The breadth of my LJ knowledge would underwhelm you

[geoviki]

It has quickly become clear that I could not plan and conduct a two-car funeral procession.

So I'm setting up the "delayed WIP status" community, right? Being clever, I thought, I decided to use a future-dated entry to serve as an index and instruction sheet for future entries.

But.

LJ doesn't permit communities to use future-dated entries like this because they didn't see the need. Which proves that you should never try to second-guess your customers' needs. That's all I have to say.

At any rate, could someone with more LJ knowledge (which is probably most of you) please advise me on how to set up a little thing at the top or the side that could serve as a linked index, that I could modify in future, and that would be easy to use? And then, how can I put a nifty picture at the top of the journal. I could turn the community into a paid member if I had to.

Help me, Obi-wan. You're my only hope...

Comments

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I only know how to do the type of linked index at the top of my journal (http://www.livejournal.com/users/oxoniensis/), and that, I believe, is only available to paid accounts. I also know how to add a banner to the top of that style LJ. If that's any help, give me a shout.

The only other style I can do and easily add a picture to is the type on drop_the_u, sv_pause and svroundtable. So if that type of layout is suitable, I could help there. I could also make a banner if you're in need of one, though I can't do anything really fancy, just the level of the communities I've linked to.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Oh, a Signe banner would be so wonderful! I found this cool picture for the community, which is going to be called hp_wiplash. So if this could be made to look like the drop_the_u layout, maybe I can think up another way to make an index - like adding them to memories or something. I mean, no sense paying for a journal just for an index if there's another way, I'm thinking.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v170/geoviki/WHIP_HAND.jpg

Thanks for answering!

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, I've never attempted to make anything from this sort of picture. So it's proving to be an interesting challenge! This (http://oxoniensis.popullus.net/banners/wiplash3.jpg) is what I've come up with so far - lots of negative space! I tried to make the colouring and font match the period of the picture, but do say if it's not the sort of thing you're aiming for. If it is on the right lines, do you want other/different text on it?

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love it! Isn't she just the trashiest babe ever?

Go check out the site so far: hp_wiplash
It's sitting there wide open for the moment. See that first entry - that's got the links to the entries I've got so far. And I'm trying to understand the LASTN_HEAD parameters (and failing to see how I can modify it to add a link right where I need it).

After seeing the site - and I'm not attached to this LJ style; I'm still playing so if another style is better, please feel free to suggest one - if you want to put any kind of related text in the image, go ahead!

This part is fun. Reading html overrides is not!

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

If you like the boxy style of drop_the_u, I can easily set up the community in that style for you, and do a colour scheme to match your foxy lady. I think that type of layout is easier to read than the one you've currently got on the go.

I can try and talk you through a style if you want, or, what would be easier, if you made me a temporary mod (you do that through the manage communities page), I could make alterations and you could say yay or nay, or fiddle around once I got a basic set up. I understand what I'm doing to the extent of being able to do a set-up, but not well enough to explain it properly!

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

I think I added you. Let me know if not. Do you have to join yourself? i mean, i added you as all these things, but I don't see it as a "friend"; perhaps that doesn't matter. Give it a shot. Really, I'm all about content; feel free to use your imagination on layout.

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

It's not worked, so it might be because I hadn't already joined. Going here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/members.bml?comm=hp_wiplash now and clicking the maintainer box should do it.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Ha! Done! I can't tell your entries from mine, because I use your icons all the time!

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

Ha! Done! I can't tell your entries from mine, because I use your icons all the time!

I was trying not to use ones that you have, because it gets really weird on a long thread, but I got a bit confused by my keywords! Am sleepy and stupid. *g*

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

I did want to say, though, that I have a hard time reading things without a lot of contrast, or that are too small. Because I'm OLD. They even have a fancy name for it: presbyopia. It's Greek for I can't fucking see anything any more.

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I've tried to pick a clear, contrasting colour scheme, so hopefully it should be OK. I've just popped the banner up as it is, because it's really late, and I'm getting cross-eyed with sleepiness!

Anyway, that's a basic set-up if you'd like to check it out, but it can be fiddled with, or, if you hate it, totally altered! *g*

Did you want the post at the top to be the linked post? If so, and you'd like me to see to that, just tell me what you'd like to call it.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's gorgeous!

And, yes, the top entry is the one that is the Index. Let's be creative, shall we, and call it Index! I just need to know how to edit it when new entries are added in future.

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I've added that post as the website, linked at the top of the page. I don't know if it's possible to change the word website or not, especially in a free account, but I think it makes sense like that.

As for editing the entry, if you click on that post, you'll see a little pencil symbol at the top of the entry, in a row with a heart and arrow symbols. Click on the pencil, and you'll be in editing mode.

A side note, you can edit your own posts in a community, but you can't edit other people's, only delete them or copy, alter and repost them.

I'm off to bed now, so if there's any other alterations needed, let me know and I'll give 'em a go tomorrow. Then, when you're happy with it, you can just remove my mod status.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Weekend=crazy. We spend all day driving to Vail, Colorado, today so that my son's soccer team could play (and lose, sob!). Seven hours of my life - pffft!

Oh, but I have DSL! Woot! And am scrambling to make the big move from one computer to an interim one, and then to order a new new new one!

You probably didn't care about that, now that I think about it.

At any rate, I think we're set to announce WIPLASH tomorrow. Whaddaya think?

Thank you so much for all your help!

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

I'm always excited for anyone getting DSL and/or a new computer. I only got broadband a few months ago, and I still hug it daily!!

I think you've done a great job with WIPLASH - just let me know if you want any alterations to the banner or colour scheme (it's a public holiday today, so I'm lazing around at home, which is sheer bliss).

*ambles off to make yet another pot of coffee*

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I keep replying then thinking of other things! If you prefer, I can do a mock-up of the layout in my journal, so you can see what it could look like. Save you giving me free rein in the actual community! *g*

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

No, I trust you! I'll see if I can fix your access, and let you have at it.

[bowdlerized.livejournal.com]

What a clever community name! :)

What about this--if you make a normal entry in the comm that lists all the fics that have been discussed, you can a) link to it prominently in the userinfo and b) if you use the "A Sturdy Gesture" layout, for instance, I think you can also link to it in the "about this journal" section up top. (See cygnet_cho's journal for an example, though hers is blank. That's the best I can think of.

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

Just had another thought about the links. It would be easy to make a post (that could be altered at any time), and link to it in the place people normally link to their website. I've done that for memories on communities. You can then call the link whatever you want, and it'll show up on the user info page and at the top of the journal.