Thesis Sub-Framework: Widget Me

by Greg Rickaby on September 18, 2009

Ever wanted to use Widgets instead of Hooks? On Pages? Category Archives? Now you can with Widget Me for Thesis. Maybe you wanted to get rid of the default Sidebar Widgets on certain pages and use a specific widget instead? (Great for advertisements)

Thesis purist will be happy, this sub-framework uses HOOKS! No plug-ins, and no actual “hacks” to accomplish this. All core files remain unchanged.

Introduction Video:

Installation Instructions:

Download v1.5 Widget Me (467)

Requirements:
WordPress 2.8+
Thesis 1.5 – 1.6b2

Older Versions:
Download v1.2 Widget Me (271)

Did Widget Me help? Isn’t it worth at least $1?

Need help finding a Category ID?

find-category-id-1

In your WP Dashboard –> Posts –> Categories –> Click on any Category and look in the Address Bar

find-category-id-2

In your Widget Me folder– >rename any of the category-1.php to match the Category ID in YOUR WP

Related posts:

Tagged as: Customization, Thesis

{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }

Tyron July 22, 2010 at 05:21

Having trouble downloading Widget Me from the above link… When I click on the link I get an error. I’ve now tried on two differnt computers, I think there is a plug-in conflict at your end…

Hope you can get this fixed, or give me an alt download link.

Thanks

Tyron July 21, 2010 at 21:59

Hi Greg,

Thank you for your post!

I was searching to check that Thesis allowed for different custom pages templates BEFORE I purchased Thesis. As a novice website builder I was almost going to ‘give-up’ when I found out I would have to edit code.

Now that I’ve found your plugin I’ve decided to buy Thesis and use your Widget Me plug-in.

Thanks again for providing such a great resource.

Bonnie July 16, 2010 at 07:41

Kristina,

Widget Me worked for me with Thesis 1.7 and also with WordPress 3.0. However, I’m having problems after upgrading to Thesis 1.8.

1st problem: Since the custom template files are not in the Custom folder under the Thesis folder, I forgot to copy them when I installed Thesis 1.8b1. (I tried putting them in the custom folder, but they don’t work from there.) I copied them from wp-content/themes/thesis_17/ to wp-content/themes/thesis_18b1/.

Now my custom pages show up in the Page Attributes section of my pages. However…

2nd problem: selecting the the custom page template does not cause the new sidebars to actually appear on on the site. I also copied the Widget Me folder, which I had failed to copy the 1st go round. But that did not fix the problem, either. So, either there is something else back in the thesis_17 folders to be copied, or Widget Me is broken with the beta version of Thesis 1.8 I’m using.

The Widget Me support forum seems to have disappeared. And if it’s on DIYThemes’ forum, I can’t find it. Perhaps there is a solution obvious to everyone else, but it’s eluding me at the moment.

Bonnie

Bonnie July 16, 2010 at 12:02: By “if it’s on the DIYThemes’ forum”, I meant the issue, not the Widget Me support forum.

Reply

Kristina July 3, 2010 at 11:24

Hey Greg. I can’t seem to find it anywhere, but does this work with 1.7?

Jan Scott Nelson June 2, 2010 at 10:29

This is so brilliant, thank you. I have one tiny issue (so far!) which is that in Explorer 8 the cutom pages left align. It’s OK (i.e. centred) in Firefox. Any ideas?

Marsha February 25, 2010 at 12:04

Hey Greg,

Thanks so much! The upload seemed to go well and I’m just starting to play.
How do I hide the footer box on the pages I don’t want it on?
And, how do I modify it if I want?

I’m a newbie at code, so please be specific.
Many thanks for your help.

Marsha

swanniep December 28, 2009 at 17:26

Hi Greg, is there a way to make the footer in column insted in a row?

swanniep December 28, 2009 at 11:26

Hi Greg, is there a way to make the footer in column insted in a row?

Lori November 30, 2009 at 03:05

Ok I am having trouble with the footer dividing up into sections http://www.lorisreflections.com/

Thank you.

Lori November 29, 2009 at 21:05

Ok I am having trouble with the footer dividing up into sections http://www.lorisreflections.com/

Thank you.

garymorse November 14, 2009 at 16:34

Widget Me is a great tool. One last challenge.

For each custom page 1,2,3, ;
How do you get the sidebar_left on the left side of the page while sidebar_right has the entire sidebar on the right side of the page?
So they are both “not together” on the right side of the page.

tinawiller November 13, 2009 at 11:11

Hi Greg. The parsing problem is fixed but now no header http://www.lovebabygifts.com/blog and I have all this code at wp-admin page before the dashboard and other places too.

If I could just get this to work I can see where it can be very useful. Please help. Thanks.

// Sitewide register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Header', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Footer', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); // Custom Page 1 register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Custom Page 1)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Custom Page 1)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); // Custom Page 2 register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Custom Page 2)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Custom Page 2)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); // Custom Page 3 register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Custom Page 3)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Custom Page 3)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); // Category 1 register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Category 1)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Category 1)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); // Category 2 register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Category 2)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Category 2)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); // Category 3 register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Category 3)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Category 3)', 'before_title'=>'
', 'after_title'=>'

')); // — Sitewide Header function show_sidebar_header() { ?>

tinawiller November 13, 2009 at 10:50

From Disqus Fri Nov 13 16:27:19 2009
X-Apparently-To: tinatwiller@yahoo.com via 68.142.207.180; Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:27:19 -0800
Return-Path: <>
X-YMailISG: 859s6b8WLDsivsxdzvdXodj7FwTWByYXqAXEqxjkw0LHbhM7FS0oseOA2XDKAdypyJaHmIz0jzSL00X7lYYlbVNYYPQGgyt7nVbBZDE40VYsx46dHMNOYb5ZZS4FeOMC5X9SVYcwPDbJWQoNwJUqpIveQHtPtxBjsnOjx5FRjDHlft1u9AieqflwHQxgC81KkvP.PXCVOYpeWaFoH7b7rjJ1Bs9yG6Zg86YZAACFlxSudQNvC57.qRpNoIOLQ6oX5xiguRayW4zWPQj6zztJOYE0cgRVWhvkaa9.Gof83zzAtdSe8hRyL4IwyCozFirIb48Yuji7srZYYS5BC.Ay.cV855qhWWtVh6gl2XJpf7Q8gv9MQ3s_.8UTworthVfv7hcdNVHlrCcab4Yrk7pav13w.jG1kQb5ig–
X-Originating-IP: [67.228.244.115]
Authentication-Results: mta1016.mail.ac4.yahoo.com from=disqus.net; domainkeys=pass (ok); from=disqus.net; dkim=pass (ok)
Received: from 127.0.0.1 (EHLO disqus.net) (67.228.244.115)
by mta1016.mail.ac4.yahoo.com with SMTP; Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:27:19 -0800
Received: from disqus.net (localhost [127.0.0.1])
by disqus.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id 792D094050
for <tinatwiller@yahoo.com>; Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:27:19 +0000 (UTC)
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha1; c=relaxed; d=disqus.net; h=content-type
:mime-version:content-transfer-encoding:subject:from:to:date
:message-id; s=notif; bh=fxDb6NBoPcldFxCLaKKV35CB6+k=; b=ZRooS6X
x2nf0Q5ttz7n/u3eh/R3kWY/P3khuTtDgbsr/+H51xVtwsbTWgnphnSNWvR4ngpy
48pteFsX79a2X5KqoNlYdUJw83+tyAikTearQHZDS+isznL3d+tEaek25d61SevD
HlAoIAaRQTcJ9yx/GFQxB+/ot6spMVCH4jZ0=
DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=disqus.net; h=content-type
:mime-version:content-transfer-encoding:subject:from:to:date
:message-id; q=dns; s=notif; b=biMGDZbA3XWZRZjWvd84ZK+du3tBqgZop
eGlMIGTJrpC7hHHv12WA0bOsWVm2FaNEE4JvpIo816m4Q1/IcHX0SCACg/SZ7/ls
9xeojJZdSKGT40pyqOVb1BIY/6m1jf6MA/zSA/PVHbeo4x8nqU7WC8Sa4JbJKnBU
YPt0KOFry8=
Received: from rope.disqus.net (localhost [127.0.0.1])
by disqus.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id 785BB94038
for <tinatwiller@yahoo.com>; Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:27:19 +0000 (UTC)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Subject: [gregrickaby] Re: Thesis Sub-Framework: Widget Me

gregrickaby November 13, 2009 at 10:27

Delete all this:

// —— Widget Me End

<?php
// —— Widget Me Begin

tinawiller November 13, 2009 at 09:45

I love the potential of this widget.

Please help. I am getting this error. I am not an experienced php coder.

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected $end in /home/fromthee/public_html/lovebabygifts/blog/wp-content/themes/thesis_16/custom/custom_functions.php on line 64

I did put it after the <?php (at the beginning) My code is below. Line 64 is the last line
// —— Widget Me End

<?php
// —— Widget Me Begin

// Sitewide
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Header', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Footer', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
// Custom Page 1
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Custom Page 1)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Custom Page 1)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
// Custom Page 2
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Custom Page 2)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Custom Page 2)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
// Custom Page 3
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Custom Page 3)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Custom Page 3)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
// Category 1
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Category 1)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Category 1)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
// Category 2
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Category 2)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Category 2)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
// Category 3
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 1 (Category 3)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));
register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar 2 (Category 3)', 'before_title'=>'<h3>', 'after_title'=>'</h3>'));

// — Sitewide Header
function show_sidebar_header() {
?>
<div id=”sidebar_header”>
<div class=”sidebar”>
<ul class=”sidebar_list”>
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('Header') ){ ?>
<li class=”widget”>
<div class=”widget_box”>
<h3><?php _e('Header', 'thesis'); ?></h3>
</div>
</li>
<?php } ?>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<?php
add_action('thesis_hook_header', 'show_sidebar_header');

// — Sitewide Footer
function show_sidebar_footer() {
?>
<div id=”sidebar_footer”>
<div class=”sidebar”>
<ul class=”sidebar_list”>
<?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('Footer') ){ ?>
<li class=”widget”>
<div class=”widget_box”>
<h3><?php _e('Footer', 'thesis'); ?></h3>
</div>
</li>
<?php } ?>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<?php
}
add_action('thesis_hook_before_footer', 'show_sidebar_footer');
// —— Widget Me End

Susan November 6, 2009 at 15:44

This sounds like exactly what I have been searching for! I am going to install it and give it a go.

gregrickaby November 3, 2009 at 10:13

I'm going to release a single version soon.

gregrickaby November 3, 2009 at 10:12

You probably didn't paste below the <?php custom_functions.php

gregrickaby November 3, 2009 at 10:12

Yes it is.

Copy/Paste category-x.php as many times as you'd like – just remember to change category-x.php to your category id.php

gregrickaby November 3, 2009 at 10:11

Everyone…I'm moving WidgetMe today to it's very own site – complete with a support section!

Craig October 26, 2009 at 18:08

is it possible to have more than 3 pages or categories?

fta satellite October 21, 2009 at 20:18

Thank you very much looking for this everywhere

Dante October 17, 2009 at 00:29

Help:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '}' in /……….thesis_16b2/custom/custom_functions.php on line 42

andimac October 15, 2009 at 20:56

Hi Greg, This looks like a great widget… here's the problem. I only want one sidebar on the right side. How do I remove that second sidebar? Do I need to edit the Custom_page? I've tried that and so far, just a blank page comes up.

Jeff Pinkham October 12, 2009 at 05:27

Thanks for the additional information
Now I know how to find the category ID on my blog
I've also gone into wp-content/themes/thesis_151 file on the hosting server and found the
category-1.php as well as category-2.php and category-3.php files
What I still cannot workout is the name that I should use to rename these category files
How do I find out what the category-1.php file correspond and what it should be renamed?

Jeff Pinkham October 12, 2009 at 04:27

Thanks for the additional information
Now I know how to find the category ID on my blog
I've also gone into wp-content/themes/thesis_151 file on the hosting server and found the
category-1.php as well as category-2.php and category-3.php files
What I still cannot workout is the name that I should use to rename these category files
How do I find out what the category-1.php file correspond and what it should be renamed?

gregrickaby October 10, 2009 at 07:39

No problem Jeff! I posted (above) some quick instructions to finding a Category ID and renaming the file. Let me know if I can be anymore help.

Jeff Pinkham October 10, 2009 at 04:00

I've followed the read me and the video; all ok till the renaming of categories and ID.
You just completely lost me there, I could not follow.
For a start categories do not show up on the navigation menu
then I do not have a clue where you are when you do the name change and how you work out numbering etc
could you please do a little “installation for dummies” on the category and renaming
Thanks
Jeff

gregrickaby October 8, 2009 at 13:59

Ben,

Good advice…care to show me how? (the plug-in isn't closed source or
anything…and I kinda suck at writing code)
——————————————————————
Greg Rickaby ><>
Certified Thesis Designer
(334) 714-6556
http://gregrickaby.com

gregrickaby October 8, 2009 at 12:29

Great advice Ben!

If you want, re-code and email to me…I'd love to share!!!

Ben Cook October 8, 2009 at 11:56

Greg, great plugin! I do have a suggestion on how to improve it though.

Add an if is_active_sidebar statement to each of the widgets that way if they're not used, the don't display & look bad.

That would give it even more flexibility as you can pick and choose which widgets to use etc.

I've added it to my Thesis skin (that I'm getting ready to release) and it makes things much nicer.

john wilkins October 6, 2009 at 14:34

All sorted Greg,thanks.

politicalrant October 6, 2009 at 09:10

Sorry Greg, it's me again. Am I restricted to having the two sidebar layout. Ideally what I'd like to do is create a page that has two sidebars only and no page – This is for displaying a blogroll. ie If the page is 900px wide I'd like the sidebars to be 450px each, then I can widgetize the whole page?

Ian

politicalrant October 6, 2009 at 08:47

Thanks Greg, that and the new CSS, appear to have solved it. I'm now going to dig in and see what I can do with it!

Ian

gregrickaby October 6, 2009 at 08:14

There are too many <?php opened! On line 1 in copy_custom_functions.php there is a <?php remove it then copy/paste into YOUR custom_functions.php

gregrickaby October 6, 2009 at 08:13

In custom.css paste this instead:

/* —– WM Header/Footer Widgets —- */
.custom #sidebar_header {
display: none;
}
.custom #sidebar_footer {
margin: 15px;
text-align: center;
}
/* —– WM Sidebar Widgets —- */
.custom #sidebar_left {
width: 49%;
float: left;
clear: left;
border-top-width: 0;
border-right-width: 0.1em;
border-bottom-width: 0;
border-left-width: 0;
border-right-style: solid;
border-right-color: #ddd;
}
.custom #sidebar_right {
width: 49%;
float: right;
}

gregrickaby October 6, 2009 at 08:12

Line 1 on copy_custom_functions.php there is: <?php

Remove it.

What I assume is happening is this your <?php is already open and when you drop another <?php …bad things happens.

politicalrant October 6, 2009 at 07:16

Hi Greg,

This is just what I've been looking for, unfortunately everything appears to load up except the custom_functions.php. All I get is a blank screen and now I'm out of ideas!
Help would be appreciated.

Regards
Ian

politicalrant October 6, 2009 at 07:16

Hi Greg,

This is just what I've been looking for, unfortunately everything appears to load up except the custom_functions.php. All I get is a blank screen and now I'm out of ideas!
Help would be appreciated.

Regards
Ian

RBeale October 5, 2009 at 18:39

I can't believe that I DIDN'T have your blog in my Google Reader… Anyway, you have a new RSS Subscriber. Killer tutorials, man. I'll be donating soon.

Lori October 5, 2009 at 16:14

Love it, but can you help me. I have my own header design how do I get rid of the blue box that is showing up? See here http://www.lorisreflections.com/

Lori October 5, 2009 at 14:45

Ok I got it installed, now off to play with it! Thx.

john wilkins October 5, 2009 at 13:44

Hi Geg,
Still doesn't work, when I load custom_functions.php I get a blank website and when I try to log in I get
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected '<' in /home/content/t/h/e/theblackpig/html/wp-content/themes/thesis_151/custom/custom_functions.php on line 33

gregrickaby October 5, 2009 at 12:19

John,

Please download and install v1.5 (released today Oct 5.) if it still doesn't work. Send me the URL of your website.

johnwilkins October 4, 2009 at 09:05

Hi Greg,
Looks like a brilliant Widget!!
Problem is all the ones shown above don't appear in my widgets admin! Help

jonas September 20, 2009 at 12:22

Hi greg — a quick question: where exactly do I upload Widget Me — should it go in the plugin folder or somewhere else?

Amy September 19, 2009 at 16:15

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

Leave a Comment

Previous post: How To: Upgrade to Thesis 1.6 (in 15 minutes)

Next post: Web Pricing Survey: What Is Fair?

About Me

A former freelance web designer, I now earn a salary developing digital solutions for Bluewater Broadcasting, LLC in Montgomery Alabama. What does that mean? I get paid to work inside WordPress all day.

How can I help solve your web related problems?
Follow Me
Endorsements
Trending Posts

Powered By: