I'm totally new and ignorant
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Greetings,
This is my very first site.
*I want to insert more “slugs” (?) or the top bar content like “About” Examples: “General Topics” and “Bio”
* I don’t want my full blog on the front page (they’re too long). I need to create a “read more” feature.
* I supposedly put in categories on side bar panel, but when I post I can’t find how to put my post in that category. I don’t think I used the right feature (a widget)The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Note your detailed theme description page with set up instructions at https://theme.wordpress.com/themes/twentyfourteen/ and the live demo site at http://twentyfourteendemo.wordpress.com/
All relevant support docs are at http://support.wordpress.com.
To create static pages that do not automatically update see here https://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/
You have two choices on any blog
(1) All posts on the front page.
(2) A static front page http://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/front-page/ and all posts on a different page.By default the front page of a blog displays all published posts in reverse chronological order with the most recently published post on top. When we publish a post on WordPress software the software automatically creates the same entry in the Archives, and on the dynamic (automatically updating) Categories and Tags pages in accord with the Categories and Tags we assign to that post.
So when we create custom menu and add the dynamic (automatically updating) category pages to that custom menu we create the appearance (not the reality) of posting to more than one page.
You need to be aware that:
1. There are differences between posts and pages described here
https://en.support.wordpress.com/post-vs-page/2. There are differences between static pages we bloggers create https://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/ that will not automatically update, and dynamic category pages created by the software when you publish a post which will automatically update https://en.support.wordpress.com/category-pages/.
3. We organize posts by category assignment prior to publication. http://en.support.wordpress.com/posts/categories/ and when we publish posts the dynamic category pages they automatically display on are determined by the categories we assign to them.
So the process you need to use is:
- Assign Categories to your Posts. https://en.support.wordpress.com/posts/categories/
- Create a custom menu https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/#1-create-a-custom-menu
- Add only the dynamic category page links into the custom menu that you want to appear in that menu https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-category-pages and arrange them as you wish them to appear https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#changing-the-order-creating-sub-menus
- Create pages for static content, not for posts https://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/
- Add any custom links and other items like static pages into your custom menu https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-custom-links and https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-pages
Here are some tips that you may find helpful when it comes to assigning categories and tags to your posts http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2013/03/15/quick-blog-post-tagging-tips/
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First note that though you can set your RSS Feed to summary, that setting here > Settings > Reading is only for the RSS Feed summary and does not affect the posts.
If you want to display only excerpts on the front page of the blog followed by read more links, you can insert “the more tag” into each post prior to publication.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/splitting-content/more-tag/The read more tag can be inserted once only into any post to change the front page or main page for posts display from full post to an excerpt. The split in the text does not display to you in preview mode but it will be there after the post is published.
Alternatively, you can switch to using a theme that automatically displays front page excerpts. This is a list of only SOME active themes on WordPress.com that use the excerpt instead of full post content. https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/theme-with-automatic-excerpts?replies=13#post-1396410
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This is totally discouraging. I’m an inch away from canceling my wordpress membership. But thanks for your help anyway.
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James –
Don’t be discouraged! It take a lil time to get setup and understand the steps, but then you’ll be off and running!
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@jamesmarlandson
It’s too bad that you feel discouraged. You’re welcome and best wishes. -
Unfortunately, I’m not even sure how to get back into customizer and delete some of my first steps. That’s how ignorant I am. I don’t know how to put up a post in the right Read More section or the right “Category” page.
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To get to the customizer > Dashboard > Appearance > Customize
http://liveasfreepeople.wordpress.com/wp-admin/customize.php?return=%2Fwp-admin%2F -
I don’t know how to put up a post in the right Read More section or the right “Category” page.
You do not put posts anywhere.
Assign Categories to your Posts prior to publishing them. https://en.support.wordpress.com/posts/categories/
Create a custom menu https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/#1-create-a-custom-menu
Add only the dynamic category page links into the custom menu that you want to appear in that menu https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-category-pages and arrange them as you wish them to appear https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#changing-the-order-creating-sub-menus
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Thanks for your help. I solved the category mystery.
But I’m still frustrated about menus, probably b/c I’m not using the right wording.
Go here:
What I’m looking for, but not in his style, are the tabs going across, like Mark’s bio. Are those called menus? I want to include my Bio and the site General Themes tabs. I’ve followed the steps in your link to the menu instructions, but nothing happens.
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What I posted above applies to https://liveasfreepeople.wordpress.com/ as that was the only URL provided in the original post above.
http://markdroberts.com/ is not hosted here at wordpress.COM.
Our WordPress.COM support docs do not refer to it.
We do not provide support for that site here.WordPress.COM and WordPress.ORG are completely separate and have different username accounts, logins, features, run different versions of some themes with the same names, and have separate support documentation and separate support forums. Read the differences here http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/
If you don’t have a username account at WordPress.ORG account, then click http://wordpress.org/support/ and register one on the top right hand corner of the page that opens, https://wordpress.org/support/register.php so you can post to the support forums there.
Resetting your WordPress.ORG password http://codex.wordpress.org/Resetting_Your_Password
WordPress.org support docs are at https://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page -
I see you have a number of menus started. Take a look at our Custom Menus support page and I think that will get you going on setting up you menu.
Once you get that set up, you can post in the CSS Forum and we would be happy to help you with your customizations.
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