Comments on: If you were a WordPress theme developer: Theme options http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options Life, Blogging, and WordPress Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:19:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Liz http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-139562 Liz Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:07:21 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-139562 It will definitely be easy if WP will have it's very own social bookmarking tools but overtime I wouldn't be effective anymore. If you happened to use social marker for your social bookmarking, you'll notice that there are actually sites on the list that are already non functional. It will definitely be easy if WP will have it’s very own social bookmarking tools but overtime I wouldn’t be effective anymore. If you happened to use social marker for your social bookmarking, you’ll notice that there are actually sites on the list that are already non functional.

]]> By: teeveTheof http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-117260 teeveTheof Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:08:59 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-117260 Да, похоже что в действительности - так оно и есть. P.S. Сайт, кстати, у вас прикольно сверстан Да, похоже что в действительности – так оно и есть. P.S. Сайт, кстати, у вас прикольно сверстан

]]> By: Charlie http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-94954 Charlie Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:18:22 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-94954 I'd love to see theme options to specify which categories appear in top level navigation. I might have some fifty categories in a website, but only want ten of them to appear in the menu. Currently this requires either handcoding the wp-list-categories or using a plugin. I’d love to see theme options to specify which categories appear in top level navigation. I might have some fifty categories in a website, but only want ten of them to appear in the menu. Currently this requires either handcoding the wp-list-categories or using a plugin.

]]> By: The slippery slope dilemma: How much control should users have? http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-93841 The slippery slope dilemma: How much control should users have? Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:22:37 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-93841 [...] asked this question before — What would you add to a theme options page? It’s a tough question to answer in terms [...] [...] asked this question before — What would you add to a theme options page? It’s a tough question to answer in terms [...]

]]> By: Justin Tadlock http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-60593 Justin Tadlock Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:28:55 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-60593 <strong>Bizhack</strong> 1) I figured a few more people would go for the header image. 2) This can actually be easily done without touching the main theme files at all by filtering <code>the_content()</code>, which is how many plugins do it. 3) Tags shouldn't be used for featuring articles that way. You should feature your articles based on tag, not tag your articles based on feature. 4) I suppose this could be useful as something like a shortcode. Then again, this is probably more of a plugin thing than a theme thing. 5) I think a notes section would be great for the WordPress admin. I've been thinking about writing a plugin for this for a while, but I wouldn't normally put this under the realm of theme options. <strong>EmmaB</strong> This is something I've been doing with my themes for a while. I think it's becoming pretty standard nowadays. There's also the Feedsmith plugin that'll redirect your feeds. <strong>Jonathan</strong> I'm not sure I follow all of that. It's probably because of the long run-on sentence you wrote. Hey, I do have an English degree! ;) <strong>Lane</strong> An opt-in box would be cool, but I think we're starting to blur the lines between plugins and themes here. Of course, I like to do that sort of thing. Bizhack
1) I figured a few more people would go for the header image.

2) This can actually be easily done without touching the main theme files at all by filtering the_content(), which is how many plugins do it.

3) Tags shouldn’t be used for featuring articles that way. You should feature your articles based on tag, not tag your articles based on feature.

4) I suppose this could be useful as something like a shortcode. Then again, this is probably more of a plugin thing than a theme thing.

5) I think a notes section would be great for the WordPress admin. I’ve been thinking about writing a plugin for this for a while, but I wouldn’t normally put this under the realm of theme options.

EmmaB
This is something I’ve been doing with my themes for a while. I think it’s becoming pretty standard nowadays. There’s also the Feedsmith plugin that’ll redirect your feeds.

Jonathan
I’m not sure I follow all of that. It’s probably because of the long run-on sentence you wrote.

Hey, I do have an English degree! ;)

Lane
An opt-in box would be cool, but I think we’re starting to blur the lines between plugins and themes here. Of course, I like to do that sort of thing.

]]> By: Lane http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-60004 Lane Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:34:26 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-60004 Justin, Thanks for the themes. I would love to see a theme that has an opt in box at the top right hand corner incorporatd in it. (I still haven't figured out how to put the code in the text box. That's tomorrow project. I hope it doesn't take all day!)I would also like it to be adjustable, in other words how many line open, ie, Name:, Email address:, Phone number:, URL etc... Thanks, Lane Justin,

Thanks for the themes.

I would love to see a theme that has an opt in box at the top right hand corner incorporatd in it. (I still haven’t figured out how to put the code in the text box. That’s tomorrow project. I hope it doesn’t take all day!)I would also like it to be adjustable, in other words how many line open, ie, Name:, Email address:, Phone number:, URL etc…

Thanks,

Lane

]]> By: Jonathan http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-57565 Jonathan Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:26:33 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-57565 I would like to see the ability to get the IDs, delayed (by date) posting, full comment control (incl., custom gravatars, post order, etc.), also a more robust way of adding graphic files instead of custom fields (yes, it works well but tell that to grandma) with text boxes already set for "feature" "thumbs" and "search" images attached to post. Also would love to see a full editor with a separate "viewpane" of the content edited for a post/page. I'm old school when the mosaic browser was hot! I would like to see the ability to get the IDs, delayed (by date) posting, full comment control (incl., custom gravatars, post order, etc.), also a more robust way of adding graphic files instead of custom fields (yes, it works well but tell that to grandma) with text boxes already set for “feature” “thumbs” and “search” images attached to post.

Also would love to see a full editor with a separate “viewpane” of the content edited for a post/page. I’m old school when the mosaic browser was hot!

]]> By: EmmaB http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-54524 EmmaB Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:29:43 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-54524 I would love to know how to create a themes option to automatically put in feed urls so that the user doesn't have to muck around in the code I would love to know how to create a themes option to automatically put in feed urls so that the user doesn’t have to muck around in the code

]]> By: Bizhack http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-54446 Bizhack Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:33:46 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-54446 Just off the top of my head: 1) Header image url (plus perhaps 3 options for default sizes to indicate to people that they really need to think about the dimensions on a page) - its a style issue but a title is content too :) 2) Perhaps the ability to specify footers for posts, whether it be copyright notices, subscription reminders, social bookmarking links etc. Don't know how easy that is because most of the above might be in HTML? 3) The ability to hide or display tags or categories on posts themselves. If tags are used for things like determining which articles are to be featured, then visitors really don't need to know. 4) Inline advertising option. Enter google adsense code (or whatever) into the box and decide where the advert will be placed in each post, with perhaps a random setting where it alternates? I never quite worked out how to do that normally. 5) A notes section for the admin, which can be saved. When I follow your excellent instructions and modify my themes, I tend to do scary things like deleting and replacing code. If I could copy and paste large segments that I've deleted (or I am about to delete) I can always restore them at a later date by checking my notes. Likewise if I add new code, it's always good to have some form of page where I have a list of the changes I made should I ever need to implement them again. I could even bung in my help forums user name and password for future reference? I currently try and do this in notepad but why leave wordpress? Perhaps that's a wordpress undertaking rather than a theme issue. All of the above might be completely ludicrous, but I love the approach you are taking and thought I'd at least give it a shot. All the best Just off the top of my head:

1) Header image url (plus perhaps 3 options for default sizes to indicate to people that they really need to think about the dimensions on a page) – its a style issue but a title is content too :)

2) Perhaps the ability to specify footers for posts, whether it be copyright notices, subscription reminders, social bookmarking links etc. Don’t know how easy that is because most of the above might be in HTML?

3) The ability to hide or display tags or categories on posts themselves. If tags are used for things like determining which articles are to be featured, then visitors really don’t need to know.

4) Inline advertising option. Enter google adsense code (or whatever) into the box and decide where the advert will be placed in each post, with perhaps a random setting where it alternates? I never quite worked out how to do that normally.

5) A notes section for the admin, which can be saved. When I follow your excellent instructions and modify my themes, I tend to do scary things like deleting and replacing code. If I could copy and paste large segments that I’ve deleted (or I am about to delete) I can always restore them at a later date by checking my notes. Likewise if I add new code, it’s always good to have some form of page where I have a list of the changes I made should I ever need to implement them again. I could even bung in my help forums user name and password for future reference? I currently try and do this in notepad but why leave wordpress? Perhaps that’s a wordpress undertaking rather than a theme issue.

All of the above might be completely ludicrous, but I love the approach you are taking and thought I’d at least give it a shot.

All the best

]]> By: Justin Tadlock http://justintadlock.com/archives/2008/10/15/if-you-were-a-wordpress-theme-developer-theme-options#comment-54270 Justin Tadlock Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:23:26 +0000 http://justintadlock.com/?p=1080#comment-54270 <strong>tsquez</strong> I think social bookmarking would have to be theme specific. The reason WP doesn't (and probably never will) have a social bookmarking feature is because social bookmarking might not be something that's popular a year from now. <strong>hd-J</strong> I like the SEO options, but I'm not sure where you're going with the plugin thing. You can turn plugins on/off from the plugin admin. <strong>Pangeran</strong> The Codex definitely needs to be updated with theme options, but then again, stuff like that's usually for advanced users. They kind of leave it to you to figure out, so it's a lot of trial and error. I do plan on writing a tutorial on this soon. I'm always riding the fence with being able to change which categories/pages get put into the navigation from the options page. The simple reason for this is that it could be messy with a lot of categories/pages. I think I have 130+ pages on this site, and I couldn't imagine going through each one, deciding which should be in the navigation. I've always found it easier just to manually edit that stuff. Wouldn't it make more sense to make the top banner ads area widget-ready (if you went that route with your theme)? That way, users could do a lot more with that area. tsquez
I think social bookmarking would have to be theme specific. The reason WP doesn’t (and probably never will) have a social bookmarking feature is because social bookmarking might not be something that’s popular a year from now.

hd-J
I like the SEO options, but I’m not sure where you’re going with the plugin thing. You can turn plugins on/off from the plugin admin.

Pangeran
The Codex definitely needs to be updated with theme options, but then again, stuff like that’s usually for advanced users. They kind of leave it to you to figure out, so it’s a lot of trial and error. I do plan on writing a tutorial on this soon.

I’m always riding the fence with being able to change which categories/pages get put into the navigation from the options page. The simple reason for this is that it could be messy with a lot of categories/pages. I think I have 130+ pages on this site, and I couldn’t imagine going through each one, deciding which should be in the navigation. I’ve always found it easier just to manually edit that stuff.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to make the top banner ads area widget-ready (if you went that route with your theme)? That way, users could do a lot more with that area.

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