File is messed up. Was trying to add left sidebar

  • Hi all! Well, I screwed up my files (the files in the WordPress editor) and I need help. I hope there is an easy fix.

    I’ve been trying for FOUR days to add a left sidebar to my page and I’m just beyond frustrated! I’ve read tons of posts but I haven’t understood any of them enough to try their suggestions.

    Well, today I was so frustrated with wasting four days on this, that I DID try to change the code, thinking that if it didn’t work, i could just change it back. Well, I put a “2” next to the word “sidebar”, it didn’t work, so I just deleted it. This is the text I changed.
    register_sidebar( array(

    Well, my page will NOT come up now. I get an error. I’m SO frustrated..can anyone help? ERROR:

    Fatal error: Call to undefined function register_sidebar2()……..on line 97 (and no, I have no idea how to find line 97)

    Do I just need to go to my server, find the original file and replace it in the file in the WordPress dashboard editor?

    Does ANYBODY know how I can fix my website to add a left sidebar? My website is exactly how I want it, except for that. I’m just so frustrated…I’m getting real sick of this website..lol! Can anybody shed some light. I even have a “WordPress for Web Designs for Dummies” book.

    Here’s my website: https://www.momscrazywritinglife.com

    Thank you!

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

  • I’d suggest downloading a copy of your theme to your local computer and then replacing whichever file you changed with a new copy of that file via FTP.

    Thread Starter cjacob

    (@cjacob)

    I know that FTP is file transfer but I can’t remember what I do with that???? I’m sorry, I haven’t touched my web site in about a year, so I’ve forgotten a lot.

    Sorry for being such a “newbie” about all this.

    Thread Starter cjacob

    (@cjacob)

    ok. So here’s the update. I got to my files. I found my “functions.php” file. I found line 97 and yes it does look wrong and still has that 2. this is what it looks like:

    register_sidebar2 (array(

    So the 2 is still there. SO, can I just delete the 2, then save it?
    Then what’s my next step? I’ve found that I can NOT copy and past this text, so how do I make the changes in THIS file, appear back in my editor in my WordPress editor?

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks!

    See: https://codex.www.ads-software.com/FTP_Clients You’ll need to get FTP access info from your host.

    Download the theme and look at what’s wrong in your file vs. a new copy. I can’t tell you what to change or whether that will work.

    If you need to make changes in a file, it’s best to make them in a text editor on your local computer and then upload via FTP. Always make a copy of any file saved someplace else(safe) before you change anything too.

    Thread Starter cjacob

    (@cjacob)

    Sorry..I”m still really lost.

    I know what I need to change. I need to take away the “2”. But where do I make the change? I have the .php file. But you said to make a copy first. Well, I can’t copy any text off that file. It won’t let me.

    Also, the copying thing throws me. I assume you are telling me when I want to make changes, to first copy the text and paste it somewhere else? Where can I paste it, where I can make changes, then see how it looks on the web? Am I supposed to copy it from, say, my WordPress editor, copy it into notepad (?),then make my changes? But where do I go with that changed text, to see how it will look on the internet?

    Also, I still don’t understand FTP??? I have access right now to a number of FTP options. I have HostGator, so when I go to my file options, it give me 3:

    FTP Accounts
    FTP session control
    FTP anonymous

    But what do these mean to me? I have no idea.

    Can you explain? Sorry for being so clueless with all this.

    Thanks for your help!

    They seem to have a lot of good info here:

    https://support.hostgator.com/articles/ftp-getting-started

    I’d recommend FileZilla for a FTP client:

    https://filezilla-project.org/

    See the info on their site for how to use it.

    Thread Starter cjacob

    (@cjacob)

    Ok, I fixed it!

    I made a copy of my functions.php file, just in case. Then I went to the original and deleted the 2. I saved it. Now my web site is back and active!

    But wasn’t there something I was supposed to do with the ftp?

    And even though I AM very happy it’s up :)… I STILL don’t know how to add a left sidebar.

    Any suggestions?

    That’s great! As to the sidebar, see this:
    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Function_Reference/register_sidebar

    Start a new thread for help with it, but you might be better off finding a theme that has two sidebars already – that theme is awfully narrow already.

    Oh and I just noticed that you are not using a Child Theme – which is absolutely mandatory for making changes like this to your theme – as is, you are going to lose all your changes to theme files when the theme is updated. You really do not want to go there :/ !

    So before you do anything, go back and do this:

    https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Child_Themes

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
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