Sliding Panel: WordPress Plugin

Ever since I redesigned Theme Hybrid back in April, I’ve gotten numerous requests for the code so that others could do something similar.

Typically, I’d point people to the Web Kreation article on integrating a sliding panel into WordPress. Unfortunately, this proved to be a tough task for the average end user. Not to say anything bad about the great tutorial, but there are some problems with integrating it cleanly with WordPress. Without the ideas generated there, we wouldn’t have this plugin.

So, I decided to build a sliding panel from the ground up. I wanted something that would be easy for the average end user to implement. This plugin is a jQuery-based, fully-widgetized sliding panel for use on your WordPress-powered site.

What is a sliding panel?

Quite simply, it is a panel that can be opened and closed with a click of a mouse that will allow you to house additional content on your site without it getting in the way.

Here’s a view of it in its closed (normal) state:

![/user/media/2009/06/sliding-panel-closed.png](Sliding panel in its closed state)

Once a reader clicks on the Open button, the panel slides down the page, showing the content of the panel:

![/user/media/2009/06/sliding-panel-open.png](Sliding panel in its open state)

What does the plugin do?

Sliding Panel comes with some neat features:

  • Uses widgets, so you can add any content to the panel you want.
  • Makes use of the jQuery packaged with WordPress to avoid plugin conflicts.
  • Auto-inserts itself into a few themes:
  • Provides the get_sliding_panel() template tag for use in other themes.

Download the plugin

This plugin will only work with WordPress 2.8+. If you’re using an older version, you’ll have to wait until you’ve updated.

Instructions on how to use the plugin are in the plugin’s readme.html file, which is included within the plugin download.

Please don't use my contact page or the comments section below to ask support questions. Use my support forums at Theme Hybrid, which is where I handle all support questions for my WordPress projects.