Working With WordPress Widgets
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This document discusses WordPress widgets and how they can be used to customize themes. Widgets allow modification of function and appearance and are configurable code snippets. Not all themes support widgets. Widgets can be added by dragging them from the available list onto widget areas. Common widgets include Archives, Categories, Links, and Text, which provide navigation, background content, and functionality. Widgets must have relevant content to be useful.
Working With WordPress Widgets
- 1. WordPress WidgetsKathy E Gill1 February 2011
- 2. What Are Widgets?A “configurable code snippet" that makes it possible to modify function and appearance
- 3. Widgets & WordPress ThemesNot all themes are widget-capableThemes vary in widget options, location
- 6. Where Are Widgets?Access the widgets page from the Appearance Menu in your Dashboard.
- 7. Default Appearance - Single
- 8. Default Appearance - Multi
- 9. Monotone: No Widgets Supported
- 10. Editing AppearanceNote: once you edit a widget area, the default widgets disappearRecommendation: before editing, take a screenshot of your themeTip: if you don’t want anything to show up in a widget area, try adding a blank text widget.
- 11. Adding WidgetsTo add a widget, drag from the Available or Inactive Widgets area on the left onto the Sidebar area on the right.When you see a dashed line appear, you can drop the widget into place.Single widget area; image from WP.com
- 13. Configuring WidgetsEach widget has configuration options.Click on the triangle on the right side of the widget to configure.You’ll need to save only if you edit.
- 14. Ordering, Deleting WidgetsChange the order of the widgets by dragging and dropping them in the sidebar area.Delete by dragging to the left or clicking the “delete” link on the configuration box.Note: design change is immediate – no “save” required
- 15. Screencast
- 16. Important Widgets (1/5)ArchivesNavigation. Provides access to old posts; a key characteristic of blog as a genreCategoriesNavigation. Provides access to posts by topic; a key characteristic of blog as a genre
- 17. Important Widgets (2/5)LinksAs Blogroll, Background. Provides insight into blog content, author; a key characteristic of blog as a genreTag CloudNavigation, Background. Provides access to posts by keyword; requires reasonably large corpus to be useful.
- 18. Important Widgets (3/5)PagesNavigation. Provides access to pages; essential if sidebar is primary navigation.Category CloudNavigation, Background. Provides alternative access to posts by category; requires reasonably large corpus to be useful.
- 19. Important Widgets (4/5)Recent PostsBackground. Highlights most recent posts; useful when “more” tag not employed.Recent CommentsBackground. Highlights most recent comments; requires reasonably large corpus/frequent comments to be meaningful.
- 20. Important Widgets (5/5)TextMay be the most important widget; can hold text or HTML but no javascript.RSS LinksProvides access to post and comment RSS feed using orange button. Essential if there is no other RSS subscription link in the design.
- 21. Interesting Widgets (1/3)TwitterBackground. Displays tweets by handle.FlickrBackground. Displays photos from Flickr based on an RSS feed.DeliciousBackground. Display Delicious links by handle.
- 22. Interesting Widgets (2/3)Box.netFunctionality. Share files with your readers.MeeboFunctionality. Enables private IM chat.SocialVibeFunctionality. Support a charity.
- 23. Interesting Widgets (3/3)Blog SubscriptionFunctionality. Enables email alert when there are new posts.SocialVibeFunctionality. Support a charity.
- 24. Widgets That Require ContentSearchUseless unless there is a large corpus.Top ClicksUseless unless there is a large corpus.Top Posts and PagesUseless unless there is a large corpus.
- 25. WordPress WidgetsList and descriptions at WP.com: http://en.support.wordpress.com/topic/widgets-sidebars/Even more widgets available for self-hosted WP accounts: http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_Widgets
- 26. For Portfolio SitesConsider adding links to Facebook, LinkedIn and TwitterYou will use Text Box. We’ll do one of these on Thursday.
- 27. Widgets Are Not Plug-insWP.com has no user-configurable plug-ins
- 28. Widgets = content (more or less)
- 29. Plug-Ins = functionality (usually are back-end, such as Akismet, statistics or Google analytics, but may provide short-code functionality or easy content sharing)CreditsKathy E Gill, @kegillCreative Commons: share-and-share alike, non-commercial, attributionPermanent home: http://wiredpen.com/resources/presentations/wordpress-using-widgets-to-customize-your-theme/