Originally Posted by Alexandra88 That makes sense.. This is the CSS I entered that I took from my smugmug header. How do I figure out where I went wrong?

I'm not sure what you're asking since I see that the blog you have linked from your signature does contain the HTML.

It's not placed properly in your blog though; you have placed it after some of the blogger elements. That's why your navbar isn't at the top of the browser window.

--- Denise

Hi Denise,

Having gotten about as far as I can setting up my blog.spot account to match the look as much as possible to my SM site by myself, I'm really in need of some help, and this thread of yours was recommended. As I've seen in the past, you've been fantastic when it comes to helping others (me included, thanks again!) with your informative posts, yet this time, with the copious amount that's been written here, I seem to be mostly at a lost and in a state or near total confusion. What makes matters worse is that I'm not finding things easily (like fields for CSS coding) while working with Blogger.

I'm sure the things I'm looking to do you've gone over time and again in this thread and others, though much of it written some ago, and layouts and features have changed since then until now. But I'm hoping you'll be able to give me some current direction for specific things I need help with.

The next thing in line I'm looking to do is to have my double (I have two menu bars, one in English and beneath that another one translated to Thai) custom navigation bar that you can see on my SM site feature exactly the same under the banner I have on my blog.spot page, of course with all drop-down and fly-out menus included and linking back to my SM site.

There are a few other things I really need a hand with, but I don't wish to inundate you with everything at once; no doubt best to take it one step at a time!

You can see where I'm currently with my blogspot by clicking on this link: http://n8urimpressions.blogspot.com

Many thanks in advance for your time and hopefully patience Denise!

Originally Posted by Lemur Lover ...yet this time, with the copious amount that's been written here, I seem to be mostly at a lost and in a state or near total confusion. What makes matters worse is that I'm not finding things easily (like fields for CSS coding) while working with Blogger.

I'm headed out to work right now; I'll try to take a look later.

But - all of the information you need is in the first post of this thread or is linked to from that post.

--- Denise

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg I'm headed out to work right now; I'll try to take a look later. But - all of the information you need is in the first post of this thread or is linked to from that post. --- Denise

Thanks for responding Denise!

I have indeed read through what you've written on the first page of this thread several times, however, unless I've somehow overlooked it each and every time, I have yet to come across any instruction on how to how import or add the HTML and CSS codes for customised navigations bars from SM sites to one's blogspot account.

You seem to have addressed pretty much everything else from changing text styles to adding photos, but I can't seem to find anything specifically to do with navigation bars.

Looking forward to hearing back from you whenever you have the time, and thanks again in advance.

Originally Posted by Lemur Lover Thanks for responding Denise! I have indeed read through what you've written on the first page of this thread several times, however, unless I've somehow overlooked it each and every time, I have yet to come across any instruction on how to how import or add the HTML and CSS codes for customised navigations bars from SM sites to one's blogspot account. You seem to have addressed pretty much everything else from changing text styles to adding photos, but I can't seem to find anything specifically to do with navigation bars. Looking forward to hearing back from you whenever you have the time, and thanks again in advance.

You need to go into the CSS / HTML for your blog. Add the CSS with the other CSS for your blog. Then look for the beginning of the HTML and add the HTML there. You may need to experiment with the HTML placement.

Click Template, then click the Edit HTML button. Then click Proceed.

--- Denise

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg You need to go into the CSS / HTML for your blog. Add the CSS with the other CSS for your blog. Then look for the beginning of the HTML and add the HTML there. You may need to experiment with the HTML placement. Click Template, then click the Edit HTML button. Then click Proceed. --- Denise

Thanks Denise!

Part of the problem is that I can't seem to find any field in which to add CSS code into on my Blogger account, I find the page you've given a screen shot of, which shows where to add HTML, but I can't find anything specifically for CSS code, and I'm assuming that one doesn't simply add CSS code into the HTML field ... then again, perhaps I'm wrong and this is exactly what I should be doing, adding both codes into the HTML field?

Originally Posted by Lemur Lover Part of the problem is that I can't seem to find any field in which to add CSS code into on my Blogger account, I find the page you've given a screen shot of, which shows where to add HTML, but I can't find anything specifically for CSS code, and I'm assuming that one doesn't simply add CSS code into the HTML field ... then again, perhaps I'm wrong and this is exactly what I should be doing, adding both codes into the HTML field?

Blogger doesn't split the CSS and HTML into two boxes - it's all in one place. If you look through what you get when you click Edit HTML, the box starts with Blogger variables. That's followed by CSS, and then later by HTML. Put your CSS in with the already existing CSS.

--- Denise

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg Blogger doesn't split the CSS and HTML into two boxes - it's all in one place. If you look through what you get when you click Edit HTML, the box starts with Blogger variables. That's followed by CSS, and then later by HTML. Put your CSS in with the already existing CSS. --- Denise

OK, thanks for steering me correct on both codes fitting into the same field; though you'd think they'd write HTML AND CSS instead of just HTML.

Anyhow, I just added my CSS code between their CSS code for Footer and Mobile, which I thought would be OK (as long as it's embedded within the CSS part, or at least that's what I'm assuming!) then, not knowing where to add my HTML, I placed it close to the bottom of the entire page of code just before:

<b:section-contents id='sidebar-right-1'>
<b:widget id='BlogArchive1' locked='false' title='Blog Archive' type='BlogArchive'/>
<b:widget id='Profile1' locked='false' title='About Me' type='Profile'/>
</b:section-contents><b:section-contents id='footer-1'/><b:section-contents id='footer-2-1'/><b:section-contents id='footer-2-2'/></html>

Looking at the preview, seems I messed something up:

"ไม่สามารถแยกวิเคราะห์แม่แบบของคุณเนื่องจากมีรูปแบ บไม่ถูกต้อง โปรดตรวจสอบว่าองค์ประกอบ XML ทั้งหมดมีการปิดอย่างถูกต้อง <br/> ข้อความแสดงข้อผิดพลาดของ XML: The entity "nbsp" was referenced, but not declared.

Error 500"

Using Google Translate, this is close to what that error message read:

"Can not parse your template has an invalid format. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly error message <br/> of XML: The entity "nbsp" was referenced, but not declared.

Error 500."

Any idea what I'm doing wrong Denise?

Hi Everyone,

I'm finally ready to re-launch my blog (was down & out almost 3 years with a neck injury & 2 surgeries) & I could sure use some assistance. Please please please don't yell at me to loud for leaving it idle so long... I just didn't have the heart to mess with it much when I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to follow my dreams again. So so thankful that I'm now able to & promise to start posting as soon as it's fixed up

I've launched the new biz & my smug site is: www.Co-Bear.com or www.id.smugmug.com
My blog is temporally set to the default: http://co-bear.blogspot.com/ but I think I should change that asap.

• Not realizing what on earth a sub-domain was or that they even existed, I purchased www.Co-BearBlog.com quite awhile back so I'd have it when the time eventually came to use it. So my question is in reference to which is best to use for seo (and whatever other reasons I might be concerned about but have no idea what they'd be)? Using a sub-domain such as blog.Co-Bear.com or using the one I purchased... or would I be better off for seo reasons & so forth to just lease it as is?
• I've pretty much got eerything set up but my Header image has a border on it & in some browsers it's showing the alt text (which should not show right?) in a weird purple color.
• Speaking of weird purple color… I'm noticing some of my visited link are picking up that strange purple color as well. I didn't add that color so not sure where it's coming from or why?

Better stop there for now. Thanks in advance so very much with well wishes of love, hugs & laughter to all.

Originally Posted by Lemur Lover Anyhow, I just added my CSS code between their CSS code for Footer and Mobile, which I thought would be OK (as long as it's embedded within the CSS part, or at least that's what I'm assuming!) then, not knowing where to add my HTML, I placed it close to the bottom of the entire page of code just before: <b:section-contents id='sidebar-right-1'> <b:widget id='BlogArchive1' locked='false' title='Blog Archive' type='BlogArchive'/> <b:widget id='Profile1' locked='false' title='About Me' type='Profile'/> </b:section-contents><b:section-contents id='footer-1'/><b:section-contents id='footer-2-1'/><b:section-contents id='footer-2-2'/></html> Looking at the preview, seems I messed something up: "ไม่สามารถแยกวิเคราะห์แม่แบบของคุณเนื่องจากมีรูปแบ บไม่ถูกต้อง โปรดตรวจสอบว่าองค์ประกอบ XML ทั้งหมดมีการปิดอย่างถูกต้อง <br/> ข้อความแสดงข้อผิดพลาดของ XML: The entity "nbsp" was referenced, but not declared. Error 500" Using Google Translate, this is close to what that error message read: "Can not parse your template has an invalid format. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly error message <br/> of XML: The entity "nbsp" was referenced, but not declared. Error 500."

As a first step, add your CSS to the blog template and save it. Then attempt to add your HTML.

Putting the HTML at the end means your navbar will not be at the top of the window. You need to place the HTML before the HTML for the blogger page elements.

The error messages are not very helpful. The fact that it was complaining about nbsp leads me to believe that you can't use &nbsp;•&nbsp; in blogger. You might try to find the hex code and use that instead.

You will also need to make sure that all of the (HTML) entries for your navbar are correct from a syntax standpoint, with each tag ending properly. I can't help you with the drop-down navbar since that's not something that I have worked with; you'll need to syntax check that.

--- Denise

Originally Posted by Cindy I've launched the new biz & my smug site is: www.Co-Bear.com or www.id.smugmug.com My blog is temporally set to the default: http://co-bear.blogspot.com/ but I think I should change that asap. Not realizing what on earth a sub-domain was or that they even existed, I purchased www.Co-BearBlog.com quite awhile back so I'd have it when the time eventually came to use it. So my question is in reference to which is best to use for seo (and whatever other reasons I might be concerned about but have no idea what they'd be)? Using a sub-domain such as blog.Co-Bear.com or using the one I purchased... or would I be better off for seo reasons & so forth to just lease it as is? I've pretty much got eerything set up but my Header image has a border on it & in some browsers it's showing the alt text (which should not show right?) in a weird purple color. Speaking of weird purple color… I'm noticing some of my visited link are picking up that strange purple color as well. I didn't add that color so not sure where it's coming from or why?

Your alt tag is showing because your img src= statement is invalid.

<img src="/img/spacer.gif"/>

There isn't anything in your blog to match /img/spacer.gif. You need to include the full URL to your smug site there.

If the visited link is showing purple that's probably how you have it set on your blog. The simplest way to change that is to go into the template designer and change the visited link color.

As for your SEO question, I'm not really sure how much it matters whether you use the blogger url or use a subdomain. I have my own domain name that I use for my smug site but I never set up my blog as a subdomain; I'm just using the blogger domain. I don't think that has hurt my SEO at all. I write in my blog often, and I include photos from my smug site with links back to the smug site. Both my blog and my smug site have pretty good visibility.

Welcome back, and I hope that your health continues to improve.

--- Denise

Denise you are an absolute gem Thank You

- img source link is now fixed

If the visited link is showing purple that's probably how you have it set on your blog. The simplest way to change that is to go into the template designer and change the visited link color.

In designer my link color is set to a light sorta beige #c3bca2 & the visited link is set to a bit darker beige #94907e
I'm not positive it's a visited link issue in all the weird purple stuff though... I noticed it changed to the purple after I clicked a couple but also noted that when the incorrect alt text was showing up that it was also the purple. I checked in designer where it shows a palette of 'Colors from this template' & that weird purple is no where in it at all... not even slightly close. I opened firefox to check some of the elements (not sure what I'm looking for though) but I'll paste some below in case it helps:

a .post-count-link

Attributes

Position
    Left: 935px	Top: 1414px
    Width: 0px	Height: 0px

Other
    Font Family:	'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,Verdana,Sans-serif
    Font Size:	13px

Ancestors

    html

    body

    div #outer-wrapper

    div #wrap2

    div #content-wrapper

    div #sidebar-wrapper

    div #sidebar .sidebar section

    div #BlogArchive1 .widget BlogArchive

    div .widget-content

    div #ArchiveList

    div #BlogArchive1_ArchiveList

    ul .hierarchy

    li .archivedate expanded

    ul .hierarchy

    li .archivedate expanded

Children
    None

Another one reveals:

 
Webmaster
google0388244792150a62.html
a

Attributes

Position
    Left: 900px	Top: 2135px
    Width: 0px	Height: 0px

Other
    Font Family:	'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,Verdana,Sans-serif
    Font Size:	13px

Ancestors

    html

    body

    div #outer-wrapper

    div #wrap2

    div #content-wrapper

    div #sidebar-wrapper

    div #sidebar .sidebar section

    div #Feed1 .widget Feed

    div #Feed1_feedItemListDisplay .widget-content

    ul

    li

    span .item-title

Children
    None

And 1 More Just In Case It Might Help:

 
Webmaster
google0388244792150a62.html
a .home-link

Attributes

Position
    Left: 543px	Top: 1521px
    Width: 0px	Height: 0px

Other
    Font Family:	'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,Verdana,Sans-serif
    Font Size:	13px

Ancestors

    html

    body

    div #outer-wrapper

    div #wrap2

    div #content-wrapper

    div #main-wrapper

    div #main .main section

    div #Blog1 .widget Blog

    div #blog-pager .blog-pager

Children
    None

Other Issues:

• Also in firefox (but not safari) My blog is dropped down with added space between it and the nave bar. Like one inch drop. I notice the same issue on smugmug side of Co-Bear.com on some but not all of the pages.
• I'm not sure how to address the issue where the Banner & Header Bar aren't floating out full width as they do on the smug side. In a since I kinda like it & would consider changing the smug side to match… but hmmm decision. At one time I had wanted it to all come together on the front homepage nice & tight & centered like on Barbs page but I'm guessing that wouldn't play well throughout the look & feel of the remaining site & blog. Looking for honest opinions & advice for this one?
• And as if that's not enough… (ducking head from flying objects now) How would I go about adding either a divider object between the posts & a pre-formatted signature line where I could add nicer looking call to actions such as Contact Me - Facebook Link - Etc. I tried creating a draft post with add photo & link stuff, along with a signature line… but it seems to mess up everytime I try to edit the content of the post & frustrates me immensly. Is there an easier way to create posts with some of the core stuff used everytime? Do you'll use bloggers post thing to create posts or is there something that simpyfies this available? I know I'd post alot lot more if I didn't have to pull hair everytime.

Thank You is certainly not enough compensation but I truly am appreciative of everyone's help here on dgrin.

Originally Posted by Cindy Also in firefox (but not safari) My blog is dropped down with added space between it and the nave bar. Like one inch drop. I notice the same issue on smugmug side of Co-Bear.com on some but not all of the pages. I'm not sure how to address the issue where the Banner & Header Bar aren't floating out full width as they do on the smug side. In a since I kinda like it & would consider changing the smug side to match… but hmmm decision. At one time I had wanted it to all come together on the front homepage nice & tight & centered like on Barbs page but I'm guessing that wouldn't play well throughout the look & feel of the remaining site & blog. Looking for honest opinions & advice for this one? And as if that's not enough… (ducking head from flying objects now) How would I go about adding either a divider object between the posts & a pre-formatted signature line where I could add nicer looking call to actions such as Contact Me - Facebook Link - Etc. I tried creating a draft post with add photo & link stuff, along with a signature line… but it seems to mess up everytime I try to edit the content of the post & frustrates me immensly. Is there an easier way to create posts with some of the core stuff used everytime? Do you'll use bloggers post thing to create posts or is there something that simpyfies this available? I know I'd post alot lot more if I didn't have to pull hair everytime.

Your header and nav is constrained because of where you placed it in your blog. Move the code to just before

<div id="outer-wrapper">

With that placement it should match your smug site.

I use blogger's post tool in HTML mode. I use Share... Get a link... from my smug site to grab the code for photos. I don't add a signature to my posts - the only suggestion I have there is to keep the text / code that you want to use in a file on your computer and just paste it in as needed.

--- Denise

Moving the code worked sweet. Thanks Denise.

Try as I may I cannot figure this purple text problem out. I read through the entire template code & eeekkkk it's no where I can find. I'm wondering if maybe it's turning purple due to some sort of error????? I tried searching google but couldn't find any results stating error text does this though.

Here's a screen shot of what I see. Are you seeing the same thing?

Originally Posted by Cindy Try as I may I cannot figure this purple text problem out. I read through the entire template code & eeekkkk it's no where I can find. I'm wondering if maybe it's turning purple due to some sort of error????? I tried searching google but couldn't find any results stating error text does this though.

Cindy -
When I looked at your blog using the Firefox web developer extension I saw this in your CSS:

a:visited {
color:cccccc;
text-decoration:none;
}

That's an invalid color code since it needs to be preceded with a #.

Change it to the color you'd like so it looks like this:

 
a:visited {
color: #fff;
text-decoration:none;
}

--- Denise

That sure seems to have fixed it. In firefox I'd just noticed there is a red circle with an X in it on the upper right side of the web developer extension... it has tons of errors including some of which were font related but it doesn't give me enough info as to what to do about them or where to find what specifically needs fixed... should I be concerned about the other errors?

Originally Posted by Cindy That sure seems to have fixed it. In firefox I'd just noticed there is a red circle with an X in it on the upper right side of the web developer extension... it has tons of errors including some of which were font related but it doesn't give me enough info as to what to do about them or where to find what specifically needs fixed... should I be concerned about the other errors?

I think you're ok now. I see that on my blog too, and the thing it seems to be complaining about isn't something I added. Unless you start seeing problems I'd assume you're good to go.

--- Denise

Can I match the template I am using at www.GotGrinsPhotography.com to match www.GotGrins.com? I want my site to have the white "body part" as my blog does...and have my blog have the nav bar that my site has?!?!?

Originally Posted by Got Grins? Can I match the template I am using at www.GotGrinsPhotography.com to match www.GotGrins.com? I want my site to have the white "body part" as my blog does...and have my blog have the nav bar that my site has?!?!?

You'll need to examine the CSS for your blog and for your smug site and duplicate the pieces you want to match in each.

--- Denise

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg As a first step, add your CSS to the blog template and save it. Then attempt to add your HTML. Putting the HTML at the end means your navbar will not be at the top of the window. You need to place the HTML before the HTML for the blogger page elements. The error messages are not very helpful. The fact that it was complaining about nbsp leads me to believe that you can't use  •  in blogger. You might try to find the hex code and use that instead. You will also need to make sure that all of the (HTML) entries for your navbar are correct from a syntax standpoint, with each tag ending properly. I can't help you with the drop-down navbar since that's not something that I have worked with; you'll need to syntax check that. --- Denise

Hi Denise,

Thanks for trying to help me with this. Following your recommendations, I've tried any number of variables to get my nav bar up, but all to no avail. You could well be right about not being able to use &nbsp;•&nbsp; in blogger, though I must confess I don't understand what this actually is (other than the fact that it's part of the code Allen helping set up for me) and I've absolutely no understanding of what a "hex code" is, let alone experience of using it.

As of tomorrow I'll be away with my family until the following weekend, so unfortunately this isn't something I'll be able to work on until then. If you have any more ideas of this though, please let me know when you have the time. If not, well, I'll see if Allen can lend a hand.

Whatever the case, many thanks again for your attempts to help and for your time. Wishing you a great week ahead.