Recommended resources for wordpress/php beginners

  • haejin

    (@haejin)


    21 years, 8 months ago

    Hello –
    Ok, seriously frustrated here.
    I’ve succesfully installed WordPress, and everything seems ready to go…..except that I’m discovering that in order for me to really get the most out of WordPress, I need to master PHP. The problem? I know absolutely nothing about PHP. But I’m determined to learn.
    Specifically, I want to know how I can customize my template….not just CSS stuff, but whether my “Calendar” is on the right column, or the left….or, to have the date of my posts appear after my entries instead of before them……or to rearrange how my links/categories/etc appear in the column….or even at all. You get the picture.
    I’ve read through all the Wiki documentation on styles/templates, but they’re written with the assumption that one already has a basic understanding of PHP, and will know how to change the elements of the template. I do not.
    So, my question to all you WordPress experts is…..can you please steer an ABSOLUTE newbie to some good resources (either online or offline) for learning PHP?? I’m feeling so lost with programming WordPress that I’m not even sure where I’m supposed to start…..should I brush up on my HTML? Or just focus on PHP? Is there a specific book I should read? Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!
    Any and all advice is VERY MUCH appreciated. Thanks!!!!!!!!

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • NuclearMoose

    (@nuclearmoose)

    21 years, 8 months ago

    Haejin,
    I know how to spell PHP. I feel that I have a few successful sites up and running, and I know zip about PHP other than I need a server with it installed.
    Most of the customisation is, in fact, CSS, and not CSS. For example, the calendar can be moved using CSS to anywhere on the page, really. Have you visited Alex King’s site http://alexking.org and looked through the WordPress templates he has there? There are lots of them, and people create more each day, either from scratch or by altering an existing one.
    What browser to you use? Mozilla or Firefox are great choices. You can install an extension called the Web Developer Extension which has helped me learn about CSS very quickly.
    http://www.communitymx.com/ has a lot of free resources on CSS.
    http://positioniseverything.net/ has great information on setting up multi-column blogs.
    I have an annotated wp-layout.css file at http://blog.nuclearmoose.ca/wp-docs/wp-layout-explained.htm which may help.
    Your frustration is understood by many, I can assure you. Many have been there, so you’re not alone! Just remember the two basic things: to change how your site LOOKS, you use CSS. To change how your site WORKS you use PHP, generally by adding plugins and such from the PHP geeks who share all of their hard work and knowledge with the rest of us.
    Stop in to the #wordpress channel on freenode.net (IRC) and there are usually lots of people hanging around who will help you out.
    Keep slugging it out! The community is here to help. Just keep trying, and don’t hesitate to ask questions.
    Also, remember to have fun, too!

    Thread Starter haejin

    (@haejin)

    21 years, 8 months ago

    Nuclearmoose:
    Will you marry me??

    Thread Starter haejin

    (@haejin)

    21 years, 8 months ago

    Ok, seriously, THANK YOU NuclearMoose for your advice and encouragement! Especially the clarification that CSS controls the way a page LOOKS vs. PHP controlling how it works. Positioniseverything.net has eased my fears that I’d have to learn PHP just to customize a 3-column blog using the PHP code in template…..I’m starting to feel like this project isn’t going to be the monster I thought it was after all. 🙂
    I’m printing out your annotated CSS page, and will spend time with the other resources you shared…..I’m sure I’ll have more questions later, but this has been the start that I needed!!! Thanks AGAIN, Nuclearmoose. The marriage proposal still stands. ;D

    muze

    (@muze)

    21 years, 8 months ago

    Heres another one for ya…
    http://www.mezzoblue.com/zengarden/resources/

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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