New Sidebar Widgets Interface In WordPress Version 2.8

Posted by Jeff

on June 1, 2009

Testing out WordPress version 2.8 beta what I liked so far is the new functionality for sidebar widgets. Some may remember the drag and drop function of previous versions of WordPress and now it seems as if the best of old and new will be in WordPress version 2.8

What I really like about the this version of widgets is actually something that was lost several versions back and that is the ability to save the content on inactive widgets. In WordPress version 2.7 if you remove a text widget the content in it will be lost forever. It looks like that has been addressed in version 2.8 with the new Inactive Widgets section. Now you can remove any widget by dragging it into the Inactive section, maintaining the content in a text widget or any settings on other widgets. I must say it took long enough for this to come back and i am glad to see it.

It seems like some of the more popular plugins eventually find their way into the core code of WordPress and in version 2.8 it seems like another has been added. Another nice addition is the ability to add new themes from within the WordPress dashboard. You can search the official WordPress theme directory for new themes based on terms, author or tag and can also apply filters to your search. There is even an option to upload your own theme in a .zip format.

Here are the highlights of version 2.8 from the Codex:

New drag-and-drop widgets admin interface and new widgets API
Syntax highlighting and function lookup built into plugin and theme editors
Browse the theme directory and install themes from the admin
Allow the dashboard widgets to be arranged in up to four columns
Allow configuring the number of items to show on management pages with an option in Screen Options
Support timezones and automatic daylight savings time adjustment
Support IIS 7.0 URL Rewrite Module
Faster loading of admin pages via script compression and concatenation

There is also some rumors of WordPress and WordPress MU to merge, I don’t think that is going to be in version 2.8. For those who don’t know what MU is, its used to host multiple blogs on one single install.

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Tags: sidebar, Sidebar Widgets, WordPress News, wordpress-widgets

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Comments

Comment by Lowongan on June 1, 2009 @ 10:23 pm

This new feature quite good to make the widget more simple. It’s using ajax right?

But there’s slightly a problem when you use the Breadcrumb Navigation plugin, it will crash

Comment by Gerry on June 2, 2009 @ 12:20 am

Regarding the theme management features if I understand this correcly, it is possible to search a theme directory and upload themes diretly and not go the ftp route as in current versions. Do I understand correctly? This would be a welcome capability.

Jeff Replied:
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:58 am

Yes you understand correctly.

Comment by Diety on June 2, 2009 @ 7:49 am

Finaly I was tired of keeping my old widgets just because I “might need some of the data in it later”. Now I’ll be able to just save them without keeping useless widgets.

Comment by Business Telephone Systems on June 3, 2009 @ 9:02 am

I have to say, this new feature makes using wordpress very sexy indeed.

Comment by Mr. Forex on June 3, 2009 @ 6:28 pm

Very nice idea, i hope it will be well implemented. I am anxious to WordPress 2.8

Comment by Snoring Mouthguard on June 4, 2009 @ 3:45 am

I am so glad they are finally putting more effort into the widget manager. The widgets system was by far the most limited aspect of WordPress before. Glad its here!

Comment by Brick Pointing Bronx on June 4, 2009 @ 8:29 am

Hi, there
i love the way wordpress improving day by day with nice functions inside control panel . Well the sidebar widget function is amazing .

Regards,
Adora

Comment by Matratze on June 4, 2009 @ 11:56 am

The widgets are the best invention one has these made at all. One can fast and simply equip his Blog with new functions.

Comment by boblee on June 4, 2009 @ 2:10 pm

The widgets simply rocks!!
Processor

Comment by small business plan on June 5, 2009 @ 2:25 pm

Wordpress version 2.8 provides its service of content management. Thanks for sharing

Comment by Wii on June 7, 2009 @ 11:24 am

your lucky you’ve got the new WP dashboard

Pingback by WordPress Watch » Blog Archive » 6 June 2009 on June 8, 2009 @ 11:52 am

[...] New Sidebar Widgets Interface In WordPress Version 2.8 [...]

Comment by Jeremy on June 11, 2009 @ 9:21 am

Anyone know why I would not be able to drag my widgets across to the sidebar? I have 2 blogs with 2.8 installed and neither can drag across to the sidebar. This would indicate to me a problem with the browser or something but not sure.

Comment by W3Avenue Team on June 11, 2009 @ 10:24 pm

Web developers’ ability to easily customize and extend WordPress makes it one of the most popular and powerful publishing platform. However every time a new WordPress version is released, developer’s should look at their customized solutions and accommodate changes. W3Avenue has compiled a list of resources for WordPress developers that will help them quickly upgrade their themes or plugins to accommodate latest features.

http://www.w3avenue.com/2009/06/12/wordpress-28-resources-for-developers/

Comment by edos on June 20, 2009 @ 6:44 pm

The sidebar widget function now looks better than the way it formerly was

Comment by Findurhost on July 31, 2009 @ 7:59 am

Very nice idea.
Thank you.

Comment by Microsoft Guy on August 1, 2009 @ 5:05 pm

I like how the new Sidebar widgets works for sure, because once you start to have a lot, like 5 or 6, it can get a bit cluttered and confusing organizing them and editing them as well.

Comment by Sarah Jhones on August 11, 2009 @ 7:02 am

Nice post!!
That is a very useful post as I love to work on WordPress. However every time a new WordPress version is released, developer’s should look at their customized solutions and accommodate changes. Thanks for sharing

Comment by Instant Loans on August 12, 2009 @ 1:09 pm

Thanks for posting this! I really think it will help out organizing my page! I love it!

Comment by NN on August 19, 2009 @ 6:54 pm

I use WP 2.8 at my blog. That’s nice information.

Comment by NN on August 19, 2009 @ 6:58 pm

“Inactive Widgets”, that’s good idea. Yes, we can remove any widget by dragging it into the Inactive section, maintaining the content in a text widget or any settings on other widgets. I must say it took long enough for this to come back and i am glad to see it.

Comment by kfz auto on October 10, 2009 @ 4:06 pm

Till now I have not done very much with widgets in WP. But it seams that it is worth to make a closer look.

Drive-By comments will be deleted! Like "Thanks for sharing", "Nice post", or any other text that doesn't contribute to the discussion. If you ask a very specific question about your particular WordPress theme, it will probably be deleted. I can fix your WordPress site but for a price. If you ask a question like "Why don't my blog work right", it will be deleted. If you ask a question about your WordPress site without a leaving a link to it, it will be deleted. The point is to ask questions and or comment on the the actual content of the post, and to please use some common sense. All comments are moderated and will appear when approved. Thank you.