I want to have more control over how the links are placed here and here.

The entry links in each category box shouldn't be arranged by date because these blogs are arranged by topic, not date. Is there any way to set priorities on entries, so that they will appear in the order that I choose?

[edited to add:] The only way I can keep certain entry links on the front page is to change the date on the entry every few weeks or months, or to create a static link to the entry page... but that can only be placed at the top or bottom of the category.

Two thoughts:

1. Don't use MT tags to generate your list of links, but instead use hard-coded html links to the archive pages (would require code editing each time to add an entry to those sections, however...)

2. Take advantage of the fact that you've chosen not to display the "date posted" on your entries and fake the dates on entries (change the date after you create the entry) in a given category to control the order they appear. And by spreading your dates out, you'd have room to slip in an article or two between existing entries.

To do this automatically, you'd have to drive the code off something...date, keyword, etc...and currently date ascend/descend is a sortable attribute for that reason.

Unless someone else has a better way, option 2 above would probably work the best.

Cheers,
Gary

That might be true for your center section if you've got the "last 7 days/number" in place, but that should only affect the center area of the main index...the category lists on the side should not be affected.

Gary

Another thought:

You can assign mutliple categories to entries in MT. You could create a category called "Front" (or whatever), and code your main index center section to display only from category "Front." Change "lastn="x"" to a really high number so the front page entries will remain showing somewhat indefinitely. Create new entries assign their primary category to be the one you want them to appear under on the sidebars, then assign the secondary category to Front.

Now when you want to retire an article from the front page, edit the entry and detach it from the secondary category "Front."

Cheers,
Gary

Thanks for the replies. Actually, I've done all of the above. My concern, though, is sorting the menu links... which apparently can only be hard-coded or by adjusting the dates, as Gary suggested. I'm already doing both, but was hoping there was a more elegant solution. Maybe TypePad will have it! [waiting eagerly]