Question

I had to maunally add some html within the sidebar div of html, but I when I preview/activate this theme, it doesnt show the maunal updated content of sidebar, do I need to add this to sidebar.php also and if so where. I am a total nood to both wp as well as php. Can you please help?

Answer 1

This is the recommended way for WordPress sidebar (sidebar.php)

<ul id="sidebar">
   <?php if ( !dynamic_sidebar() ) : ?>
       <li>{static sidebar item 1}</li>
       <li>{static sidebar item 2}</li>
   <?php endif; ?>
</ul>

but if you always want to have some static items on your sidebar then you can make sidebar.php as follows

// Static items will be always at the top of the sidebar
<ul id="sidebar">
    <?php if ( !dynamic_sidebar() ) : ?>
        <li>{static sidebar item 1}</li>
        <li>{static sidebar item 2}</li>
    <?php endif; ?>
</ul>

if(function_exists(‘dynamic_sidebar’) && dynamic_sidebar()) :

endif;

Reference : Register Sidebar and Dynamic Sidebar.

This is your current sidebar (not dynamic)

<?php include (TEMPLATEPATH . '/searchform.php'); ?> 
<div id="sidebar"> 
    <h3>Category</h3>
    <ul class="ul-cat"> 
        <?php wp_list_categories('show_count=1&title_li='); ?> 
    </ul>
    <h3>Archives</h3>
    <ul class="ul-archives"> 
        <?php wp_get_archives('type=monthly'); ?> 
    </ul>
</div>