Updating your Theme for WordPress 2.7
With the release of WordPress 2.7 just around the corner, I’ve had a chance to look at the new features and the updates needed to your theme to make use of these new features. Whilst older themes will continue to work with 2.7 (just as old themes worked when widgets / dynamic sidebars were introduced, and when other various features such as built in gravatars have been introduced), there are a couple of additions that will improve your control over your site, and to use the new pagination or threaded comment system you’ll need to add in the new, necessary code.
I’ve written about the new features and the comment code for the pagination over at Blogging Tips:
WordPress Theme Enhancements I
WordPress Theme Enhancements II
WordPress Theme Enhancements III
And I’ll be writing about the code for threaded comments next week. Added the 3rd post above
I’ve already made these changes to my own theme in anticipation of the release of either the full 2.7 version or at least the release candidate version, that I’ve read is to be coming soon. For my comments file I still wanted comments and pings/trackbacks separated, so with a bit of alterations to the code on my post at Blogging Tips, I’ve now got this working. The only slight difference is the layout, however I’ve got a couple of final changes to do and then my theme is ready for 2.7.
So, if you want to make use of the new features in WordPress 2.7, mainly the comment pagination and/or threading, then I recommend making these changes ready for its release.
WordPress seems to be improving each day. It’s quite great features the 2.7 version will be coming with, will be more user friendly.
I’m not set and ready for the new release. WordPress 2.7 from what I’ve been reading it’s going to be more user friendly and compatible with a lot of platforms.
Goran – the new features certainly are great. The new version should hopefully be released within the next week, however I’m now running RC1 on this site, which means I can fine tune my theme for the new features already 🙂
Paul – Not sure what you mean about compatible with a lot of platforms. WordPress is already compatible providing you run a minimum version of PHP and MySQL. The new version isn’t going to change this, it’s just far improved.
Hi Sarah,
I was wondering if you have any ways to improve the loadability of WP 2.7 I recently upgraded, and I like the features and the dashboard, but the pages seem to load rather slowly for me. Just trying to look at optimizing the speed. Thanks- Sandy
Hi Sandy, as far as I’m aware, if you switch to Google Gears then WordPress admin should speed up. I’ve not tried it myself and have no real info on it, but have a look on the WP forums about it.
Hi Sarah, Hi Sandy.
New WordPress admin 2.7 is faster and more usable than 2.6, it’s fact.
I use Google Gears. Began to work faster, but not supa high-speed.
Unfortunately, doesn’t work in Opera.