Tips for New Bloggers: Three Columns Thisaway Template (I)

We have polled readers to find out what Blogger templates they are using so that we can roll out articles pertaining to their templates, such as our 3 column template guides to add another sidebar and convert their existing Blogger templates from two columns to three columns. We have posted the conversion tutorials for the popular templates – Minima, Rounders, Denim, Dots, Scribe and Sand Dollar. In this article, we shall give you a step by step guide to insert a third column into the Thisaway family of templates.

Each Thisaway template has a different set of background images. We have redone and created new images, and so as not to confuse readers, we shall deal with the change and modification for each type of Thisaway template. If you are using Thisaway or Thisaway Blue, follow the guides here. If your template is Thisaway Green or Thisaway Rose, look at the tutorial in the second part of this article Three Columns Thisaway Template (II).

If you are not sure what your template is, under Template -> Edit HTML, look for the “Blogger Template Style” Name. If it says “Thisaway”, you can follow this guide to customize your template.

For other templates, please refer to our articles and guides on:-
1. Three Columns Denim Template;
2. Three Columns Dots Template;
3. Three Columns Minima Template;
4. Three Columns Rounders Template;
5. Three Columns Rounders 2 Template;
6. Three Columns Rounders 3 Template;
7. Three Columns Rounders 4 Template;
8. Three Columns Sand Dollar Template;
9. Three Columns Scribe Template.

Note: Some sites offer free three-column templates for download. If you are starting a new blog, you may look up these sites and use their templates. However, if you have an existing blog and merely want to expand the template to include another column, our guides would be helpful. What we do is to take the standard Blogger templates and show you how to add a new sidebar. This approach gives you total control over the changes, and if you have bookmarked this page, you can revisit it in future should you want to reverse the changes. It is also a safer method, since there could be a few out there who may introduce malicious scripts or blog virus into their customized templates without you knowing.

Before you begin to do anything, remember to backup your template. Go to Template -> Edit HTML. Click the “Download Full Template” link to save a copy of your template.

Thisaway Template

The final three-column Thisaway template should look like this:-

After you have backed up the current template, scroll to these lines in the template code:-

/* global
-------------- */
body {
margin: 0;
text-align: center;
min-width: 760px;
background: #ce8b43 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_body.gif) repeat-x left top;
color: $textColor;
font-size: small;
}

blockquote {
margin: 0;
padding: 0 10px 0 10px;
border-left: 6px solid #f7e8d8;
border-right: 6px solid #f7e8d8;
color: $postTitleColor;
}

code {
color: $postTitleColor;
}

hr {
display: none;
}

/* layout
-------------- */
#outer-wrapper {
margin: 0 auto;
width: 760px;
text-align: left;
font: $bodyFont;
}

#header-wrapper {
padding-bottom: 15px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_header_bottom.gif) no-repeat left bottom;
}

#header {
background: #634320 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_header.gif) repeat-x left bottom;
}

#content-wrapper {
position: relative;
width: 760px;
background: #f7f0e9 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_main_wrapper.gif) repeat-y left top;
}

#main-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: left;
margin: 0 0 0 3px;
padding: 0;
width: 483px;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#main {
padding: 22px 8px 0 8px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_content.gif) repeat-x left top;
}

.post {
margin: 0 8px 14px 21px;
padding: 0;
border-bottom: 3px solid #f7e8d8;
}

#comments {
margin: 0 16px 14px 29px;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #f0e0ce;
background-color: #f5ede4;
}

#sidebar-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: right;
margin: 0 3px 0 0;
width: 269px;
color: $textColor;
line-height: 1.4em;
font-size: 90%;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_sidebar.gif) repeat-x left top;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#sidebar {
padding: 7px 11px 0 14px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_sidebar_arrow.gif) repeat-y 179px 0;
}

#sidebar .widget {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#footer-wrapper {
padding-top: 15px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_footer_top.gif) no-repeat left top;
clear: both;
}

#footer {
background: #493015 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_footer.gif) repeat-x left top;
text-align: center;
min-height: 2em;
}

Change, amend or insert the portions (shown in red):-

/* global
-------------- */
body {
margin: 0;
text-align: center;
min-width: 987px;
background: #ce8b43 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_body.gif) repeat-x left top;
color: $textColor;
font-size: small;
}

blockquote {
margin: 0;
padding: 0 10px 0 10px;
border-left: 6px solid #f7e8d8;
border-right: 6px solid #f7e8d8;
color: $postTitleColor;
}

code {
color: $postTitleColor;
}

hr {
display: none;
}

/* layout
-------------- */
#outer-wrapper {
margin: 0 auto;
width: 987px;
text-align: left;
font: $bodyFont;
}

#header-wrapper {
padding-bottom: 15px;
background: url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/ty/bg_header_bottom_2.gif) no-repeat left bottom;
}

#header {
background: #634320 url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/ty/bg_header_2.gif) repeat-x left bottom;
}

#content-wrapper {
position: relative;
width: 987px;
background: #f7f0e9 url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/ty/bg_main_wrapper_2.gif) repeat-y left top;
}

#main-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: left;
margin: 0 0 0 3px;
padding: 0;
width: 483px;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#main {
padding: 22px 8px 0 8px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_content.gif) repeat-x left top;
}

.post {
margin: 0 8px 14px 21px;
padding: 0;
border-bottom: 3px solid #f7e8d8;
}

#comments {
margin: 0 16px 14px 29px;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #f0e0ce;
background-color: #f5ede4;
}

#sidebar-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: right;
margin: 0 3px 0 0;
width: 247px;
color: $textColor;
line-height: 1.4em;
font-size: 90%;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_sidebar.gif) repeat-x left top;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#sidebar {
padding: 7px 11px 0 14px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_sidebar_arrow.gif) repeat-y 159px 0;
}

#sidebar .widget {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#newsidebar-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: left;
margin: 0 0 0 3px;
width: 247px;
color: $textColor;
line-height: 1.4em;
font-size: 90%;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_sidebar.gif) repeat-x left top;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#newsidebar {
padding: 7px 11px 0 14px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway/bg_sidebar_arrow.gif) repeat-y 159px 0;
}

#newsidebar .widget {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#footer-wrapper {
padding-top: 15px;
background: url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/ty/bg_footer_top_2.gif) no-repeat left top;
clear: both;
}

#footer {
background: #493015 url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/ty/bg_footer_2.gif) repeat-x left top;
text-align: center;
min-height: 2em;
}

We have done up new background images to accommodate the new widths. The widths of the sidebars are slightly reduced.

Scroll down to these lines:-

/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */ body#layout #main, body#layout #sidebar { padding: 0; }

Change them to this:-

/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */ body#layout #main, body#layout #sidebar, body#layout #newsidebar { padding: 0; }

Further down the template, look for this and add the lines (shown in red):-

<div id='newsidebar-wrapper'> <b:section class='sidebar' id='newsidebar' preferred='yes'> <b:widget id='NewProfile' locked='false' title='About Me' type='Profile'/> </b:section> </div> <div id='main-wrapper'> <b:section class='main' id='main' showaddelement='no'> <b:widget id='Blog1' locked='true' title='Blog Posts' type='Blog'/> </b:section> </div>

After you have backed up the current template, scroll to these lines in the template code:-

/* global
-------------- */
body {
margin: 0;
text-align: center;
min-width: 760px;
background: #4386ce url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_body.gif) repeat-x left top;
color: $textColor;
font-size: small;
}

blockquote {
margin: 0;
padding: 0 10px 0 10px;
border-left: 6px solid #d8e7f78;
border-right: 6px solid #d8e7f7;
color: $postTitleColor;
}

code {
color: $postTitleColor;
}

hr {
display: none;
}

/* layout
-------------- */
#outer-wrapper {
margin: 0 auto;
width: 760px;
text-align: left;
font: $bodyFont;
}

#header-wrapper {
padding-bottom: 15px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_header_bottom.gif) no-repeat left bottom;
}

#header {
background: #204063 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_header.gif) repeat-x left bottom;
}

#content-wrapper {
position: relative;
width: 760px;
background: #f7f0e9 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_main_wrapper.gif) repeat-y left top;
}

#main-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: left;
margin: 0 0 0 3px;
padding: 0;
width: 483px;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#main {
padding: 22px 8px 0 8px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_content.gif) repeat-x left top;
}

.post {
margin: 0 8px 14px 21px;
padding: 0;
border-bottom: 3px solid #d8e7f7;
}

#comments {
margin: 0 16px 14px 29px;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #cedef0;
background-color: #e4ecf5;
}

#sidebar-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: right;
margin: 0 3px 0 0;
width: 269px;
color: $textColor;
line-height: 1.4em;
font-size: 90%;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_sidebar.gif) repeat-x left top;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#sidebar {
padding: 7px 11px 0 14px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_sidebar_arrow.gif) repeat-y 179px 0;
}

#sidebar .widget {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#footer-wrapper {
padding-top: 15px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_footer_top.gif) no-repeat left top;
clear: both;
}

#footer {
background: #152e49 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_footer.gif) repeat-x left top;
text-align: center;
min-height: 2em;
}

Change, amend or insert the portions (shown in red):-

/* global
-------------- */
body {
margin: 0;
text-align: center;
min-width: 987px;
background: #4386ce url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_body.gif) repeat-x left top;
color: $textColor;
font-size: small;
}

blockquote {
margin: 0;
padding: 0 10px 0 10px;
border-left: 6px solid #d8e7f78;
border-right: 6px solid #d8e7f7;
color: $postTitleColor;
}

code {
color: $postTitleColor;
}

hr {
display: none;
}

/* layout
-------------- */
#outer-wrapper {
margin: 0 auto;
width: 987px;
text-align: left;
font: $bodyFont;
}

#header-wrapper {
padding-bottom: 15px;
background: url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/tyb/bg_header_bottom_2.gif) no-repeat left bottom;
}

#header {
background: #204063 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_header.gif) repeat-x left bottom;
}

#content-wrapper {
position: relative;
width: 987px;
background: #f7f0e9 url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/tyb/bg_main_wrapper_2.gif) repeat-y left top;
}

#main-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: left;
margin: 0 0 0 3px;
padding: 0;
width: 483px;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#main {
padding: 22px 8px 0 8px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_content.gif) repeat-x left top;
}

.post {
margin: 0 8px 14px 21px;
padding: 0;
border-bottom: 3px solid #d8e7f7;
}

#comments {
margin: 0 16px 14px 29px;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #cedef0;
background-color: #e4ecf5;
}

#sidebar-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: right;
margin: 0 3px 0 0;
width: 247px;
color: $textColor;
line-height: 1.4em;
font-size: 90%;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_sidebar.gif) repeat-x left top;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#sidebar {
padding: 7px 11px 0 14px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_sidebar_arrow.gif) repeat-y 159px 0;
}

#sidebar .widget {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#newsidebar-wrapper {
display: inline; /* fixes a strange ie margin bug */
float: left;
margin: 0 0 0 3px;
width: 247px;
color: $textColor;
line-height: 1.4em;
font-size: 90%;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_sidebar.gif) repeat-x left top;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#newsidebar {
padding: 7px 11px 0 14px;
background: url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_sidebar_arrow.gif) repeat-y 159px 0;
}

#newsidebar .widget {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}

#footer-wrapper {
padding-top: 15px;
background: url(http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z76/tipsfornewbloggers/tyb/bg_footer_top_2.gif) no-repeat left top;
clear: both;
}

#footer {
background: #152e49 url(http://www.blogblog.com/thisaway_blue/bg_footer.gif) repeat-x left top;
text-align: center;
min-height: 2em;
}

We have done up new background images to accommodate the new widths. The widths of the sidebars are slightly reduced.

Scroll down to these lines:-

/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */ body#layout #main, body#layout #sidebar { padding: 0; }

Change them to this:-

/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */ body#layout #main, body#layout #sidebar, body#layout #newsidebar { padding: 0; }

Further down the template, look for this and add the lines (shown in red):-

<div id='newsidebar-wrapper'> <b:section class='sidebar' id='newsidebar' preferred='yes'> <b:widget id='NewProfile' locked='false' title='About Me' type='Profile'/> </b:section> </div> <div id='main-wrapper'> <b:section class='main' id='main' showaddelement='no'> <b:widget id='Blog1' locked='true' title='Blog Posts' type='Blog'/> </b:section> </div>

This places your Profile in the left sidebar. This can be removed later. Now, “Preview” the template to view the changes and if see the new sidebar nicely aligned, click “Save Template”. Remove the Profile if you don't want it there by going back to Template -> Page Elements and removing the Profile widget. Refresh your Blog to see your new Three Column Thisaway Blue layout!

Align Header Title and Description

The Header title and description in the Thisaway and Thisaway Blue templates are aligned to the left. To adjust them to the center or a fixed position in the Header, read the guidelines at Header Image and Title Alignment (II).

This article continues at Three Columns Thisaway Template (II). If you want to insert a second sidebar into the Thisaway Green or Thisaway Rose templates, follow our tutorials there.

© Tips for New Bloggers

8 comments:

Jos said...: This is a very good post. It gave me a much better understanding of the template. I managed to create this 3 column blog from a rounders-3 template in less than an hour, and the change to 3 columns itself only took about 10 minutes, thanks to your clear instructions. Thank you and kind regards,
-Jos:); October 11, 2007 4:39 AM
vninfo said...: Help me
Can you send your theme to me ?

I verry like your blog and your blog theme

Soon write to me
Email :vnfreeweb@gmail.com or
Yahoo :giot_nang_trong_dem117

Thanks; October 18, 2007 11:45 AM
bizwhiz said...: Hi vninfo

If you are asking about the template we are using for this site, it is the Minima Template.; October 19, 2007 11:23 AM
drraman said...: hi bizwhiz very nice blog....i want to ask how add that moving text like u added in recent updates....plz tell me.....thanx in advance!; October 20, 2007 2:38 AM
bizwhiz said...: Hi drraman

The scrolling text article is titled Scrolling Text - Marquee HTML Code.; October 20, 2007 8:46 AM
BlogmasterPg said...: Hi, Bizwhiz; that's one of your best post ever. Very useful and important for all bloggers. XHTML is very important and we can say that the future of web is now. I'd like to know what is the best Template to give ad-Sense revenue. My experience takes an answer: the 2 columns templates, where to blgging is on right and most little column is on left, as my Canzoni Italiane - Italian Song Blog. It will be a very good thing if many bloggers saids theirs experience. I have question about feedburner. I use the version where you can see only the first 200 words for post; but the sitemap takes error about ALL comments!!! I don't know what do it. I'd like you take me a tip...; October 23, 2007 9:23 PM
free for all said...: hi, i have three columns dot template
the two sidebars are in right with 200px width i want add another sidebar above these two sidebars with width 300px how? i tried to add sidebar with the same way explained here but the new sidebar position is in the pottem of page how i can control the position

please anyone have the answer in my blog comment area
thanks for all; November 26, 2007 11:38 AM
Seasons said...: Hi
I just mentioned your website in my blog
http://compiledblogs.blogspot.com/
If you have the link to a bigger banner please let me know :)

-Seasons; November 30, 2007 8:43 PM

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Oct 7, 2007

Three Columns Thisaway Template (I)

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