Static posts page is not working

Question

I've found other questions asking the same thing but I think I followed the method correctly.

I created a page called "Splash" (page-splash.php) and another empty page called "Blog"

But when I change the settings in "Reading" the main page is working (WP loads page-splash.php correctly) but the the loop in my index.php is NOT returning any posts.

! http://i.imgur.com/ZLVlp.png

This is my index.php

<?php get_header(); ?>

<div id="content">

<?php query_posts($query_string . '&cat=-3'); ?>
<?php if ( have_posts() ) : while ( have_posts() ) : the_post(); ?>

<div class="post">

<!-- Display the Title as a link to the Post's permalink. -->
<h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>

<!-- Display the date (November 16th, 2009 format) and a link to other posts by this posts author. -->
 <small><?php the_time('F jS, Y') ?> by <?php the_author_posts_link() ?></small>

  <p><?php the_content(); ?></p>

 </div> 

 <?php endwhile; else: ?>
 <p>Sorry, no posts matched your criteria.</p>
 <?php endif; ?>

</div>
<?php get_footer(); ?>

The thing that confuses me if I remove the whole use a static front page feature and just return to the normal settings. The loop in index.php is working...

Update: here's the site I'm working on. http://www.christiegrahamphotography.com/2012/wordpress/ Click into blog will return zero posts (I have 3 published posts)

Answer 1

When you use "static front page" are you selecting the actual page you want displayed on the home page?

It sounds like you want the "Splash" page as the home page. You should create the Splash page in the Page Edit Screen, select a custom page template if that is what you're wanting to use and save the page. Now you'll go to Reading>Front Page Displays *Static Page and choose the Splash page from the drop-down list. Your front page should then display the Splash Page.

Then you would select the blank page Blog in the drop-down list next to the Latest Posts option.