I'd like to create a few different custom category archive templates for my blog. Each category has several subcategories. I'd like the template to have 3 columns, with the right one being the sidebar and the two left columns being equal in width and containing the content.
Within the content, the subcategories should be listed with a header for each, and then the most recent posts in descending order beneath the header. I should be able to specify the number of posts displayed. The posts should contain the post title, post date and post excerpt at a specified length. Ideally, I could also choose the exact order of how the subcategories are displayed although that is not essential.
Here is a page from my current site (not WP) that shows the sort of layout I am looking to create (but not exactly...): http://www.planetthrive.com/cgi-bin/members/pub9990284000465.cgi
If I wanted to include a "featured post" with a different layout as seen in above link, how could I do that?
I am not a programmer but if someone could help me figure out the basic template for this, I could then apply it to all the categories I'd like custom templates for.
Thanks so much for any help you can give!!
