Why can't I accomplish simple tasks on this platform?
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Hey community,
My grandfather recently asked me if I would create a new website for his small business. I know basic HTML, but not nearly enough to try to code an entire website by myself. As a result, I thought WordPress would be a good start, seeing how I can make a normal site and not one that ends in “wordpress.com” or something along those lines. However, I soon discovered that it is nearly impossible to accomplish simple tasks on this platform. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t seem to do a variety of different things:
– I can’t move blocks around freely on a page like I might be able to do in a word document.
– If I have a few columns of text (say, three), and the columns AREN’T set to extend the length of the entire page horizontally, the maximum width for each column is far too narrow. There are only about five words per line which does not make for easy reading of the column.
– INSTEAD, if I press a button so that all three columns stretch across the entire page, they are so close to the edges of the screen that the letters are essentially touching the edges. This is not a clean look and there seems to be no in between option between deathly narrow and cover the entire page.
– Why is there an edit page AND a customize page? What’s the difference? Why not put it all in one page?
– There are virtually no text editing options. I can’t edit the size of a few words in a paragraph without changing the whole thing. I also can’t change the font of any text unless I want to change the font for the whole website.
– Some changes do not appear on the edit page, but appear on the actual site when I visit it. For example, the logo and menu buttons are missing from the edit page, but appear on the customize page and on the actual site. Additionally, the word “Private:” does NOT appear anywhere on the edit page (so I can’t remove it) but appears as a header on the actual site. I did not even type the word “Private:” WordPress automatically added that to the top of my webpage when I set the site to private (that feature is mind-boggling).
It almost seems as if WordPress has tried to make the ultimate “user friendly” website creator that anyone with any knowledge level can use, but instead, they have made an unbelievably difficult platform. It has taken me upwards of five to six hours to create the homepage, whereas I could have probably done everything I just did on Microsoft Word in one hour.
If anyone can offer any help with any of these by either clarifying if I’m missing something, if any of these are premium features, or if that is simply how that works, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
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Classic WordPress adding the website I’m working on to the bottom of the post just to prove my point about how overly-complicated the platform is.
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Well, there is always a tradeoff… In the old days you either worked in Linux without a user interface other than a big console, but you could accomplish great things. And there was Windows with its nice user interface for those that didn’t want to invest time in learning complicated stuff.
The same applies for your first question. If you don’t want (or don’t have time) to invest in learning how to develop websites from scratch, then you have to settle for the nice and “easy” stuff that WordPress and other template-based sites offer. With basic knowledge you can get something done quickly. Personally, I don’t think a WP site compares to the power of a self-developed website but it fits the wishes of a large user base. I myself got bored and tired of coding websites from scratch.
I agree that there are some parts that are rather convoluted and others that seem duplicated (Edit, Customize).
The convenience you get from the nice building blocks (that save you TONS of time) are at the expense of some greater control. But you can create highly professional sites with WP.If you want your relative’s business to have a domain like ACME.com instead of “acme.wordpress.com” then you would need to register a domain (costs money every year), then you need to point it to WordPress BUT additionally you also have to pay WordPress monthly for that convenience. That’s why many of us chose the free tier and put up with the WordPress bar at the top and at the footer.
As for editing, you can choose the classic editor and even in the block’s editor (seen it somewhere there) there is an option to edit a block by HTML rather than visually if you know what you are doing. But if you only have basic knowledge then I wouldn’t advise that.
Also, FORMERLY, the WordPress free tier allowed you to add extra CSS to customize a theme further but that feature has been removed in the past year or two.
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Hi folks,
You should be able to drag a block, and just need to click on the right “handle” for that. Can you try this?
https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/#move-blocksIf you want finer control over columns, have you considered using the Layout Grid block instead? You can adjust spacing (gutters), add gutters to the ends, etc. It might give you just what you’re looking for.
Why is there an edit page AND a customize page? What’s the difference? Why not put it all in one page?
WordPress was originally designed to have both. With block-based themes, most customize settings will be found in the editor itself. That is a work in progress. But for now, just think of Customize for site-wide changes, and know that someday you’ll be able to access those in the editor, too. This will also help with viewing the logo and what not while on the edit page.
I can’t edit the size of a few words in a paragraph without changing the whole thing. I also can’t change the font of any text unless I want to change the font for the whole website.
This is true. Could you give us an example of the effect you’re after? We can check to see what options you have for achieving it. Please send a link to a site that does what you’re considering, or, upload an image to https://snipboard.io/ and send the link here.
Can you clarify whether you want the post private or not? If it’s published it won’t say Private anywhere. Let us know what you intend to do.
And regarding your last issue, the article above on using blocks may help. There is a learning curve, but once you’ve got the hang of them, they’re more robust than a Word Editor could be.
Going forward, please remember to stick with one issue per thread: that will help a lot with getting fast answers in most cases, and thorough troubleshooting for anything else.
Hoping this helps!
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Also, @lordofscripts the CSS upgrade has always been an add-on with WordPress Premium, though many years ago it was available as a separate purchase. I don’t remember a time that it was free, and I’ve been here for over 9 years. Hoping that helps clear it up!
Thanks for the help with the other questions, and for modlooking us.
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