New to WordPress and need help
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Hello. I am trying to set up this blog almost as a personal website. So far I’ve done fairly well at understanding it. But I need to copy a PayPal link into the site for donations for our organization… I am TRYING to apply this to an area in the widget section as my theme (that I like best) only supports ONE menu and I don’t ‘donate’ as part of the menu. However, I am having a REALLY impossible time even finding a widget to do this with. I need separate areas people can chose to donate to, the ability for them to chose that ‘page’, and the ability to then insert the link for the PayPal button… any help would be REALLY appreciated! Thanks!
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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(1) PayPal – Know that the only instructions that will work for posting a PayPal donation button on a WordPress.com blog are found here http://en.support.wordpress.com/paypal/
Note that the PayPal email link is not supported and PayPal customization options are not supported either https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/paypal-button-41?replies=12#post-2517229 This is not likely to be changed any time soon, if at all. -
A custom menu is the whole bar of links to items that you choose to add into the custom menu.
Posts and Pages are not the same. https://en.support.wordpress.com/post-vs-page/ And, static pages that we bloggers create and dynamic category pages are not the same.
This is a one or the other situation. You have two choices on any blog:
(1) All posts on the front page.
(2) Or a static front page http://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/front-page/ and all posts on a different page you create and designate as a front 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:
a. Assign Categories to your Posts. https://en.support.wordpress.com/posts/categories
b. Create a custom menu https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/#1-create-a-custom-menu
c. Add only the dynamic category page links and category sub-pages 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 in the order that you wish them to appear in https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#changing-the-order-creating-sub-menus
d. Create pages and sub-pages for static content that rarely changes like About, Copyright, Contact Info, etc. , not for posts https://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/
e. Add any custom links and other items like static pages and sub-pages for static content that rarely changes into your custom menu
https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-custom-links https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-pages
and arrange them in the order that you wish them that you wish them to appear in https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#changing-the-order-creating-sub-menusPlease see https://en.support.wordpress.com/customizer/
and enter the Primary Site and Web Address. Then click “save account settings”.This is a one or the other situation. You have two choices on any blog:
(1) All posts on the front page.
(2) Or a static front page http://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/front-page/ and all posts on a different page you create and designate as a front 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:
a. Assign Categories to your Posts. https://en.support.wordpress.com/posts/categories
b. Create a custom menu https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/#1-create-a-custom-menu
c. Add only the dynamic category page links and category sub-pages 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 in the order that you wish them to appear in https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#changing-the-order-creating-sub-menus
d. Create pages and sub-pages for static content that rarely changes like About, Copyright, Contact Info, etc. , not for posts https://en.support.wordpress.com/pages/
e. Add any custom links and other items like static pages and sub-pages for static content that rarely changes into your custom menu
https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-custom-links https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#adding-pages
and arrange them in the order that you wish them that you wish them to appear in https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/view-all/#changing-the-order-creating-sub-menusPlease see https://en.support.wordpress.com/customizer/
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Omg that was really complicated and long… thank you for taking the time to explain that. I don’t think I understand but I will give it my best shot… Haha.
As far as the PayPal, it IS possible, then, to have a PayPal button if I follow the instructions on that one link you sent me?
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Ok I read it over and over and I understand everything you’re saying. I was trying to create a link at the bottom of my page to donate with a widget but there was no way to do it that I could figure out.
I didn’t understand what the “categories” widget was – I now do. It shows blogs under whatever category you chose them to be in before publishing – making it easier for the readers to locate a topic written about. Thank you.
I still would’ve liked to have had the donate button down below, but that’s ok.
I understand the concept between a static page and menus, etc. The theme I use only support ONE menu at a time… so I can create as many as I want, but I can only use one. So I have to then create the pages IN the main menu that I want to be displayed. I have done this. THESE are the static pages. And this is where I will put the PayPal button
As far as PayPal – you said WordPress does NOT support the PayPal button that you can customize…. by this do you mean the option PayPal offers to pay with personal credit card or bank card? So the ONLY button WordPress allows is the one to donate through PayPal, correct?
All my info sound correct?
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Let’s ask Staff to clarify this “paypal issue” for you. I will type modlook into the sidebar tags on this thread for Staff help. How do I get a Moderator/Staff reply for my question? https://en.support.wordpress.com/getting-help-in-the-forums/#how-do-i-get-a-moderatorstaff-reply-for-my-question Please subscribe to this thread so you are notified when they respond and be patient while waiting. To subscribe look in the sidebar of this thread, find the subscribe to topics link and click it.
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Thank you. I am subscribed and I will wait to see what they say. :)
In the mean time, In editing with your help, I have now 2 more issues I can’t seem to figure out…
1) I created a “home” page to be my static page but I want the menu button for it called “home” and I want the page description itself to say in the title when displayed or clicked again “welcome!” But every time I change the title of this page it changes the name in the menu. Can that stop? Meaning, does the title of my page have to be the name of the menu button?
2) My main, and only available, menu says that my pages are in a certain order from Left to right, but every time I go to my “home” page, they are NOT in that order. How do I change the order of my pages in my menu to be correct?
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Also – My “featured image” will not show up on my finished page in my “home” page even though I can see it while I am editing the “home” page.
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Please have a look at this particular PayPal guide. It should walk you through exactly what you want, and is a bit different from the other:
https://en.support.wordpress.com/paypal/get-paypal-button-code/
As for the menu issue, can you make sure you’re following this guide?
As for the page’s title, can you change it back to “Welcome”? Then, head to Menus, and click on the menu item for “Welcome”. You’ll be able to set the navigation label to “Home”.
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Thank you!
The order of the Menu items randomly fixed itself
I was able to follow your instructions for the “home” navigation menu title, but the “welcome” page title!
I still cannot see the “featured image” in any of my pages, however :(
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I still cannot see the “featured image” in any of my pages, however :(
I had a look at a couple of your pages and I can’t see a featured image set there. Try editing the About page by going to:
https://wordpress.com/page/kingofglorychurch.wordpress.com/8
Then click “Featured Image” in the panel on the left then “Set Featured Image”.
There’s a video tutorial in this guide, if that helps:
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I already did that. I set the featured image how WordPress tells you to and while I can see it when I’m editing the page, it won’t show up when I’m done…. so something isn’t working.
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Hmm. I can’t see a featured image set in the sidebar here – https://wordpress.com/page/kingofglorychurch.wordpress.com/8. Make sure you click the “Update” button at the top once you’ve set it. Did you try that already?
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Yes. I have done everything it says to do… When in the page I click on the sidebar to the left “add featured image.” I select an image that I have uploaded to my media library already. When I select it and hit “ok” I then see it at the top of the page. I click “update” and it says it has saved. However, when I go to look at the website as a reader (just my plain website) none of them show up on any of the pages I have placed them…
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Hmm. That’s strange. Which image would you like on this particular post – https://wordpress.com/page/kingofglorychurch.wordpress.com/8 – and I’ll try adding it at this end?
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The image I wanted there I just put into the actual place you type so no image on that page. But this page:https://wordpress.com/page/kingofglorychurch.wordpress.com/75 I have an image that SAYS it’s supposed to be there. I see it when I am editing the page, but it doesn’t show… it’s a photo in my library of my husband with a church in Guatemala (a bunch of Guatemalans standing in front of him and their church)
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Ah, ok. That’s the front page of your site. Your theme doesn’t support featured images on pages; it only works with posts. Are you trying to get it to look like the demo – https://argentdemo.wordpress.com?
Instead of setting a featured image for that page you’ll need to do two things:
1) Make that page use the front page template. Go to:
https://wordpress.com/page/kingofglorychurch.wordpress.com/75
Click “Page Option” on the left then select “Front Page” from the Page Template drop-down menu.
Then save and update the page.
2) The image at the top of the demo is a header image. Open the Customizer on your site:
https://kingofglorychurch.wordpress.com/wp-admin/customize.php
Then select “Header Image” and upload an image there.
The support guide for your theme has more detail:
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Oh ok. I wondered if it was something my these didn’t support. If a theme doesn’t support featured images on its pages, it shouldn’t give you the option to make one… that’s VERY confusing. I’ll just put it in the text box like I did me other page.
Thank you. I do know how to set that image on the front page however every time I set it it makes it SO massive it’s not readable… haha.
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If a theme doesn’t support featured images on its pages, it shouldn’t give you the option to make one…
You’re absolutely right however sometimes it’s useful to set a featured image for other services like Twitter and Facebook. They will use the featured image when a post is shared with either of those networks.
I do know how to set that image on the front page however every time I set it it makes it SO massive it’s not readable…
Make sure the image is at least 660px wide. This is the main column width for your theme and if you choose a smaller image it will stretch it out of proportion.
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Thank you SO much for all your help! It’s been very beneficial :)
I have just put an image in the actual text box for my pages, that works similarly :) I just have to remember how I did it, because I now forget. Haha.
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