Image in left sidebar methods

[EdHarrison]

I have looked in the forum and there seems to be different methods of acheiving an image in the sidebar dependant on what theme is used.

Of course I started with a theme then butchered it! Is there a simple way of placing an image in the left sidebar and possibly enabling a link from it?


Thanks Ed

[leehack]

The method to add an image whatever the theme would be very similar if not identical, as adding an image is html dependent not theme dependent. Choose what you think was the closest to what you want, add it, upload the site and then provide a URL if it has not quite worked as you want. We can then correct it accordingly if needed.

[EdHarrison]

Lee thanks, one of my sites was originally designed with these before I inherited it so I will try and find how its done and copy it as close as possible. It works well with the options in site options / properties on a dropdown to choose the path to an image and the second allows a URL to be entered as a link.

[pinbrook]

you are probably using Smart Theme. I see you have several sites, why don't you add a new site, convert it to smart theme and examine the underlying code to create boxes in left/right nav - then use this knowledge/code to do the same to the site in question

[EdHarrison]

Thanks, I will give it a go!

[EdHarrison]

Well I,ve tried but no luck, copied the html from our older site which has an image and link but it does not have the desired effect, is there a solution to this without resorting to starting from scratch.

I,m looking to insert a small box to inform customers about free delivery or a simple news item with a link.

If the code can point to a stored image I can resize it to fit the gap, it just looks like a void as I have best sellers in the middle and new products on the right.

any help appreciated.

Thanks Ed

[EdHarrison]

Still trying to put images in the left sidebar ...

Ok still working at it, I guess the variable is smart left side bar but whenever I play with the code I get errors....


heres an example of what should work but doesnt? Any advise or help appreciated.... Ed

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="143" background="menuback.gif">
<tr>
<td><a href="http://www.telescopehouse.com/"><img src="sections.gif" border="0" alt="Sections" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><br><actinic:variable name="TopLevelSectionList" /></td>
</tr>
<tr align="center">
<td><br><!-- <actinic:variable name="QuickSearchBar" /> --></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="menubottom.gif"/></td>
</tr>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" border="0" width="143" background="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Background" />">
<tr>
<td align="center" height="120"><a href="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Link" />"><img border="0" src="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Image" />"/></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="5"><font face="verdana" color="white" size="3"><actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Text" /></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="10"><font face="verdana" color="white" size="2"><actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Text 2" /></font></td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Height Adjustment" />"></td></tr>
</table>

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" border="0" width="145" background="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Background Two" />">
<tr>
<td align="center" height="180"><a href="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Link Two" />"><img border="0" src="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Image Two" />"/></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="20"><font face="verdana" color="white" size="3"><actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Text Two" /></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" height="1"><font face="verdana" color="white" size="2"><actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Text 2 Two" /></font></td>
</tr>
<tr><td height="<actinic:variable name="Left Hand Bar Height Adjustment Two" />"></td></tr>
</table>
<!-- <actinic:variable name="CustomSidebarBox" value="JavaScript Section List in a Box" /><br />
<actinic:variable name="CustomSidebarBox" value="Left Custom Sidebar Box" /><br />
<actinic:variable value="Sidebar Best Sellers List In A Box" name="BestSellerListSidebar" if="%3cactinic%3avariable%20name%3d%22BestSellersListInSidebar%22%20%2f%3e" />
<actinic:variable value="Sidebar New Products List In A Box" name="NewProductListSidebar" if="%3cactinic%3avariable%20name%3d%22NewProductsListInSidebar%22%20%2f%3e" />-->

[pinbrook]

Lets make this simple.... here is the code from your site that displays the Meade, everything changes image, why not adapt this to add your image.

<table background="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="145"><tbody><tr><td align="center" height="180"><a href="http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Meade_ETXLS_Telescopes_Coming_Soon.html"><img src="etxlssidebanner.gif" border="0"></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center" height="20"><font color="white" size="3" face="verdana"></font></td></tr><tr><td align="center" height="1"><font color="white" size="2" face="verdana"></font></td></tr><tr><td height="1"></td></tr></tbody></table>

cleaner code

<table background="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="145"><tbody><tr><td align="center" height="180"><a href="http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Meade_ETXLS_Telescopes_Coming_Soon.html"><img src="etxlssidebanner.gif" border="0"></a></td></tr></tbody></table>

change text in bold

[EdHarrison]

Thanks, the issue boils down to on the old site I can edit the image / link from within the site options / properties.

When I put this code in to where I think it should go it doesnt do what I expect, thanks for your help with this!!!


frustrated Ed

[pinbrook]

Thanks, the issue boils down to on the old site I can edit the image / link from within the site options / properties.

smart theme allocates variables so you can add detail to a couple of boxes, if you need more than this you will need to hard code or create more variables

When I put this code in to where I think it should go it doesnt do what I expect, thanks for your help with this!!!

if it difficult for me to tell you where to put the code as i don't know where in the left nav you want the extra image.

to place the image after the box labelled "SiteMap" locate

<td><br><!-- <actinic:variable name="QuickSearchBar" /> --></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="menubottom.gif"/></td>
</tr>
</table>

and put the code after the end table tag - this is probably in the overall layout

[EdHarrison]

Jo,
Thanks for looking at it again, I will try again later today and hopefully post a happy result!

[EdHarrison]

still trying...

Still trying but I cant find where to drop the code in, it seems to throw it in the header area or simply anywhere but the left sidebar....Ok I'm new and no expert but for modern software it does seem dare I say a little unfriendly as its not massive modification to have a simple image in the sidebar.

Ok moan over this could well be me being dim....if anyone can help all I'm after is an image on the left I can point at and resize or edit from the site folder?


thanks Ed

[EdHarrison]

image attached

Hopefully there is an image attached that shows where Im trying to put the image..............


thanks

[leehack]

As has already been mentioned, you need to be in the overall layout, not the brochure navbar as per your image. Backup and then start inputting "SOS" in various places and see where it appears. This request is like anything, easy when you know how, it's a 90 second job if you know where to go, you clearly do not.

Get to grips with how you have one overall layout for the site and then inside of that you have various other layouts doing each of the parts of your site, just like a big cake with lots of ingredients. The brochure navbar in your picture is a prime example of this, that is a small part (a layout) in a much bigger picture (the overall layout). If you try to add an image into the navbar, it will be part of the navbar, not part of the overall site which is what you want it to be.

If you wish to make changes to your site, you must understand this part very well, otherwise you will flounder as you are currently. Pay attention to the arrows bottom left, they move you up and down through the layouts. If your window has not been changed you can also see the sandwich of layouts used, on the right hand side in design view (switch to design tree if not been changed). The overall layout will be at the top of that. Restore the window from the window menu if you have changed the window arrangement. Where you see the code in the bottom window, pay attention to the title of that area, the info is all around you, just need to understand and look for it.

[EdHarrison]

Thanks Lee, I will take another look in the morning, been adding products tonight to rest my weary brain!

Ed