog using the directions on Kevin and Amanda's blog, but then Blogger changed the way they did the templates and now those directions aren't working...

I have a mostly custom blog now, but does someone have good directions for doing their blog on blogger? I guess I really need what parts you can customize, and then directions for how to upload the changes...or do you all just use the gadget edits to change up your blog? That's what I did to my header, but I had more....

does anyone understand my mumbo jumbo here?

[Beth Swann]

Oh boy, I knew this would be the right place to ask these things!

Yes, Lori, it is minima.

I'm going to try out all your suggestions. :-) Thanks, ladies.

ETA: Lori, I'd love to have the dimensions you mentioned!!!

[Beth Swann]

Okay, I got the wrapper part fixed, now I just need to fix the columns and get them closer together. Any suggestions on what numbers to adjust?

And I'm working on fixing the header now...

[LoriC777]

Beth- I sent you a PM with the dimensions/instructions.. :-)

[Inkspots]

I created a new blog not too long ago and the process is actually easier now, but I can't remember what I did. I used one of the new templates and all I had to do was put some code on the main design page, didn't go into the html at all.

Good luck getting it figured out. I LOVE that I don't have to have a boring blog.

ETA: ok, it's in template design, advanced, add css. I did a couple google searches to figure out how that works, but I think what they have in their helps, helps too.

[ScrapShabby]

I love this thread! I spent this last weekend trying to get a blog going and I'm BLOG stupid, so I struggled with the side backgrounds too. I tried to make a custom one with cute stuff down the sides, separating the white center from the sides, but finally gave up. Wasn't sure how to do it. I had a few scattered flowers that I wanted to overlap into the white space just a bit but had no clue how. So I'd love to have some idea of how, what dimensions, and what formats to save them in, and then of course, where to load them and then change the html code at.

[LoriC777]

The trick is to make one whole blog background, and figuring out (on your template) where to place everything. I have always used the minima template, and from what I understand they don't use that one anymore.. It still works on my blog but that is probably because I was already using it.
This is my blog: http://3dogdesigns-scrapwhatmatters.blogspot.com/

[Beth Swann]

Originally Posted by LoriC777

Beth- I sent you a PM with the dimensions/instructions.. :-)

Thank you, Lori. I'm trying out your instructions right now and I'll let you know how it goes. :-)

[Beth Swann]

I tried it out and it didn't work for me. :-(

As I added the new links for the new images, they wouldn't show up at all so I reverted everything back.

It's mostly fine now with the exception of the extra space between the sidebar and the main blog post column. And everytime I try to reduce the margins and padding, the columns grow further apart or don't move at all. Not sure how all the math works with the numbers because it seems like if you take away or add to one number, it's changing something else in a negative way. Grrrr...

Any other ideas????

[Beth Swann]

I posted in blogger help forum and a gentleman responded with a suggestion. I tried it and it totally worked! I thought I'd post it here in case this helps anyone in the future. This is what he said:

Design--> Edit HTML --> Find this code below


#main-wrapper {
width: 420px;
margin-center: 0px;
padding:0 45px;
float: left;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
position: relative;
left: 20px;
}

#sidebar-wrapper {
width: 230px;
margin-center: 0px;
padding:0 25px;
float: right;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
position: relative;
right: 50px;
}


Add the code just as I have in bold. You may wish to change the numbers in it to your liking.

[Inkspots]

Originally Posted by LoriC777

The trick is to make one whole blog background, and figuring out (on your template) where to place everything. I have always used the minima template, and from what I understand they don't use that one anymore.. It still works on my blog but that is probably because I was already using it.
This is my blog: http://3dogdesigns-scrapwhatmatters.blogspot.com/

If you go to "edit HTML" at the bottom of the page are links to the old templates. It should be there.

Cute blog!