WordPress

A few notes on using/customising WordPress.

Plugins

A list of WordPress plugins I have developed.

Ensuring a fast WordPress website

A few thoughts on WordPress performance.

Adding a contact form

These instructions tested under WordPress v2.7.1

I would recommend the plugin Contact Form 7 for adding a contact form to a Wordpress site. I also have a few tips for improving the form output.

Moving a WordPress installation

These instructions tested under WordPress v2.0.2 – 2.9.2

If you move the installation, you may lose the ability to login to the admin area.
This SQL query will restore functionality, by correcting the relevant URL options:

update wp_options
    set option_value = 'http://newsitelocation.com/goes/here/'
    where option_name = 'home' or option_name = 'siteurl';

If your Wordpress installation is not in the same directory as your home page, you will need to set these options to different values:

update wp_options
    set option_value = 'http://newsitelocation.com/wordpress/'
    where option_name = 'siteurl';
update wp_options
    set option_value = 'http://newsitelocation.com/'
    where option_name = 'home';

NOTE: your options table may have a different prefix, the default is ‘wp_’.

Disabling WordPress’ slap-happy approach to <br /> tags

These instructions tested under WordPress v2.0.2

WordPress loves to add <br /> tags all over the place. To stop the madness, open
this file: /wp-includes/functions-formatting.php and change the following line (around line 57) from:

function wpautop($pee, $br = 1) {

to:

function wpautop($pee, $br = 0) {

This doesn’t remove any functionality, it just sets the default WordPress behaviour to not add <br /> tags
everywhere.

Ensuring that WordPress’ keeps <code /> blocks sacred

These instructions tested under WordPress v2.0.2

If you leave a blank line in a code block, WordPress will helpfully
add <p></p> tags in.

This will mess up your code (and invalidate your HTML!)

If you want your code blocks to be sacred, open this file: /wp-includes/functions-formatting.php
and find the following line (around line 76):

$pee = preg_replace('!(<pre.*?>)(.*?)</pre>!ise', " stripslashes('$1') .  stripslashes(clean_pre('$2'))  . '</pre>' ", $pee);

Then add the following line underneath, like this:

$pee = preg_replace('!(<pre.*?>)(.*?)</pre>!ise', " stripslashes('$1') .  stripslashes(clean_pre('$2'))  . '</pre>' ", $pee);
$pee = preg_replace('!(<code.*?>)(.*?)</code>!ise', " stripslashes('$1') .  stripslashes(clean_pre('$2'))  . '</code>' ", $pee);

Now WordPress will treat code blocks with the same degree of respect you do.

Preventing WordPress from adding <p> tags completely

If you are a HTML control-freak, you can prevent WordPress from adding any nasty <p> tags
to your posts.

Open this file: /wp-includes/functions-formatting.php
and find the following line (around line 65):

$pee = preg_replace('/\n?(.+?)(?:\n\s*\n|\z)/s', "<p>$1</p>\n", $pee); // make paragraphs, including one at the end

Then comment the line out (with or without the maniacal comment):

# NO MORE NASTY <p> TAGS!!! buahh haa haa haa
# $pee = preg_replace('/\n?(.+?)(?:\n\s*\n|\z)/s', "<p>$1</p>\n", $pee); // make paragraphs, including one at the end

Now you have complete control over your HTML.