This is a long thread, but it should have the answers you're looking for: http://themeshaper.com/forums/topic/something-new-bout-widgetized-areas
You'll probably want to rename the "Primary" and "Secondary" widget area to something that makes more sense. Then register a new widget area, that will go below those two and hook it in. The arrangement can all be handled by css.
I know this is a little vague, but if you have trouble post again. Here's some sample code I used in a project. It's used for a different purpose, but might be helpful so you can see how different areas are registered and renamed and called:
// Defining Widget Areas
function remove_widget_areas($content) {
unset($content['Index Insert']);
unset($content['Single Insert']);
unset($content['Index Top']);
unset($content['Index Bottom']);
unset($content['Single Top']);
unset($content['Single Bottom']);
unset($content['Page Top']);
unset($content['Page Bottom']);
return $content;
}
add_filter('thematic_widgetized_areas', 'remove_widget_areas');
// Renaming and Changing Functionality
function rename_widgetized_areas($content) {
$content['Primary Aside']['args']['name'] = 'Image Rotator';
$content['Secondary Aside']['args']['name'] = 'Page Sidebar';
$content['Secondary Aside']['args']['description'] = 'This widget area appears on pages but not posts.';
$content['1st Subsidiary Aside']['args']['name'] = 'Footer First';
$content['2nd Subsidiary Aside']['args']['name'] = 'Footer Second';
$content['3rd Subsidiary Aside']['args']['name'] = 'Footer Third';
$content['Secondary Aside']['function'] = 'childtheme_secondary_aside';
return $content;
}
add_filter('thematic_widgetized_areas', 'rename_widgetized_areas');
// Register Fourth Footer Widget Area
function add_fourth_subsidiary(){
register_sidebar(array(
'name' => 'Footer Fourth',
'id' => '4th-subsidiary-aside',
'before_widget' => '<li id="%1$s" class="widgetcontainer %2$s">',
'after_widget' => "</li>",
'before_title' => thematic_before_title(),
'after_title' => thematic_after_title(),
));
}
add_action('init','add_fourth_subsidiary');
// Output Fourth Footer Widget Area
function output_fourth_subsidiary(){
if ( is_sidebar_active('4th-subsidiary-aside') ) { // there are active widgets for this aside
echo '<div id="fourth" class="aside sub-aside">'. "\n" . '<ul class="xoxo">' . "\n";
dynamic_sidebar('4th-subsidiary-aside');
echo '</ul>' . "\n" . '</div><!-- #fourth .aside -->'. "\n";
do_action('widget_area_4th_subsidiary_aside');
}
}
add_action('thematic_after_third_sub', 'output_fourth_subsidiary');
// Register Blog Sidebar Widget Area
function blog_sidebar_widgetarea() {
register_sidebar(array(
'name' => 'Blog Sidebar',
'id' => 'blog-sidebar',
'before_widget' => '<li id="%1$s" class="widgetcontainer %2$s">',
'after_widget' => "</li>\n",
'before_title' => "<h3 class=\"widgettitle\">",
'after_title' => "</h3>\n",
));
}
add_action( 'init', 'blog_sidebar_widgetarea');
// Register Blog Sidebar Widget Area
function innovations_sidebar_widgetarea() {
register_sidebar(array(
'name' => 'Innovations Center',
'id' => 'innovations-sidebar',
'before_widget' => '<li id="%1$s" class="widgetcontainer %2$s">',
'after_widget' => "</li>\n",
'before_title' => "<h3 class=\"widgettitle\">",
'after_title' => "</h3>\n",
));
}
add_action( 'init', 'innovations_sidebar_widgetarea');
// Register Blog Sidebar Widget Area
function research_sidebar_widgetarea() {
register_sidebar(array(
'name' => 'Research and Insights',
'id' => 'research-sidebar',
'before_widget' => '<li id="%1$s" class="widgetcontainer %2$s">',
'after_widget' => "</li>\n",
'before_title' => "<h3 class=\"widgettitle\">",
'after_title' => "</h3>\n",
));
}
add_action( 'init', 'research_sidebar_widgetarea');
// Change Secondary Output to Display Widget Areas Conditionally
function childtheme_secondary_aside() {
if (is_sidebar_active('secondary-aside') && is_sidebar_active('blog-sidebar')) {
echo thematic_before_widget_area('secondary-aside');
if (is_page_template('template-innovationcenter.php.php') || is_page('innovations-center') || is_category('innovations-center') || in_category('innovations-center')) {
dynamic_sidebar('innovations-sidebar');
} elseif (is_page('research-insights') || is_category('research-insights') || in_category('research-insights')) {
dynamic_sidebar('research-sidebar');
} elseif (is_page_template('template-blog.php')) {
dynamic_sidebar('blog-sidebar');
} elseif (is_page()) {
dynamic_sidebar('secondary-aside');
} else {
dynamic_sidebar('blog-sidebar');
}
echo thematic_after_widget_area('secondary-aside');
}
}
