I want a *website* I do not want a *blog*.

I’m sorry you’re having a rough time of it. But what exactly are you having a problem with?

Headers are part of the theme you select and some of them support custom headers such as the Twenty Eleven theme. Which theme are you trying to modify the header?

Hiya Jan,

I am trying to create a web page with artwork and text at the top, followed by a menu bar, followed by text, artwork and hyperlinks (content). I do not want to see concatenated pages in reverse chronological order, I do not want to invite comments from readers, I do not want to see a calendar, and so on and so forth.

In two days I have only ‘succeeded’ in going backwards, so that the ‘theme’ I started with (‘Chip Life’) as being close is now totally hosed.

My hair is on fire!

I am used to operating math equations, CAD software, Bridgeport mills, tablesaws, firearms, etc., that go where you point them, not this automatic easter egg malarkey…

I have to learn all these secret easter eggs and special programming language

You really don’t, unless you want to. There are absolutely fantastic “corporate web site” oriented WordPress themes available from any number of reputable commercial sources that allow you to choose every sidebar, navigation, page type, slider, gallery, portfolio, layout combination and short-code features you can think of. And man do I love developers that nest their themes short-code options in the WordPress editor! Talk about making folks like me look like a wizard!

All that at the convenience of a minimal learning curve that usually involves only little more than a point-and-click learning requirement. And there is an abundance of quality themes out there being offered for less than $50.00 US.

I have been doing this in MS Word, for crying out loud,since the previous century

That’s definitely an “old school”, die-hard skill to be admired. MS Word is a word processor, not a web content creator; as much as MS would like folks to think that it is, it isn’t. It never has been. Even Front Page was wonky. My hat comes off to anyone who can put that content on a real web site without repeatedly stabbing himself in the eye over the MSO formatting errors that so commonly plague the effort.

Take some time to explore some of the commercial themes that are out there. You’ll be surprised just how rapidly WordPress can become “turbocharged”, and with how little effort it really takes to get a handle on the features that come with a well crafted theme. They give you the tools and options to focus more on content management than blogging and coding.

– Just my two cents. (Sorry.. Too much coffee today, I think!) ??

“…an abundance of quality themes out there being offered for less than $50.00 US.”

ClaytonJames, this is helpful. any recomendations? Thank you.

“MS Word is a word processor, not a web content creator…”

I was only referring to laying out a page, electronic or paper, that looks and feels the way it is intended. And I agree that MS Word is crap, which underlines my complaint. THIS crap is like herding rabid pussycats.

…You can have too much coffee…? Inconceivable!

I am trying to create a web page with artwork and text at the top, followed by a menu bar, followed by text, artwork and hyperlinks (content).

@mark W. Ingalls, So here’s the thing: what you want to do is outside of what WordPress does unless you actually program or modify your own custom WordPress theme.

That’s not malarkey BTW. ?? Out of the box WordPress does posts and pages very well. That’s what it’s designed for. You can (and people do) what you want with a header image, menu, etc. but again that’s normally performed by people with CSS and PHP code.

I’m sorry but that’s really the way it is. That customization is not exactly drag-n-drop although some themes come close to that.

Progress:

I realized that the ‘widget’ boxes that *appear* to be empty on the Appearance|Widgets page are actually populated with defaults somewhere in code. If you want them to ‘disappear’ you have to override the code, e.g., by placing empty text ‘widgets’ in the boxes. (That, or grub around in the ‘Stylesheet’ code, something I am reticent to do.)

I was hoping to have heard from someone, e.g., ClaytonJames, by now pointing me to one or more offerings of the $50 theme…

I guess it is time ot start looking on my own. :-/

Here’s one that I trust https://www.woothemes.com/
Also: search the net for ‘buy wordpress themes’.
Most of them will be under $50. Even double would be more than worth it because usually life time support is included.

@kubegusa- Thank you. I will give their stuff a look.

I have used a number of themes from Themeforest that are great:
U-design, Alchemist,Suerte, Striking, Dandelion.

All themes require support of some sort so check into the support and theme ratings and the number of buyers all good indications of a good theme.

Probably most important is to make sure the support is active.

Yes, and check if the support is done by professionals and not just by volunteers. Nothing wrong with that of course, but the former guarantees your stuff getting fixed and being brought up to date if something breaks in a new WP version or with certain plugins.

@kevinhaig-

Thanks. Thanks, everyone. I feel like I have direction now.

(I hope this thread will help someone else…)

Latest update: I decided to put my effort into my true talent (RF antennas) and hire a web designer. I couldn’t be happier with the decision!

Here is my new site: https://www.machine2wireless.com

Even with all that I’ve learned from reading about WP here and elsewhere, I think I made the best business decision.

Hi Mark, you could write a post on the Your WordPress forum, so we can have a little review of it ??

I’m so glad that you’re glad ??