countModules & php help needed - Joomla! Forum - community, help and support

i've taken free template , first time learnign countmodules. although i've put templates before they've ever been simple.

on template i've been racking brains trying change way sidebar works , can't work out! far i've proved adept @ screwing template up...

here's i'm starting with:

code: select all

    <div id="mainrow" class="row clearfix">                                     
        <?php if($this->countmodules('left') or $this->countmodules('search')) : ?>
        <div id="main" role="main" class="mainleft last clearfix">
            <jdoc:include type="message" />
            <jdoc:include type="component" />
        </div>
        <aside id="sidebar" class="clearfix" role="complementary">
        <?php if($this->countmodules('left')) : ?>
          <div id="left" class="clearfix">         
                  <jdoc:include type="modules" name="left" style="html5"/>
          </div>
          <?php endif; ?>
          <?php if($this->countmodules('search')) : ?>
            <div id="search" role="search">
                  <jdoc:include type="modules" name="search" style="html5" />
            </div>
          <?php endif; ?>
        </aside> 
        <?php else : ?>
        <div id="main" role="main" class="main last clearfix">
        <jdoc:include type="message" />
        <jdoc:include type="component" />
        </div>   
        <?php endif; ?>                          
    </div>


as see code saying if there content in sidebar ('left') or search ('search') display sidebar, else display component area. 'left' 1 sole area, whereas want split 6 identifiable areas can place module , hence, if 1 of them has content want sidebar displayed.

i know it's changing

code: select all

<?php if($this->countmodules('left')

,

code: select all

<?php if($this->countmodules('left')) : ?>

returning '0' or non '0' result ..e.g.

code: select all

<?php if ($leftmodules > 0) : ?>

try might can't there.

can me this?

thanks,

richard

i think might going wrong way. have code in template says if there's module in left column, display it. if have 6 different modules display in left column, use entensions > module manager specifiy modules display on pages.