Chris here…
What Kyle said - I’m really looking forward to checking out the demo! 
Take care…
I have a mock layout…which will have no relevance to how the new layout/design will look like. This is just an example.
http://www.thundercatslair.org/blackpyramid
username: thundercatslair
password: beyondsight
Things I’d like to point:
The page width has increased! And it can be decreased with a click of a button…on ALL the pages!
Wordpress allows us to use a menu bar (the horizontal one) as well as left and right sidebars. In the mock, you’ll notice that some pages have both, some have one, and some have none. The main menu bar now has a rollover where you can see the main subsections! Very easy to update.
Notice the side bar. We have an archive pull down menu…which we are currently in need of. Everything is automatic. Also, look at the recent posts on the front page left side. Now none of the older posts will be forgotten since the last 5, 6, or 7 title posts will always be shown on the left side.
I’d like to point out the first post of the front page. Now, I know we LOVE to write long posts (like the one you are reading now), so being able to have a “Read the Rest of the Entry” link will definitely benefit those who just want a summary and those who want to read everything. It’s also cool that each post will have it’s OWN page.
Next, Comments. Some pages have them…some don’t. What I’m planning on doing is integrating the forum with the comments so that anyone who registers on the forums will use the same forum id to post throughout the site.
Also, we have a search box so that visitors can search the entire site. And, there is an RSS feed that is customizable for all pages/posts. So for example Chris updates the Comics section…if that page has an RSS feed, subscribers will know that there is an update to the Comics section! Cool, huh? It’s using the podcast technology on the website.
I’m still working on giving everyone access to the backend. I want to be able to show that the HTML will work within the mock…so give me a day or two to open it up to you guys.
This is a mock design…and is not using the license/theme that I will be purchasing by the end of the month.
Again, feel free to share your thoughts so we can discuss any comments and concerns (in a nice polite manner).
I take it it will be similar but with our current background. I already like it, and particularly like the Revolution Pro-Media Theme http://www.revolutiontheme.com/themes/revolution-pro-media
You know, now Im more anxious to see the whole site in the Pro Media Theme
Frikkin sweet.
That’s all I have to say about that.
Chris here…
I’m liking the concept of what I’m seeing so far, particularly stuff like the drop-down menus - i.e., from the Cartoon Section bar being able to access the Episode Guide, Encyclopedia, Animation Art, etc., individually, without necessarily having to navigate through the front page of that section. I also particularly liked the April Fools post at the top! 
Obviously this isn’t the scheme that we’ll be working with (at least, I hope not - j/k! ;)) but, I can see the principle and how it will work, and it looks good!
Are you yet able to show us an area where we can play around with creating a page, Manny my friend?
Take care…
http://www.thundercatslair.org/blackpyramid/wp-login.php
Enter your name (case sensitive) and password (beyondsight)
chris
neil
kyle
mannyr
matt
martin
mark
This is the interface you’ll be working in. You’ll be able to upload files, images, etc within the interface. Everyone will still be able to use FTP, but for those who don’t have or want to use that, you won’t need to. Again, this is what it’ll look like, but I can enable/disable plugins that will add more features so this is just a small piece of what we’ll have in the upgrade.
Manny the names you posted on here as usernames are not working:?
Chris here…
Likewise for me, I’m afraid… 
Take care…
Either the names dont work or the password doesnt work.
You guys need to enter “thundercatslair” and “beyondsight” first (like the staff directory)…and then at the wordpress login page you use your name and the password beyondsight.
The directory is password protected just like the staff directory. Then once you enter that information, you should see a wordpress login page where you enter your name and the password, which is beyondsight.
The initial login works however my login info needed on wordpress does not work. I typed mannyr for user and beyondsight for password and no luck. Works for Chris and Kyle though…
Sorry about that Manny. Try again…it should work now. I think I misspelled the password. :oops:
Excellent…Ive played with it for a short while and lets just say i do like it however Im wondering how this can work with other areas such as toy section and the encyclopedia. If it is as easy as posting like i did then this should be a breeze and should speed up TCL’s development immensely
There are posts and there are pages. Pages are basically the entire pages instead of making small messages (posts), if that makes any sense.
To add your own HTML coding, there are two tabs titled Visual and Code in the writing interface…you have to click on Code.
I’ll definitely be working with everyone to get accustom to the interface, but if you guys play around with it more, I’m sure you’ll understand it. It’s very easy to use.
Cool!!! Ill have a go at it…on a side note how did you manage to change the colors of our usernames???Ive been trying to find out how to do it.
EDIT: Never mind I saw how you did it
Chris here…
It won’t let me write in the message box for some reason - I can title it, select a file to upload, input the tags, etc., but for some reason I can’t type a message to go with it - am I doing something wrong…?
Take care…
I can see that you tried to copy and paste HTML Chris. Did you switch the tab to Code instead of Visual?
I copied and pasted the info from the actual page via copy/paste and while all the info showed up (minus the links) the left side where it says recent posts is still there causing parts of the page to be cut off
Yeah, that’s what happened when I tried doing that as well. We made the current pages for the current design…that’s the main reason why it looks that way. If I/you/we alter the HTML code slightly, it would fit the page fine.
Food for thought: If you run our site through the W3C Markup Validation, which checks how efficient our site runs on browsers, we would fail every validation on the test.
Ahh ok so thats the problem then, my next question is if we were to alter the coding as suggested then what would happen, would it show up the same as it does like on our current layout, and is the current posts section on the left side stay permanent throughout all the pages. I kind of find it annoying as well as the sections area on the right side. Also how come the links never showed up on the page that i pasted