Comments on: How To Customize WordPress’s Tag Cloud Widget http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/ Support and additional material related to books, articles, and digital media by Maria Langer. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:00:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kim http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-19472 Kim Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:19:48 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-19472 You guys rock. Your discussion has saved me many hours of work. So simple when we all share what we love!! You guys rock. Your discussion has saved me many hours of work. So simple when we all share what we love!!

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18858 Maria Langer Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:14:48 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18858 Dave: You're right, of course. The problem with hacking -- even a simple hack like this -- is that when you update the software, the hack is overwritten with the new files. I've since found a plugin that does what I need: Simple Tags. Not only does it offer a customizable Tag Cloud widget, but it adds a bunch of tag management features. Thanks for the reality check! Dave: You’re right, of course. The problem with hacking — even a simple hack like this — is that when you update the software, the hack is overwritten with the new files.

I’ve since found a plugin that does what I need: Simple Tags. Not only does it offer a customizable Tag Cloud widget, but it adds a bunch of tag management features.

Thanks for the reality check!

]]> By: Dave http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18856 Dave Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:02:05 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18856 Take a lesson from Drupal and never hack core or end up having to re-do everything you customized every time you upgrade. Figure out a way to do it via the functions script or find a plug-in. Otherwise you are creating more work for yourself or eliminating a seamless upgrade path. Good info nonetheless, but you have to be careful with the changes you make. <abbr><em>Dave´s last blog post: <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AssociatedKnowledge/~3/SO_jxUXXWa4/" rel="nofollow">Cinco de Mayo</a></abbr></em> Take a lesson from Drupal and never hack core or end up having to re-do everything you customized every time you upgrade.

Figure out a way to do it via the functions script or find a plug-in. Otherwise you are creating more work for yourself or eliminating a seamless upgrade path.

Good info nonetheless, but you have to be careful with the changes you make.

Dave´s last blog post: Cinco de Mayo

]]> By: David http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18386 David Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:03:22 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18386 Worked flawlessly on my site, just as advertised. Thanks! Worked flawlessly on my site, just as advertised. Thanks!

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18308 Maria Langer Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:14:15 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18308 RickHap: Thanks for the CTC info and link. I'd much rather use something like that than have to manually hack code each time I want to make a change or I update WordPress. RickHap: Thanks for the CTC info and link. I’d much rather use something like that than have to manually hack code each time I want to make a change or I update WordPress.

]]> By: RickHap http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18298 RickHap Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:03:31 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18298 I did spend a few minutes trying to find a hook to the default tag cloud widget but couldn't find anything simpler than creating another widget. Much more complicated than your change. <a href="http://reciprocity.be/ctc/" rel="nofollow">Configurable Tag Cloud (CTC)</a> is a plug-in which provides a Widget for the Tag Cloud. CTC provides a panel to configure the tag cloud parameters. (My test showed it worked with WP 2.7). Here is an interesting tag cloud plug-in: <a href="http://www.roytanck.com/2008/03/06/wordpress-plugin-wp-cumulus-flash-based-tag-cloud/" rel="nofollow">WP Cumulus Flash Based Tag Cloud</a> I did spend a few minutes trying to find a hook to the default tag cloud widget but couldn’t find anything simpler than creating another widget. Much more complicated than your change.

Configurable Tag Cloud (CTC) is a plug-in which provides a Widget for the Tag Cloud. CTC provides a panel to configure the tag cloud parameters. (My test showed it worked with WP 2.7).

Here is an interesting tag cloud plug-in:

WP Cumulus Flash Based Tag Cloud

]]> By: Maria Langer http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18296 Maria Langer Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:57:18 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18296 Rick: This is a good point, and I agree that if you're modifying the sidebar template file to insert the tag cloud widget, your way IS the way to go. However, I'm providing instructions for modifying the default Tag Cloud widget for folks who want to use widgets rather than hard-code content in their sidebar theme. Agreed also about the biggest drawback of my method: that you must remember to modify the <code>category-template.php</code> file each time you upgrade WordPress. I think there IS a way around this, but I haven't had time to research it. Rick: This is a good point, and I agree that if you’re modifying the sidebar template file to insert the tag cloud widget, your way IS the way to go. However, I’m providing instructions for modifying the default Tag Cloud widget for folks who want to use widgets rather than hard-code content in their sidebar theme.

Agreed also about the biggest drawback of my method: that you must remember to modify the category-template.php file each time you upgrade WordPress. I think there IS a way around this, but I haven’t had time to research it.

]]> By: RickHap http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18292 RickHap Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:09:51 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18292 Maria, This is a good reference but it would be much better to set the arguments within the cloud tag function. Your example modified the core WP files: One would have to remember to modify this file when a change/updgrade happens with WP. Typically the cloud tag is going to be located in the sidebar.php file within the theme directory. A couple of examples of the arguments: <code> <?php wp_tag_cloud('smallest=8&largest=36'); ?> <?php wp_tag_cloud('smallest=8&largest=36&order=RAND&number=75'); ?> </code> Details on the cloud are described in the codex: <a href="http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Tags/wp_tag_cloud" rel="nofollow">Template Tags/wp tag cloud</a> Rick P.S. Have you been working with Child template themes within Wordpress. Child themes are a great aspect in that you can leave the files of the parent theme alone and inherit their style and function within the child theme. One can do all of their changes, edits and adjustments on the child theme files to customize the theme. Much easier to track changes. Maria,

This is a good reference but it would be much better to set the arguments within the cloud tag function. Your example modified the core WP files: One would have to remember to modify this file when a change/updgrade happens with WP.

Typically the cloud tag is going to be located in the sidebar.php file within the theme directory.

A couple of examples of the arguments:


  <?php wp_tag_cloud('smallest=8&largest=36'); ?>

  <?php wp_tag_cloud('smallest=8&largest=36&order=RAND&number=75'); ?>

Details on the cloud are described in the codex:
Template Tags/wp tag cloud

Rick

P.S. Have you been working with Child template themes within Wordpress. Child themes are a great aspect in that you can leave the files of the parent theme alone and inherit their style and function within the child theme. One can do all of their changes, edits and adjustments on the child theme files to customize the theme. Much easier to track changes.

]]> By: dash http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18143 dash Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:09:40 +0000 http://www.mariasguides.com/2008/12/14/how-to-customize-wordpresss-tag-cloud-widget/#comment-18143 thanks! i have a little troubel with mine so found some usefull hints here in this post! thanks! i have a little troubel with mine so found some usefull hints here in this post!

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