Check out our blog for WordPress updates, WordPress plugin reviews, and general web development hints.
After looking for a good code highlighting plugin, I can finally recommend iGSyntax Hiliter. This plugin allows you to "highlight" multiple languages within your WordPress web site.
PHP example:
PHP:
CSS Example:
The plugin is easy to install and use, and if you still needs more information, a manual is provided.CSS:
.clear {clear:both;}
XHTML, CSS, WordPress, PHP, AJAX
The user interface for this web site was based on some rough mockups that were provided to me by the web site admin and from those I produced the HTML and CSS. I also chose the color scheme, created the tabs, and pieced everything together.
I learned quite a bit about the inner workings of WordPress as well as about making just about everything dynamic (the tabs, drop down menus, sidebars, etc). I also learned about WordPress widgets and implemented them for the dynamic sidebars. (Widgets give the non-technical user an easy way to customize their sidebars.)
I look forward to using WordPress widgets with other future sites as well as create a few widgets of my own.
I have been working with WordPress for multiple years now and I decided I needed to start reviewing some of my favorite plugins - as I receive a number of requests about what plugins I use/prefer. I am going to start with a newcomer: WP Newsletter. This plugin works great for WordPress sites allows you to:
The plugin developer is very responsive and open to new ideas and adding functionality to his plugin. There are also many other general newsletter functions you would expect and want
If you need a newsletter plugin for WordPess, check it out!
I recently started looking into WordPress Widgets which allow people to customize their WordPress web site or blog without knowing any HTML. Widgets allow WordPress users to simply "drag and drop" features in their sidebars. Sound interesting?
A basic overview on how to get widgets working on your site:
PHP:
, otherwise you should have moved over the functions.php file that was included with the widgets plugin download to use with the classic or default theme.
PHP:
at the beginning of your sidebar code (assuming you are using sidebar.php) then at the end
PHP:
<?php endif; ?>
In between those two PHP statements, you can put any default code that you would like to display if you decide not to use the widgets for the sidebar.That is it for the basic set up. You can then log into the WordPress admin and under "Presentation", you will see "Sidebar Widgets" as an option to choose in the menu. If you want to add/delete/edit your sidebar, you can now just drag and drop widget "blocks" in the sidebar window. If you want the calendar at the top, followed by your link list, followed by an RSS feed, drag all those options in. If you decide that you really want the RSS feed at the top, just drag it to the top of the list. This is quite cool (and easy)!
Advanced Widget Customization:
In most sites that I have worked on, there are more than one sidebars...and ideally I would like to make all of them use widgets because it is so darn cool and easy. If I want two sidebars, I would go into the functions.php file and instead of using:
I would use: PHP:
Ok, that does a little more than just giving me the option to have two sidebars. The code above allows me to name the sidebars (I named mine "Sidebar 1" and "Sidebar 2". The code also allows me to remove the list code that the sidebar generally uses (and I do not) as well as allows me to replace h2 tag with something else (in this case the h3 tag). You can also customize the div classes and IDs in the example above. Now in your Sidebar Widget Admin page, you can drag and drop widgets on both Sidebars. **If you would like more than two sidebars, just use the code above to duplicate new Sidebars...just make sure they are have unique names. The only thing you will need to do now is duplicate the sidebar.php file so you can call in the second sidebar. For example sake, I duplicated sidebar.php and named it sidebar2.php and the only code I changed in the sidebar files (when using more than one sidebar) is this line:
. Then, sidebar2.php would have that same line, except I would change the title from "Sidebar 1" to "Sidebar 2". Finally, in the template, I would use the use the WordPress code to call in Sidebar 1 by using PHP:
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar() ) : ?> to: <code> [php]<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('Sidebar 1') ) : ?>
and then elsewhere in the template I would use PHP:
<?php get_sidebar(); ?>
to call in the second sidebar.PHP:
<?php include("sidebar2.php"); ?>
More information
**Please note that I have placed spaces between the opening "<" and the tag name so it would appear in the text.
The user interface for this web site was designed by Duma Tau so that it would closely match their existing web site. From there existing table based layout, I produced the HTML and CSS for the WordPress theme. For the Duma Tau Newsletter, I created a layout that mirrors their existing paper distributed newsletter layout.
I have received multiple requests for a good newsletter based solution that would work well with WordPress, and I am very happy with the Newsletter plugin I used for this site. I have worked with the developer to add features to the plugin for Duma Tau and the developer has been very receptive. This project also led me to learn more about the rich text editors available for WordPress. I ended up running into issues with several, but again, the developers were very easy to get in touch with to work out the kinks. The lesson learned here, if something is not available do not be afraid to ask.
I look forward to helping others with their WordPress and Newsletter needs.
Stay informed with SDAC News and blog posts by subscribing to our RSS feeds.
Subscribe to SDAC Inc. Blog | Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Search
Copyright © 2004-2008 Sandbox Development and Consulting Inc. All rights reserved.
