Hello! I probably have the most basic question ever asked, and to make matters worse I'm not sure I'm even asking it correctly. I'll try!
We're using the Moments template on our site, which is currently using Joomla 3.2. I have the Zentools installed. I am trying to achieve the grid layout and have selected what I think are the settings I want (margins between items, animate overlay effect).
However, I have been unable to wrestle my site into anything that resembles the demo grid layout. I've exhausted my Google-fu as well as far as being self-sufficient is concerned. Is there a step-by-step guide somewhere for complete newcomers bereft of any prior experience and knowledge?

Here's our site, by the way: yodaley.com/vinoveg/
I have no idea why that first post is so gigantic, either. I do appreciate any guidance you're able to offer!

-Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Can you clarify which grid layout we are refering to?

Are we looking at something like this page off the demo site?
bambootheme.com/showcase/jun13/
or
a grid gallery like
bambootheme.com/showcase/jun13/full-width/grid-gallery
or a different image grid layout like
bambootheme.com/showcase/jun13/page-examples/featured-gallery

Cheers
Paul

Hi, Paul! Thank you so much for your quick reply. And I realize I may need more help than is appropriate to this forum!

The first example you linked

bambootheme.com/showcase/jun13/

is what I'm after. I thought it would be in Extensions > Template Manager > Moments > Layout, but I haven't been able to make anything happen.

Hi Kathy,

Are you wanting a leading article?

As these are settings I have locally for the featured articles home link



If youi increase the intro limit and drop the leading article that might do the trick

Cheers
Paul

That's it! That did it. Thank you very much!
I hate to keep pressing my luck here, but I'm having one more issue that is vexing me mightily.
My articles have categories (main dishes, sides, soups, so on and so forth), and I put these categories in the slide out menu. However, I cannot get to all of the articles in a category (i.e., side dishes) by clicking on that category in the slide out menu. If I click on the category on a post, I can get to all the posts in that category. I am unable to locate the disconnect here. Does this make sense?

Hi Kathy,

sorry I'm not quite following

Is there a problem with your category blog links?

Cheers
Paul

Yes, that's it.
All of my post are assigned to a category, which shows up in the upper right corner of the posts.
The categories are also listed in the slide-out menu. It was my belief that assigning posts to a category would in fact stick them in that category, so when I clicked on, say, soups and sauces in the menu I'd see all posts in that category.

Oof. It may be time to hire a professional! I think I'm in over my head.

Yes If I'm following you right that is indeed how it should work

With the menu links its a blog layout and in there you have selected only the side dish category?

Cheers
Paul

Correct- my menu slides out, my categories are listed, I click a category, and I get everything, not just the posts in that category.



After I click on the category, say side dishes, this is what I get:


Plainly, I'm doing something wrong, but I have no idea what that is.

In the side dishes admin menu link are you only selecting the category "side dishes"?

Cheers
Paul

It happens with any category I select. It's as if I assign the posts to categories, but the categories won't accept the posts. Selecting a category in the slide out menu doesn't do anything, but selecting the category from the post itself will bring me all posts in that category. So I've set up the menu incorrectly and can't figure out how to fix it.

Just to clarify

what category is being selected in the menu link in the dropdown box - "Choose a category*

I'm assuming you are not selecting a category that is a parent of several categories?

Cheers
Paul

I think I may be a hopeless case here.
Here's a screen shot of my categories:



I think I've figured out my question- how can I get a page with JUST posts from a certain category, and a page for each category?

Hi

I think the problem is your menu links

You need a category link type - probably you would want a category blog link

and then make sure only the correct category is selected in that link

Cheers
Paul

Ok, how do I make a category blog link?
Truly, if I should hire someone to do this, I'm completely open to the idea! I hate to keep asking questions that are probably very obvious to you.

Its ok

In your menu you have set up currently

click the side dish link

make sure the

Menu Item Type * is set to category blog

Then a box will open below - chose the sidedish category

You should see an advanced options tab - this allows settings to be adjusted

Cheers
Paul

Like this

Cheers
Paul

Paul, I can't thank you enough for all of your help today! I truly appreciate your guidance and your patience.
Have a lovely evening!
-Kathy

You're welcome

Good luck with the site

Cheers
Paul

All right, I'm getting there!

I am trying to connect what I see here in Extensions > template manager > Moments > Layout, with the content on my site.


That floating window, what is that?



This seems to be the part that controls my front page:



but what is the rest of it? Is there a user's manual somewhere? Because I'd read that all day and night rather than endlessly crying for help. I know there's a help button- I click it, it reads "Welcome to T3," starts a little tour, and stops when it gets to the part about "please enable Theme Magic mode in general tab first." I have Theme Magic mode enabled. I have to refresh the page to get that box to close.