How To Use Linknotes Plugins
Friday, November 03, 2006
When users complained about inline links that are becoming way
too obtrusive, someone was bound to find the answer. Jeremy
Curry has created the WordPress Plugin Linknotes. These are
like footnotes, only with links.
Plugins
WordPress is a state-of-the-art semantic personal publishing
platform that focuses on aesthetics, web standards and
usability. Plugins are the tools to extend the functionality of
WordPress. The core of WordPress is designed to maximize
flexibility and minimize code bloat. Plugins provide a way to
offer custom functions and features that will enable each user
to tailor their site to their specific needs.
As the purpose is to extend functionality, not all WordPress
users require plugins. At best, some may only require a few and
not every plugin that is available. The choice list is long thus
it is up to the user to determine what is required based on
his/her specific circumstance.
WordPress plugins are designed by volunteers and are available
for free to the public. However, plugins are the responsibility
of the author and the user. They are all works-in-progress as
WordPress continues to grow and expand.
The creators of plugins are the people who saw the need and
came up with the solution. Many needed the solution for their
own site thereby providing the opportunity to see the plugin in
action. Others develop plugins for someone else when they had
the time to do it.
Not all plugins are easily installed but authors and developers
try to make the process as easy as possible. There are a few
things one needs to know before installing any plugin. Since
there are several versions of WordPress currently available,
different plugins are likewise available for the different
versions.
The first thing to do is to get the correct information before
installing. This can be done by reading through the readme
files and web pages including any comments regarding the plugin
on an author's website. Installation is much easier when
equipped with the right information. Plugins require
downloading and uploading to install.
Plugins may also require modifying WordPress files and
templates thus familiarity with PHP, HTML, CSS and CHMOD may be
necessary. Make a note in the code of any changes done to the
files or templates by using comments before and after the
changes and also in a text file saved to one's site and on
one's desktop to serve as reminder of any additions or
modifications to default files or templates. This will assist
the user if there is any need to repeat the procedure in case
of any future problems with the site.
Before installing any plugin that will result to dramatic
changes, frequent backups of database and files should be made.
Some plugins work independently of a blog's content and file and
only adds a little something special to the page. Others would
require modification of content and file, including changes in
database. The user should make sure that the plugin will work
in his/her existing version. Upgrading is an option to consider
when a plugin cannot work for a particular version.
Troubleshooting Plugins
Problems arising from plugin installation or one that stopped
working after upgrading would request some steps to remedy. The
user should check whether the author's instruction has been
followed to the letter. Any plugin tags or usage within the
template files should be checked for correctness, right
spelling and appropriate placement. The file should be uploaded
to the plugins folder under wp. content. When a new version is
being uploaded to replace the old, the old version prior to
uploading should be deleted.
The user should check whether the plugin has been activated in
the Plugin Panel of his/her Administration Panels. Deactivating
and reactivating the plugin would verify if it makes it work.
Visiting the plugin author's website which is typically linked
from the Plugin Panel will show if there are other people
having the same problem and if an answer has been posted. It
also updates the user whether a new version has been released.
The plugin authors can be directly contacted through their
website or email requesting assistance. It is possible that
someone else might have found the answer to the same problem a
user is experiencing. Searching the Internet for the name of
the plugin and the trouble being experienced can provide the
elusive solution. Another way is to visit the WordPress Support
Forum and post a clear question about the plugin and the
problem. If the problem persists and there seems to be no
solution in sight, the user should check other similar plugins
to use.
Some plugins may become outdated and may no longer work with
the newer version of WordPress. Most authors will upgrade their
plugins to accommodate the newer version. Others will not thus
the plugin becomes obsolete with the improvements in WordPress.
The Linknotes Plugin
This plugin allows the user to make links in his/her blog posts
appear like footnotes. Installation is very easy as in other
WordPress Plugins. However, the text should be formatted
appropriately for usage. Normal links would simply need to have
the Link. quicktag clicked in the Write Post page to enter the
URI.
Jeremy Curry, the developer of Linknotes has added quicktags to
the plugin. This addition would no longer require the
replacement or editing of any files just by downloading VO.3.
Linknotes is considered by many as the blog version of
footnotes. Linknotes only affect the post content and pages but
not excerpts or any other body of content.
Curry developed this plugin when he read that someone was in
need of such as a solution. He went off to the WordPress
Support Forums and couldn't find anything that was exactly what
he wanted. He then proceeded to work on it.
Since it was difficult to do it from scratch, he used the
Textile Plugin as the base. He removed some features from it
and added a bunch of modifications. He came up with the
Linknotes plugin which was more customizable, bloglines-
friendly and has quick tag buttons which can easily be turned
on or off in the plugin file. This answers the requirement of
making a link to open in a new window.
The quicktag also adds a superscript number beside the word or
phrase which was hyperlinked. This would tell the reader that
there has been a Linknote added which he/she can refer to after
consuming the whole post. This plugin hopes to do away with the
disruptive practice of having hyperlinks in the middle of the
sentence.
About The Author: http://www.theinternetone.net
posted by Dennis Cheesman @ 6:48 AM,
